Randparkridge Veterinary Hospital

02/01/2025

New Year, New Resolutions for Your Pets! 🐾🎉

As we welcome the new year, let’s prioritize the health and happiness of our furry family members!
Here are some pet-friendly resolutions to keep in mind for 2025:

🐕 Year-Round Parasite Protection
Ensure your pets are safe from ticks, fleas, and parasites by maintaining a regular schedule for deworming and using vet-recommended preventatives.

🐾 Commit to Preventative Care
Stay up-to-date with vaccinations, routine check-ups, and early screenings as per South Africa’s veterinary guidelines. Prevention saves lives!

🐾 Invest in Training & Socialization
A well-trained pet is a happy pet. Explore our force-free training options with S.C.A.R Canine Training & Behavior.

🐾 Focus on Dental Health
Schedule annual dental check-ups, brush their teeth regularly, and provide dental chews to keep their smiles bright and healthy.

🐕‍🦺 Exercise and Weight Management
Work with our experts to tailor an exercise and diet plan for your pet’s needs, ensuring they stay fit and active throughout the year.

🐾 Regular Grooming
Keep your pets clean, healthy, and mat-free with grooming services. Remember, it’s not just about hygiene but comfort too!

🐾 Plan for Emergencies
Budget for your pet's care and consider investing in pet insurance to manage unexpected vet bills.

Let Randparkridge Veterinary Hospital help you make 2025 the healthiest and happiest year for your pets! 💙
Visit us for personalized care, advice, and everything your pets need.

📞 Contact us at 011 678 7526
📧 [email protected]

Together, let’s make this year paws-itively amazing! 🐶🐱✨

rehabilitation

01/01/2025

What is an Anxiety Wrap and Why Use One? 🐾

Anxiety wraps are specially designed garments that apply gentle, constant pressure to your dog’s body, similar to a comforting hug. They’re a natural, non-invasive way to help manage anxiety and stress in dogs.

Why Use an Anxiety Wrap?
Calming Effects: The pressure provides a sense of security, helping to soothe dogs during stressful situations.
Reduces Anxiety: Great for dogs who experience fear during thunderstorms, fireworks, or car rides.
Non-Medicated Option: Provides relief without the need for medication.

How to Use an Anxiety Wrap
Fit it Properly: Ensure the wrap is snug but not too tight. It should apply gentle, even pressure without restricting movement.
Introduce it Slowly: Let your dog wear the wrap in a calm environment before using it during a stressful event.
Monitor Your Dog: Watch how they respond to the wrap and adjust as needed.

When to Use an Anxiety Wrap
Fireworks and Thunderstorms: Perfect for loud or sudden noises.
Travel Anxiety: Helps calm dogs during car rides or trips to the vet.
Separation Anxiety: Provides comfort when you’re away from home.
New Environments: Eases stress during visits to unfamiliar places.

Where to Get an Anxiety Wrap
You can find anxiety wraps at pet stores or online, with options like Thundershirt being popular. Or, for a DIY approach, you can try creating a temporary wrap using a scarf or stretchy fabric—ask us for tips!

DIY Anxiety Wrap
Want to learn how to make a temporary anxiety wrap at home? Swipe through the pictures for a step-by-step guide to creating a simple wrap using a scarf.

For more advice on helping your dog manage anxiety, reach out to the team at Randparkridge Veterinary Hospital 011 678 7526.

We’re here to help your pets feel safe and secure every day! 🐶✨

01/01/2025

The consulting hours for New Year celebrations at Randparkridge Veterinary Hospital are:

1st January: Closed

For emergencies during this time, please contact your nearest 24-hour veterinary facility:

Fourways Veterinary Hospital
Location: Fourways, South Africa
A full-service small animal hospital offering 24/7 emergency and critical care services.
Contact: 011 705 3411

Bryanston Veterinary Hospital
Location: Bryanston, South Africa
Provides 24-hour emergency and intensive care services for pets.
Contact: 011 706 6023

Westrand Emergency Vet Clinic
Location: 13 Kroton Street South, Weltevredenpark, Roodepoort, 1709
Offers after-hours veterinary services.
Contact: 011 475 2833

31/12/2024

Farewell to Our Beloved Phil

Today, we bid farewell to our incredible kennel aid, Philemon. Phil has been a cornerstone of Randparkridge Veterinary Hospital for longer than we can remember, and his contributions have been nothing short of extraordinary.

