Geelong Animal Referral Services

Geelong Animal Referral Services Staffed & Accepting Referrals 24/7

Leading Veterinary Specialist and Emergency Centre

•Surgery •Medicine •Imaging •Anaesthesia •Oncology •Mobile Vet

We believe that our close communication with your local vet is essential in achieving the best care.

Geelong dog owners, we need you! 🫵Dog blood is in short supply at the moment, GARS is in desperate need for local dogs t...
27/11/2025

Geelong dog owners, we need you! 🫵

Dog blood is in short supply at the moment, GARS is in desperate need for local dogs to join our life saving blood donor program.

Could your pet help another in need?

Please share to anyone you know with a dog above 23kg that might be able to join our donation list 🙏

Call 03 4219 2169 if you would like to register or have any questions.

Jock’s CT with our GARS imaging department confirmed very large right lateralising T12-T13 disc extrusion. The CT video ...
25/11/2025

Jock’s CT with our GARS imaging department confirmed very large right lateralising T12-T13 disc extrusion.

The CT video follows Jock’s spine. The vertebrae are bright white and the vertebral canal in the centre contains the spinal cord. A large mineralised disc (also bright white) can be seen within the vertebral canal, which has compressed Jocks spinal cord (grey central space, indicated by the arrow).

Follow along to see Jock’s spinal surgery at GARS.

Geelong Animal Referral Services is reaching out to the Geelong community in search of local dogs and cats who can join ...
20/11/2025

Geelong Animal Referral Services is reaching out to the Geelong community in search of local dogs and cats who can join our lifesaving blood donor program.

Each donor receives a complimentary health check and full blood screening to ensure they are suitable to donate, along with a bag of food as our way of saying thank you. Most importantly, these pets become a part of the GARS team of heroes; helping other animals during emergency and critical care.

Cat Donor Criteria:
❤️ Excellent Health
❤️ 1 - 8 years old
❤️ Above 4.5kg
❤️ Up to date with recent vaccinations, worming and parasite control

Dog Donor Criteria:
❤️ Excellent Health
❤️ 1 - 8 years old
❤️ Above 23kg
❤️ Up to date with vaccinations

If you have a dog or cat who would be a suitable candidate to donate blood, please reach out to us, or see our website for more details – www.garsvets.com.au

GARS HAS YOUR BACK PT 5:After Jock’s neurological assessment, he was transferred to our Imaging Department for a CT scan...
18/11/2025

GARS HAS YOUR BACK PT 5:

After Jock’s neurological assessment, he was transferred to our Imaging Department for a CT scan. GARS is one of the few centers to have its own on-ste CT scanner and MRI scanner. Spinal patients are frequently scanned with either machine or both machines, depending on what is required to optimize diagnosis and treatment planning.

Imaging is a critical step in accurately diagnosing Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD); helping rule out other causes of spinal pain while guiding surgical planning. While a neurological exam can localise the affected region, imaging shows precise location, extent of disease and which side of the spine is most affected.

What is the difference between MRI and CT?

MRI offers detailed visualisation of the spinal cord and soft tissue, allowing us to pinpoint the affected disc, the degree of compression, and any spinal cord injury, including swelling and fluid accumulation. The MR machine is a large magnet, weighing 7.5ton and takes around 1hour for image collection.

CT provides excellent definition of bone and mineralised disc material. It confirmins calcified or ruptured discs with precision but is less predictable in older patients. CT is an excellent modality for surgical planning and is much faster than MR, with CT image collection times less than a minute.

Combination of CT & MR is regularly performed and provides exceptional detail.

Results from scans directly inform the surgical approach including the level, side, length of decompression and any additional findings unique to each patient.

GARS HAS YOUR BACK PT 5: ​This is Jock, after several days of unsteady movement in his hind limbs(pelvic limb ataxia-par...
16/11/2025

GARS HAS YOUR BACK PT 5: ​

This is Jock, after several days of unsteady movement in his hind limbs
(pelvic limb ataxia-paresis), he presented to GARS for investigation and treatment.​

Neurological assessment with Dr Ricky Cashmore revealed a loss of ‘paw awareness’ (known as conscious proprioception) and an absence of the skin twitch reflex (cutaneous trunci reflex) behind the level of the first lumbar vertebra (L1).​

Pain was detected around the thoracolumbar (mid-back) region, with exaggerated patella reflexes (aka knee jerk reflex) in the hind limbs; all signs pointing to a spinal cord injury near the area located at end the end of his rib cage (middle of the back). ​

Findings from neurological assessment help our specialists pinpoint where spinal cord injury has occurred (essential for MRI and CT imaging) and also provide a ‘prognostic guide’ on the expected recovery following treatment. ​

Stay tuned for Jock’s IVDD journey at GARS.​

With Great Moustache, Comes Great Responsibility!By Improving men's health, we can have a MASSIVE IMPACT, not only on me...
12/11/2025

With Great Moustache, Comes Great Responsibility!

