Hamilton Small Animal Veterinary Centre

🐰Did you know that Flystrike is a relatively common and serious problem in rabbits❓ Flies are attracted to moisture, smell and warmth around the back end of a rabbit. This is enhanced if rabbits are soiled with faeces or urine. An individual fly can lay up to 200 eggs, the maggots from the fly eggs can emerge within hours and start feeding on superficial debris on the skin. 🪰 Once they have exhausted this food supply, they begin to burrow into the moist skin. This is particularly painful and the toxins produced in the process can send the rabbit into toxic shock which can quickly become fatal. 😳 Inspection of your rabbit's skin at least once every 24 hours is recommended. It will often be necessary to remove faeces stuck to hair or wash urine-soiled hair at this time. Small white eggs or maggots on the hair and skin, particularly around the anus and genitals, indicate flystrike. The skin becomes red, ulcerated and painful as the condition becomes more severe. Flystrike can progress quickly and usually requires vet attention. If caught early, the eggs can be brushed from the skin. If they have already hatched, the maggots are removed individually. Depending on the severity of the condition, fluids, pain relief and antibiotics may be indicated.🩺👩‍⚕️🐇 Unfortunately, in many cases, progression of flystrike is so rapid that euthanasia needs to be considered to prevent further suffering.😢 www.hamiltonvets.co.nz

🎉 HAPPY NEW YEAR 🎉 Best wishes for 2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣5️⃣ from all the team!❤️🥂 www.hamiltonvets.co.nz

🎅Managed to grab some of the team to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! 🎄❤️ www.hamiltonvets.co.nz

🎄12 Days of Christmas 🎄 It’s coming! Back by popular demand our 12 days of Christmas giveaways starts tomorrow! Make sure you look out for our posts at 6pm every night (except Friday and Saturday) and be in to win some very cool prizes.🎄🎁🐱🐶🐾 #franklinvets #12daysofchristmas #christmas2024 #spreadingchristmascheer

🎆 PLEASE KEEP YOUR PETS SAFE🎆 🙏Please take care of your pets this Guy Fawkes. While fireworks may be fun for some, they can cause severe distress for our pets.🙏 Check your pets microchip contact details ⤵️ https://ow.ly/3XCS50TRgYj Read more of our tips for pet owners here⤵️ https://ow.ly/AAIg50TRgYk www.hamiltonvets.co.nz

A long weekend and brighter evenings make for extra time spent with your pets❗️ Show us what you and your pets got up to this Labour Day Weekend! ❤️ Post your pics in the comments below! 🙌 www.hamiltonvets.co.nz

🐈 FACT FRIDAY 🐈 Why do cats have whiskers❓ Whiskers are hairs that are twice as thick as the normal hairs on the cat's body and sit three times as deep under their skin. They have approximately 24 located on their cheeks, but whiskers can also be found above the eyes and on the back of the forelegs❗️ The base of each whisker is packed with nerve endings that convey large amounts of information about the cat’s surroundings, making for a highly sensitive built-in navigational system. 🧭 Whiskers help a cat work out where objects are in relation to their head and legs, to help them judge spaces and negotiate their environment. This can be through touch, but whiskers also detect air pressure and air currents which can help cats figure out the location of objects even if they’ve lost sight of them.👀 You may have noticed a whisker or two that has fallen out around the home, but this is a perfectly regular body process and nothing to worry about!👍 www.hamiltonvets.co.nz

❤️ We are celebrating Māori Language Week from the 14th - 21st September 2024! ❤️ Te Wiki o te Reo Māori is an annual celebration for all New Zealanders to show support for the Māori language. This year's theme is ‘Ake ake ake - A Forever Language’. It represents the resilience, adaptability and endurance much like the Ake Ake tree itself. Our amazing Vet Nurse Carmen is here to share some pet commands in Te Reo with you!🐕🐈‍⬛ Kia Kaha Te Reo Māori www.hamiltonvets.co.nz #maorilanguageweek

🚨Please note the video contains a tooth removal ❓Did you know when your pet comes in for their dental, they receive a "COHAT" aka a Comprehensive Oral Health Assessment and Treatment❓ This includes a set of dental x-rays, so we can see what is happening under the gums and inside the teeth.🦷🐈‍⬛🐶 Your pets dental care plays a huge part in their health and wellbeing. Dental issues can be painful for them and can lead to additional problems, such bleeding gums, bad breath, tooth loss and reduced appetite.😢 Taking dental radiographs is the only way to know the true health and stability of your pets teeth. Yes we can determine a lot by visibly looking at them during their pre-dental check, however 60% of a tooth is below the gumline. We take between six to eight x rays, which can show us problems such as retained roots, root fractures and periodontal disease. Periodontal infections can cause septicaemia, with bacteria entering the bloodstream and spreading through the body causing damage to the heart valve and kidneys.😳 All records and X-rays are kept on your pets file so we can use them for future comparison. 👀 Watch ‘Mumu’ having her tooth removed, which was found to be unhealthy once we had x-rayed her. 🦷 Take advantage of Dental Month with Free Dental Checks and 20% OFF Dental Procedures. 🦷 (*T’s&C’s apply. Offer ends 31st August 2024) www.hamiltonvets.co.nz

🤦‍♀️It's winter, I don’t need to deflea my pets… ❌WRONG… This has to be one of the most frequent statements we hear in the cooler months, however just because it's winter, fleas don’t take a break. With our pets living in our homes they can bring in with them fleas at different stages of their life cycle. The flea’s reproduction may have slowed due to the cold weather, but they're still around. A warm house in winter is one of their favourite places and so they continue to thrive in our homes.🏡😳 Not defleaing your pets in the winter will allow flea numbers to build up, which then increase suddenly when reproduction speeds up in the warmer months.🤦‍♀️ So don't take a break from treating your pets because fleas sure don't❗️ Look out for our Bravecto GIVEAWAY! 🎉👀 www.hamiltonvets.co.nz