News Spring 2014 - The Vet Centre Marlborough

CentrePiece
Large or small, we care for them all!
Staff news
Pictured at right is Elizabeth with her son Luke. Mother and son are both doing well although
Luke has not been a particularly good sleeper, so early motherhood has been a tiring experience
for Elizabeth.
Filling in for Elizabeth during her maternity leave is Charlotte Patterson-Green. It is no
coincidence that Elizabeth and Charlotte share the same surname. They are sisters-in law!
Fancy two brothers both marrying vets!
News from The Vet Centre Marlborough, 7 Redwood Street, Blenheim.
SPRING 2014
Mary Bowron, another vet also on maternity leave has
returned to share in the weekend roster. Mary gave birth
to her first child, Edward born on Boxing Day.
Mack was presented with a deformed front leg that was getting
progressively worse.
You may have seen our job vacancy advertisements recently
for an office manager. Diane Thompson, who has been
with us since The Vet Centre opened sixteen and a half
years ago, is retiring towards the end of September. Diane
Elizabeth and her son Luke
will leave very big shoes to fill and will be sadly missed. We
received in excess of 40 applications for the position, with a high standard of applicants. We are
pleased to announce that Debbie Wilkinson has been appointed to the position. Debbie comes
from a farming background and her most recent position has been with the Marlborough Primary
Health Organisation as their financial administrator.
To keep away the winter blues Caroline has organised our own version of MasterChef. Each second
Monday morning 3 or 4 staff members prepare a dish to a theme for morning tea. They are
presented anonymously to be judged by the rest of the team. The winner advances to a semi-final and then the grand final. We have
been treated to some amazing dishes. We are a competitive bunch with the standard very high this year. Watch out for the cookbook!
PAGE 2
Canine bladder stones
An X-ray or ultrasound is
required to confirm the
presence of bladder stones.
Charlotte Patterson-Green
Why are regular health-checks so important for your pet?
Attitudes towards pets in New
Zealand have changed a lot over the
years. Responsible pet owners now
want the best for their pets including
preventative healthcare rather than
waiting for them to get sick before
seeking treatment.
‘Wellness’ is all about helping your
pet to enjoy a long and healthy life;
keeping them free of pain and distress,
preventable diseases and parasites. As
vets we also want these things for your
pet and we work with you to ensure
they live their life to its full potential.
We provide the professional advice,
services and veterinary products you
need to keep your pet in top condition.
To do this it is essential that we
perform a regular wellness healthcheck on your pet, involving a tip-ofnose to tip-of-tail examination and, if
necessary, blood and urine tests. Based
on our findings we discuss preventative
PAGE 3
PennHIPP Hip Dysplasia
GET ON TOP OF FLEAS
AND WIN
New Zealand is the first country
in the world to endorse this
scheme.
1. Purchase any pack of Revolution® and download deflea.me (app on iPhone or
download via itunes or google play or visit www.defleame.co.nz).
PAGE 3
2. Show clinic staff your deflea.me app
and go into the draw to win an iPad mini.
Great news for itchy ears
If your pet hates daily ear drops
then this is for you!
Regular checks are about
keeping your pet healthy.
health issues specific to your pet,
nutrition, weight management,
parasite control and vaccination.
Young, healthy pets should see a vet at
least once a year for a wellness healthcheck. Remember every year for them
is about seven human years. Healthy
senior pets should have a wellness
check at least twice a year and pets
with ongoing health problems may
well need much more frequent visits.
win me
Proudly brought to you by
Mack’s deformed leg
The prize draw will take place on 7th November 2014.
Winners will be drawn at random. The judge’s decision is
final and no correspondence will be entered into. Winners
will be notified by telephone. The prize cannot be transferred
or exchanged for cash. The Vet Company Group takes no
responsibility for entries that are lost or destroyed. The Vet
Company Employees and families are not eligible to enter.
Any personal information collected as part of this promotion
will be held by The Vet Company Group in accordance with
its privacy policy. You have the right to access, update and
correct such information. The Vet Company Group reserves
the right to use winners’ details for promotional and media
purposes. By entering the draw you are deemed to accept
these terms and conditions. Apple is not a participant in or
sponsor of this promotion.
Zoetis New Zealand Limited. Level 5, 8 Mahuhu Crescent, Auckland 1010, New Zealand. Tel: 0800 963 847, Fax: 0800 628 629.
