Pet Vet Nurse

07/03/2025

Pet First Aid Friday - Your First Aid Guide: Diarrhea Edition 💩
Diarrhea in pets can be caused by diet changes, stress, infections, or underlying health issues.
Here’s what you need to know:
🚨 When to Seek Help:
🔴 If diarrhea lasts more than 24 hours
🔴 Signs of dehydration (dry gums, lethargy, sunken eyes)
🔴 Blood in stool (red or black)
🔴 Vomiting alongside diarrhea
🔴 Weakness or fever

🩺 First Aid Steps:
✅ Give anti/diarrheal medication (like Diomec paste or Pro-Kolin) for 12 hours to let the stomach settle
✅ Offer bland food (ask your vet) in small amounts
✅ Keep fresh water available to prevent dehydration
✅ Try probiotics or vet-approved gut health supplements (always have it in your 1st aid Kit!)

🐶🐱 Prevention Tips:
✔️ Avoid sudden diet changes
✔️ Keep toxic foods out of reach
✔️ Ensure routine deworming & vaccinations
📌 If symptoms persist, call your vet ASAP! Your pet’s health comes first. ❤️

21/02/2025

Pet First Aid Friday - Vomiting -
A Basic First Aid Guide 🐾
If your furry friend is vomiting, it can be alarming! Here’s what to know and when to take action.
🚨 When to Seek Help:
* Frequent vomiting (more than once in 24 hours)
* Blood in vomit
* Vomiting with other signs (lethargy, diarrhea, loss of appetite)
* Signs of dehydration (dry gums, excessive panting)
* New pet, puppy or unknown cause
* Use gloves to pick up vomit, place in bag and take it with to your vet

🐾 First Aid Steps:
1. Keep your pet calm – Stress can make vomiting worse.
2. Avoid solid foods until vomiting stops - Allow your pets stomach to settle about 4 hours.
3. Monitor their behavior – Watch for other concerning signs - if vomiting does not stop and your pet looks ill
4. Offer small amounts of oral electrolyte solution (available from your veterinarian) after a few hours to check if they can keep it down.

🔍 Signs to Watch:
* Abnormal drooling or gagging
* Dehydration (sunken eyes, dry nose)
* Rapid breathing or weakness
* Change in stool (diarrhea, black, or tarry)

⚠️ Always contact your vet if you’re unsure!Vomiting can be a symptom of many conditions, and early intervention is key to avoid an emergency situation!
Stay calm, monitor your pet, and keep the first aid kit ready!

14/02/2025

❤️🐾 Pet First Aid Friday Valentine’s Day Pet Safety Tips!
Love is in the air, but let’s keep our furry valentines safe! 🐶🐱 Here are a few tips to avoid a trip to the emergency vet:
🍫 No Chocolate – It’s toxic to pets! Keep all sweets out of reach.
🌹 Watch the Flowers – Lilies, tulips, and roses (with thorns!) can be harmful.
🍷 No Sips for Pets – Alcohol & caffeine are dangerous for them.
🕯️ Candle Caution – Curious paws + open flames = disaster!
🎁 Gift Wrapping Hazards – Ribbons, bows, & plastic can be choking risks.
Show love with extra belly rubs, treats made for them, and safe snuggles! ❤️🐾

07/02/2025

🐾🩹 Pet First Aid Friday - Wound Care:
Know When to Treat at Home & When to See a Vet!

Accidents happen! If your furry friend gets a minor scrape or cut, follow these steps to clean it safely:

✅ How to Clean Minor Wounds:
1️⃣ Assess the wound – If it’s deep, bleeding heavily, or looks infected, call your vet.
2️⃣ Rinse with luke warm water – Gently flush out dirt and debris. Avoid hydrogen peroxide, as it can slow wound healing.
3️⃣ Apply pet-safe antiseptic – Use a vet-approved antiseptic ointment to prevent infection.
4️⃣ Cover with a bandage – I use gauze on the wound and the self adhesive bandage to keep it in place (swipe to see 📸 for top tips)This helps protect the wound while it heals. Check it daily!
5️⃣ Monitor for redness, swelling, odor or discharge – These could be signs of infection!

