Eltham Vet Service

29/10/2026

𝗜𝗠𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗧 𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗚𝗟𝗘𝗦 𝗨𝗣𝗗𝗔𝗧𝗘

📣 Strangles Update 📣
A new strangles outbreak has been identified in the New Plymouth area. The Racing Integrity Board (RIB) has notified affected trainers, and the New Plymouth Training Facility is closed while the outbreak is being managed.

Participants involved in the response must follow veterinary, RIB and NZTR advice, including all applicable testing, clearance and horse movement requirements.

All suspected or confirmed cases of Strangles must be reported promptly to the RIB at [email protected]

Read more: https://buff.ly/yoMwNDx

27/10/2026

𝗛𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝘁𝘀!

Chocolate is toxic to dogs because it contains 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗼𝗯𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗲, which dogs cannot break down as efficiently as we can.

The risk depends on the 𝘁𝘆𝗽𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝗺𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗻, 𝗮𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗼𝗴’𝘀 𝘀𝗶𝘇𝗲. Dark chocolate and cocoa powder contain much higher levels of theobromine than milk chocolate.

𝗦𝗶𝗴𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗼𝘅𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲:
• Vomiting or diarrhoea
• Restlessness or agitation
• Increased thirst
• Tremors
• Fast heart rate
• Seizures in severe cases

If your dog gets into your Halloween stash, 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘀𝘆𝗺𝗽𝘁𝗼𝗺𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽. Contact your vet as soon as possible and let them know what type and how much chocolate was eaten, and when it happened.

Keep the Halloween treats somewhere your pets can't reach, and save the chocolate for the trick-or-treaters!

22/10/2026

𝗪𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝟮𝟲𝘁𝗵 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗟𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗗𝗮𝘆
We will be available for emergencies for our client on 06 764 8196.

21/10/2026

𝗦𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗹𝗲𝗮 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻!
As temperatures warm up in spring, conditions become more favourable for fleas to develop and reproduce, meaning flea numbers can start to increase.

Fleas are more than just an itchy nuisance. They can cause skin irritation, flea allergy dermatitis and tapeworm infections. Once fleas become established on your pet and in your home, they can be difficult to get rid of.

Prevention is much easier than treating an established infestation! Even if you aren't seeing fleas on your pet, they may still be present in the environment. Keeping up with regular flea prevention helps reduce the risk of an infestation developing.

We have a range of parasite prevention options available for dogs and cats, including our new products, Simparica Trio for dogs and Revolution Plus for cats.

Thinking ahead to summer? Now is also a great time to organise your dog's Bravecto Quantum injection for long-lasting flea and tick protection through the warmer months.

Not sure what's best for your pet? Come into the clinic and have a chat with our team. We can help you find an option that suits your animal and their lifestyle.

18/10/2026

We have tools that can help your pets to relax during fireworks
Sileo is a fairly new market medication that can be given by the owner before or early on in a fearful event. It’s specifically made to help with acute anxiety and fear associated with noise in dogs. Other products such as Thundershirts, Adaptil collars/spray or diffusers, Calmex capsules or liquid can also help.
Come in for a discussion/vet visit to see how we can best help your pet.

General tips and tricks to help are:
• Make a den - Many pets have a favourite place to go and hide, identify where they like to go in your house and make sure they have access to it. Alternatively build a den for your pet to go,
choose somewhere warm and away from the windows and create a safe cosy hideout with a comfy bed and access to water.
• Background noise - Play music to try to distract them.
• Be cheerful - Be a good role model to them. If you can be with your pet when they encounter the stressful situation, ignore whatever it is that the pet is fearful of.
• Exercise - If possible, take your dog out for a walk to tire them out before they encounter the stressful situation.

15/10/2026

💉 New season? Start with a fresh vaccine vial!

If you have an opened bottle of Coglavax 8 - or any other vaccine left over from last season, please discard it.

Once a vial has been punctured, bacteria can enter and multiply during storage. Reusing contaminated vaccine can cause serious reactions and, in some cases, death.

Coglavax 8 must be used within four days of opening. Other vaccines have their own limits, always check the label.

Use new, unopened vials for this season’s vaccinations. Coglavax 8 is available in 100 mL bottles for smaller mobs.

15/10/2026

𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗼 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘀

While wearables are becoming more popular and take much of the work out of heat detection, good heat identification is still a key part of a successful mating season on many dairy farms.

Keep an eye out for cows standing to be ridden, riding others, or hanging around bulling cows:
• When bringing cows in from the paddock
• While they are walking and waiting in the yard
• An hour or two after morning and evening milking
• Get the whole team spotting heats, but have an experienced person make the final call. A quick paddock check can make a real difference.

If in doubt, draft her out. Check for the quieter signs and look at her mating record. Missing one cycle could cost around $378 per cow next season.

13/10/2026

𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝟰𝗖𝗬𝗧𝗘!
This is a new arthritis product to our clinic - for cats and dogs there are 2 versions

Granules, chicken flavour and designed for mild arthritis cases and prevention
Liquid, (pancake flavour for the dog version and vegemite flavour for the cat version) designed for those with moderate- severe arthritis or post orthopaedic surgery patients
There is also a horse version in both liquid and granules.

The reason 4CYTE is so interesting is research has shown it has an ability to help regenerate cartilage, which, when cartilage is degenerating is what causes arthritis pain. This product is the only product on the market containing epitalis as the active ingredient.

This product is super easy to give, and we can attest to it with a number of clinic dogs seeing significant improvement in mobility and pain whilst on it.

Thanks to our lovely rep we have a promotion available over October- November whilst stocks last where, if your animal qualifies, a free sample may be given.
We can also offer your first purchase at 10% off! To see if your animal qualifies, please mention it in consult or book in a free arthritis check during this month!

06/10/2026

As it is heading into spring/summer allergy season is among us! It's not just us humans affected it is also our furry friends.

Allergies can be triggered by many things, including food, pollen, food and particular plants including grass and wandering dew. Allergies can develop at any age but most commonly between the ages 1-3 years.

One of the most noticeable signs of a skin allergy is excessive itching. Affected dogs may scratch, lick, chew, or rub their skin frequently. Other symptoms can include red or inflamed skin, rashes, dry or flaky skin, hair loss, scabs, sores, and an unpleasant smell.

Allergies can also affect a dog’s ears, sometimes causing repeated ear infections. If a dog continually scratches or bites its skin, the damaged area can become infected with bacteria or yeast.

Luckily we have many tools in our toolbox to treat skin allergies so if your dog has any of the above signs please get in touch on 06 764 8196!

28/09/2026

𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲
Just a reminder closing early on Wednesday!