Veterinary House Hospital

25/12/2024

🤩 Wishing a festive Christmas to all our wonderful clients and their awesome companions.
Thank you for trusting us with your most precious family members. 🐾

🎄 From our silly bunch to yours, have an amazing festive season!
Stay safe out there. 💙

22/12/2024

🐾 Save yourself and your pet a trip to your emergency veterinarian this festive season.
Here are some foods to NOT feed your pet, and what is SAFE to treat them with instead. 🩺✅️

❌️ Food containing grapes or raisins, like fruit mince pies or fruit cake - These fruits can cause kidney failure and severe gastrointestinal upsets.

❌️ Chocolate or products containing Xylitol - Can cause gastrointestinal upsets, tremors and seizures in high enough doses.

❌️ Alcohol - Severe gastrointestinal and neurological issues, cats are especially sensitive. 🐱

❌️ Corn cobs - These cause blockages in the gastrointestinal tract that need to be surgically removed. This is life threatening.

❌️ Bones... Any bones... - They cause major trauma to your pet's mouth, oesophagus and GIT, and cause intestinal blockages and perforations that are often fatal.

❌️ Rich or fatty foods, like fatty braai meat or chicken skin - Fatty/rich foods cause major gastrointestinal upsets as well as pancreatitis, which can be fatal.

❌️ Avocado
❌️ Caffeine
❌️ Onions or garlic
Also refrain from giving any food that has been seasoned and food that is very salty. 🐾

🩺 Here are some safe and delicious alternatives:

✅️ Small servings of plain, boneless, cooked chicken, turkey or duck
✅️ Small servings of boneless, plain, cooked fish
✅️ Small servings of cooked scrambled eggs
✅️ Cooked, unseasoned, whole or pureed fruits and veggies like apple, carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin or beans
✅️ Fresh fruit and veggies like apples, blueberries, blueberries, strawberries, watermelon, carrots or broccoli
✅️ Tinned dog or cat food (in moderation)

Always make sure your pet's servings are mindful and given in moderation.
REMEMBER - Any new food that your pet is not used to can make them feel ill if they eat too much. ⚠️

Keep your pets away from the Christmas decorations like tinsel, and keep your garbage cans out of reach. 🎄🗑

❤️ Your pets are super happy to just be with their families, they do not need to be fed from the table to feel loved. Table scraps can often be fatal.
Save your pets, and yourself, the heartache of a vet visit.
Be mindful of what you feed your pets. 🐾🩺

14/12/2024

POV: You catch a glimpse of your local veterinarian's camera roll. 🩺
Share in our adventures with this visual diary of what we've been up to the last few months. ❤️

10/12/2024

🐾 Have you seen these rascals around our clinic recently? Well, they're our new practice cats! 🥳
After falling in love with these two silly things, we decided that they simply had to stay...

Meet Springroll and Nori! 😻

27/11/2024

Update - Adopted!

⚠️ Please help us find this gorgeous girl a new forever home! ❤️

She is such a lovely lady, who thrives on love and attention. She is such a chatty Cathy, having interesting conversations with all our staff every day. 🥰
We estimates her to be between 6 - 8 months old. 🐈

An adoption fee is applicable. This will include her:
🩺 Sterilisation
💉 First vaccination
🐾 Microchip

For more information, please call 033 342 4698. ☎️

19/11/2024

🦷 Are you worried your pet may need a dental check up or weight management consultation?
Be sure to book a free pet health appointment with one of our awesome nurses! 🩺

🐱 Our veterinary nurses and Animal Health Technician are offering 𝗗𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 and 𝗪𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗟𝗼𝘀𝘀 clinics, as well as free Rabies vaccinations, for cats and dogs between 13:00 and 14:00 from Monday - Friday. 📆
🐶 These consultations are 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 of charge and will include a nurses check-up, an in-depth discussion about your pet as well as provide awesome resources aimed to help owners care for their pets as best they can! ❤️

These clinics are by appointment only. ⚠️
☎️ To book an appointment or for more information, please call Veterinary House Hospital (339 Prince Alfred Street) on 033 342 4698, or send a WhatsApp to 079 836 4502. 🐾

🌍 For more information, check out our website - https://vethouse.co.za/free-pet-health-clinics/

16/11/2024

⚠️ Stray Alert! ⚠️

This young calico lady was found in the Woodlands area.
She is not microchipped and doesn't seem to be sterilised.
She is super friendly, so she must be someone's cat.

☎️ If you are missing a beautiful calico cat, or have any information, please call 033 342 4698.

08/11/2024

UPDATE - Springroll and Nori are staying with us!

🐱 We need your help!
These three cuties are in need of loving forever homes. 🐈
Ramen, Spring Roll and Nori have the most unique personalities. They enjoy play time, cuddles and have lots of love and affection to give!

