Emergency Vet Hospital

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Emergency Vet Hospital

After Hours, Emergency Vet care for pets when your routine Vet clinic is closed.

If your pet is showing signs of distress or there has been a significant medical emergency, we are available evenings, weekends, public holidays.

24/03/2025

RAT BAIT IS VERY POISONOUS 🐭

At this time of year, we see an increase in poisoning of pets by the baits laid to manage rats and mice. The amount of bait required to poison your pet is small.

Second-hand toxicity from eating poisoned vermin is rare but does occur. Just because you haven't laid bait, your neighbours may have - and your pet may come across the result of this.

⚠ If you suspect your pet has eaten rat bait, get to your vet immediately! If it has been recently ingested, drugs can be given to make them vomit it up. Severely affected dogs and cats sometimes require life-saving blood transfusion and hospital care.

‼️PREVENTION IS WAY BETTER THAN CURE WHEN IT COMES TO POISONS
KEEP RAT POISONS OUT OF REACH

19/03/2025

Autumn is a good time to change your car engine’s coolant prior to winter. These coolants are highly toxic, so any spills should be cleaned up thoroughly and immediately, and left over product stored out of paw’s reach.

Contact your vet immediately if you suspect your pet has ingested engine coolant, even a small amount that your pets licks off the ground after a spill can be dangerous ⚠️

10/03/2025

It’s mushroom season – steer clear! 🍄🍄🍄
While most mushrooms have little or no toxicity, the highly toxic ones can cause life-threatening problems in pets. Since most toxic mushrooms are difficult to distinguish from nontoxic ones, the best way to prevent pets from ingesting the poisonous ones is to keep them away from areas where mushrooms are growing.

📞Contact your vet immediately if you suspect your pet has eaten toxic mushrooms.
If your pet seems unwell. If they are not opene, the Emergency Vet Hospital team is here for you 24/7. Please call first.

04/03/2025

Poisoning by tannins and volatile phenols in plants of the Oak is relatively common. Ingestion of acorns is the most common cause, but ingestion of leaves and young shoots can also cause toxicity.

Signs of toxicity develop soon after ingestion (within days), and young animals seem to be more severely affected than older animals.

👀Affected animals will often present with some of the following:
• Diarrhoea (black and watery, sometimes bloody)
• Increased urination
• Lethargy
• Reduced appetite
• Dehydration
• Oedema (swelling under the jaw or abdomen)
• Sometimes sudden death may occur

If you are worried your pet has been poisoned by ingesting acorns, leaves or shoots - please contact your vet immediately. If they are not available, the Emergency Vet Hospital team is here for you 24/7. Please call first.

15/02/2025

If you can’t hold the back of your ✋ hand or 🦶 foot on the pavement for 5 seconds, then it’s too hot for your dog and their pads 🐾 to be walking on the pavement.
⚠️MAKE SURE you pass this info onto friends and family who may be walking your pet this summer, or if you have a dog sitter, check they know this!

If this happens accidentally – and you’re worried your pet’s paws have been burnt or they're in distress, limping, or there’s more redness than usual, or blisters on their paws, please contact your vet. 📞

If you are unsure about what to do when your pet becomes unwell, especially in a stressful emergency situation, follow the advice on this handy 📲 Pet Emergency Guide.

https://www.emergencyvethospital.co.nz/pet-emergency-guide

12/02/2025

⚠️REMEMBER THIS VALENTINE'S DAY - Chocolate and Xylitol are toxic to dogs ❤️‍🩹 So please be extra vigilant if you have special treats in your home at the moment.

🍭🍬Sugar free products containing the artificial sweetener Xylitol are also toxic to dogs. Xylitol is found in many “sugar free” foods and is regularly used as a sugar supplement. It causes a life-threatening rapid drop in blood sugar levels and can cause liver damage.

If your dog accidentally consumes chocolate, it can cause life-threatening heart and neurological effects. Symptoms usually occur 6–12 hours after eating the chocolate.
👀At first you may see:
🔴 increased water intake
🔴 vomiting and diarrhoea
🔴 swelling of the abdomen
🔴 restlessness

‼️Things can worsen and the following signs may be seen:
❌ hyperactivity
❌ increased urination,
❌ unsteadiness, rigidity, tremors and seizures
❌ changes in heart rate, rhythm and blood pressure
❌ purple or blue tinged to gums that are normally pink
❌ increase in temperature

If you are worried your dog may have eaten something containing chocolate or Xylitol, contact your vet ASAP 📞 if it happens outside of your usual vet clinic open hours, contact the Emergency Vet Hospital 24/7 - Phone 0800 384 111

05/02/2025

The Emergency Vet Hospital is open today and here to assist in an emergency.

📲Check out our pet emergency guide to help with assessing your pet’s health: https://www.emergencyvethospital.co.nz/pet-emergency-guide

📞If you have an emergency with your pet and it can’t wait until your vet clinic is open, please call us 0800 EVH 111

02/02/2025

❗Remember if you have someone looking after your pets later this week and your vet clinic is closed on Waitangi Day – tell them we are available to help, until your vet clinic opens again on Friday morning.

