The Vet and The Van

11/06/2024

When people keep rabbiting on about the cold, wet weather but you don't know what their problem is because you only know a life of climate-controlled comfort.

- Wonder.

03/06/2024

I love this poem by Leunig! It was recently sent to me by a vet friend of mine.
What a treat it is to get to see a dog smile almost everyday as part of my job. To see their joy and the joy they bring to their families is one of the best parts about being a vet.

28/05/2024

Wednesday's are still the best day of the week as they're the day we have Jen.
Here's a flashback to sunnier, squintier days when we had time to stop for a little cuppa at the beach.
Working with friends is a joy. Wishing you all a wonderful Wednesday.

27/05/2024

Has anyone investigated whether their cat likes to watch Telekat (Cat TV)?
We've had a couple of our feline patients recently who seem to really love watching it on the big screen and it provides them with great enrichment, especially for indoor cats. There are hours of bird, insect and mice videos for your cat's viewing pleasure. We'd love to know what your cat thinks.

10 minutes of yellow bellied canaries, budgies and finches in HD for your cat to watch and drool over (without the mess) ** Download the full 90 min Telekat ...

07/05/2024

We hope there are good things flying at you this week just like they were at our friend Rufus here.
He never misses a good thing, especially when that good thing smells like liver.

29/04/2024

Today marks one year since the passing of my dearly loved Mabel. I still miss her so much and think of her often. Yesterday I scattered her ashes in a place we both loved.
It's a good reminder for me that grief has no defined beginning or end. Don't let anyone tell you that you shouldn't still feel sadness or mourn the loss of your companion just because a certain amount of time has passed.
Today I'm thinking of all those people who have had to say goodbye to their furry companion, even if it was many years ago. If yours is still with you in this world, treasure them and give them an ear scratch from me.

08/04/2024

** RECEPTIONIST/ ADMIN ASSISTANT REQUIRED **
Business community, I am on the search for a beautiful person to help me with admin and reception work. My previous reception star Sarah had to stepped back due to study commitments so I’m opening up applications for someone new.
If you think you, or someone you know, is the person I’ve been manifesting then please watch the video and send your CV along with a 3-minute video introducing yourself and explaining why you're the person for the job to:
[email protected]
Applications will be open until Friday the 19th of April.
With gratitude, Alysha.

04/04/2024

This is Teddy.
Teddy's primary love language is gift giving, mostly receiving gifts (stuffed toys) and showing them to his friends, like Jen. He generally prefers it if they don't touch the gifts but just look with their eyes.
His secondary love language is physical touch and despite his size he is excellent at sitting on laps.
His mum calls him Teddy Bear which he likes but hopes the neighbourhood dogs don't hear so he can maintain his tough boi image. We LOVE Teddy.

13/03/2024

Did you know aging cats prefer warm food?
Someone has even done a study on it! When cats were offered wet food from the fridge, at room temperature or warmed to body temperature (37 degrees) they significantly preferred the warmer food.
Increasing the temperature increases the flavour and smell profile of the food and it makes sense as this is the temperature of the prey they would have been eating in the wild.
Warming up wet food is great to try if you have a fussy senior cat.

07/03/2024

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY
What a joy it is to be surrounded by so many courageous, kind and wise women. It is, in large part, thanks to the two women in this photo, my mother and my dear friend Amanda, that I am the person I am. Their support and guidance enabled me to create this little business.
Today I've been feeling very grateful for all the trailblazing women both in the veterinary industry and wider community who through their hard work have made things easier for those who came after them, including myself.

01/03/2024

We've been a bit quiet on the old socials of late. Primarily because life has been full of old pets, warm days and iced coffees (and clearly not fringe trims). Being a mobile vet in the Hobart summer is such a dream.
Wishing you all a very Happy Friday and start of the Autumn season.

19/02/2024

We've been feeling the love all week here post Valentine's Day. Jen spent the day with her great love, cats, and treats were dispensed in vast quantities to celebrate the day (and every day she works really).
Lulu and Errol* were also feeling the love.
*Please note Errol's paw on Jen's leg 🥰

01/02/2024

Hiccup here wishes you all a very Happy Friday. She enjoys spending her days relaxing on her deck and overlooking her kingdom.
Hiccup loves nothing more than a human visitor but gets very overwhelmed at vet clinics around other dogs. Luckily Dr Alysha now comes to visit her on her deck, which suits both of them well as the view really is lovely.

22/12/2023

Three free gifts you can give your furry companion this Christmas.
We all love free things and before we clock off for the holidays here a little video of Alysha outlining three of them, skillfully captured by our current work experience student, (Alysha's mother).
We hope you're enjoying the longest day of the year and Happy Holidays.

17/12/2023

**HAPPY HOLIDAYS**
Our little team wishes you all a very Merry Christmas/ Summer Solstice.
We're taking a break from the 23rd of December - 1st of January to enjoy the long days of sunshine and hangout with family.
Thank you to everyone who supported the business in 2023 and trusted us with their furry companions. We are so grateful.
The Christmas gathering consisted of more than just one person this year which was thrilling (thank you Summer Kitchen for the world's best custard tart).
With gratitude, Alysha, Jen, Kellie and Sarah.

15/12/2023

This week's star patient is Snooker. There are few things we love more in the world than a grey muzzle, especially when paired with little grey eyebrows.
Snooker has been having the monthly arthritis injection, Beransa and her family have seen a great improvement in her mobility and reduction in stiffness, especially after walks.
Snooker is an absolute delight and we love visiting her at home.