An adoption fee applies to each kitten.
This fee includes:
🩺 Sterilisation at 6 months of age
💉 First vaccination
💊 Deworming
🐾 First Bravecto
🐱 Microchip
🐈 And a FREE starter bag of food!

They are about 7 - 8 weeks old and are fully litterbox trained. They are currently eating Purina Pro-Plan Kitten.

☎️ For more information, please send a WhatsApp to 079 836 4502, or call 033 342 4698.

23/10/2024

⚠️ Great news... We're running a special on over-the-counter calming medication for your pets! This is valid until 2 November 2024. 📆

🥳 Diwali and Guy Fawkes Day celebrations are almost here, and we want to make sure your pets stay safe!
Our clinics are offering a 10% discount on:

- Calmfocus
- Feliway
- Adaptil
- CalmEze
- Pet Remedy
- Zylkene

And more! 💊

🩺 More potent pharmaceuticals are also available, and may work more effectively on short notice. Pets need to be seen by a veterinarian in order to be prescribed these scheduled medication. These anxiety medication consultations are R200.00 and include a pet-check to ensure that the meds can be given safely. 🐾
(Please note - for any other matters, a full consultation will be charged.)

⚠️ Here are some tips to keep your pets safe, not only for Diwali and Guy Fawkes Day celebrations, but for the impending festive season celebrations as well.
🏡 Ensure that your pets are inside your home, secured and comfortable WELL BEFORE the festivities start.
🖥 Play some music or turn on the TV to drown out the sound of fireworks.

If your pet is an outside pet, please make sure that they are in a secure area that they CANNOT escape from. Preferably in a secure garage with comfortable bedding and interactive toys and treats. 🐾

🏡 If your pet manages to escape your yard, please ensure that your pets have well-fitted collars with name tags and are microchipped. Microchips are the first things vets and the SPCA will check for. 💉
If your pet is already microchipped, make sure they have been registered on the microchip database, otherwise the microchip is of no use.

❤️ Fireworks are devastating to pets, wildlife, and even people struggling with anxiety disorders.
Please take others into consideration during these festivities. Think twice before setting off fireworks in your neighbourhood. 🐕🐈‍⬛🐎🐄🐑🐇🦇🦜🐢

18/10/2024

Meet our brand new veterinary surgeon! 🩺

The newest member of our team is Dr. Bradley Taylor, a talented veterinarian originally from Estcourt who completed his schooling in Pietermaritzburg. 🇿🇦

🩺 In recent years, Dr. Taylor has further honed his skills, completing a Postgraduate Certificate in Small Animal Surgery as well as a General Practitioner Certificate in Small Animal Surgery through ISVPS and Harper Adams University.
This additional training will enable our practice to provide even more advanced surgical services, such as TPLO procedures, fracture repairs, BOAS surgery, and the correction of patellar luxations. 🦴

🐾 Alongside his keen interest in orthopaedics, Dr. Taylor is also passionate about building strong bonds with both his patients and their families.
He values honest, open communication, always striving to provide the best possible care from before surgery to well past their recovery. ❤️

🩺 Dr. Taylor's interest in veterinary medicine began at a young age, inspired by watching his father work as a vet. This early exposure fostered a deep love for animals that has only grown stronger over the years. 🐾

When not caring for animals, Dr. Taylor enjoys a variety of hobbies, including photography, sports, music, and going on missionary trips around Africa. 🌍

16/10/2024

🎈 It’s that time of year again - some of South Africa’s most celebrated occasions! 🇿🇦

Diwali and Guy Fawkes Day celebrations are upon us. While some may enjoy the setting off of fireworks, others may not… 🐕🐈‍⬛🐎🐄🐑🐇🦇🦜🐢
To pets and wildlife, fireworks aren’t fun and games, they are terrifying!

⚠️ Here are some tips to keep your pets safe, not only for Diwali and Guy Fawkes Day celebrations, but for the impending festive season celebrations as well.
🏡 Ensure that your pets are inside your home, secured and comfortable WELL BEFORE the festivities start.
🖥 Play some music or turn on the TV to drown out the sound of fireworks.

If your pet is an outside pet, please make sure that they are in a secure area that they CANNOT escape from. Preferably in a secure garage with comfortable bedding and interactive toys and treats. 🐾

💊 Medical management is also highly recommended.
- 𝗭𝘆𝗹𝗸𝗲𝗻𝗲 is a popular choice, being one of the only faster acting over-the-counter medications for anxiety.
- 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗺𝗘𝘇𝗲 and 𝗔𝗻𝘅𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗲 are also commonly used, but they take 1 - 2 weeks of daily use to take full effect.
- 𝗔𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗹, 𝗙𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘄𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗲𝘁 𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗱𝘆 are great choices to use as sprays or diffusers.