📞If you experience an emergency with your pet at any time outside your vet’s open hours do not hesitate to contact us, please call first 0800 EVH 111

⚠️Keep our pet emergency guide handy just in case: https://www.emergencyvethospital.co.nz/pet-emergency-guide

26/01/2025

If your pet has been stung, you might see bumps, swelling of the skin, itchiness, and in severe cases vomiting or drowsiness.

If your pet is showing signs of distress from a sting, they really need to be checked out by the vet as soon as possible.

Follow the link to read the full article about summer precautions for keeping your pet safe
https://www.rangioravetcentre.co.nz/season-summer-precautions?rq=summer

20/01/2025

If the sun’s out, never leave your pet in the car. Parking in the shade - even with the windows down, the temperature still rise beyond a safe level. Dogs rely on panting to cool down and in a hot car, during high temperatures, that's not enough - they will be at risk of suffering heatstroke.

If you are unsure about what to do when your pet becomes unwell, especially in a stressful emergency situation, follow the advice on this handy Pet Emergency Guide.

https://www.emergencyvethospital.co.nz/pet-emergency-guide

13/01/2025

Toxic algae is dangerous if ingested.

⚠️Symptoms of cyanotoxin poisoning in dogs include:

🐾Panting
🐾Lethargy
🐾Muscle tremors
🐾Twitching
🐾Convulsions

If your dog is showing these symptoms after being in contact with a waterway, contact your Vet immediately.

If you are unsure about what to do when your pet becomes unwell, especially in a stressful emergency situation, follow the advice on this handy Pet Emergency Guide.

https://www.emergencyvethospital.co.nz/pet-emergency-guide

31/12/2024

We wish everyone a Happy and Safe New Year. If you need us, we are here. Please always call us first: 0800 EVH 111 (0800 384 111)
We are located at 181 Lehmans Road, Rangiora.

PLEASE NOTE: A deposit will be required when you arrive with your pet. Full payment is required after treatment when your pet is stable enough to return to you/your vet’s care.

We are available while your routine vet clinic is closed for the holiday period.

25/12/2024

We hope everyone is having a fabulous Christmas Day. If you need us we are available. For the safety of our team and the other animals requiring emergency care, please always call us first: 0800 EVH 111 (0800 384 111)

PLEASE NOTE: A deposit will be required when you arrive with your pet. Full payment is required after treatment when your pet is stable enough to return to you/your vet’s care.

17/12/2024

Chocolate is another edible delight that is around in large quantities at this time of year! Did you know that it is toxic to your dog and can cause life-threatening heart and neurological effects? The main symptoms are caused by the compound theobromine however; it also contains caffeine which contributes to its toxicity. The high fat content could also lead to pancreatitis.

⚠ Symptoms usually occur 6–12 hours after eating the chocolate. At first you may see:

- increased water intake

- vomiting and diarrhoea

- swelling of the abdomen

- restlessness

⚠ Things can worsen and the following signs may be seen:

- hyperactivity

- increased urination,

- unsteadiness, rigidity, tremors and seizures

- changes in heart rate, rhythm and blood pressure

- purple or blue tinged to gums that are normally pink

- coma and death

- increase in temperature

Treatment and intense, expensive monitoring are necessary to improve the chances of survival. So please keep chocolate out of paws-reach. Eat it all yourself!

Sugar free products containing the artificial sweetener Xylitol are also toxic to dogs. Xylitol is found in many “sugar free” foods and is regularly used as a sugar supplement. It causes a life-threatening rapid drop in blood sugar levels and can cause liver damage.

If you’re unsure what to do in an emergency situation with your pet, follow this hand emergency pet guide - https://www.emergencyvethospital.co.nz/pet-emergency-guide

If you suspect your pet has consumed something they shouldn’t have, contact your Vet immediately, or if your routine vet is unavailable please don’t hesitate to give us a call, 0800 384 111.

14/12/2024

Christmas desserts and fruit filled treats are eaten at all times of the day and can be found almost everywhere! They are dangerous for three main reasons:

Firstly - they are full of dried grapes (see currants, raisins and sultanas above). In dried fruit, the toxin is more concentrated meaning they contain far more toxin per gram than fresh grapes. As dried fruits are small, we add lots to our baking meaning the finished product contains an even larger toxic load should our pets steal a Christmas treat to feast on!

Secondly - they are full of fats. This can give them stomach troubles and is one of the main risk factors for developing pancreatitis; a very painful, serious and costly disease to treat (see below).

Thirdly – they may contain alcohol!

Alcohol (also known as ethanol) can give your pet symptoms such as low blood sugar, low body temperature, vomiting and diarrhoea. Kidney and heart failure can occur in extreme cases. Nervous system depression occurs which can end in seizures or coma. Confusion, disorientation, unsteadiness and weakness are all symptoms of ethanol toxicity in dogs.

