McGraths Hill Veterinary Centre

10/02/2025

IMPORTANT RABBIT HEALTH UPDATE

A wild rabbit control program is scheduled for early March 2025 in the Greater Sydney Local Government Areas, including the Central Coast. As part of this initiative, the RHDV1-K5 (Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus, a strain of rabbit calicivirus) will be released. While this will primarily target wild rabbits, pet rabbits are also at risk.

To ensure your rabbit’s safety, it’s crucial to vaccinate your pet before March 1, 2025. RHDV1-K5 is highly contagious and deadly, and all rabbits, including domestic pets, can be affected.

24/12/2024

Merry Christmas from all of us! May your holidays be filled with happiness.

23/12/2024

CHRISTMAS and NEW YEAR OPENING HOURS

Today Monday 23rd December - Consultations 4 pm - 6.30 pm

Tuesday 24th December - Consultations 8 am to 4.30 pm

CLOSED - Christmas Day 25th and Boxing Day 26th

Normal hours 27th, 28th and 30th December

Tuesday 31st December - Consultations 8 am to 4.30 pm

Closed Wednesday 1 st January

Normal hours from Thursday 2nd January

02/12/2024

PARALYSIS TICK
We cannot stress enough please ensure your dogs and cats are up to date with their tick prevention. There are multiple oral and spot on products for cats and dogs, in addition there is now an injection for dogs.

This year is the WORST tick season that we have ever seen. We have had more tick cases in the last month than we have ever seen as a clinic in the last 10 years. Tick cases have come from all areas of the Hawkesbury including McGraths Hill, Oakville, Pitt Town, Vineyard, Cattai and South Maroota.

In addition to tick prevention please perform daily tick checks on your animals, especially if they have gone to the coast or into the bush. Tick paralysis can also occur in other animals e.g. goats and sheep.

Common side effects of paralysis tick:
- incoordination
- weakness
- collapse
- vomiting or retching
- change in sound of bark or meow
- difficulty breathing.

25/11/2024

🚨 Heat Stroke Alert! 🌡️

This week's temperature surge puts your pet at risk. Brachycephalic breeds, overweight & older dogs are most vulnerable.

15 MINUTES can be fatal if you don't act fast!

Watch for signs: panting, drooling, struggling to breathe... ⏰

Ensure shelter, cooling options & water for your furry friend! If suspicious of heat stroke, rush to the nearest vet - even if they seem fine.

Call 02 4587 9000 or email [email protected] with questions.

03/11/2024

Last puppy class of the year

𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸!

Our last puppy class for the year is starting Tuesday the 12th of November at 𝗠𝗰𝗚𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘀 𝗛𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗩𝗲𝘁.
Open to puppies 8 - 16 weeks of all breeds.
Use the link below to secure your spot ⬇️

https://k9instinct.as.me/schedule/b7628c3d/category/Group%2520Classes/appointment/70367955/calendar/7771137

30/09/2024

This cute little puppy came to visit this morning. He was very excited to be at the vets loving his treats and cuddles. Can you guess the breed?

25/08/2024

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL DOG DAY
Please show us photos of your dogs.

📸Your Best Furiend Dog Photography

23/08/2024

CANINE HEARTWORM
There have been confirmed heartworm cases in dogs in the past week at Penrith, Blacktown, Bathurst and Quakers Hill!

Heartworm disease is caused by a parasite called Dirofilaria immitis and is spread from dog to dog by mosquitoes.

Common symptoms of heartworms in dogs:
- Seeming breathless or struggling to catch their breath.
- Coughing after exercise.
- Refusing to exercise or play
- Seeming lethargic or weak.
- A bulging chest cavity.
- Unintentional weight loss.
- Loss of appetite.
- Irregular heartbeat.
- Weight loss.
- Pale gums
- Shortness of breath
- Enlarged abdomen due to fluid build up

It is really important that your dog is up to date with heartworm treatment. Oral intestinal wormers DO NOT prevent against heartworm.