As Phil steps into his well-deserved retirement, we want to express our deepest gratitude for his years of hard work, compassion, and unwavering dedication. His care and devotion to every animal he encountered, as well as his kindness and support toward his colleagues, have left an indelible mark on our team.

Phil has been more than just a colleague; he has been a guardian angel to countless pets, offering comfort to those in illness and at the end of their journey. Together, we have saved countless lives, and Phil’s presence has been a source of strength and reassurance for all of us.

Beyond his care for the animals, Phil has been our watcher—always looking out for everyone at Randparkridge Veterinary Hospital. It has been both a privilege and an honor to work alongside him, and his absence will be deeply felt by everyone here.

Phil, as you embark on this new chapter, we wish you a retirement filled with happiness, relaxation, and all the joy you so richly deserve. Thank you for everything. You will always be a part of our family.

31/12/2024

Fireworks: A Celebration or a Challenge?

Fireworks light up the night sky, marking moments of joy and celebration. While many of us marvel at their beauty, it’s important to consider the broader impact they have on our surroundings.

The Hidden Cost of Fireworks
For pets, wildlife, and even some humans, fireworks are more than just a dazzling display—they can be a source of extreme distress. The loud bangs and flashing lights can trigger anxiety, fear, and even physical harm. Many pet owners report symptoms of stress in their furry friends, such as trembling, hiding, or even attempting to escape their homes. Wildlife, too, suffers disruptions to their natural behavior, sometimes leading to injuries or fatalities.

Environmental Consequences
Beyond their immediate effects, fireworks contribute to air and noise pollution. Chemicals released during displays can linger in the atmosphere, affecting air quality and water sources. This can have long-term consequences for both humans and ecosystems.

What Can We Do?

Join the No-Fireworks Movement
Opt for quieter celebrations that don’t rely on traditional fireworks. Many communities are now turning to drone light shows and laser displays to create mesmerizing yet silent spectacles.

Prepare Your Pets
If fireworks are unavoidable in your area, create a safe space for your pets during celebrations. Play calming music, close curtains, and consider using anxiety-reducing tools like pheromone diffusers. Your veterinarian can also provide either over the counter aids and if needed provide a consultation for more advanced pharmaceutical options.

Advocate for Change
Support initiatives that promote responsible use of fireworks, including restricted times and quieter alternatives. Encourage your local community to consider the impact on animals and the environment.

Celebrate with Compassion
This New Year, let’s redefine celebration by spreading joy in ways that are inclusive and considerate. Together, we can make our festivities enjoyable for everyone—pets, people, and nature alike.

Contact us for more assistance: Randparkridge Veterinary Hospital 011 678 7526

30/12/2024

What is a Snuffle Mat and Why Use One? 🐾

A snuffle mat is a fantastic tool for engaging your dog’s mind and encouraging their natural foraging instincts. It’s more than just a toy—snuffle mats provide:

Mental Stimulation: Keeps your dog entertained and sharp.
Calming Benefits: Helps reduce stress and anxiety by focusing their energy on sniffing.
Slower Eating: Encourages slower eating to prevent indigestion and bloat.

How to Use a Snuffle Mat
Sprinkle your dog’s kibble or treats throughout the fleece strips on the mat.
Let your dog sniff, search, and forage to find the hidden goodies.
Always supervise your dog during their first few uses to ensure they engage with the mat appropriately.

When to Use a Snuffle Mat
Mealtime: To slow down eating and make it more enjoyable.
Rainy Days: Perfect for indoor play when outdoor activities aren’t an option.
Stressful Situations: Use during fireworks or thunderstorms to redirect anxiety.
Daily Enrichment: Great for keeping your dog mentally stimulated and happy.