REVOLUTION is a registered trade mark of Zoetis Inc. or its subsidiaries. ACVM Registration No. A7813, A7816 & A7817. BCG2-H
PFI0473. CA53.
© Copyright 2014. No part of this newsletter may be reproduced without prior permission from the Directors of The Vet Centre Marlborough.
PAGE 4
Why are regular health
checks so important?
It’s about disease prevention
and looking for early signs.
In young animals the bone grows from a cartilage plate at the end of
each of the long bones in the limbs. When growth is complete, these
growth plates ‘close over’ and stop the bone from lengthening.
In the foreleg of dogs
Open growth plate
with bowed radius
there are two bones
side by side, the radius
and the ulna. Mack’s
problem was that the
Humerus pushed back partially
dislocating the elbow joint
lower growth plate in
Humerus pushed back partially Closed ulna
dislocating the elbow joint
growth plate
the ulna had been damaged and had closed over and
Closed ulna growth plate
stopped the ulna growing too early. Unfortunately, the
Pre-op: premature closure of the
radius beside it kept on growing. This resulted in the
growth
plate at lower end of ulna.
radius developing a bow with severe limb deformity as
a result. It was putting so much pressure on the elbow joint that it had become partially dislocated.
Complicated surgery was required. This involved two cuts through the ulna to lengthen it, allowing
the elbow joint to settle back into position, then the
removal of a wedge of bone from the radius to straighten
it. The cut bones were stabilised with a bone pin and
an external fixater. This uses stainless steel pins driven
through the skin into the bones and joined together
with a carbon fibre rod and stainless steel clamps,
clearly visible in the X-ray. Once the bones have knitted
together the fixater will be removed and Mack should
be as good as new.
Post-op: bone pins and external fixater.
Nutro ‘Natural Choice’ for cats and dogs
At The Vet Centre we have now extended our
range of top-quality pet food brands to include
Nutro ‘Natural Choice’ for pets preferring a more
natural diet.
Natural Choice offers all-natural ingredients with
no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives.
Ingredients include real meat (beef free, hormone
free and with no animal by-products such as
chicken heads, feet or intestines), rice, oatmeal,
sunflower oil, eggs, kelp, fish (tuna), pea and corn
protein. It is free of grain fillers such as wheat,
barley or sorghum and contains only natural
antioxidants.
It provides a
complete balanced
diet and being
highly digestible produces less faecal waste. High
levels of omega 6 fatty acids provide healthy skin
and a shiny coat. The large breed dog formula
contains glucosamine and chondroitin for healthy
joints while the cat formula contains natural fibre
to help reduce hairballs.
The Natural Choice range suits different lifestyle
stages with a low calorie option for weight loss and
a grain free, limited-ingredient option useful in
food allergies. Talk to the team at The Vet Centre.
The Vet Centre Marlborough ! Phone 577 9822 ! Email enquire@vetmarlborough.co.nz ! www.vetmarlborough.co.nz
Marlborough’s only BESTPRACTICE accredited Clinic
The Vet Centre difference
PennHIP Hip Dysplasia scheme endorsed
New product for dogs - Urinaid
Most urinary tract infections (UTIs) in dogs are caused by
bacteria. Bacteria adhere to the surface lining of the urinary
tract using hair-like projections called fimbrae. These attach
to specific receptors on the lining and prevent the bacteria
from being washed away during urination, which facilitates
their proliferation, causing an infection. This situation is
usually associated with other predisposing health problems like
diabetes, kidney problems or long term use of some medications
like steroids.
Urinaid is a highly palatable nutritional supplement to help
maintain urinary tract health in dogs. Urinaid is formulated
using four natural ingredients,
D-mannose, cranberry, pomegranate
and ashwagandha together with
yeast, flavouring and magnesium.
Urinaid attaches to bacteria, prevents
their proliferation and allows them to be
eliminated in the urine.
Urinaid is particularly indicated in bitches that are prone
to recurrent bladder infections to help minimise the use of
antibiotics. Tests have shown that Urinaid is highly palatable
and most dogs will take it as a treat.
Canine bladder stones
Bladder stones, also called uroliths, are
aggregations of mineral crystals that can form
in the urinary bladder. Similar stones can
form elsewhere in the urinary tract such as
the kidneys but in dogs the majority form in
the bladder.
