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AORANGIVETS PETS

The Small Animal Newsletter for Aorangivets
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Small Animal Newsletter 

April 2015

In this issue:
  • Cat Bite Abscesses
  • Pet Insurance
  • Lifestyler Newsletter
  • Hayleys' Hints - Minimizing Hairballs 
Cat Bite Abscesses
One of the more common conditions we treat are cat bite abscesses. These, as the name suggests are a result of a cat bite (and who said veterinary medicine was hard?!).

The classic history is the cat was in a fight 7-10 days ago. The cat may have been off colour for a day, but seemed to come right. When we see them there is usually a large pus filled abscess at the site of the bite. These are not usually painful, but can stink. The cat is often “out of sorts” at this stage due to the large amount of toxin in its system as a result of the infection.
 
Treatment usually involves anaesthetizing the cat, draining the abscess and doing a bit of trickery to keep the abscess draining.   We will also put the cat on antibiotics. 

There is a way to prevent the surgery having to be done however. If we see the cat at the time of the fight and treat immediately with antibiotics, we will often prevent the abscess occurring. This not only saves the cat from surgery, but also saves the owner the price of an anesthetic and surgery.

Another potential issue of the bite is Feline Aids (FIV). The most common cause of FIV infection is through cat bites, so we will often suggest an FIV test for cats who are recalcitrant fighters!


 
Pet Insurance
Most people don’t expect their pet to require expensive veterinary treatment but when something major does occur to your pet (either a major accident or disease) the path of treatment, and possibly the outcome depends on how much money you are able to, or wish to spend on the diagnosis and treatment.
 
There are several animal health insurance providers operating in New Zealand. We haven’t got that many clients using these companies’ services, but those who are on the whole are very pleased with them.
 
The schemes are very similar to human schemes where the price depends on what services you are covered for.
 
If you want more information about Pet health Insurance, contact us at the clinic or follow the links to the three main main Pet Insurance Companies in New Zealand.
 
Southern Cross Insurance
Pet-n-Sure
PetPlan
Lifestyler Newsletter
Aorangi Veterinary Services pride themselves in providing top of
the line animal health services and advice. It does not matter
how big, how small or how many animals you have, we have the
expertise and knowledge to assist you and your livestock.
Katie Bowron has recently joined us at Highfield as an
experienced mixed animal vet. With her arrival, Highfield is
striving to provide you with all the technical knowledge and
products that you need to maximize the health of your stock.

Lifestyle blocks create a unique scenario where farm and
companion animals are kept for both enjoyment (and often just
as importantly for production purposes). Aorangi Veterinary
Services Highfield have the expertise and knowledge to help
you get the most out of all your lifestyle animals ranging from
cattle, sheep, poultry, alpacas, cats, rabbits, dogs or pigs. Whilst
we offer a full array of routine veterinary services such as
disbudding calves, routine vaccinations and seeing your sick
animals we also provide advice around general animal health,
pasture management, stocking rates, reproduction, nutrition
and much more.

We have developed a lifestyle block specific programme.
This programme can be tailored to suit your specific animal
health requirements. An annual animal health calendar is
provided with key dates detailed to your farming operation.
Dates include vaccinations, drenching, faecal egg count testing,
trace mineral checks. You will also be able to opt for reminders
via text or phone to ensure these key components of good
animal husbandry are not forgotten.

If you are interested in this service or would like more
information contact the Highfield clinic on 03) 6879378.

 Some of you may have already seen a copy of our newsletter "The Lifestyler". This newsletter, as the name suggests is aimed directly at the "lifestylers", and contains topical seasonally based issues, useful hints and interesting tit-bits that are relevant to lifestylers.

We are preparing a digital edition of this newsletter. If you would like to receive a digital copy of this newsletter delivered directly to your email account, follow the link below.
Subcribe to "The Lifestyler"
Hayleys' Hints
Minimizing hairballs
 
Cats are precise groomers, often washing themselves several times a day. When enough ingested hair collects in a cat's digestive tract, it forms a hairball. Most hairballs are harmlessly coughed up or passed through your cat.
Cats with long hair and those that shed heavily or groom excessively are especially prone to developing hairballs.
 
Signs of a problem:
  • Presence of hairballs - expelled from your cat's mouth
             or present in the litter box
  • Frequent hackling, coughing and gagging
  • Constipation or loose stools
 What can you do?
 
Though you may not eliminate hairballs completely, you can help minimize their occurrence
  • Brush regularly to remove loose hair and mats. Long-haired cats should be brushed every day and those with short hair, once a week
  • Give your cat a daily food specially-formulated for hairball control.
Hills science diet hairball control has a unique fibre blend to comfortably pass    hairballs through and an ideal fatty acid balance for a healthy coat and skin.
  • If you suspect a hairball burden, a cat laxative paste (Cat Lax) can be used. This will pass the hairballs through the intestines.
Copyright © 2015 Aorangi Veterinary Services Ltd, All rights reserved.


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