PCAT Auckland by Lauren RVN

31/10/2024

Misty wanted to let all the pet pawrents know that we want to celebrate your pets this Halloween. 6 Flounder Road, Hobsonville Point is decorated and will have treats for not only humans but cats and dogs too. Last weekend they went quickly. Available from 6pm.

29/10/2024

Happy 5th Birthday to Miss Molly who is a PCAT regular. Looking pawfect as always.

21/10/2024

Whether you need help with medicating, training, pet sitting, or some advice, help is here.

21/10/2024

Vet nurse Lauren is pet sitting the lovable Luna, who is an "affection eater," which means she likes company and even being petted at meal times. It is thought, however, that naturally, cats are solitary eaters, so there are many theories behind why our domesticated cats may be this way.

One is that it stems from kittenhood where they would eat with their siblings, and some of them just do not grow out of the habit.

Another thing is that the cat feels comfortable and safe with the person, and the feeling of safety makes them more comfortable eating. Eating in the wild can be a vulnerable time and so having someone they trust makes them feel safer.

Not all cats will be "affection eaters," though, so it is important to respect our cats' unique needs. Watch their body language, and if they are moving away from you or getting irritable, leave them alone to enjoy their meal.

18/10/2024

Come see us at Barking Mad Dog Markets & Events in takapuna now.

We are here to offer free advice and we have the most pawesome supplements by Gourmate on sale too!

16/10/2024

It may sound counterintuitive, but using a longer leash can actually give you more control over your dog 🙀

As we have stated in past posts, walking in a straight line isn't natural to our dog as they follow their nose, not their eyes like us. Being in a perfect heel for 30 to 60 minutes is no fun for them either. Remember, this is your dog's walk, not yours.

Short leads tend to make them pull us naturally from one side of the path to the other or out of frustration because they are not allowed to stop and sniff. You can utilize your long lead which vary from 10 to 30+ meters or simply a longer 1.5 to 2 meter leash for walking on paths as controlling that bulk can be tricky especially when you first start using one.

Now our dog has more freedom, we still need to be in control of them, so basic obedience with a release and heel command are needed. Once you and your dog work out the kinks and they know their commands they should not pull you as they now know they will get to sniff and what you want them to do when in the heel position.

It sounds simple, and it is once you have put the work in. Repetition, positive reinforcement, and making sure your dog is having fun while training is equally important.

Life with a dog is about enjoying time with them, so for the love of dogs, make sure you are all enjoying it. Their life's are far too short to have daily frustration on your walks.

Need help putting it all into practice? Contact us for help and support ❤️🐾

15/10/2024

Something a little more lighthearted this morning 😻

15/10/2024

Making the final but kindest decision you can make for your pet is complicated and incredibly difficult. Giving them the gift of euthanasia instead of pain and suffering is the most selfless act you will ever take as a pet parent.

So what things do you need to take into consideration? Your veterinarian will be able to guide you through your decision, but since Lauren is currently going through this process right now, she wanted to share the factors her and her family are taking into consideration.

Firstly, the decision whether or not to treat the illness or disease.
Does the pet cope well at the vets?
Are you able to medicate, or can you afford someone else to do it?
Consider the age of the pet.
Can you afford to see the treatment through to the end?
What is the likelihood that the treatment will cure/help the disease or illness?
What quality of life, and how long are the expected to live with treatment?

Once you have decided to treat or not, you need to assess their daily quality of life.
Are they eating and drinking?
Are they toileting normally?
Do they still enjoy your company?
Do they have more good days than bad days?
Are they in pain and/or discomfort?
Are they just lying around all day with little joy?
Can you still cope with their daily needs?

Take the end of life process with your pet day by day. If you are struggling to know what to do because your emotions are heightened, ask a third party like a friend or mobile vet nurse to help. Your veterinary clinic will be there to support you, too.

I hope this helps someone through an incredibly difficult time. Remember to always be kind to yourself, especially at a difficult time like this.

13/10/2024

Love this. Want to give I a try?

There are so many benefits to having an indoor cat 😻

🐈🏠 Calling NZ cat owners keen on transitioning their cat to an indoor life 🐈🏠

Companion Animals NZ (CANZ) is teaming up with Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT) and the University of Adelaide to study how cats adjust to living indoors only! We’re looking to better understand how both our feline friends and their human guardians adapt to indoor living environments.

Interested? Here's what you need to know:

✅ You must be 18+
✅ Live in New Zealand
✅ Be the caregiver of a cat 6+ months old
✅ Keep your cat indoors for 3 weeks
✅ Keep a diary of their behaviours for 4 weeks

Register your interest in taking part here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/IndoorCatScreen

13/10/2024

Lauren might be vegan but even she couldn't help but laugh at this 🙊😅

13/10/2024

Luna showing off her press up skills and your Monday morning reminder to exercise 💪😅

12/10/2024

It's Caturday at PCAT with 6 cats under our care this weekend. Requiring anything from insulin injections, other medications, to behavioural needs.

Check out Lauren Yeaman RVN’s video.

11/10/2024

What a busy week it has been here. Poor Lauren hasnt had a moment to herself and things have gotten slightly more complicated.

Her almost 17 year old cat Mosty has not been herself and now they have found a lump that is now under investigation. Lauren carved out her lunch break to take her to the amazing team at the Veterinary Internal Medicine Specialists and then hand delivered the specimens to the lab on her way to her next consult.

When we say we understand what our clients are going through when they have a sick pet we mean it. Not only from being veterinary professionals but pet owners ourselves.

We are hoping for some pawsitive news from the lab that there is nothing to worry about. 🤞❤️

*Note the carry cage is open but Misty feels safe in there instead. It is always worth giving our pets choices as it makes them feel in control of the situation and in turn calmer.

10/10/2024

2 years ago, Lauren got to hang out with this cute wee baby possum on a busy night shift. The small things made the difficult shifts bearable.

08/10/2024

Vet nurses are the often unsung heroes of any veterinary clinic. Most tasks in a veterinary clinic are actually undertaken by vet nurses. Anything from anesthesia, phlebotomy, radiology, medicating, in house lab tests, IV catheter placement, hospital care, to cleaning and reception. Vet Nurses do it all and more.

Do something nice or praise your veterinary nurse ls this week to remind them just how important and appreciates they are.

08/10/2024

A sad read but definitely worth educating yourself on.

The main pont being that dogs are being abandoned or rehomed due to people not thinking through the huge decision to take on a dog. You need to be able to make a life long commitment to that dog which includes:
- Healthcare
- Day to do care (feeding, exercise, grooming, etc)
- A stable and permanent home
- Training
- Financial support ie insurance/savings account.
- Time
- Love and devotion

We strongly recommend contacting us BEFORE you decide to take on the responsibility to get a dog. We will take you through if a dog is right for you, which type of dog is right for you, help you get ready BEFORE bringing them home, support with settling them in, and much more.

* One concern we have is the label of pit bull being almost always inaccurate. The criteria used to determine a dog a pit bull would see Lauren's Mastiff X Boss deemed a pit bull in the council's mind so do not regard those statistics with much bearing.

** Also the areas of Auckland these dogs are acquired from by the council are not representative of dogs being rehomed. Other areas tend to rehome their dogs over social media. Taking this into consideration, and the fact this is ONLY Auckland Council and not the numerous charities the number is far greater.

Find out the breeds being locked up and the suburbs they are coming from. 👇