Bladder stones can be made of different
minerals. The most common type is composed
of the mineral struvite, which has magnesium,
ammonium and phosphate components. The
formation of bladder stones is in part due to
changes in the acidity (pH value) of the urine.
Struvite tends to form in alkaline urine while
others like calcium oxalate form in acidic urine.
Stones grow in size over time. Left untreated
they cause irritation and/or partially or
completely block the passage of urine.
Other factors that influence the likelihood of a
dog forming bladder stones include:
1. Urinary tract infection. Certain bacterial
infections change the urine pH to
become more alkaline favouring the
formation of struvite stones.
2. Diet. Foods containing high levels of
calcium, magnesium & phosphorus can
promote the formation of bladder stones.
3. Low water intake makes urine more
concentrated and increases the likelihood
of stones forming.
4. Certain breeds such as Miniature
Schnauzers, Bichon Frise, Dalmatians,
Yorkshire Terriers and Bulldogs are
predisposed.
5. Gender. Struvite stones are more
common in bitches as they are more
prone to urinary tract infections while
most other types of stones occur more
commonly in males.
A dog with bladder stones may exhibit some
or all of the following signs:
• Straining to pass urine
• Difficult, slow urination
• Pain when urinating
• Frequent attempts to pass a small volume
of urine
• Incontinence
• Blood in the urine
These mini transponders are guaranteed for the life of your pet. They
are made of biologically inert glass so should not suffer the same
We have been offering PennHIP hip
dysplasia scoring at The Vet Centre since
2001. In fact Stuart was only the third
veterinarian in New Zealand to be trained
and certified in the PennHIP scheme.
PennHIP has been extensively researched
and hip laxity is accurately measured when
the hips are harmlessly distracted. For more
information about PennHIP visit our website
www.vetmarlborough.co.nz or http://info.
antechimagingservices.com/pennhip/
The reason for this is that over the past 30
years the NZVA hip dysplasia scheme has
not realised any substantial lowering of the
incidence of hip dysplasia. A robust analysis
of the NZVA database of all German
Shepherds, Labradors, Golden Retrievers and
Rottweilers that had been hip scored between
1990 and 2008 failed to show a significant
improvement in the hip scores of three of the
four breeds. Even in the German Shepherd the
slightly lower average score did not represent a
substantial change.
It is important to note that the NZVA elbow
scheme continues to operate. Started in 1993,
it has shown to be effective in reducing the
incidence of elbow dysplasia in all four of the
most popular breeds in the database.
The X-ray shows the distraction view for
a Golden Retriever. The Distraction Index
(DI) for the left hip was measured at 0.51
(which means that the ball of the femur was
distracted 51% out of the hip socket) and the
DI for the right hip was 0.49. These scores are
X-ray shows the distraction view
for a Golden Retriever.
ideally less than 0.3 but of the 14,817 Golden
Retrievers tested at that time, the median DI
for the group was 0.54. This dog was in the
60th percentile which means that its hips were
tighter than 60% of this group of dogs. It is
recommended to breed only from those dogs
with hips that score better than the breed
average.
BRAVECTO - flea protection for your dog from a chewable treat!
Bladder stones
This X-ray shows numerous stones in
the bladder of a Miniature Schnauzer.
These stones were successfully removed
surgically. The largest were greater
than 3cm in diameter!
An X-ray or ultrasound is required to confirm
the presence of bladder stones. Treatment
usually involves surgical removal of the stones,
treatment of any concurrent bladder infection
and the feeding of special prescription diets
to help dissolve stones and prevent their
recurrence.
New smaller microchip technology
Microchip technology is changing all the time and we have again
changed the type of microchip we use. The new BackHome mini
transponder is the smallest microchip on the market and for this reason
can be injected through a 25% smaller diameter needle. This means
less tissue damage and less chance of bleeding when the microchip is
inserted into your pet. We always use local anaesthetic when inserting
microchips so that it is a pain-free procedure.
New Zealand is the first country in the world
whose national veterinary association has
endorsed PennHIP as being superior to the
traditional hip dysplasia scheme using X-rays
of the extended hip. As of January 2014 the
NZVA has no longer offered traditional hip
dysplasia scoring. Instead, it now encourages
veterinarians to offer the PennHIP scheme
either through their own training or referring
their breeder clients to an appropriately trained
veterinarian.
problem of failure associated with the older Perspex microchips. They
also have a special coating that prevents them from migrating
away from their original site of insertion, a problem that the
original microchips occasionally suffered.