Where to Buy a Snuffle Mat
Snuffle mats are available at pet stores or online marketplaces, but you can also make one at home!

DIY Snuffle Mat
Want to create your own snuffle mat? It’s easy, affordable, and customizable! Swipe through the pictures to see our step-by-step guide on making a snuffle mat using a rubber mat and fleece fabric.

For more ideas and tips, chat with our team at Randparkridge Veterinary Hospital 011 678 7526
We’re here to help you keep your pets happy and healthy! 🐶✨

30/12/2024

The consulting hours for New Year celebrations at Randparkridge Veterinary Hospital are:

31st December: 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
1st January: Closed

For emergencies during this time, please contact your nearest 24-hour veterinary facility:

Fourways Veterinary Hospital
Location: Fourways, South Africa
A full-service small animal hospital offering 24/7 emergency and critical care services.
Contact: 011 705 3411

Bryanston Veterinary Hospital
Location: Bryanston, South Africa
Provides 24-hour emergency and intensive care services for pets.
Contact: 011 706 6023

Westrand Emergency Vet Clinic
Location: 13 Kroton Street South, Weltevredenpark, Roodepoort, 1709
Offers after-hours veterinary services.
Contact: 011 475 2833

29/12/2024

Guide to Protecting Your Pets During New Year Celebrations 2025

The New Year celebrations can be exciting for us but overwhelming and even dangerous for our pets. Fireworks, loud music, and disruptions to routine can cause anxiety and lead to accidents.
Here’s how to keep your furry friends safe and calm during this festive time:

1. Create a Safe Space
Designate a quiet, secure area in your home where your pet can retreat.
Include their favorite blanket, toys, and bedding to help them feel safe.
Play calming music or white noise to mask external sounds.
Crate training can be extremely useful in these instances, as it allows you to create a safe and familiar space for each pet. Additionally, utilizing soundproofing in a smaller area can help pets cope better during loud celebrations such as fireworks displays.

2. Ensure Proper Identification
Make sure your pet’s collar, tags, and microchip details are up to date with your current contact information.
Microchipping your pet, if not already done, is a permanent way to ensure they can be identified if they get lost.
Contact us to book an appointment for microchipping.

3. Use Calming Aids
Speak to our team at Randparkridge Veterinary Hospital for safe options like pheromone sprays, anxiety wraps, or prescribed calming medications.
Natural remedies, like Rescue Remedy, can also help. If you utilize natural remedies, ensure you follow the loading dose. If unsure, chat to us—we will assist you.
If your pet requires prescription medication, you will need to bring them in for evaluation by a veterinarian. There are many different types of medications, and each pet must be screened before administering these medications as they can be dangerous if used incorrectly.
Ensure you pre-order any type of aid or medication well before the New Year celebrations to avoid last-minute delays.

4. Keep Pets Indoors
During fireworks, keep your pets inside to reduce the risk of them running away in fear.
Ideally, ensure there is someone with them, especially if you know they react negatively to fireworks. Some pets may self-mutilate or even attempt to jump in or out of glass doors or windows, causing serious injuries.

5. Exercise and Feed Early
Take your dog for a long walk earlier in the day to help them expend energy and reduce stress.
Utilizing games like search, snuffle mats, Kongs, and even at-home exercises like "touch" can also help reduce excess energy and anxiety, calming both the body and mind. Chat to Adam or Natasha at S.C.A.R for more extensive details on how to integrate these activities into your routine.
Feed your pet before the celebrations begin, as they may refuse to eat once they feel anxious.

6. Avoid Fireworks Exposure
Never take pets to firework displays, as the noise and lights will be terrifying.
Do not use fireworks at home, and keep your pets as far away as possible from these dangerous displays.

7. Stay Calm and Reassuring
Your pet looks to you for comfort. Stay calm and avoid making a big fuss, as this can reinforce their anxiety.
Offer treats or engage them in activities they enjoy to distract them from the commotion.