12/12/2023

This Tribute Tuesday we're sharing some beautiful words from Coco's family and a photograph they generously shared of her in her younger years seen with her trusty hamburger toy.
"We were able to farewell our beautiful Coco in her own home. Kellie was just amazing in her approach and care. There was so much respect shown to Coco, an indication of a very dedicated professional. Kellie took the time to talk with us in a calm and reassuring manner, spoiling Coco with a few last treats before her farewell began.
My husband and I were both heart broken and emotional and we were cared for to.
A beautiful gentle end to 12 wonderful years of Coco being our best friend.
Thank you for understanding the special bond we had with our girl."

10/12/2023

Happy Monday from Wendell and Percy who are certain the vet won't find them in these excellent hiding spots.
Ninja skills, 11/10.

07/12/2023

It warms our hearts when we make a repeat visit to one of our families only to find they've installed non-slip, rubber matting down a once very slippery hallway.
What was previously a source of great stress for their senior dog, and the cause of slips and falls leading to further pain and joint injury, is now a comfortable and assessable thoroughfare for them.
Imagine having arthritis and having to walk over an ice rink to get outside or to your food/ water bowl. Non-slip flooring really is one of the best things you can do for your senior pet!

02/12/2023

This week's star patient is Flynn, the exceptionally beautiful Border Collie. Flynn enjoys long walks in the bush, snacks of all kinds and ear rubs.
He is a rescue dog who recently entered our lives here at The Vet and The Van and we're very glad he did. Those ears, that mane! You're an 11/10.

28/11/2023

This Tribute Tuesday we'd like to share a special tribute to a beautiful dog call Klaus, kindly shared by his family.
‘Klaus was deeply loved. We couldn’t have asked for sweeter guy than him. He was such a softy and rarely put a paw wrong. He had a life filled with adventures, cuddles, and naps in the sun. He had so many little quirks that added up to one big personality ♥️’

27/11/2023

The very special Jen left us a month ago to volunteer with sea turtles at in Naifaru, Maldives.
Her and her partner Luis have been working on coral restoration projects, litter and plastic bottle clean up efforts, turtle enrichment and talking to the local school about what it's like to be a vet nurse (Jen) and marine biologist (Luis).
We miss her terribly but are so proud that she chooses to spend her holidays helping more animals. We're also loving the beach hair 👌

21/11/2023

Saying goodbye is never easy and we are constantly reminded of the power of the human animal bond as we help families say goodbye. We have recently witnessed such beautiful and peaceful transitions with families putting such thought and care into the experience.
One family prepared their dogs favourite meal for him to eat just before he passed (ice cream and a flake), another family handpicked their cats favourite flowers from their garden to bury with her and another family had each written out their favourite memory of their beloved pet to share and bury with her.
This is Roxy who passed away this week at home with her beloved family beside her. They planted Lamb's-ears in her honour to remember how beautiful and soft her ears were.
Her little footprint is memorialised in clay which is something we offer to all families. Thank you to her family for letting us share her beautiful photograph.

13/11/2023

If you've called our work phone recently you've probably spoken to our lovely new receptionist Sarah. She came on board a few months ago to help us with our increasing number of calls and emails. She also occasionally helps us with puppy holding (as seen in this photograph).
Sarah has two Labrador's of her own, Molly and George, and has personal experience with palliative care and in home euthanasia with her last beautiful Labrador, Mac.
Her help enables the rest of the team to focus more on the care of the pets we're with as well as hopefully meaning we can get back to your calls and emails sooner. Thanks Sarah!

02/11/2023

I've returned to our beautiful island and back to consults this week. Thank you to everyone for your patience while I've been away and to my fantastic team for keeping things running so smoothly while I had a break.
It was great to get away and even greater to come home.
I look forward to seeing some of my favourite patients and their families over the coming weeks.
Happy Friday from Bruny, Alysha.

12/10/2023

**HAPPY VETERINARY NURSE DAY**

On vet nurse day we'd like to make a special shout out to our very special vet nurse Jen as well as all the other amazing nurses who love and care for our furry companions.
This little business would not be half of what it is without the support, ideas, kindness and encouragement of Jen.
You make our days brighter, our patients happier and you find all the things we cannot find, which is most things. The best things we've learnt we've learnt from nurses.
Forever grateful to you, Alysha and Kellie.

30/09/2023

This is the face of one very excited human who today graduated from a year long program to become a certified animal hospice and palliative care veterinarian.
I'm currently over in TEXAS (I had to capitalise that because everything is BIG in Texas) at the International Association for Animal Hospice and Palliative Care conference and today was our graduation day.
Working as a vet, running a small business and studying at the same time was really tough and I'm very proud to have made it to the end of this program. Thank you to my community for all your support and to Queen Mabel for her inspiration and encouragement. She is the reason I am so passionate about this work.
I'm excited to be a part of this emerging field of veterinary medicine and to bring this knowledge to the dogs and cats of Hobart. I'll be taking a break until early November but am leaving you in the capable hands of my team.
Yee-haw from Texas, Alysha.

11/09/2023

"What do you mean I have to cut back on the Churu's?"

- Errol (unsure who let these people and their opinions into his house. Hopes his human is not listening.)

08/09/2023

Happy Birthday to the amazing Jake who turned 16 this week! 🥳
Jake lives the dream life out on his little farm with his family. He's doing remarkably well for a 16 year old dog with the help of some excellent pain relieving medications and a very loving and caring family.
He spent his birthday getting lots of cuddles and liver treats. We love nothing more than a beautiful senior dog and just look at that face 🥰

06/09/2023

Belly rubs are an important treatment modality which we dispense in vast quantities.
Jen's are particularly sought after, as seen here with Holly and Sprocket, one of our favourite duos.