The new BackHome microchips
are the smallest on the market
and guaranteed for the life
of your pet!
There are many flea products on the market
to choose from but every now and then
there is one that stands out from the crowd.
BRAVECTO is one such product and we are
very excited about its launch. Pour-on flea
products have dominated the market for many
years but BRAVECTO breaks the trend as it
comes as a palatable, chewable treat. Pour-ons
such as Frontline Plus and Revolution are still
great options but not everyone likes applying
messy liquids. Here are some fast facts about
BRAVECTO:
• A full 12 weeks flea and tick
protection from a chewable treat.
• Is not affected by bathing or
swimming so can be applied at
any time.
• No messy liquid to apply and no greasy
spot left on your dog’s neck.
• Safe for use in pregnant/lactating/
breeding bitches.
• Kills fleas fast so helps control flea allergy
dermatitis.
• New active ingredient with no known
resistance.
• Very safe with no known side effects.
• Hypoallergenic so is safe to use with skin
allergies.
• Suitable for dogs from the age of 8 weeks
old and minimum weight of 2kg.
Great news for itchy ears – If your pet hates daily ear drops then this is for you!
Itchy ears are a frustration for both pet and
owner. Many pets hate having ear drops
applied and it can become a frustrating daily
battle to apply the drops. If doses are missed
there is a good chance the treatment will
fail. To be effective the ear drops must pass
right down the ear canal and this can be very
difficult in a wriggly pet.
The great news is that we now have a LONGACTING EAR MEDICATION that your vet
applies during the consultation and again 2
weeks later. You do not need to give any ear
The formulation includes an antifungal
agent to treat yeast infection and a potent
anti-inflammatory to stop the itching and
inflammation. It is applied deep down the ear
canal with a long plastic tube so gets to where
it is needed and there is no risk of missing a
dose.
then you will still
need to use daily
ear drops. During
the consultation
your vet will take
a swab of the ear wax and look down a
microscope to see if yeast or bacteria (or even
mites) are present.
It is specifically for use with yeast infections,
by far the most common ear infection found
in pets. If your pet has a bacterial ear infection
The underlying cause of yeast infection of the
ear is usually allergy and your vet can discuss
this with you during the consultation.
medication at home!
Marlborough’s only BESTPRACTICE accredited Clinic
The Vet Centre difference
PennHIP Hip Dysplasia scheme endorsed
New product for dogs - Urinaid
Most urinary tract infections (UTIs) in dogs are caused by
bacteria. Bacteria adhere to the surface lining of the urinary
tract using hair-like projections called fimbrae. These attach
to specific receptors on the lining and prevent the bacteria
from being washed away during urination, which facilitates
their proliferation, causing an infection. This situation is
usually associated with other predisposing health problems like
diabetes, kidney problems or long term use of some medications
like steroids.
Urinaid is a highly palatable nutritional supplement to help
maintain urinary tract health in dogs. Urinaid is formulated
using four natural ingredients,
D-mannose, cranberry, pomegranate
and ashwagandha together with
yeast, flavouring and magnesium.
Urinaid attaches to bacteria, prevents
their proliferation and allows them to be
eliminated in the urine.
Urinaid is particularly indicated in bitches that are prone
to recurrent bladder infections to help minimise the use of
antibiotics. Tests have shown that Urinaid is highly palatable
and most dogs will take it as a treat.
Canine bladder stones
Bladder stones, also called uroliths, are
aggregations of mineral crystals that can form
in the urinary bladder. Similar stones can
form elsewhere in the urinary tract such as
the kidneys but in dogs the majority form in
the bladder.
Bladder stones can be made of different
minerals. The most common type is composed
of the mineral struvite, which has magnesium,
ammonium and phosphate components. The
formation of bladder stones is in part due to
changes in the acidity (pH value) of the urine.
Struvite tends to form in alkaline urine while
others like calcium oxalate form in acidic urine.
Stones grow in size over time. Left untreated
they cause irritation and/or partially or
completely block the passage of urine.
Other factors that influence the likelihood of a
dog forming bladder stones include:
1. Urinary tract infection. Certain bacterial
infections change the urine pH to
become more alkaline favouring the
formation of struvite stones.
2. Diet. Foods containing high levels of
calcium, magnesium & phosphorus can
promote the formation of bladder stones.
3. Low water intake makes urine more
concentrated and increases the likelihood
of stones forming.
