| 137 T T Lindy Andrews Timely tips for animal care Life is never dull at the practice’s three Whangarei clinics at Maunu, Onerahi and Hikurangi, which cater for all creatures great and small. Northland Veterinary Group COMMUNITY When it comes to animal health, there’s truth in the old saying “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. “The main thing is prevention, rather than treatment – keeping animals as healthy as possible,” says Northland Veterinary Group’s Angus Campbell, a strong advocate for vaccination. Life is never dull at the practice’s three Whangarei clinics at Maunu, Onerahi and Hikurangi, which cater for all creatures great and small – from cattle, sheep, horses, goats and alpacas to cats, dogs, rabbits, guinea pigs and chickens. When it comes to companion animals, vaccinations and desexing top Angus’s list for keeping them healthy – and safe. For canine companions, that means regular parvovirus shots. More often known as parvo, the disease is extremely contagious and potentially fatal. While more prevalent in summer, the threat never completely goes away. Symptoms include lethargy, severe vomiting, and bloody diarrhoea leading to life-threatening dehydration. By the time it is diagnosed, it’s often too late. “People often can’t afford for us to treat their puppy or dog and sadly, a lot die,” Angus says. “Parvovirus is very tough; it lasts in the environment. If you’ve had a dog with parvo in your yard, it could remain a high-risk area for many years.” Puppies should be kept isolated from parks, beaches and anywhere dogs can roam until a week after their final parvo vaccine at 16 weeks of age, when they have reached peak immunity. Desexing is another preventive-care hot topic for Angus and the 10-vet Northland Veterinary Group, who have seen their fair share of unneutered dogs that have escaped from home, only to be hit by a car while roaming the neighbourhood. With the warmer, wetter months upon us, Angus is already thinking ahead to February, March and April, when fly strike becomes a problem on farms and lifestyle blocks. Making sure that sheep are dagged is critical to avoiding serious health issues. He says that aside from checking for maggots and eggs, an infested sheep can be detected through its behaviour. “A sheep that isolates itself from the rest of the mob or sleeps under the trees can indicate a problem.” As the disease progresses, the wool starts falling out and more flies are attracted to the animal. Sheep can die of blood poisoning from infection via the damaged skin. With the Christmas and summer holidays just weeks away, Angus and the Northland Veterinary Group team advise animal owners to take special care. “If you have livestock, it’s essential they have adequate water,” Angus stresses. “Farmers and lifestyle block owners should get someone to check the water supply is working as it should while they are away.” Registering holiday-making animals on the New Zealand Companion Animal Register costs $15 and ensures that microchipped cats and dogs are easily reunited with their owners should they become lost. Lastly, Angus reminds owners not to leave their dogs – or young children – unattended in vehicles. “A car can heat up quickly; dogs and children become heat-stressed and that can be fatal.” Awanui Veterinary provides expert advice and innovative diagnostic laboratory services for animals and vets throughout New Zealand. Ask your veterinarian about the testing options we have available for your property. Together we’ve got you covered awanuivets.co.nz See product labels for full claim details and directions for use. NEXGARD SPECTRA® is a registered trademark of Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health France, used under license. ACVM Registration No. A011184. ©Copyright 2024 Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health New Zealand Limited. All rights reserved. NZ-CAN-0033-2023. COLIN AND DAME LISA CARRINGTON THE MOST COMPLETE PARASITE PROTECTION ALL IN ONE TASTY, MONTHLY CHEW
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