🩺 More potent pharmaceuticals are also available, and may work more effectively on short notice. Pets need to be seen by a veterinarian in order to be prescribed these scheduled medication. These anxiety medication consultations are R200.00 and include a pet-check to ensure that the meds can be given safely. 🐾
(Please note - for any other matters, a full consultation will be charged.)

🏡 If your pet manages to escape your yard, please ensure that your pets have well-fitted collars with name tags and are microchipped. Microchips are the first things vets and the SPCA will check. 💉
If your pet is already microchipped, make sure they have been registered on the microchip database, otherwise the microchip is of no use.

❤️ Please take pets and wildlife into consideration during these festivities. Think twice before setting off fireworks in your neighbourhood. 🐾

14/10/2024

🐾 It is a new chapter at Umgeni Veterinary Clinic!

🩺 After an amazing 14 years of commitment and dedication to the Hilton community, Dr Margie Roach will be leaving Umgeni Vet at the end of November.
She has been an invaluable member of our team and we wish her all the best as she continues her work in physiotherapy and rehabilitation. 🐾

Thank you for all your dedication and compassion to the pets, and families, of Hilton. ❤️

11/10/2024

🩺 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗩𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗡𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗗𝗮𝘆! ❤️

Vet nurses are 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀 of any veterinary team. They care for your pets when they’re away from home. They ensure they get the right medication, the right food and make sure they get enough 𝘀𝗻𝘂𝗴𝗴𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗸𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀! ❤️

🩺 Nurses have an 𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘀 to-do-list in their practice. While sometimes overlooked because they work 𝗯𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗰𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘀, nurses do much more than you may think…
🩻 Here’s to our 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗶𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀, 𝗽𝗵𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗼𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗹𝗮𝗯 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀, 𝘅-𝗿𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀, 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀, 𝗼𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝘆𝗴𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀, 𝘃𝗲𝘁 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗽𝗵𝘆𝘀𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀, 𝗽𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀, 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗽𝗲𝘁 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀, 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗰 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗰𝗸 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗼𝘆𝘀, 𝗷𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 and 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀, of people and pets. 🐱

🇿🇦 Here’s to Sr Imke, Sr Anmari, and honorary nurse and AHT Tyler. And also all the 𝗮𝗺𝗮𝘇𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘃𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗻𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀 all around the world putting their patients, your pets, first every single day. 🐾

❤️ 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗻𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘃𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗰𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲. 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂! 🩺

09/10/2024

⚠️ RABIES ALERT! ⚠️

Our clinic has recently had TWO cases of Rabies in quick succession.
That is two too many. 💔

Please make sure that your pet's Rabies vaccinations are up to date.
By law, in South Africa all pets need to be vaccinated against Rabies. Because KwaZulu-Natal is a hotspot for Rabies, they require yearly boosters. 🇿🇦

Rabies is a fatal viral disease that affects mammals. This includes dogs, cats, cows, small stock, mongooses, meerkats and HUMANS.

You don't need to be bitten to contract Rabies. It can be transmitted via licks onto broken skin or if mucous membranes are expose to infected saliva. Bites are just the most common. 🐾
Even if your pets never leave your property, they are still at risk. ⚠️

The symptoms of Rabies vary greatly, making it difficult to pinpoint. Unfortunately, the only way to definitively diagnose Rabies is with a brain tissue sample. 🧠

Once the virus has taken hold, it is 100% fatal, and it is not a kind death.
Children under the age of 15 make up almost 50% of Rabies fatalities.

⚠️ This is serious. Please get your pets vaccinated.
💉 Our clinics offer FREE Rabies vaccinations between 13:00 and 14:00 on weekdays. Please call to make an appointment before arriving.

☎️ Veterinary House Hospital - 033 342 4698
☎️ Veterinary House Townbush - 033 347 2504
☎️ Umgeni Veterinary Clinic - 033 343 4316

Keep your family and your pets safe. Get your pets vaccinated. 💉

26/09/2024

🐾 We recently had the opportunity to speak with Debbie from Superdogs Training School, who possesses extensive experience in training dogs with hearing impairments.
Debbie began her journey in animal training at just 16 years old. She currently serves as a senior trainer, training dolphins at uShaka Marine World, in addition to her work at Sea World. 🐬

🐶 Are deaf dogs trainable? Absolutely!

While training a deaf dog presents unique challenges, it is certainly achievable with ample patience, love, and kindness. ❤️

One of the primary difficulties lies in the dogs' inability to comprehend verbal commands, necessitating a focus on non-verbal communication to maintain their attention.
👍 Training methods for these dogs typically involve hand signals, eye contact, and body language. Initially, trainers use treats alongside non-verbal praise, such as a thumbs-up, before gradually reducing food rewards and relying solely on non-verbal cues. 👏

🐕 It is crucial to remember that maintaining a calm environment is essential when caring for a deaf pet. Whether you are interacting with them or teaching them new skills, ensure that the surroundings and interactions are as tranquil as possible to avoid startling them.

