Provet Animal Hospital

13/11/2025

🐾 CARING FOR OUR CANINE HEROES – TIMBAVATI 🐾

We have been sharing some of our work lately with our local working canine units, and this week we’re giving the spotlight to the incredible Timbavati Nature Reserve Canine Unit.

Provet Animal Hospital has the privilege of working alongside one of our major reserves right here on our doorstep. While these amazing dogs excel at their daily jobs on the frontlines of anti-poaching and law enforcement, we play a quieter but vital role in the background — keeping these canine heroes healthy, safe, and cared for in every way.

From routine health checks and preventative care to emergency treatments when needed, our team is dedicated to ensuring this well-oiled unit can keep doing what they do best.

These dogs give their absolute all, day after day, to protect our natural heritage. It’s an honour for us at Provet to give them the best possible care in return — because they truly deserve nothing less.

11/11/2025

❗PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT – F10 Products ❗

At Provet Animal Hospital, we trust F10 products for their proven safety, effectiveness, and versatility — for both pets and people. Whether we’re disinfecting our hands, treating wounds, or sanitising our hospital spaces, F10 is part of our daily routine!

🧴Why the fuss about F10 products?🧴
F10 products contain a unique blend of quaternary ammonium compounds and biguanides — powerful disinfectants that destroy cell walls of bacteria, viruses and fungi.
✅Effective against a broad range of germs
✅Non-toxic and non-irritating when used as directed
✅Safe for use on dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, horses, wildlife and most other animals

F10 products we routinely use include the following:
✅F10 Hand scrub: Used by our team on a daily basis but ideal for pet owners wanting to maintain good hygiene at home after handling pets, food and/or medication
✅F10 Wound Spray: Gentle, non-toxic for dogs but toxic for cats, promotes healing while preventing infections and easy to apply on those hard to reach places or with non-compliant pets
✅F10 Germicidal Barrier Ointment: Dog and cat friendly options(be sure to specify when asking), provides a protective antibacterial layer, helps keep flies away and ideal for small cuts, abrasions and hot spots
✅F10 Shampoo: Used to treat a variety of skin conditions, gentle on you pets' skin
✅F10 Foggers: Used primarily in hospital environments to keep things sterile but also handy for kennels and catteries, releases a fine disinfectant mist that reaches all surfaces and kills airborne pathogens

If you’d like to learn more about using F10 safely at home or to purchase any of these products, pop in or give us a call at 015 793 0797 — our team will be happy to advise you!

10/11/2025

09/11/2025

💚 Update on Heritage – Against All Odds! 💚

We have the BEST news — Heritage’s latest MRI shows her spinal cord abscesses have almost completely resolved!

After just over 4 weeks of treatment and uncertainty, this brave little pangolin is showing us what true resilience looks like. While we found the good news of the abscesses almost having resolved we found quite a bit of inflammation of the fat surrounding her spinal cord, so we’ve started a new treatment to help her win this battle once and for all.

We are beyond grateful to every donor and sponsor who’s helped her reach this point — you’ve made this miracle possible. 💚

We’ll repeat her MRI in 3 weeks to track her progress — an unplanned but necessary step in her recovery. Unfortunately we did not plan for a 3rd MRI but this is essential in her recovery and we will need more assistance to make this scan possible - for us to properly assess her progress. So if you’d like to help us keep fighting for her, every bit of support counts.

Her story is one of hope, healing, and heart — and it’s far from over. Provet Animal Hospital and Umoya Khulula Wildlife Centre are working hard to get this little girl back to where she needs to be! 🌿

If you would like to help towards her scan and further treatment costs please direct payments to:
Wild Wonderful World Conservation NPC
Business Account
Acc No: 62924522198
Branch code: 270 652
Swift Code: FIRNZAJJ
Reference: Pangolin Heritage

06/11/2025

🐾 CARING FOR OUR CANINE HEROES 🐾

We’ve had the absolute privilege of working with the amazing Control Gate Company (Enkhulu Gate) and their team of hardworking dogs — a group of individuals and dogs that never fail to impress us with their drive, focus, and loyalty.

Meet the canine team at Enkhulu Gate:
🐶 Gooods Rihati – Labrador x Great Dane
🐶 Gooods Matimba – German Shepherd
🐶 Gooods Risima – German Shepherd
🐶 Gooods Kulava – Labrador x Australian Shepherd

All four of these dogs were imported from Germany - so one could say that they are quite well travelled pups. Each of these dogs have such different personalities and with their own travel bag of tricks and quirks - they sure keep us on our toes. From Matimba and Rihati causing a bit of fun and games when they first arrived to the cool, calm and collected visits - we are absolutely blessed to be a part of their team.

From routine health checks and vaccinations to emergency treatment and ongoing care, we’re there for these dogs every step of the way.

Working dogs like these give their all every day — and we’re proud to make sure they stay healthy, strong and ready for duty.

A big thank you to Perdita Lübbe-Scheuermann , Rettet das Nashorn and Warren Moore for always making sure that funds are not a worry and that these precious pups are given the best care!

31/10/2025

⚠️ Human Medications That Can Harm Pets

As pet owners, we are very often tempted to try and treat our pets at home until we can get to the vet but even one or two pills can make your pet critically ill. Always store medicines safely and never give human medication without veterinary advice.

💊 Painkillers (NSAIDs – Ibuprofen, Aspirin, Naproxen)
Cause stomach ulcers and kidney failure in dogs, cats, and small pets.

