What are the opening hours?

Monday 07:30 - 17:30 Tuesday 07:30 - 17:30 Wednesday 07:30 - 17:30 Thursday 07:30 - 17:30 Friday 07:30 - 17:30 Saturday 08:00 - 12:00

Veterinary House Townbush

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South Africa
Pietermaritzburg
Veterinary House Townbush

Trusted veterinary care with every visit. ❤️
🩺 Dr de Freitas, Dr Watkins, Dr Hodgson
📍 Pietermaritzburg, KZN, South Africa 🇿🇦
🐶 🐱 🐄 🐐 🐴 🐰 🦔 🦎 🦜

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. 🐾🩺

28/11/2024

UPDATE - OWNER FOUND!

🐶 This lady was found in the Wembley area between Pam Golding and Athlone Primary School.
She is not microchipped and has no collar on.

☎️ If you have any information, please call 033 347 2504.

25/11/2024

⚠️ We need your help!
Kitoo has been missing since the storm on Thursday. 🐈
He went missing in the Montrose area. 🐾

☎️ If you have any information, please call 033 347 2504.

19/11/2024

🐶 As dog owners, one of our top priorities is keeping our furry companions healthy and happy.
One of the most effective ways to ensure our dog stays healthy is by making sure they receive all their necessary vaccinations. ❤️

💉 The importance of puppy vaccinations cannot be overstated. Vaccines help prevent spread of diseases like Parvo and Rabies, both of which are deadly.
That being said, vaccines need to be administered by a veterinary professional at the correct intervals. 📆
Some vaccines are also a legal requirement, like the Rabies vaccine. 🇿🇦

🐾 Why do we recommend regular check-ups and vaccinations, especially for puppies?
Vaccinations prevent the spread of deadly diseases, saving the lives of both dogs and humans.

What is our standard vaccination protocol?
1️⃣ First puppy vaccinations can be done from 4 weeks of age, depending on the vaccine administered.
2️⃣ The second vaccination is give 3 weeks later.
3️⃣ The third booster is administered with Rabies 3 weeks later, at 3 months of age.
4️⃣ The fourth vaccination is either just a Rabies booster, or inclusive of a 5-in-1 booster as well.

Thereafter, we generally recommend your pet receive boosters ever year. 💉

☎️ For more information, please get in touch - 033 347 2504.

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.

12/11/2024

🐾 Obesity has emerged as the most important disease in pets today. Almost half of pets in South Africa are considered overweight. 🇿🇦

Being overweight has many different effects on our pets. They develop an increased risk for many types of cancers, various endocrine diseases and are much more prone to anaesthetic complications. Being overweight sets the stage for joint disease and osteoarthritis, leading to chronic pain. 🦴
Overweight pets are at an increased risk of developing cystitis and increases the prevalence of urinary tract infections. Obesity has been linked to diseases like diabetes, kidney disease, heart disease and certain dermatological conditions. 🫀

🐱🐶 Even though you may think the chubby look is cute, just a few extra kilos can really add up. serious health issues, like joint problems, diabetes, heart disease or bladder stones and even shorten life expectancy.
Your pet’s ideal weight varies by species, breed and size.

Many of us don’t realise that our pets are overweight because weight gain often takes place gradually over time. This makes it easy to overlook.

🐾Here are some easy ways to check whether your pet may be a little on the chunky side - You should be able to easily feel the ribs when petting your pet’s sides, but the ribs should not be visible. You may be able to see the ribs if your pet stretches themselves out, but this is normal. You won’t be able to see an obvious waist anymore. 🐾

🐶 Other subtle signs that indicate that your pet may be picking up weight include a collar that needs loosening even when they are fully grown, difficulty walking in dogs and jumping in cats, slower movements, shortness of breath, fat roll around the base of the tail and sleeping more than usual.

☎️ To book a free weight check, please call 033 347 2504.

23/10/2024

⚠️ Great news... We're running a special on over-the-counter calming medication for your pets! This offer 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.
🐾 You can even try an anxiety wrap for your pet!

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. 🐕🐈‍⬛🐎🐄🐑🐇🦇🦜🐢

17/10/2024

UPDATE - OWNER FOUND! ❤️

⚠️ This Jack Russell boy was found on Craigie Drive, Montrose this evening.
He is currently safe with us.

☎️ If he's yours, or you know who his people are, please call 033 347 2504.

16/10/2024

What is spaying or neutering? 🩺

🐾 Sterilisation is the complete removal of ovaries and uterus in female pets (spay) and the testicles in male pets (castrate/neuter).

We recommend sterilising all non-breeding pets.
🐕 Spaying your female pet prevents unwanted litters and eliminates the risk of pyometra (infection of the uterus, which is life threatening).
Sterilisation reduces the risk of mammary, testicular, prostate cancer. It reduces the incidence of behavioural issues such as roaming and marking, and completely halts the heat cycle in females. 🐈‍⬛

🐶 While the general recommended age to sterilise dogs is around 6 months of age, research has shown that holding out a little longer can decrease incidence of certain health issues, particularly related to their joints. Sterilising female cats and dogs before their first heat greatly reduces their chances of developing mammary cancer. 🐱

Small dogs can safely be sterilised from 6 months and large and giant breed pups, especially males, should in most cases be sterilised at around 12 - 18 months, unless there are factors affecting the household such as marking, wandering or inappropriate behavioural issues like aggression.