There are monthly tablets to prevent against heartworm (e.g. Nuheart, Heartguard plus), many of the tick products also contain a heartworm preventative (e.g. Simparica Trio or Nexgard Spectra), spot on products (e.g. advocate, revolution) or a yearly injection (Proheart SR12).

Whilst heartworm is rarely seen in cats, it can also be transmitted to cats by mosquitos. However, many of the tick or flea spot on products help prevent heartworm also.

22/08/2024

PARALYSIS TICK'S

We have already had our first paralysis tick cases for the season this week. Please ensure that you are up to date with your pets tick prevention and that if you are going into the bush or to high tick areas you are performing daily tick checks on your pets.

Common side effects of paralysis tick:
- Incoordination
- Weakness
- Collapse
- Vomiting or retching
- Change in sound of bark or meow
- Difficulty breathing

Tick Preventative Products available for dogs include: orals (e.g. Nexgard Spectra, Simparica Trio, Bravecto), spot ons (e.g. Bravecto, Advantix), Tick Collars (e.g. Seresto) and yearly injectable (e.g. Bravecto Quantum).

Tick Preventative Products available for cats include: spot ons (e.g. Bravecto, Bravecto Plus, Revolution Plus, Nexgard Spectra, Felpreva).

30/07/2024

Microchipping *IMPORTANT UPDATE*

All pets MUST be registered with council by 12 weeks of age. If the breeder still has the animal at 12 weeks of age, they are required to pay the registration fee.

Owners are only required to pay the standard Lifetime Registration Fee at this time. If your pet has not been desexed or had a delayed desexing recommendation noted on the Pet Registry by 6 months of age you will be charged the extra fee for an undesexed pet.
There are BRAND NEW forms for the pet registry system.

These can be downloaded from the website. https://www.petregistry.olg.nsw.gov.au/registration-and-permit-fees/forms

It is now mandatory for all litters to have Mum’s microchip number recorded on the permanent identification form.

All cats and dogs must be microchipped before being sold or given away, or by 12 weeks of age.

For further information - https://www.petregistry.olg.nsw.gov.au/

08/06/2024

We wish you all a lovely long weekend and hope your all staying safe with all the flooding.

We will be CLOSED on Monday 10th June due to the King’s Birthday Public Holiday. We will reopen Tuesday 11th June.

📷Your Best Furiend Dog Photography

22/05/2024

The morning tea is getting ready to start! Come on down grab a cuppa and a bite to eat. All money to the cancer council! We also have an amazing raffle. We will be here to 3pm!!!

22/05/2024

Less than 24 hours to until our Biggest Morning Tea! Coffee, Tea and home baked goodies available from 10am to 3pm tomorrow in our waiting room.

We also have a raffle with 79 prizes! All proceeds go to the Cancer Council. Tickets are $1 per ticket or $5 for 6 tickets! tickets are on sale until 3pm tomorrow!

Let your friends know and we hope to see you tomorrow.

20/05/2024

Only 3 days left to get your raffle tickets for our Biggest Morning Tea raffle. Tickets are $1 per ticket or $5 for 6 with the raffle drawn at the conclusion of our morning tea on Thursday 23rd at 3pm! We have 79 raffle prizes, so think about what suits you in case you get a phone call on Thursday winning a prize!

16/05/2024

One week to go to we host our Biggest Morning Tea! Our morning tea will on Thursday 23rd May from 10am to 3pm! All money goes to the cancer council.

We also have an amazing raffle with now 79 prizes! It includes dog food, dog toys, tick and flea products, kitchen products, grooming products and lots of cat and dog beds! Kai has been checking out what he wants to win. Tickets are now on sale, so if your passing by please call in and grab your tickets.

04/05/2024

SAVE THE DATE

We will be hosting Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea on Thursday 23rd May from 10am – 3pm

We have our raffle again this year with tickets on sale NOW. Lots of wonderful prizes from food to toys to tick products to beds to kitchen items!

What prize do you want to win? Kai checked all the prizes out today!

24/04/2024

Our clinic will closed on Thursday 25th April for Anzac Day and will reopen for normal trading hours Friday 26th April.

Lest We Forget