North Queensland Veterinary Service

08/04/2025

🐾 While it’s tempting to throw sticks for your dog to fetch, this is a bit of a “sticking point” for pet safety!

Unfortunately, some canine patients have suffered painful mouth or throat injuries from grabbing a bouncing stick too hastily.

If your dog loves fetch, we recommend safer options such as frisbees, balls, or other toys designed for dogs to grab and carry safely. 🎾

For more information on safe exercise options for your pet, consult our play-proficient team.

07/04/2025

Did you know we offer FREE nurse dental checks for all our furry friends? Our experienced nurses can assess your pet’s teeth and gums, catch potential issues early, and provide expert advice on dental care.

Early detection = healthier, happier pets! Preventing dental problems now can save your pet from pain, tooth loss, and more serious health concerns later.

📅 Book your pet’s complimentary dental check today—because every smile deserves the best care! 💙

03/04/2025

Last week, three of our team - Bill, Jack & Jason - attended the joint Australian Cattle Vets and Veterinary Business Group Conference in Newcastle.

It was a wonderful opportunity to catch up with colleagues from around Australia, learn about cutting edge developments in our profession and share stories and ideas about how we can deliver better services to our patients and clients.

Jason delivered two presentations about some unique things we are doing at TVS, and Bill helped run the charity auction at the Gala Dinner, which raised over $25,000 for the family of Dr John Hosie, one of our TVS family who was tragically taken too soon in a farming accident last year.

Conferences like these are so important for our team to continue their learning and development, and keep TVS at the forefront of veterinary science.

03/04/2025

🐱 If your cat is elderly or spends most of their time indoors, they’ll likely need a helping hand to prevent painful nail overgrowth.

Cats who aren’t able to keep their claws in check with natural outdoor activities usually require a nail trim every 4–6 weeks.

If you’re not sure how to do this, we’d recommend a consultation with our lovely nurses. We can regularly trim your cat’s nails for you or show you the best feline-friendly techniques for doing it at home. ✂️

With our help, you’ll be nailing your cat’s manicures in no time!

02/04/2025

FREE Heartworm Test This April!

Did you know that month of APRIL is National Heartworm awareness month. We are partnering with Zoetis to offer FREE heartworm tests this month! 🩺✨

🔹 Who’s eligible?
✔️ Pets with no history of heartworm prevention
✔️ Pets currently on monthly prevention
✔️ Pets with a lapsed prevention history

🚨 Why it matters: One mosquito bite can transmit heartworms—prevention is safer & cheaper than treatment!

Conditions do apply, contact our friendly team to book your pet’s FREE test today!
Let’s keep them healthy & heartworm-free. 🐾

01/04/2025

Young horses can be predisposed to dental problems during their growing years which should be assessed regularly prior to, during and after their initial breaking in periods.

Between the ages of 2.5 years and 4.5 years-of-age, horses will shed 24 baby teeth – both premolars (cheek) and incisor (front) teeth. These teeth are then replaced by adult teeth. During this eruption process, shards and remnants of their baby teeth may become lodged between their growing adult teeth or in their gums causing painful abscesses or discomfort.

This is why it is essential that horses between the ages of two and four have regular dental checks, especially if being prepared for competition. Due to the horses age and learning stage, dental pain can easily lead to resistance in training and bad behaviours such as head tossing, lugging, rearing, bolting and getting the tongue over the bit.

If you have young horses currently being prepared for competition, get in touch with our team today to see how we can assist with their dental needs.

01/04/2025

🐶 Rainy day? No problem! If you’d rather not don a raincoat for a soggy dog walk, you can still help your pup burn off energy with these fun indoor play ideas:

✅ Tug-of-war games with a strong tug toy
✅ Playing fetch down a hallway
✅ Working on obedience training
✅ Hide-and-seek games with treats hidden around the room for your dog to sniff out
✅ Filling up a puzzle toy or lick mat with food or treats
✅ Making a “lucky dip” game using an old cardboard box, lots of scrunched-up paper, and sprinkled treats

For more advice on keeping your dog in tip-top shape mentally and physically, consult our canine-competent team. 🐾

28/03/2025

Does your fur baby have specific dietary needs or take regular medications? 🐾
Be sure to reach out to your clinic in advance to place an order, so we have everything ready when you need it!

To order, give our clinic a call on 07 4056 4600. Our team will be happy to assist you! 💙

27/03/2025

Did you know that two of the three vaccines in the F3 core feline vaccine protect against viruses that cause cat flu? 😺

That’s because cat flu is very prevalent in cat populations, and one of the viruses, herpesvirus, causes a lifetime predisposition to illness.

Cats can become exposed to cat flu anywhere where there are other cats—such as shelters, catteries, and even roaming outdoors. 🌳 Cats should be vaccinated annually against cat flu to stay protected. 💉

📅 Make sure your cat stays protected—book their annual vaccination with us today!