🚨 When It’s an Emergency:
🐶 Excessive bleeding that won’t stop
🐱 Deep or puncture wounds
🐾 Signs of infection (pus, odor, swelling)
🚑 If your pet doesn’t stop licking the wound Or if in doubt, call your vet!

Keeping your pet first aid kit handy can make all the difference. Stay prepared! 🐶🧑🏻‍⚕️🩺🐾

04/02/2025

🦷🐾 Love is…Stella’s Dental Visit! 🐾🦷
Did you know that dental disease is one of the most common health issues in pets? Just like us, our furry friends need proper dental care to keep their teeth and gums healthy!
✨ Here are some signs of dental disease to watch for:
1️⃣ Bad breath – This was Stella’s biggest sign! If your pet’s breath is persistently unpleasant, it could indicate bacteria buildup or infection.
2️⃣ Tartar buildup – Notice a yellow or brownish coating on their teeth? That’s tartar, which can lead to bad breath and bacterial growth. (Swipe to see Stella’s “before” pic!)
3️⃣ Swollen or bleeding gums – Healthy gums should be pink and firm. Redness, swelling, or bleeding can mean gum disease, which may lead to tooth loss if untreated. Stella’s was caught just in time!
4️⃣ Difficulty eating – Pets with dental pain might chew on one side, drop food, or even lose interest in meals. Any changes in eating habits should be checked by your vet.

Regular dental check-ups are key to keeping your pet’s mouth healthy. Stella had her teeth cleaned under general anesthesia using an ultrasonic scaler—just like at a human dentist! 🦷✨ This procedure cannot be done while your pet is awake.
Prevention is always better than treatment! If you notice any of these signs, be sure to consult your vet. ❤️🐾
📸 Look at Stella’s after photo—she’s feeling so much better! And got some special soft food from the vet to help her recover from the anesthesia and support her sore gums today✨

01/02/2025

🐶🧑🏻‍⚕️🩺🐾 Making sure you see your vet when you suspect your pet stressing or having signs of anxiety.

31/01/2025

Pet First Aid Friday: 🐝 OUCH! Bee stings aren’t just for humans – pets can get stung too!
Here’s what to do if your furry friend has a run-in with a bee:
🐾 First Aid Steps:
1️⃣ Remove the stinger: Use a credit card to gently scrape it out—avoid squeezing it with a tweezer!
2️⃣ Apply a cold compress: Helps reduce swelling and discomfort.
3️⃣ Monitor for allergic reactions: Some pets can have serious reactions—here’s what to watch for.

⚠️ Signs of an Allergic Reaction:
🚨 Severe swelling (especially around the face, throat, or neck)
🚨 Difficulty breathing or wheezing
🚨 Vomiting, diarrhea, or excessive drooling
🚨 Weakness, collapse, or seizures

📞 Call your vet IMMEDIATELY if you notice any of these symptoms.

🆘 A Personal Tip from me: DO NOT ever give human medications without consulting your vet, having something like Allergex in your First Aid Kit is essential, but dosage should be confirmed based on your pet’s weight.

26/01/2025

24/01/2025

Pet First Aid Friday:
🧰🐶 Did you know having a basic Pet 1st Aid Kit at home is a must for every emergency?
It doesn’t have to be complicated. Is your pet’s first aid kit ready?
Save these photos for the top 20 essentials including:
✔️ Gauze & bandage material
✔️ Pet-safe antiseptic soap/wipes and ointment
✔️ Tweezers for splinters or ticks
✔️ A digital thermometer
Ask your Vet for a selection of medications that is specifically for your pet!

Keep it in a handy bag/container seperatly from human mediation and be ready for any minor incidents! 🐕🐾

Share this post with your friends and create your pet’s kit today!

21/01/2025

🆘🐾Do You Know How To Handle a Pet Emergency?