4. Certain breeds such as Miniature
Schnauzers, Bichon Frise, Dalmatians,
Yorkshire Terriers and Bulldogs are
predisposed.
5. Gender. Struvite stones are more
common in bitches as they are more
prone to urinary tract infections while
most other types of stones occur more
commonly in males.
A dog with bladder stones may exhibit some
or all of the following signs:
• Straining to pass urine
• Difficult, slow urination
• Pain when urinating
• Frequent attempts to pass a small volume
of urine
• Incontinence
• Blood in the urine
These mini transponders are guaranteed for the life of your pet. They
are made of biologically inert glass so should not suffer the same
We have been offering PennHIP hip
dysplasia scoring at The Vet Centre since
2001. In fact Stuart was only the third
veterinarian in New Zealand to be trained
and certified in the PennHIP scheme.
PennHIP has been extensively researched
and hip laxity is accurately measured when
the hips are harmlessly distracted. For more
information about PennHIP visit our website
www.vetmarlborough.co.nz or http://info.
antechimagingservices.com/pennhip/
The reason for this is that over the past 30
years the NZVA hip dysplasia scheme has
not realised any substantial lowering of the
incidence of hip dysplasia. A robust analysis
of the NZVA database of all German
Shepherds, Labradors, Golden Retrievers and
Rottweilers that had been hip scored between
1990 and 2008 failed to show a significant
improvement in the hip scores of three of the
four breeds. Even in the German Shepherd the
slightly lower average score did not represent a
substantial change.
It is important to note that the NZVA elbow
scheme continues to operate. Started in 1993,
it has shown to be effective in reducing the
incidence of elbow dysplasia in all four of the
most popular breeds in the database.
The X-ray shows the distraction view for
a Golden Retriever. The Distraction Index
(DI) for the left hip was measured at 0.51
(which means that the ball of the femur was
distracted 51% out of the hip socket) and the
DI for the right hip was 0.49. These scores are
X-ray shows the distraction view
for a Golden Retriever.
ideally less than 0.3 but of the 14,817 Golden
Retrievers tested at that time, the median DI
for the group was 0.54. This dog was in the
60th percentile which means that its hips were
tighter than 60% of this group of dogs. It is
recommended to breed only from those dogs
with hips that score better than the breed
average.
BRAVECTO - flea protection for your dog from a chewable treat!
Bladder stones
This X-ray shows numerous stones in
the bladder of a Miniature Schnauzer.
These stones were successfully removed
surgically. The largest were greater
than 3cm in diameter!
An X-ray or ultrasound is required to confirm
the presence of bladder stones. Treatment
usually involves surgical removal of the stones,
treatment of any concurrent bladder infection
and the feeding of special prescription diets
to help dissolve stones and prevent their
recurrence.
New smaller microchip technology
Microchip technology is changing all the time and we have again
changed the type of microchip we use. The new BackHome mini
transponder is the smallest microchip on the market and for this reason
can be injected through a 25% smaller diameter needle. This means
less tissue damage and less chance of bleeding when the microchip is
inserted into your pet. We always use local anaesthetic when inserting
microchips so that it is a pain-free procedure.
New Zealand is the first country in the world
whose national veterinary association has
endorsed PennHIP as being superior to the
traditional hip dysplasia scheme using X-rays
of the extended hip. As of January 2014 the
NZVA has no longer offered traditional hip
dysplasia scoring. Instead, it now encourages
veterinarians to offer the PennHIP scheme
either through their own training or referring
their breeder clients to an appropriately trained
veterinarian.
problem of failure associated with the older Perspex microchips. They
also have a special coating that prevents them from migrating
away from their original site of insertion, a problem that the
original microchips occasionally suffered.
The new BackHome microchips
are the smallest on the market
and guaranteed for the life
of your pet!
There are many flea products on the market
to choose from but every now and then
there is one that stands out from the crowd.
BRAVECTO is one such product and we are
very excited about its launch. Pour-on flea
products have dominated the market for many
years but BRAVECTO breaks the trend as it
comes as a palatable, chewable treat. Pour-ons
such as Frontline Plus and Revolution are still
great options but not everyone likes applying
messy liquids. Here are some fast facts about
BRAVECTO:
• A full 12 weeks flea and tick
protection from a chewable treat.
• Is not affected by bathing or
swimming so can be applied at
any time.
• No messy liquid to apply and no greasy
spot left on your dog’s neck.
