Animal Referral Centre

04/01/2025

🎉🌍 Happy National Bird Day! 🕊️✨

We see a few birds come through our emergency service, in particular. Pets and wild birds. And some of our staff are loving bird-owners.

Let’s take a moment to appreciate the beauty of our feathered friends and their vital role in our ecosystem. Whether you're birdwatching, making DIY bird feeders, or sharing your favorite birdie stories, let’s celebrate nature and what great pets birds can be together!

Share your pics and bird-love with us 🦜💚

02/01/2025

Friday Funny!

Happy first weekend of 2025! Have a good one, from the ARC Vets team 😃

30/12/2024

Happy New Year's Eve! 🥳

Wishing you all a lovely celebration tonight. And remember it's a fresh start tomorrow 😆

29/12/2024

Meet Maple 🐕🐾

Maple is a 10-year-old female desexed Labrador cross.

She came in to see our Emergency team in June as her owners were concerned she was lethargic and off her food. On examination, it was found that her gums were pale, her urine was discoloured and she was dehyrdrated.

Blood and urine tests in the clinic showed she was anaemic, and following further testing and no sign of external blood loss, the anaemia was put down to her body attacking and destroying its red blood cells. This condition is known as IMHA, which stands for Immune-mediated Haemolytic Anaemia.

After some initial stabilisation, Maple's case was taken over by the Internal Medicine department, with Dr Sarah Hill as the primary clinician managing her case.

Maple stayed a while in hospital with us as she also seemed to suffer a stroke (not at all uncommon with IMHA) and she required a blood transfusion and management with a couple of immune-suppressive drugs to stop her body attacking her red blood cells.

We're happy to report that Maple has done really well with her treatment! Her devoted owner, Sacha, had this to say about her:

"Since being diagnosed with IMHA in June, Maple now has monthly bloods and checks with Dr Sarah Hill. She loves seeing her friends at ARC North.”

We love seeing her too! 🐶🥰

If you'd like to learn more about IMHA, check out the article Dr Sarah Hill wrote for the resources section of our website https://arcvets.co.nz/resources/imha-2/

27/12/2024

8 years of Animal Referral Centre! 🎉🎂

Last month our ARC North team celebrated 8 years of providing care for pets and their owners 🤯😲

What a journey the past 8 years have been. Whoever would have thought that we would have had the privilege to treat so many beloved animals? Or that the support from referring vets and pet owners would have afforded the opportunity to grow the business as it has and open a second Auckland clinic? The head just spins when we think about all that has been done and achieved since ARC opened it's doors.

Thank you all, our pet owner and veterinary industry community, for all your support as we have learned and grown. We can't wait to see what the next 8 years brings!

26/12/2024

Friday funny time!

Pure bread dogs😂😂😂

I think it's very impressive people managed to get their dogs to pose like this, without just having them scoff the bread!

24/12/2024

Merry Christmas 🎄

Wishing all of you and your furry family members a wonderful and safe Christmas!

23/12/2024

🎉🎄Season's Greetings from the ARC Vets team 🎅🕎

Members of staff got together to create a wee movie 🎥 message to you, the wonderful people who bring your animals into our care 😍

We wish you and your family (furry ones included!) a wonderful "silly season"! Be safe and enjoy time with your loved ones🐕🐇🐦🐹😺

Meri Kirihimete/Merry Christmas!

21/12/2024

Supporting the wellbeing of our team

The ARC Vets team do essential work every day, helping animals and people. While the job is rewarding, it can be demanding and stressful at times.

As a business we are always on the lookout for how we can take care of our people, so that we are in the best shape to take care of you and your pets.

One of the ways we do this is through training members of our team in Mental Health First Aid, through a course run by St John. This course is focussed around teaching the skills and knowledge to recognise and respond to someone experiencing mental health concerns.

- Did you know that almost half of the people in Aotearoa, New Zealand will experience mental distress or illness in their lifetime?

19/12/2024

Friday funny!

Anyone feeling overwhelmed by the holidays? Maybe we should spare a thought for our pets and their holiday to-do lists 😆🎄

18/12/2024

Meet "Harry" 🐾🐕❤️

Harry is a super-cute 7-year-old male neutered Pug who has been under the care of our Neurology and, most recently, Surgery teams at ARC Central.

Like many other Pug dogs, Harry suffered from Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS).

BOAS is a condition seen in brachycephalic dogs or cats with a reduced nose length. BOAS is an umbrella term for several abnormalities which collectively progressively impact an animals' ability to breathe comfortably.

In October when Harry was assessed by one of our Specialist Surgeons, Dr Lee Beever, it was noted that his exercise tolerance had deteriorated. Especially in the summer heat. His worried owners said that when he had gone for a walk in 13-degree heat for 35 minutes and he then refused to walk further with heavy breathing. His breathing gradually worsened over the years.

Dr Lee performed a staphylectomy (shortening of the soft palate) and nares resection (widening of his nostrils) to increase airflow through Harry's upper respiratory tract and the surgery went very well!

Harry's adoring owner contacted us recently to say a big thank-you, and we called her to see if she was happy for us to share Harry's case and her comments. She was! And she was keen to share how much happier he is since the surgery and how she wishes she'd done it sooner. This is what she had to say:

"My pug Harry had BOAS surgery in October with Lee. I want to say a massive thank you to you and the team for taking such good care of him.

Prior to the surgery he was struggling to walk 30 mins in 13 degrees. He would then get home and lie on the floor panting. Now, he is a new pug! He is able to tolerate warmer temperatures (within a safe puggy range) with no issues. He has been doing pug sprints around the house, and his breathing is much quieter. He is definitely much happier.