8. Behavioral Training Tips
From S.C.A.R Canine Training and Behaviour:

Use desensitization techniques before the festive season by exposing your dog to mild firework sounds and rewarding calm behavior.
Ideally, this should be done in advance, as this is a process that takes time but yields truly beneficial results for your pets.
For details and guidance, contact Adam at 082 828 3880 or email [email protected].

9. Emergency Contacts
Preparation is key. Make sure you know who to contact in case of an emergency:

Randparkridge Veterinary Hospital
Phone: 011 678 7526
Email: [email protected]

Westrand After Hours Veterinary Hospital
Phone: 011 675 3478

Bryanston Veterinary Hospital
Phone: 011 706 6023

Fourways 24 Hour Veterinary Hospital
Phone: 011 705 3411

Let’s make this New Year safe and joyous for everyone, including our beloved pets.

From all of us at Randparkridge Veterinary Hospital and S.C.A.R Canine Training and Behaviour, we wish you and your furry companions a happy and stress-free 2025!

28/12/2024

27/12/2024

By choosing pet insurance, you’re providing your furry companion with the opportunity for a healthier, happier life. With plans starting at just R65 per month—less than the price of half a pizza—it’s an affordable way to ensure their well-being.

If you’re ready to explore your options or learn more about how insurance can support your pet’s health, our team is here to guide you. Let’s work together to give your beloved pet the long, joyful life they deserve with access to the best care possible.

Call today:
Randparkridge Veterinary Hospital
011 678 7526

26/12/2024

🎄🐾 Boxing Day Consulting Hours 🐾🎄

We hope you're enjoying the festive season! 🌟 To keep your furry friends happy and healthy, we're here for you on Boxing Day (26th December):

🕘 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM
📞 Contact us: 011 678 7526

Please note, a surcharge applies for public holiday consultations.

Stay safe and enjoy the holidays! 🎅🐶🐱

- The Randparkridge Veterinary Team

25/12/2024

🎄🐾 Thank You for Your Continued Support! 🐾🎄

We wish you and all your pets a healthy and joyous Festive Season! ❤️

✨ Important Reminder:

We will be closed on the 25th of December.
We will reopen on the 26th of December for public holiday hours from 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM.
📢 For Emergencies During This Time, Please Contact:

Fourways Veterinary Hospital
A full-service small animal hospital offering 24/7 emergency and critical care services.
📞 011 705 3411

Bryanston Veterinary Hospital
Provides 24-hour emergency and intensive care services for pets.
📞 011 706 6023

Northwest Animal Emergency Clinic
Offers after-hours veterinary services.
📍 13 Kroton Street South, Weltevredenpark, Roodepoort, 1709
📞 011 475 2833

Thank you for trusting us with your pets' care throughout the year. Wishing you all a season filled with love, happiness, and wagging tails! 🎅🐶🐱

📍 Randparkridge Veterinary Hospital
📞 011 678 7526

24/12/2024

Thank You for Your Support

We want to express our heartfelt gratitude for your trust and support.

This festive season, please remember to keep your pets safe and healthy by being mindful of Christmas dangers, such as toxic foods, decorations, and gift wrap hazards. Let’s ensure they enjoy the holidays as much as you do!

Wishing you a safe, healthy, and joy-filled Christmas from all of us at Randparkridge Veterinary Hospital.

Christmas Toxins and Updated Consulting Hours - https://mailchi.mp/6197d0488b13/christmas-toxins-and-updated-consulting-hours

24/12/2024

🎄🐾 Do You Know Festive Season Toxic Items for Dogs and Cats? 🐾🎄

The holidays are full of fun, but some festive items can be dangerous for your pets! If you're unsure about something, call your vet for advice! 📞🐶🐱

📅 Festive Season Consulting Hours:

24th December (Christmas Eve): 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
25th December (Christmas Day): Closed
26th December (Boxing Day): 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM (Surcharge applies)
31st December (New Year's Eve): 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
1st January (New Year’s Day): Closed

📞 Contact Us:
Phone: 011 678 7526
Email: [email protected]

Stay safe and enjoy the festive season with your furry friends! ❤️

23/12/2024

Important Notice: December 25th, 2024

Randparkridge Veterinary Hospital will be closed on Christmas Day, Wednesday, December 25th, 2024, to allow our team to celebrate the holiday with their loved ones.