😿 Paracetamol / Acetaminophen (Panado, Cold & Flu meds)
In cats, destroys red blood cells; in dogs, causes severe liver damage.

⚡ ADHD/ADD Medications (Ritalin, Adderall, Concerta)
Trigger seizures, tremors, and dangerously high heart rate.

😔 Antidepressants
Overdoses lead to tremors, seizures, and agitation.

💤 Benzodiazepines (Xanax, Va**um, Sleeping tablets)
Cause agitation or liver failure, especially in cats.

💨 Asthma Inhalers (Albuterol)
Chewing an inhaler causes vomiting and extreme heart rate increases.

❤️ Beta Blockers
Can cause dangerously low blood pressure and slow heart rate.

💗 ACE Inhibitors (Enalapril, Benazepril)
May cause mild blood pressure drops, especially in heart/kidney patients.

🧬 Thyroid Medication
Overdose causes panting, tremors, and rapid heart rate.

👶 Birth Control Pills & Estrogen Creams
High doses may cause bone marrow suppression and hormonal effects.

🚨 If your pet is accidentally exposed to or eats any medication, call us immediately!
📞 Provet Animal Hospital: 015 793 0797

21/10/2025

🌿Poisonous Plants and Your Pets – What You Need to Know🌿

So many of us love our gardens — but unfortunately some of South Africa’s most popular and beautiful plants can be highly toxic to dogs and cats. Even a small nibble of certain leaves, seeds, or flowers can cause serious illness.

❌Common Toxic Plants to Watch Out For❌
Cycads: Cause severe liver damage
Delicious monsters: Cause painful mouth irritation
Lilies: More toxic to cats than dogs, even the pollen cause severe kidney damage
Firestick succulents: Cause serious chemical burns
Ma*****na: Cause disorientation and vomiting
String of pearls: Cause gastro-intestinal signs and liver failure in high doses
Mother-in-law’s tongue: Cause gastro-intestinal signs and swelling of mouth, lips and throat
Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow: Cause vomiting, tremors and seizures
Syringa berry tree: Affects the nervous system and can be fatal in young pets
Spear grass: Can get stuck in skin, ears, eyes and cause local reactions

❗️How to Recognize Plant Poisoning❗️
If your pet has chewed on or eaten a toxic plant, you might notice:
Drooling or pawing at the mouth
Vomiting or diarrhoea
Loss of appetite or weakness
Tremors, restlessness, or disorientation
In cats – especially with lilies – sudden kidney failure (which is difficult to see immediately)

In severe cases, plant toxins can damage the liver or kidneys and may even be life-threatening and it is best to rather consult with your vet without delay.

✅How to Protect Your Pets
Identify and remove known toxic plants from your garden.
Keep curious pets occupied with toys and enrichment to reduce the urge to chew.
Make sure your pet’s diet is balanced — some animals eat plants when seeking nutrients.
If you suspect your pet has eaten something toxic, contact us immediately — do not wait for symptoms to worsen.

At Provet Animal Hospital, we can help assess your pet, treat poisoning symptoms, and advise on how to keep your garden pet-friendly.

☎Call us on 015 793 0797 if you’re ever unsure — quick action can save lives.

17/10/2025

DEAR PET OWNERS

Last night’s massive storm in Hoedspruit reminded us how frightening thunder and lightning can be — not just for us, but especially for our pets. So many dogs experience severe anxiety during storms, and their fear can sometimes become overwhelming.

Here are a few calming techniques you can try at home to help soothe your dog’s anxiety before or during a storm:

🐾 Create a Safe Space:
Set up a quiet, cozy area where your dog can retreat when storms hit. A crate, spare room, or closet lined with a soft bed and familiar toys can make a world of difference.

🎶 Use Calming Sounds:
Play gentle music, white noise, or even dedicated “dog relaxation” playlists to help mask the rumble of thunder.

🧥 Try a Pressure Wrap:
A snug-fitting wrap or similar can help your dog feel more secure — much like swaddling comforts a baby.

🎾 Distract and Engage:
If possible, distract your dog with games, training exercises, or special treats. Keeping them mentally busy can shift their focus away from the storm.

🌧️ Block Out Visuals:
Close curtains or blinds to reduce the flash of lightning that can startle sensitive dogs.

💚 Stay Calm:
Your dog feeds off of your energy — staying relaxed and speaking in a calm, reassuring voice can help them feel safe.

Every pet is different, and some may need more support than others. If your dog’s fear is uncontrollable or severe, please reach out — we can help.

📞 Book a consultation at Provet Animal Hospital on 015 793 0797
We can prescribe safe, short-term medication to help manage storm-related anxiety, and discuss long-term strategies to make future storms easier on your furry friend.

Stay safe (and dry!) 💧🐶

— The Provet Animal Hospital Team

17/10/2025

Due to the power outage our landlines are down, please call 071 326 8716 for any appointments

16/10/2025

A Huge Thank You to the Rotary Club of Hoedspruit !

We’re incredibly grateful to the Hoedspruit Rotary Club for their generous donation of R20,000 towards the treatment and care of pangolins.

With three pangolin admissions in the last month alone, this support comes at a just the right time and will go a long way in helping us provide the specialised care these endangered animals need.

Thank you for being part of their journey to recovery and for helping us make a real difference.

The Provet Animal Hospital Team

12/10/2025

The Bateleurs volunteer pilot conservation NGO provides free aerial support to protect South Africa’s wildlife and environment. Our pilots fly missions for conservation, research, and community impact.