🐈‍⬛ We recommend sterilising cats at 6 months old. For your larger breeds like Maine C***s and Norwegian Forest Cats we recommend sterilising from around 8 months of age.

☎️ For more information, please don’t hesitate to give us a call on 033 347 2504.

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 Rebecca, and 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 main branch in Prince Alfred Street 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. 💉

02/10/2024

🩺 Another familiar face you’ll see at Vet House Townbush, and one of the partners of Veterinary House, is Dr. Leonard de Freitas.

Originally from Pretoria, Dr. Leonard joined the Veterinary House Hospital team in 2013 and has over a decade’s worth of veterinary experience. 🐾
He has developed a special interest in diagnostic imaging, surgery, and practice management. 🩻

🐕 Dr. Leonard's journey into veterinary medicine was inspired by his family dog, a Border Collie, who needed home care after a tough vet visit. This experience fueled his passion for caring for animals, leading him to become a veterinarian.

When he's not busy caring for your pets, Dr. de Freitas enjoys mountain biking, reading, and playing a good game of chess. 🚲
His favorite species to work with? Pugs, because they certainly deserve their own species class. 🐶

🩺 Driven by the motto “Be the change you want to see in the world,” Dr. Leonard is dedicated to making a positive impact on the world around him.

01/10/2024

⚠️ This lovely lady was found running around Townbush Road yesterday. 🐶

She is not microchipped and has no collar.

☎️ If you know her, or het owners, please call 033 347 2504.

30/09/2024

❤️ Meet Skhona, our fabulous new team member who joined us in early August this year. Hailing from Umthatha in the Eastern Cape, she brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table.

Skhona holds an Honours degree in Applied Psychology from UNISA and has a background in office management. 🎓

📚 She's all about continuous learning and delivering top-notch service to her clients. Skhona is passionate about making a difference in her community and loves seeing new ideas take flight.
Her top advice? "Don't be afraid to ask for help." In her downtime, she enjoys reading, writing poetry and short stories, and lending a helping hand through community service. She even completed a cool course in creative writing! ✒️

We're absolutely thrilled to have Skhona as part of our team. 🤩

23/09/2024

🐾 Meet Bheki, our stalwart kennel assistant!

This fantastic gentleman has been an irreplaceable part of our team for almost two decades. 🩺
As a young man, Bheki was taught to care for and treat all animals with kindness. This crucial lesson has impacted his entire life. Bheki has a real way with animals, making him a hugely valued member of our dedicated team.
He especially loves working with dogs and cats, and enjoys learning how to take care of them as best he can. 🐱🐶

🏥 Bheki takes great pride in keeping the hospital and preparation area in pristine condition, making sure all our instruments are handled with expert care and knowledge.

When asked why he enjoys working with animals so much, he thought for a brief moment, stating, “I enjoy working with animals because I think of them as human.” ❤️
How beautiful.
Thank you, Bheki for your commitment and infallible service over the years. Working alongside you is an absolute delight!🐾

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 with us at the moment.

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

16/09/2024

🩺 Next up, our super nurse Sr Rebecca Kahn!

Originally from Pietermaritzburg, Sr Rebecca joined our team in 2019. Her love for animals was the precursor to pursuing a career in veterinary nursing. 🐾

🦜 🦎 With almost a decade of experience in the veterinary field, Sr Rebecca enjoys working with a plethora of animals, from dogs to lizards, birds and hedgehogs. 🐶 🦔
She thrives on teaching pet owners all there is to know about being the best pet parent, taking special interest in nutrition.

🧶 Apart from providing the very best patient care, in her free time Sr Rebecca enjoys reading, crocheting and spending time with her adorable son, Max.

“You define your life, don’t let others write your script for you”, is a quote that Sr Rebecca takes very seriously, bringing her own uniqueness to every aspect of her life. ❤️

Address

459 Town Bush Road
Pietermaritzburg
3201

Opening Hours

Monday	07:30 - 17:30
Tuesday	07:30 - 17:30
Wednesday	07:30 - 17:30
Thursday	07:30 - 17:30
Friday	07:30 - 17:30
Saturday	08:00 - 12:00

Telephone

+27333472504

Website

http://www.vethouse.co.za/

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🩺 Do we strongly recommend that your pet has a microchip? YES. Are microchips the primary way pets get reunited with their owners? No. But that doesn't mean they aren't important. We have successfully reunited missing pets via microchips quite a few times. ❤️ The most common way missing pets get home is actually because of a collar and name tag. That's why it's super important to make sure your pet has a well-fitted collar and legible name tag with your contact number. ☎️ 🤔 Why microchip, then? Collars break, can be removed, or tags fall off. A microchip is a more permanent method of identification for your pet. The first thing vets and shelters do when a lost pet is brought in is scan them for a microchip. 💉 The microchip MUST be registered on the database for it to work. Professionals have access to this database, and when your pet’s chip number is entered, we are able to reach out to you. 🐾 It is NOT a GPS tracker. ⚠️ 🥳🇿🇦 We're heading into the festive season, so be sure to give your pet the best chance at finding their way back to your family. ⚠️ Remember, accidents happen. It only takes a few seconds for pets to escape, become lost, or be stolen. Always be prepared. 🐾 #veterinarian #petcare #lostpet #vetlifestyle #pietermaritzburg #festiveseason #safetyfirst #vets #gsp #germanshorthairedpointer