25/03/2025

When we vaccinate pets, we want them to be well. 🏥 Why? Because vaccines stimulate the immune system to generate specific antibodies, and if the immune system is already challenged by illness, they might not generate the required response.

However, it’s a bit of a grey area as to what degree of illness would necessitate rescheduling vaccines. Healthy pets get the best protection from vaccinations. ✅

If your pet has been unwell prior to their vaccination appointment, give the clinic a call to check if it’s still OK to come down. 📞

20/03/2025

If you have a nervous dog, you probably dread a visit to the vet as much as they do. 😬 However, vet visits don’t have to be filled with anxiety.

First, make sure you bring them in as much as you can! While this might seem counterintuitive, desensitising them by bringing them in just for cuddles and treats 🦴 can help them feel calmer in the future. Don’t let anxiety stop your dog from getting their vaccinations. 🐕

Second, let our vet know your dog is nervous. We can help through behaviour modification, treats, and medication. 💙

🐶 If your dog is anxious about vet visits, chat with us for advice!

18/03/2025

Modern vaccines are very safe, with only a few known but uncommon side effects. The most common side effects to vaccines in cats are lethargy and a reduced appetite. 🐱💤 For some cats, they can experience rare but serious side effects such as an allergic reaction, vomiting and diarrhoea, or a mass at the injection site.

Keep an eye out for these vaccine side effects in cats. 👀 All side effects are uncommon, however, if your cat hasn’t had a vaccine before, we ask that you wait at the clinic for 10-15 minutes afterwards just in case. 🏥

💬 Have concerns? Give us a call—we’re happy to help!

17/03/2025

Thanks Vet Practice for sharing our story! Really proud to be showcasing what a wonderful profession we share and amazing career that EVERYONE can find in veterinary medicine.

Tableland Veterinary Service (TVS), a regional veterinary group with eight clinics across Far North Queensland, has been named one of Australia’s 30 Best Workplaces for Women by Great Place to Work® Australia. The only veterinary business on the list and one of just three regional employers recog...

13/03/2025

Bringing a puppy into your home is an exciting time. 🏡🐶 However, just like babies, puppies need several vaccines over a number of weeks to ensure they are protected against deadly conditions like parvovirus.

Stick to the puppy vaccine schedule to ensure your new pup stays healthy. ✅ Puppies usually start with the core C3 vaccine at 6-8 weeks of age, followed by a C5 vaccine at 10-12 weeks and another C5 at 14-16 weeks. If your dog is at risk of leptospirosis, this vaccination will be on top of the normal schedule. 💉

📅 Make sure your puppy stays on track—book their next vaccination with us now!

11/03/2025

We get it, life is busy! ⏳ It’s easy to forget dates or miss reminders leading to our pet’s vaccinations becoming overdue. But what does that mean for our pet?

Well, for many vaccines, it means a booster vaccine will be required or even the entire ‘puppy schedule’ of vaccines done again. This is because for some diseases, the protective effects of vaccination wane quickly.

If your pet is overdue for vaccinations, don’t delay—rebook today! 📅 The sooner we restart their vaccines, the better. 🐶💉

08/03/2025

Happy International Women’s Day!

To all the incredible women in veterinary medicine—your compassion, dedication, and expertise make the world a better place for animals and people alike. Your hard work, resilience, and care inspire us every day.

Today, we celebrate YOU—your strength, your achievements, and your unwavering commitment to healing and helping. Keep making a difference!

Thank you for all that you do. 💜🐾

06/03/2025

With International Women's Day fast approaching, we are humbled to announce that Tableland Veterinary Service have been recognised by Great Places to Work as one of Australia's 30 Best Workplaces for Women.
Over the last 20 years, the gender balance of the veterinary profession has dramatically changed, and now over 85% of veterinary graduates - and over 85% of our team - identify as female.
Recognition as one Australia's Best Workplaces for Women, one of only two workplaces based in rural Australia, is an credit to our team and leaders who have fostered a culture that prioritises family, flexibility and supports all of our team - female and male - to balance our important and rewarding work with living their best life.
We still have plenty of work to do to make Tableland Veterinary Service the workplace we aspire to, but this award is an incredibly humbling reminder of the progress we've made.
You can check out the full list of companies that made the list here: https://greatplacetowork.com.au/australia-best-workplaces-for-women-2025/
Here's to celebrating all of the amazing women in veterinary science and rural Australia making our world a better place. ❤

06/03/2025

While all pets get a check-up during vaccinations, for young puppies, pre-vaccination checks are even more important.

🐾 As puppies grow, it’s important to keep an eye on their overall health so any issues can be fixed early. For example, sometimes puppies don’t lose their baby teeth as they should, and this needs early detection to avoid permanent dental damage. 🦷 Another example is monitoring bone growth to pick up any deformities or unusual growth rates early.

Health checks are just as important as vaccinations for puppies! 💛📅 Book a pre-vaccination health check for your puppy today!