By Improving men's health, we can have a MASSIVE IMPACT, not only on men themselves but on their supporters, families, and society.

Join the movement by sharing this post, donating to the link in our bio or scanning a QR code in our hospital reception.

https://movember.com/m/13907022?mc=1

Grow It, Support It!

GARS HAS YOUR BACK PT 3:​Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) can progress rapidly. Early recognition of symptoms can impr...
12/11/2025

GARS HAS YOUR BACK PT 3:​

Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) can progress rapidly. Early recognition of symptoms can improve patient recovery.​

Common early signs may include:​
• Reluctance to move, jump or use stairs​
• Quiet or withdrawn behaviour, hiding or resting in unusual places​
• Sensitivity to touch, crying or aggression when handled​
• Trembling, shaking or yelping​

Yelping/crying when lifted off the ground​
• Stiff posture, hunched back or shuffling walk​
• Holding the head high, low or at an unusual angle​
• Avoiding normal behaviours such as rolling over or shaking the body​

As the condition progresses, symptoms can become more severe:​
• Intense pain and trembling and vomiting​

• Toe knuckling​
• Weakness, wobbliness or crossing over of the hind legs​
• Inability to stand or walk normally​
• Loss of bladder or bowel control​
• Paralysis​

If you notice any of these signs, restrict your dog’s movement by crate resting, then call GARS on 03 4219 2169.​

Paralysis is a medical emergency; GARS is here for you 24/7, 365.​

In Flanders fields the poppies blowBetween the crosses, row on row,That mark our place; and in the skyThe larks, still b...
11/11/2025

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly.
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow
Loved, and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

In Flanders Fields
By John McCrae

09/11/2025

GARS HAS YOUR BACK PT 2:
​
At GARS, our specialist surgeons remove the disc material that is pressing on the spinal cord while leaving the normal parts of the disc intact via a ‘Ventral Slot’ (neck) or Hemilaminectomy (back). If the disc
is bulging (rather than ruptured), they may recommend a spinal fusion as the best approach to remove pressure from the spinal cord. ​

After surgery, dogs will need crate rest and strictly controlled exercise. ​

IVDD has a strong genetic component. Short-legged
(chondrodystrophic) breeds like French Bulldogs, Dachshunds, Shih Tzus, Pekingese and Beagles are more likely to develop calcified discs at a much younger age than longer-legged breeds. ​

If your dog has IVDD, contact GARS to arrange a consultation with our specialist surgeons; Dr Adrian Wallace, Dr Ricky Cashmore and Dr Alastair Mather. At GARS, we are very lucky, to have some of the most
experienced spinal surgeons in the country. ​



GARS HAS YOUR BACK PT 2:​Your dog’s spine is made up of a chain of vertebrae that are cushioned by discs (intervertebral...
08/11/2025

GARS HAS YOUR BACK PT 2:​

Your dog’s spine is made up of a chain of vertebrae that are cushioned by discs (intervertebral discs). The discs allow them to bend, flex and turn. Each disc has a tough outer ring of cartilage and a soft, gel-like centre that acts like a shock absorber.​

Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) occurs when these discs begin to deteriorate; this process is driven by genetics (hence certain breeds are at increased risk) and age. ​

As the disc degenerate, the gel-like centre can dry out and harden (a process called calcification). Cracks form around the center of the disc leading to possible rupture. If that occurs, the center of the disc ejects upward into the spinal canal, which compresses the spinal cord (loss of movement/feeling) and nerves (pain). Trauma can also cause a disc to shift or rupture with the same consequence. ​

Your dog's spinal cord is like a bundle of electrical wires and when they are compressed/squashed, messages between the legs and brain cannot get through. This can lead to pain, weakness, loss of bladder control or even sudden paralysis.​

Images show what the spine looks like before and after surgery in a dog with IVDD. This patient has a rupture (extrusion) treated via hemilaminectomy. ​


GARS HAS YOUR BACK PT 1:​There are 30 major spinal bones in the canine spine (excluding the tail). ​The center of these ...
07/11/2025

GARS HAS YOUR BACK PT 1:​

There are 30 major spinal bones in the canine spine (excluding the tail). ​

The center of these spinal bones is a tubular shape and it houses/protects the spinal cord and nerves.​

Discs are located between all of these bones except the first two and the last three (sacrum). These discs allow the spine to bend and twist. The disc has a firm outer ring and soft center (nucleus pulposus). ​

Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) that results in compression of nerves or the spinal cord occur in patients of most ages 1yr-15yr.​

Symptoms relate to which disc(s) are affected, the degree and rate of compression. Symptoms can develop rapidly (seconds-minutes) or progress over hours-days. ​

The most common location for disc rupture (IVDD) is the middle of the back (near the last rib). The second most common location is in the
neck. ​

Early recognition of symptoms can improve patient recovery.​

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Units 9/10 7-21 Newcastle Street
Newtown, VIC
3220

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