From choking hazards to unexpected allergic reactions, being prepared can save your pet’s life!
I am launching a series called ‘Pet First Aid Friday’ for easy-to-understand posts that walk you through essential first aid steps for your furry friends!

Curious about specific emergencies? Comment below, and I will ensure they’re included in this series!
🐶🧑🏻‍⚕️🩺🐾

20/01/2025

Disussion on Heat Stroke. For the full Video watch here👇
https://youtu.be/HJFGuK5VSSA?si=-K-_t9Hp0WDKAydN

11/01/2025

Hello, January! Welcome, 2025! 🥳 Kietsie gave me that look this morning—a wake-up call and the perfect reminder to get back into action!

I’m excited to dive into the year ahead, host some Pet First Aid courses, and share pawsome tips on all kinds of pet-related topics with you to help keep you informed and prepared for any situation.

Keep an eye out for some interactive posts, so invite your friends to participate and share the posts! 🥂🐶🧑🏻‍⚕️🩺

24/12/2024

Cat from Marltons spent some time chatting with Dalene Janse Van Vuuren, Pet Vet Nurse a veterinary nurse with nearly 20 years' experience, who shared some great tips on keeping your pets safe this summer! 🐾

Watch the full podcast here: https://youtu.be/HJFGuK5VSSA

24/12/2024

So excited to share this! The Summer series is available to watch and read about, with extreme weather warnings across South Africa, check out the links below! 🐶🧑🏻‍⚕️🩺 thank you Marltons for this opportunity to make a difference!

🌞 Summer's here, and so is the Marltons Holiday Guide for pets! 🐾

From keeping your pets hydrated 🥤 to navigating the festive season 🎆 and planning pet-friendly travel 🚗, we've got you covered!

💡 Check out our new blog and listen to our latest At Home with Marltons podcast for expert tips from Sr Dalene, the Pet Vet Nurse, to ensure your pets stay happy, healthy, and holiday-ready!

📖 Read it here:https://marltons.co.za/blogs/news/marltons-holiday-guide-summer-pet-care-tips

Listen here: https://youtu.be/HJFGuK5VSSA

14/12/2024

Something SO exciting coming soon! I have been working on some behind the scenes Pet Parent education projects with Can’t wait to share this with you! 🐶🧑🏻‍⚕️🩺🐾

11/10/2024

Happy Vet Nurses Day to all my colleagues out there! I got this special note sent by a friend today and so proud to be part of this profession and making a difference daily in pets and their owners lives. Keep up the great work! 🐾🧑🏻‍⚕️🩺❤️🐶

26/09/2024

Another successful pet first aid training and to the amazing team at Zwartkop Animal Clinic. A big thank you to every pet parent and pet professional that attended. Special thank you to Dr Marelize and Gail for all the treats! 🐶🧑🏻‍⚕️🩺🐾

18/09/2024

Pretoria pet lovers, pet professionals and pet parents! Looking forward to seeing you next week at Zwartkop Animal Clinic for a Pet First Aid Course. Book your seats to avoid disappointment as we have limited seats available for this course. 🐶🧑🏻‍⚕️🩺🐾

WOULD YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO IN THIS SITUATION? 🐝 ‼️⚠️

FIRST AID FOR PETS - EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOP! 25 September 2024 at Zwartkop Animal Clinic with Sr Dalene Jansen Van Vuuren from Pet Vet Nurse ❤️‍🩹

A workshop for pet parents with an interest in Pet First Aid and emergency care, you will learn how to pack your first aid kit, basic techniques to restrain your pet, CPR and artificial respiration as well as how to handle most emergency situations before arriving at your vet. Some of the topics that we will cover include bleeding, choking, fractures, heatstroke, vomiting, gastrointestinal upsets and diarrhoea

Book your spot by buying your tickets on Quicket South Africa on the link below 👇

https://www.quicket.co.za/events/275581-pet-first-aid-course-zwartkop-animal-clinic/ #/