Thank you for updating me throughout the process as well - even to tell me that his surgery had been pushed back a few hours. It was greatly appreciated as I was a nervous wreck! Thank you also for being so prompt to respond to my post-op queries as well.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

15/12/2024

Poisons alert! ☠️

A reminder that pets can't eat the same things we do. And that the summer festive and BBQ season poses an especially tempting and dangerous time for sneaky, scavenging pets.

The danger posed by toxins varies for different sized pets, and cats vs. dogs. And the intervention required will also vary.

If you know, or suspect, that your pet has consumed something they shouldn't have, please pick up the phone and give us a call! Don't wait and see, because by the time your pet is showing signs of being unwell the toxin is already absorbed.

Best to be safe and call our caring team to get the best advice. We're here 24/7, every day of the year.

Hoping for a safe silly season for all humans and pets!

12/12/2024

Friday Funny 😆

Why Santa has reindeer, instead of cats

10/12/2024

Engaging with the vets of tomorrow- 2024 Massey University trip!

Recently, our People and Culture Manager, Amanda Paxton, and the Director of our Internship Programme, Dr Jessica Romine, flew to Palmerston North to chat with final year vet students.

For the Bachelor of Veterinary Science Degree, the 5th and final year of study commences as soon as the 4th year exams are over, as there is a lot of practical to fit in to get these wee vets ready to "fledge" and go out into practice. In their first week of 5th year, they have a variety of lectures culminating in a Careers Expo and the Prelude to Practice programme run by the New Zealand Veterinary Association. ARC Vets were welcomed down to partake in these events and talk to vet students about the road to veterinary specialisation, emergency service work and also how specialists can assist and support new graduate vets when they head out into practice.

It was a long and busy day but so wonderful to chat with the enthusaistic, energised young vets who are the future of NZ's veterinary profession! We're sure they have great futures ahead of them. Thanks for having us Massey University and NZVA!

10/12/2024

A couple of great seasonal tips from the The New Zealand Veterinary Association

ARC North and ARC Central are, of course, open 24/7 all year-round should the undesirable occur, and you need us on a public holiday. But prevention is always better than cure :)

Make sure your home is cat-friendly these holidays! 🐈‍⬛☀️🎄

🎄 Keep cats away from lilies, as they can cause kidney problems. Even a small amount of pollen on their coats can make them unwell!
🎄 Be careful with decorations, string or ribbons that your cat might want to play with or chew. These can be choking hazards, or cause injuries if made from sharp materials such as glass.
🎄 If you’re using outdoor cleaning products this summer, make sure the area is fully dry before letting cats near it. These products can cause irritation and mouth ulcers if cats clean their paws after walking through a wet patch 😬

Remember, your vet clinic will likely be closed for some or all of the holidays. Check their website or social media pages so you know their opening hours and emergency number, just in case you need it.

07/12/2024

End of year celebration with our referring vet community 🎉🥳

Last week we held a wee celebration event with some of our referring vets. There was yummy food, beers and wine, and also (because it's what we do!) a bit of education thrown in.

For this event we let some of our "Young Talent" take the spotlight and present talks.

- Cardiology intern Dr Yi Wang presented an overview of Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) in Boxer dogs
- Internal Medicine Resident Dr Rhea Jagdhane presented the outline of her research into Broncho-alveolar Lavage (BAL) optimal methodology, as well as an interesting case of Cricopharyngeal Achalasia
- Internal Medicine Resident Dr Kelsey Renner presented an update on her Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP) research and how findings have moulded how we approach FIP treatment

Well done to these impressive young ladies who each have incredibly bright futures ahead of them as they progress along their paths towards becoming specialists! It was a great night and lovely to celebrate a busy year coming to an end with our wonderful veterinary colleagues from practices around Auckland. A huge thank you for all your continued support

And... a huge thank you to the sponsors of the event: Hill's pet nutrition NZ and
SVS Ltd. Thank you!

06/12/2024

Friday Funny 😆

Have a great weekend everyone!

05/12/2024

Heatstroke 🌡️🤒 and how to prevent it

It's definitely summer now, with the heat in Auckland over the past week. We have, unfortunately, seen several dogs coming into our emergency department with Heatstroke. This can be a life-threatening condition where the body temperature increases to a point when organ failure, and sometimes death, can occur.

Which animals are more susceptible to heatstroke?

- Animals that are overweight
- Flat faced breeds such as Pugs and French Bulldogs, or Persian cats
- Pets with thick coats
- Old or very young animals
- Animals with pre-existing conditions, particularly airway, lung or heart problems

Remember that our two clinics are staffed 24/7, so our team are always on hand to assist you with commencing cooling first aid over the phone and then facilitating your pet being seen by our awesome team.

But... prevention better than cure so you can help to keep your pet cool and comfortable in summer by:

- Make sure your pet always has access to a cool shaded area, both indoors and outside
- Restrict exercise on warm days (dogs should be walked early in the morning or later in the evening to avoid the hottest part of the day)
- Pack a water bottle on walks
- Remember, hot pavements can burn paws! If it’s too hold your hand on, it’s too hot for your pet to walk on
- Never leave pets in a car or a hot room (e.g. conservatories)
- Ensure your pet always has drinking water available, adding ice can help keep it cool
- Ensure your pet is regularly groomed if this is advised for their breed

If you'd like to read more about heatstroke, check out the great page on the Royal Vet College website: https://www.rvc.ac.uk/small-animal-vet/teaching-and-research/fact-files/heatstroke-in-dogs-and-cats