Aorangi Vets

06/11/2024

Our new receptionist would like to check you are up to date with your flea and worm treatments! She may look a bit grumpy but once you get talking to her, she soon warms to you. 😂

This time of year, we see a lot of cats and dogs for itchy skin. The first step of diagnosis and treatment often involves ruling out parasites with a flea and worm product.

With the option of chewable tablets or spot on’s, and products that last either 6, 3 or 1 month - our team will be able to advise you which one will work best for you and your pet. 🐱

04/11/2024

Meet The Team! 🤩
Meet Sam, the Clinic Manager in our Highfield Timaru clinic.
After completing her nursing qualifications in 2009, Sam came to Aorangi Vets with her passion and love for animal care in 2010, and has been with us ever since! 👩‍⚕️
Sam is a skilled and caring surgical nurse with a wealth of knowledge. She also has a menagerie of furry family members herself, including two horses, three alpacas and two cats. 🐴

31/10/2024

Have you heard of ThunderShirts? At Aorangi Vets, ThunderShirts are one way we help nervous patients while we treat them (such as Rosie, our very cute model in this photo). They are tight fitting dog jackets that have been shown to help reduce anxiety. They are also great for use during fireworks.

Much like swaddling an infant, ThunderShirts apply gentle, constant pressure to the dog's body which soothes and calms. We recommend these jackets for dogs with anxiety or over-excitement caused by things like thunderstorms, travel or separation anxiety.

We use ThunderShirts in conjunction with Adaptil, an odourless spray that replicates natural pheromones. This helps them to feel reassured and relaxed in challenging situations.

Come in and chat to one of our team if you think a Thundershirt or Adaptil may help your pet this Guy Fawkes.

31/10/2024

Do you have calves that still need disbudding?
As the disbudding season comes to a close, we are reflecting on what an awesome spring it has been, with over 10,000+ calves successfully disbudded! A huge thank you to our fantastic vet technician teams for your amazing work!
For anyone that still has calves that need disbudding, please do not hesitate to get in touch!

31/10/2024

Click here for our October Vets Pets newsletter. Aorangi Vets pets newsletter - https://mailchi.mp/aorangivet/aorangi-vets-pets-newsletter-imd0akcn34-9441420 You'll find lots of information about your pet's skin - allergies, fleas and ringworm and some tips about grooming. Enjoy!

30/10/2024

No doubt there will be some fireworks starting this weekend in advance of Guy Fawkes on the 5th of November. A reminder to make sure you are prepared to keep your pet safe and calm during this time!

✨Keep your pets contained in a space they feel safe (ideally inside with doors and windows closed)
✨Consider distracting your pets with other noises (like the TV/radio)
✨Have some activities ready such as food puzzle toys to keep your pets mind busy
✨Consider natural calming supplements: You may have seen in our clinics that we have Adaptil and Feliway (pheromone) diffusers and sprays to help with anxiety.
✨Book an appointment to see your vet if you think your pet requires anti-anxiety medications.

29/10/2024

Aorangi Vets in Highfield Timaru is now offering Cat Friendly Consults to reduce the stress your cat/s experience in the clinic.
Follow this link to our website if you would like more advice about bringing your cat to the vets!

Cats are typically very territorial, and can find new places, faces, and scents quite stressful. Being bundled into a carrier and then driven to the clinic can make them understandably anxious. Here are a few ideas for ways to make your pet cat’s visit less stressful. Get them used to…

25/10/2024

Monday is Labour Day!
Our Geraldine and Highfield clinics will be open on Saturday morning at the usual times but we will be closed thereafter until Tuesday morning.
Please contact our after-hours vet in an emergency by calling our normal clinic phone number.

24/10/2024

Is your dog due for a flea and worm treatment?
Come in to any of our clinics to get a free ChuckIt ball when you buy three SimparicaTrio treatments to keep up to date with parasite prevention!

22/10/2024

Driving around the countryside on sunny spring South Canterbury days is certainly a perk of the job!

22/10/2024

Do you have a pet that you have noticed is starting to get itchy as we come into summer? 🐶☀️

Over the summer months, we commonly see pets with allergic skin conditions. Dogs and cats can be allergic to many different things including fleas, mites, foods (mostly animal proteins) and environmental allergens such as pollens and grasses.

Animals with itchy skin generally require a vet consultation and ongoing management to keep them comfortable. Prevention and treatment often involves medications, washes, creams or diet changes. The different options will be discussed with you to make the best plan for your pet.

Keep an eye out for our upcoming newsletter that will go into more detail about different skin conditions in our companion animals!

Please do not hesitate to get in touch to make an appointment if you would like to discuss your pet’s skin with a vet.

20/10/2024

When should I call the After-Hours Vet?

It can be hard to know how much to worry when your pet becomes unwell or injures themselves in the middle of the night, or during the weekend! What are you supposed to do when the vet clinic isn’t open?

We have an on-call vet 24/7 so we are always here when you and your pets really need us. Just like the hospital, when you call our out of hours phone, we will often need to triage the most urgent cases to be seen first. This is to ensure we are available to see animals with the most life-threatening conditions first.
The most urgent conditions include marked and profuse bleeding despite pressure and first aid having been applied, significant ongoing pain, seizuring in clusters when it lasts more than 1-2 minutes, collapse, severe bloat, struggling to breathe or toxin ingestion.

Other conditions such as ear infections, vomiting/diarrhoea, lameness or lethargy may or may not be emergencies depending on the case, so depending on the duration and severity, as well as other signs your pet may be showing, a same day veterinary assessment may or may not be necessary.

You know your pet best and if you are ever unsure, we are always here to help.

17/10/2024

Our team have been busy on farm this spring, making new friends of all sizes, shapes and species!

09/10/2024

PLEASE NOTE: Our Highfield Timaru clinic will be closing at 5 pm today.

07/10/2024

This week is Vet Nurse and Vet Technician Appreciation week!

Here at AVS there will be some celebrations during the week for our team as we recognise the wonderful job they do to support our vets and look after our furry friends.

Feel free to give our nurses and techs a pat on the back if you see them around this week.

06/10/2024

Meet Cass, the 2-year-old Jack Russel!

Cass came into our Fairlie clinic when she injured her paw. She was a little apprehensive about her vet visit at first but cuddles from Heather quickly set her mind at ease. After a quick procedure under sedation Cass was on the mend, sporting a pink bandage to match her collar of course!

We love being able to help our wee patients 🥰

04/10/2024

It's pretty wet and miserable out there! We know it's tough and have so much gratitude for all our incredible farmers keeping their stock well fed and as comfortable as possible in this weather 🙏

Farm Stuff Friday
🐄 Dairy farmers - did you see our latest Dairy Newsletter?

🐀 One topic we discussed was Leptospirosis and the importance of risk management and preventing infection – in animals and humans.

📅 A reminder to make sure you are vaccinating your calves on time, and please get in touch if you have any queries. Timing of the lepto vaccine is crucial to provide the best protection against the disease.

🤝Work with us to protect yourself, your family, and your team!

26/09/2024

A wee bit of a change happening at our Geraldine clinic from next Monday 30th September.

Same great service, slightly shorter hours!