For emergencies during this time, please contact your nearest 24-hour veterinary facility:

Fourways Veterinary Hospital
Fourways, South Africa
A full-service small animal hospital offering 24/7 emergency and critical care services.
Contact: 011 705 3411

Bryanston Veterinary Hospital
Bryanston, South Africa
Provides 24-hour emergency and intensive care services for pets.
Contact: 011 706 6023

Northwest Animal Emergency Clinic
13 Kroton Street South, Weltevredenpark, Roodepoort, 1709
Offers after-hours veterinary services.
Contact: 011 475 2833

We wish you and your pets a safe, joyful, and Merry Christmas! 🎄

Randparkridge Veterinary Hospital
Phone: 011 678 7526

19/12/2024

Fireworks: From Battlefield to Backyard—The Unchanged Impact

What we now admire as symbols of celebration were born from chaos and destruction. Fireworks, first invented in ancient China, were not created to delight but to dominate. Their explosive power was harnessed for war, fueling the fire arrows and gunpowder bombs that shattered battlefields and sowed fear among enemies. These innovations were not mere tools—they were weapons of psychological and physical warfare, designed to confuse, intimidate, and assert supremacy.

Today, while fireworks light up our skies in bursts of color, their echoes of destruction remain. The same thunderous explosions that once sent armies scattering still instill terror—not in soldiers, but in animals and vulnerable individuals. The deafening booms, blinding flashes, and choking smoke may no longer mark battlefields, but they do create chaos in our homes, neighborhoods, and natural spaces.

For animals, fireworks are a modern-day assault, triggering panic and confusion reminiscent of warfare. Pets cower, wildlife flees, and livestock injures itself in blind terror. Even humans are not immune—those with PTSD, sensory sensitivities, or other conditions relive their own private battles with every explosion.

It’s time to question whether fireworks, rooted in violence and destruction, deserve their place in our celebrations. By turning to peaceful and innovative alternatives like drone shows and quiet pyrotechnics, we can honor joy without perpetuating the fear and chaos these explosive relics bring. Let’s break away from their destructive past and forge a future where celebration brings harmony, not harm.

Contact us today to discuss a care plan for your pet during the upcoming "war zone" of fireworks.

Ensure your furry friends are safe, calm, and protected as the celebrations unfold. We're here to help you prepare with expert advice and tailored solutions.
Don't wait—book your appointment now! 011 678 7526

18/12/2024

Festive Season Consulting Hours Announcement

During the festive season, there will be a few adjustments to our consulting hours:

Tuesday, 24th December 2024

Morning: 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Afternoon: 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday, 25th December 2024 (Christmas Day)
Closed: Randparkridge Veterinary Hospital will be closed to allow our team to celebrate the holiday with their loved ones.

Thursday, 26th December 2024 (Public Holiday)

Morning: 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Please note: Public holiday surcharge fees will apply.
We kindly request that all our clients place their food and medication orders before the festive rush, as many of our suppliers will be closing during this period.

For emergencies during this time, please contact your nearest 24-hour veterinary facility:

Fourways Veterinary Hospital
Location: Fourways, South Africa
A full-service small animal hospital offering 24/7 emergency and critical care services.
Contact: 011 705 3411

Bryanston Veterinary Hospital
Location: Bryanston, South Africa
Provides 24-hour emergency and intensive care services for pets.
Contact: 011 706 6023

Northwest Animal Emergency Clinic
Location: 13 Kroton Street South, Weltevredenpark, Roodepoort, 1709
Offers after-hours veterinary services.
Contact: 011 475 2833

We wish you and your pets a safe, joyful, and Merry Christmas! 🎄

Randparkridge Veterinary Hospital
Phone: 011 678 7526