• Safe for use in pregnant/lactating/
breeding bitches.
• Kills fleas fast so helps control flea allergy
dermatitis.
• New active ingredient with no known
resistance.
• Very safe with no known side effects.
• Hypoallergenic so is safe to use with skin
allergies.
• Suitable for dogs from the age of 8 weeks
old and minimum weight of 2kg.
Great news for itchy ears – If your pet hates daily ear drops then this is for you!
Itchy ears are a frustration for both pet and
owner. Many pets hate having ear drops
applied and it can become a frustrating daily
battle to apply the drops. If doses are missed
there is a good chance the treatment will
fail. To be effective the ear drops must pass
right down the ear canal and this can be very
difficult in a wriggly pet.
The great news is that we now have a LONGACTING EAR MEDICATION that your vet
applies during the consultation and again 2
weeks later. You do not need to give any ear
The formulation includes an antifungal
agent to treat yeast infection and a potent
anti-inflammatory to stop the itching and
inflammation. It is applied deep down the ear
canal with a long plastic tube so gets to where
it is needed and there is no risk of missing a
dose.
then you will still
need to use daily
ear drops. During
the consultation
your vet will take
a swab of the ear wax and look down a
microscope to see if yeast or bacteria (or even
mites) are present.
It is specifically for use with yeast infections,
by far the most common ear infection found
in pets. If your pet has a bacterial ear infection
The underlying cause of yeast infection of the
ear is usually allergy and your vet can discuss
this with you during the consultation.
medication at home!
CentrePiece
Large or small, we care for them all!
Staff news
Pictured at right is Elizabeth with her son Luke. Mother and son are both doing well although
Luke has not been a particularly good sleeper, so early motherhood has been a tiring experience
for Elizabeth.
Filling in for Elizabeth during her maternity leave is Charlotte Patterson-Green. It is no
coincidence that Elizabeth and Charlotte share the same surname. They are sisters-in law!
Fancy two brothers both marrying vets!
News from The Vet Centre Marlborough, 7 Redwood Street, Blenheim.
SPRING 2014
Mary Bowron, another vet also on maternity leave has
returned to share in the weekend roster. Mary gave birth
to her first child, Edward born on Boxing Day.
Mack was presented with a deformed front leg that was getting
progressively worse.
You may have seen our job vacancy advertisements recently
for an office manager. Diane Thompson, who has been
with us since The Vet Centre opened sixteen and a half
years ago, is retiring towards the end of September. Diane
Elizabeth and her son Luke
will leave very big shoes to fill and will be sadly missed. We
received in excess of 40 applications for the position, with a high standard of applicants. We are
pleased to announce that Debbie Wilkinson has been appointed to the position. Debbie comes
from a farming background and her most recent position has been with the Marlborough Primary
Health Organisation as their financial administrator.
To keep away the winter blues Caroline has organised our own version of MasterChef. Each second
Monday morning 3 or 4 staff members prepare a dish to a theme for morning tea. They are
presented anonymously to be judged by the rest of the team. The winner advances to a semi-final and then the grand final. We have
been treated to some amazing dishes. We are a competitive bunch with the standard very high this year. Watch out for the cookbook!
PAGE 2
Canine bladder stones
An X-ray or ultrasound is
required to confirm the
presence of bladder stones.
Charlotte Patterson-Green
Why are regular health-checks so important for your pet?
Attitudes towards pets in New
Zealand have changed a lot over the
years. Responsible pet owners now
want the best for their pets including
preventative healthcare rather than
waiting for them to get sick before
seeking treatment.
‘Wellness’ is all about helping your
pet to enjoy a long and healthy life;
keeping them free of pain and distress,
preventable diseases and parasites. As
vets we also want these things for your
pet and we work with you to ensure
they live their life to its full potential.
We provide the professional advice,
services and veterinary products you
need to keep your pet in top condition.
To do this it is essential that we
perform a regular wellness healthcheck on your pet, involving a tip-ofnose to tip-of-tail examination and, if
necessary, blood and urine tests. Based
on our findings we discuss preventative
PAGE 3
PennHIPP Hip Dysplasia
GET ON TOP OF FLEAS
AND WIN
New Zealand is the first country
in the world to endorse this
scheme.
1. Purchase any pack of Revolution® and download deflea.me (app on iPhone or
download via itunes or google play or visit www.defleame.co.nz).