A dog’s liver and kidneys are not meant to process ethanol. Given enough alcohol, people can pass out and for dogs; the consequences can be more severe after a much smaller amount. Make sure there are no open alcohol bottles available and if you spill any, clean it up immediately to prevent your pet from licking it.

If you’re unsure what to do in an emergency situation with your pet, follow this hand emergency pet guide -https://www.emergencyvethospital.co.nz/pet-emergency-guide

If you are concerned your dog may have eaten any of these, please contact your vet for advice or if your routine vet is unavailable, please don’t hesitate to give us a call, 0800 384 111.

10/12/2024

Avocado: These are rich in fats which could lead to pancreatitis, an extremely painful abdominal condition. Ingestion of the stone or pit is also a concern as this could cause a gastrointestinal blockage.

Stone fruit: Stones and seeds are more dangerous than the flesh. The stones, leaves and plant stems of these fruits contain cyanide, which carries an obvious toxicity risk. Cyanide poisoning in dogs causes symptoms including:

⚠ Increased respiratory and heart rate
⚠ Heart rhythm issues
⚠ Dilated pupils

Apart from a choking hazard, fruit stones and seeds can cause gastrointestinal obstruction.

Bones: Once cooked these become brittle and splinter easily. This can lead to fragments getting stuck causing obstructions, gut irritation, constipation, diarrhoea and intestinal perforation, which is a very serious condition. Splintered bones damage the gums, teeth and throat; also posing a major choking hazard. Turkeys and chickens are hollow b***d birds; these bones will splinter when raw or cooked so must never be given to your dog or cat under any circumstances.

Meat string needs to be carefully disposed of, as this can be harmful if swallowed.

If you’re unsure what to do in an emergency situation with your pet, follow this hand emergency pet guide - https://www.emergencyvethospital.co.nz/pet-emergency-guide

If you are concerned your dog may have eaten any of these, please contact your vet for advice or if your routine vet is unavailable, please don’t hesitate to give us a call, 0800 384 111.

02/12/2024

Tinsel is a dangerous festive decoration for pets. Ingesting even a small length of tinsel means they could suffer from an intestinal obstruction. Common signs that your pet has swallowed tinsel, or any other long, stringy object are:

⚠ Pawing at the mouth
⚠ Vomiting and diarrhoea
⚠ Lethargy and weakness
⚠ Dehydration
⚠ Abdominal pain

While tinsel is not poisonous, it is dangerous if swallowed as it can wrap around the tongue or anchor itself in the stomach, rendering it unable to pass through the intestines. As the intestines contract and move, stringy foreign bodies can slowly saw through the tissue resulting in severe damage. Your pet runs the risk of severe intestinal injury or rupture. Treatment for this inevitably involves abdominal surgery.

Edible ornaments and decorations: Homemade macaroni ornaments, candy canes and chocolate coins are lovely festive items, but unfortunately, they are harmful to our pets. Sugar from candy canes can cause a dangerous blood glucose surge in our pets. Chocolate is toxic, and the wrapping foil and plastic can be problematic as they work their way through the gut. String-containing macaroni ornaments pose similar dangers to tinsel. It is best to place edible ornaments and decorations where your pet cannot reach.

Candles & Lights: Just a reminder that lighting candles on or around a Christmas tree is extremely hazardous. Christmas trees are highly flammable, a pet can easily jostle the tree or knock over a candle. If using decorative fairy lights, keep them away from the bottom of the tree where pets can chew the electrical cords to prevent electric shocks.

If you’re unsure what to do in an emergency situation with your pet, follow this handy emergency pet guide - https://www.emergencyvethospital.co.nz/pet-emergency-guide

If you suspect your pet has consumed something they shouldn’t have, contact your Vet immediately, or if your routine vet is unavailable, please don’t hesitate to give us a call, 0800 384 111.

14/11/2024

📲Check out our pet emergency guide to help with assessing your pet’s health: https://www.emergencyvethospital.co.nz/pet-emergency-guide

If you have an emergency with your pet and it can’t wait until your vet clinic is open, 📞please call us 0800 EVH 111

Address

181 Lehmans Road
Rangiora
7400

Website

http://www.emergencyvethospital.co.nz/

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Videos

Every day, and night, vets do an amazing job to keep our pets happy and healthy. They know how important your pets are to you, and understand the trust you have put in them to take care of your beloved furry companions. We encourage you to head over to www.yourvetcares.com to show you care and add a message of support! #youvetcares

Part 2 in our mini-series about poison prevention, watch this video to learn what to do if your pet has eaten something they shouldn’t have! 🐕 🐈

March is Animal Poison Prevention month, watch the video to learn some tips from Emergency Vet Billy Fitzgerald about how to keep your pets safe from poisons and toxins. 🐶🐱