Winter 2025

Here’s what happened in the last six months!

Dear Valued Clients,

We hope this newsletter finds you and your family well, and you are staying warm and dry!

One of the focuses of this newsletter is pet dental care! Why do we care so much, and what can we do about it? We have many products, and tips and tricks available to help you keep your pet’s teeth clean and their breath stink-free! Virbac is running a dental giveaway for the months of July and August, so jump on board!

We have two new bravery awards to celebrate! Our youngest ever ex-lap, Frankie, and handsome Jett, who had a bad run-in with a car.

Did you know we run a weight loss clinic? If you have an overweight pet and need some help getting them to the right weight, sign up with Courtney, and receive a free Royal Canin food bin while stocks last!

Have you seen the new couches in our waiting room? They’re pretty snazzy, so check them out when you’re next in.

Lastly, we have some updates from our team: Bree is back from maternity leave, and we say goodbye to Erica as she moves to Europe for a big adventure.

Follow us on Facebook & Instagram for regular updates, health tips, and adorable photos – and occasionally a giveaway!

Recently 2 of our special patients who are on a special Hypoallergenic diet won a free bag, courtesy of the amazing team at Royal Canin.

With love, Keryn & Bree

Pet Dental Care: Why do we care and what can we do?

Signs of Periodontal Disease

Did you know “doggy breath” is a sign of periodontal disease? Our pets, just like us, need regular tooth brushing to keep their gums and teeth healthy! Smelly breath is one of the first signs of periodontal disease, which can result in painful, rotten teeth that need to be extracted if left untreated.

Other signs include red, bleeding gums, and yellow or brown build-up on teeth. Grade 3-4 periodontal disease can cause gum and bone loss!

Why Do We Care?

It is estimated that by the age of two years, 80% of dogs and 70% of cats have periodontal disease. Gum inflammation, rotten or diseased teeth, and bone loss are all extremely painful conditions that can make pets grouchy and affect their ability to eat.

Bacteria from the mouth can enter the bloodstream, which can have detrimental effects on the function of the heart, lungs, and kidneys.

Home Dental Care

The best cure for dental disease is prevention! Daily tooth brushing is the gold standard but not all pets tolerate this. We have several products available to supplement brushing, including diets, treats, water and food additives, and wipes.

Grade 1 and some grade 2 periodontal disease can be treated at home with regular toothbrushing.

Veterinary Dental Cleaning

Grade 2-4 periodontal disease cannot be treated at home, and requires treatment during a dental cleaning. During a dental, we assess the health of the teeth and gums, scale and polish the entire mouth, and remove any broken or rotten teeth. This is performed under a general anaesthesia to keep our staff safe and our pets pain-free.

If you think your pet could benefit from a dental, give us a call and book them in for a check-up and a cost estimate.

ChatGPT – Can we trust it?

There has been a surge in artificial intelligence all over the internet recently, in search engines, on social media, and in the form of chats and apps such as ChatGPT.

While researching your pet’s symptoms, conditions, behaviour or medications can help you understand what’s going on, it is important to know where to look! ChatGPT and other AI tools are not reliable sources of information. They frequently make up information and they do not use exclusively reputable sources.

Posts on social media are increasingly created by AI bots, so make sure you pay attention to the pages where posts are coming from.

If you are unsure about something you’ve read online or have questions about your pet’s symptoms or treatment, give our nurses a call or book an appointment to talk our amazing vets. Our team keeps up to date with veterinary research and information, and we are happy to answer any questions you may have.

Bravery Awards

In the last few months, we presented some beautiful patients with well-deserved bravery awards!

Little Frankie and handsome Jett have each had a big journey this year. Read their stories below.

To follow along with more amazing successes like these, follow us on Facebook at Northlands Animal Care Hospital, or Instagram @northlands_animal_care.

Jett

Sweet Jett is one of the coolest cats we have ever met!

Back in January he had a run in with a car and broke his jaw. Dr Keryn did an amazing job wiring his mandible back together, and he has recovered very well.

We want to celebrate his bravery today as he was one of the friendliest and smoochiest cats we've ever had the honour of looking after, even while he was very sore and recovering from surgery.

Congratulations, Jett!

Frankie

Little miss Frankie has had a big life for such a young girl!

At just 2 months old she needed an emergency surgery for something that got stuck in her gut and made her feel very unwell. The surgery was successful, and we found some fabric she had eaten.

Despite the big surgery, she still loves to visit us and has recovered well, putting on good weight and growing and playing like a normal puppy. She is well deserving of a bravery award!

Weight Loss Clinic

Is your pet summer-bod ready?

If you have an overweight cat or dog, we can help! Our nurse Courtney runs a weight loss clinic, which includes a tailored diet and exercise plan for you pet to help them safely lose weight.

There is a one-time nurse consult fee for the initial comprehensive consultation, and all revisits are free!

If you sign up for this clinic, you’ll get a free Royal Canin food bin for your dog or puss while stocks last!

Clinic & Staff Updates

Bree is Back!

Bree is back from maternity leave! Her sons are growing up fast and learning so much every day. We are grateful to have her back to help keep the clinic running smoothly.

Goodbye Erica

We recently had a sad goodbye. In May Erica moved to Europe with her partner for a couple of years to travel, work as a locum vet and do lots of adventuring and rock climbing!

We will miss hear dearly, and we hope she will return to us once she has had her adventures.


You can follow along with her climbing journey at @erica_gatland on instagram.

New Couches

Have you had a look in our waiting room lately? We have a set of fancy new couches for you and your pets to sit on while you wait!

With love from the team at Northlands Animal Care Hospital