PONSONBY PEOPLE + THEIR PETS ASK ALEX
WILL YOU BE AN SPCA HERO IN 2014?
Each month Dr Alex Melrose answers readers’ pet related issues. email yours to: alex@vetcare.net.nz
Did you make a New Year’s resolution to get fit, or be more active?
We have a beautiful Rottie girl up here in Vava’u and are flying to you to get surgical treatment for her. We want to fly in on a Monday morning, and depart Tuesday evening. Nikki is 14 months old at present and weighs approximately 50kg. She needs to be spayed. We have lined up some accommodation nearby. Also, can you confirm not to feed her in the morning of the flight and operation, as well as anything else we should be aware of in regards to before and after her operation? She had her first season one month ago. Many thanks and look forward to getting her to you. Karen.
Do you want to do some good for the animals of Auckland? If the answer to either (or both) of these questions is “Yes!” then you could be one of the heroes that SPCA Auckland are looking for. Team SPCA Auckland is looking for people who are willing to challenge themselves in 2014 whilst raising much needed funds for the animals of Auckland. Would you be willing to participate in the Ports of Auckland "Round the Bays" in March? How about the World Tri-series or Orewa Beach half-marathon in April? Or perhaps the Tough Guy & Gal Challenge in June is more your thing? However you decide to challenge yourself, fundraise for Team SPCA Auckland - the animals will thank you for your efforts! How can you become a hero? It's easy to fundraise for SPCA Auckland: 1. Choose your event 2. Sign up on spca.org.nz 3. Let us know which event you're doing 4. START FUNDRAISING! Simple! You're now part of Team SPCA Auckland and will be contacted by a member of the fundraising team to welcome you to the team and provide fundraising support and advice. Plus if you raise more than $100 for SPCA Auckland, you’ll receive a free Team PN SPCA Auckland t-shirt to wear during the event. F For further information just visit www.spca.org.nz or contact the SPCA Auckland fundraising team on T: 09 256 2520 or fundraise@spca.org.nz
Q:
Thanks for all your effort to provide such great care for Nikki, and for planning the logistics out so clearly. We are really looking forward to being able to help you and your Rottweiler. Arko is our resident Rottie, featured on our website and pictured, as one of our Clinic Manger Vanessa’s many, many pets. He is 13 months old, 49kg, and likes long beach walks, snuggling and rolling upside down. So Nikki and Arko could get on rather well I suspect. We need eight hours of fasting pre operatively i.e. from about midnight, after a late supper the night before, to ensure an empty stomach and reduce the chance of aspirating food during anaesthesia. Please don’t withhold water, dehydration being our enemy. We will run pre GA bloods on her before the procedure to check her organ function and potential pre-existing illness including clotting disorders. One month after her season is a good length of time to ensure the reproductive tissues have receded in size and blood supply. At her age and weight however I would strongly suggest staying longer, to acclimatise after the stress and pressure changes of the flight inwards, and to allow longer to check her post operatively before flying out, including wound appearance, temperature, pain levels, appetite and mobility. (DR ALEX MELROSE BVSC, MRVS)
A:
VETCARE GREY LYNN, 408 Great North Road T: 09 361 3500 PN www.vetcare.net.nz F
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DEADLINE - 20TH OF THE MONTH
PONSONBY NEWS+ February 2014
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