CLINIC NEWS

April Newsletter 2016

Even though we have technically left summer behind us, we hope you and your family managed to enjoy a safe and happy Easter weekend with the few good days of weather we received!

There have been a few changes in amongst the clinic, starting with the sad news of having to say goodbye to our vet, Emilie Mendez. Emilie first came to the team for experience when she was studying then once she graduated, returned to join the team as a qualified vet a little over a year ago. She is now focusing on furthering her experience by working in afterhours emergency care and we wish her all the best!

Joining our team is Dr Erin Cassie, who hails from the deep south of New Zealand and is enjoying the warm weather up here on the coast. Graduating with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science in 2015, Erin is already immersed and enjoying the rewarding everyday busyness of a small animal clinic and we’re thrilled to have her on board.

Returning to the team is veterinary nurse Aimee, who some of you may remember from our team four years ago. Since she was last with us, she has worked in Melbourne, Australia as a veterinary nurse and lived in Canada for a time before returning to Whangaparaoa to re-join our team. Welcome back, Aimee!

Itching for something new?

Occasional itching is common in dogs, but excessive itching isn’t and for many dogs, they suffer from constant discomfort due to allergies. This can cause a vicious cycle of itching and irritation, worsening the skin condition and making it harder to control. In some cases, a secondary bacterial infection can occur.

With skin allergies, it can be difficult to narrow down the exact cause behind the itchiness and to prevent exposure to your dog. The best course of action is to stop the itching, usually through a combination of treatments such as steroids, antibiotics, ointments, and shampoos but now there is a new treatment available to bring relief to itchy pets.

A break-through in itch-control, APOQUEL is a fast-acting tablet specially designed to rapidly control itching and inflammation associated with skin allergies. Within the first day of use, Apoquel reduces itching and provides long-term relief to your dog. Apoquel can be used alongside many other common medications without any adverse effects, does not compromise diagnostic testing allowing vets to diagnose the underlying cause of the itch, and is well-tolerated for short and long term use with fewer side effects when compared to steroids.

Apoquel is available only under veterinary prescription following a consult, so if you are concerned that your dog may be suffering a skin allergy, organise a time to speak to your vet to see if Apoquel is right for you.  

All the best,

The team at Whangaparaoa Vet Centre