When children engage with a deaf dog, it is important to encourage calm and respectful behavior. 🐶
Additionally, be prepared for a slower learning curve compared to hearing dogs, and exercise patience throughout the process.

❤️ Welcoming a special needs pet into your home is a significant commitment, so ensure you are ready for the responsibility before making that decision.

Debbie is dedicated to enhancing her community's ability to care for their dogs, with a strong focus on education and community service. She aims to teach dog owners the fundamentals of training and communication. For over 20 years, Superdogs has been transforming the lives of dogs and their owners. 🐕
🇿🇦 Debbie personally trains all her employees, focusing on individuals who possess an innate affinity for dogs. Most of her team at Superdogs consists of community members who share a passion for animals. ❤️

🐾 For any inquiries or additional information regarding Debbie and her exceptional puppy training services, feel free to reach out to her.
☎️ 071 744 2234
📧 [email protected]

25/09/2024

🐶 Marjorie is a six-and-a-half-month-old white Boxer, and she is deaf.

“The most remarkable thing about her is that she is so ‘normal’. If you met her, you would only know that she was deaf if I told you because in every other respect, she does what every Boxer puppy of that age would do," relays Hazel, Marj’s owner. 🐾

🐕 Unlike their more pigmented siblings, white boxers are more likely to be born deaf than their other-coloured siblings (about 30%). But, the majority of them actually hear perfectly!
Their deafness is related to the lack of pigmentation in their inner ear, this results in atrophy of nerve endings which causes hearing loss within the first few weeks of life.

❤️ Hazel has a soft spot for the white Boxer puppies. Her two previous white Boxers heard perfectly. Marjorie is her first deaf one.
Marjorie also has one striking blue eye, which could also be an indication of a lack of pigmentation.

While with her litter, no one noticed her hearing impairment. After a few weeks with her new owners, they realised she could not hear them. She had adapted remarkably well to the world around her. 🐾
Marj also chewed excessivley. After some research, Hazel realised it related to deafness. She whipped out a whistle, blew it, got no response, then realised that she was profoundly deaf. Her veterinarian confirmed this when Marj received her next vaccination.

The next concern was training, Marj’s owner had sent all her dogs for training at Superdogs Training School. She was worried that they may not be able to train a deaf dog.
Debbie, owner of Superdogs, established that these magical dogs could be trained, and she was more than willing to help. Marjorie was trained in sign language for three weeks at Superdogs. 🐶

❤️ Marj and her dedicated owner are still working on her training at home. They are steadily finding the best way to communicate with one another.
Potty training is going a bit slower, but that is also all right. Patience is key when working with a pet with special needs. 🐾

🤩 Keep an eye on our social media pages for some pointers from Debbie at Superdogs on how to manage a pet with hearing difficulty.

We will also be sharing Ziggy’s story soon. He is an incredible shepherd mix whose lack of hearing doesn’t stop him from exploring the world around him. 🐕

19/09/2024

Owners have been found - Thank you!

⚠️ These two pupperinos where found along Warwick Road this morning. 🐾🐶

The short-haired pup is a male, the long-haired pup is a female.

They are not microchipped.
Both are safe at Veterinary House Townbush at the moment.

☎️ If they are yours, or if you know who their pawrents are, please give call 033 347 2504.

Owners have been found - Thank you!

⚠️ These two pupperinos where found along Warwick Road this morning. 🐾🐶

The short-haired pup is a male, the long-haired pup is a female.

They are not microchipped.
Both are safe with us at the moment.

☎️ If they are yours, or if you know who their pawrents are, please give call 033 347 2504.

17/09/2024

🦷 Are you worried your pet may need a dental check up or weight management consultation?
Be sure to book a free pet health appointment with one of our awesome nurses! 🩺

🐱 Our veterinary nurses and Animal Health Technician are offering 𝗗𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 and 𝗪𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗟𝗼𝘀𝘀 clinics, as well as free Rabies vaccinations, for cats and dogs between 13:00 and 14:00 from Monday - Friday. 📆
🐶 These consultations are 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 of charge and will include a nurses check-up, an in-depth discussion about your pet as well as provide awesome resources aimed to help owners care for their pets as best they can! ❤️

These clinics are by appointment only. ⚠️
☎️ To book an appointment or for more information, please call Veterinary House Hospital (339 Prince Alfred Street) on 033 342 4698, or send a WhatsApp to 079 836 4502. 🐾

🌍 For more information, check out our website - https://vethouse.co.za/free-pet-health-clinics/