PAGE 3
2. Show clinic staff your deflea.me app
and go into the draw to win an iPad mini.
Great news for itchy ears
If your pet hates daily ear drops
then this is for you!
Regular checks are about
keeping your pet healthy.
health issues specific to your pet,
nutrition, weight management,
parasite control and vaccination.
Young, healthy pets should see a vet at
least once a year for a wellness healthcheck. Remember every year for them
is about seven human years. Healthy
senior pets should have a wellness
check at least twice a year and pets
with ongoing health problems may
well need much more frequent visits.
win me
Proudly brought to you by
Mack’s deformed leg
The prize draw will take place on 7th November 2014.
Winners will be drawn at random. The judge’s decision is
final and no correspondence will be entered into. Winners
will be notified by telephone. The prize cannot be transferred
or exchanged for cash. The Vet Company Group takes no
responsibility for entries that are lost or destroyed. The Vet
Company Employees and families are not eligible to enter.
Any personal information collected as part of this promotion
will be held by The Vet Company Group in accordance with
its privacy policy. You have the right to access, update and
correct such information. The Vet Company Group reserves
the right to use winners’ details for promotional and media
purposes. By entering the draw you are deemed to accept
these terms and conditions. Apple is not a participant in or
sponsor of this promotion.
Zoetis New Zealand Limited. Level 5, 8 Mahuhu Crescent, Auckland 1010, New Zealand. Tel: 0800 963 847, Fax: 0800 628 629.
REVOLUTION is a registered trade mark of Zoetis Inc. or its subsidiaries. ACVM Registration No. A7813, A7816 & A7817. BCG2-H
PFI0473. CA53.
© Copyright 2014. No part of this newsletter may be reproduced without prior permission from the Directors of The Vet Centre Marlborough.
PAGE 4
Why are regular health
checks so important?
It’s about disease prevention
and looking for early signs.
In young animals the bone grows from a cartilage plate at the end of
each of the long bones in the limbs. When growth is complete, these
growth plates ‘close over’ and stop the bone from lengthening.
In the foreleg of dogs
Open growth plate
with bowed radius
there are two bones
side by side, the radius
and the ulna. Mack’s
problem was that the
Humerus pushed back partially
dislocating the elbow joint
lower growth plate in
Humerus pushed back partially Closed ulna
dislocating the elbow joint
growth plate
the ulna had been damaged and had closed over and
Closed ulna growth plate
stopped the ulna growing too early. Unfortunately, the
Pre-op: premature closure of the
radius beside it kept on growing. This resulted in the
growth
plate at lower end of ulna.
radius developing a bow with severe limb deformity as
a result. It was putting so much pressure on the elbow joint that it had become partially dislocated.
Complicated surgery was required. This involved two cuts through the ulna to lengthen it, allowing
the elbow joint to settle back into position, then the
removal of a wedge of bone from the radius to straighten
it. The cut bones were stabilised with a bone pin and
an external fixater. This uses stainless steel pins driven
through the skin into the bones and joined together
with a carbon fibre rod and stainless steel clamps,
clearly visible in the X-ray. Once the bones have knitted
together the fixater will be removed and Mack should
be as good as new.
Post-op: bone pins and external fixater.
Nutro ‘Natural Choice’ for cats and dogs
At The Vet Centre we have now extended our
range of top-quality pet food brands to include
Nutro ‘Natural Choice’ for pets preferring a more
natural diet.
Natural Choice offers all-natural ingredients with
no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives.
Ingredients include real meat (beef free, hormone
free and with no animal by-products such as
chicken heads, feet or intestines), rice, oatmeal,
sunflower oil, eggs, kelp, fish (tuna), pea and corn
protein. It is free of grain fillers such as wheat,
barley or sorghum and contains only natural
antioxidants.
It provides a
complete balanced
diet and being
highly digestible produces less faecal waste. High
levels of omega 6 fatty acids provide healthy skin
and a shiny coat. The large breed dog formula
contains glucosamine and chondroitin for healthy
joints while the cat formula contains natural fibre
to help reduce hairballs.
The Natural Choice range suits different lifestyle
stages with a low calorie option for weight loss and
a grain free, limited-ingredient option useful in
food allergies. Talk to the team at The Vet Centre.
The Vet Centre Marlborough ! Phone 577 9822 ! Email enquire@vetmarlborough.co.nz ! www.vetmarlborough.co.nz