Author Archives: Jo Campbell

As we head into the festive season, the Vets North team is looking forward to a well-deserved break — and a chance to celebrate a big year together. Below you’ll find all the details you need about our December and January hours, plus who to contact if you need urgent care outside these times.

Saturday 13 December – Early Closing for Our Team Christmas Celebration

To allow our entire team (and their families!) to come together for our end-of-year celebration, a few of our clinics will be closing slightly earlier than usual:

• Waimauku & Kumeu: Closing at 2:00pm (normally 3.00pm)

• Silverdale & Helensville: Closing at 12:30pm (no change)

Thank you for your understanding as we give our hardworking crew a moment to relax, connect, and celebrate another year of caring for your animals.

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Christmas & New Year Public Holiday Hours

All Vets North clinics will be closed on the following statutory holidays:

• Thursday 25 December – Christmas Day

• Friday 26 December – Boxing Day

• Thursday 1 January – New Year’s Day

• Friday 2 January – Day after New Year’s Day

We’ll be back to normal hours outside of these dates.

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After-Hours & Emergency Support

If your animals need help when our clinics are closed, here’s who to contact:

Large Animals

📞 0800 VTS NTH (0800 887 684) – Our on-call vets are available.

Small Animals

For urgent care, please contact:

• Animal Referral Centre (Albany): 09 281 5815

• VSA Animal Emergency (Henderson): 09 849 2121

These trusted emergency partners provide excellent care when we’re unavailable.

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Wishing You a Safe & Happy Holiday Season

From all of us at Vets North, thank you for trusting us with your furry, fleecy, and feathered family members throughout the year. We hope you all enjoy a relaxing and joy-filled festive season — and we look forward to seeing you (and your animals) in 2026.

Warmly,
The Vets North Team

Last year, our equine vet Sophie bred her mare — a calm, good-natured horse she knew would make a wonderful mum. The early scans went smoothly…until a surprising moment 16 days in.

Two tiny flickers appeared on the ultrasound screen.

“It was clear straight away — she was carrying twins,” Sophie recalls.

To anyone who’s ever hoped for a foal, that might sound like double the joy. But in horses, twin pregnancies are actually very risky — both for the mare and her unborn foals.

Why twins are dangerous in horses

While mares can occasionally conceive twins, their bodies aren’t built to support two developing foals. Most twin pregnancies end naturally in early loss, and when they don’t, the outcome can be tragic.

Carrying twins often leads to miscarriage, premature delivery, or the loss of both foals. In some cases, it can even endanger the mare herself.

That’s why routine follow-up scans are so important — typically done around 16 days after insemination or natural service. At that point, both embryos are still small enough that intervention is possible.

The decision: give one the best chance

With the help of senior vet Mark, Sophie made a careful but necessary decision: to perform a twin reduction — a delicate, ultrasound-guided procedure that removes one embryo early, giving the other the best possible chance to survive and thrive.

It’s a moment no breeder takes lightly.

“It’s always an emotional call,” says Sophie. “But it’s also a responsible one. You’re thinking about the mare’s safety — and giving at least one foal a real chance at life.”

The procedure went smoothly, and over the following weeks, the single remaining embryo continued to grow strong and healthy.

Eleven months later…

Nearly a year later, Sophie’s mare delivered a beautiful, bright-eyed filly — born healthy, standing quickly, and full of personality.

Her name? This Way Up, or Appa for short 🐴⬆️

The name came from a small arrow-shaped marking on her rump that points skyward — a playful nod to her journey and a reminder of how fragile beginnings can lead to strong, happy endings.

“When you see her now, it’s hard to imagine how different things could’ve been,” Sophie says. “She’s everything we hoped for — curious, confident, and full of life.”

 

What Appa’s story teaches us

Appa’s story isn’t just a happy ending — it’s an important reminder about the value of early pregnancy checks.

At Vets North, our equine team regularly sees mares come in for pregnancy confirmation scans around two weeks after conception. These visits are quick, safe, and incredibly valuable — allowing us to:

• Confirm pregnancy early
• Identify twins before it’s too late to intervene
• Assess the mare’s reproductive health
• Provide tailored care to support a smooth pregnancy

Early detection gives veterinarians and owners the best chance to act decisively and protect both mare and foal.

“It’s a small step that can make a huge difference,” Sophie says. “Without that 16-day scan, Appa’s story could’ve ended very differently.”

Supporting healthy pregnancies and foals

Our equine team loves seeing foals like Appa arrive safely into the world — especially when we’ve been part of their story from the very beginning.

Whether you’re a first-time breeder or an experienced horse owner, we can help guide you through every stage — from scanning and breeding advice, to nutrition, foaling preparation, and newborn care.

If you’d like to discuss a breeding plan or schedule your mare’s next scan, contact our Equine Team at Vets North today.
We’re always happy to help ensure the best outcomes for mares and foals — and to celebrate the special stories that remind us why we love what we do. 💛

📞 Call your nearest Vets North clinic or visit vetsnorth.co.nz/equine to learn more.

 

 

Just like your car needs a warrant of fitness, your horse does too — especially heading into the busy summer season! ☀️

Our Summer Equine W.O.F. checks are a full head-to-hoof health assessment designed to catch little problems before they turn into big ones.

Summer can be tough on horses — long days, hard work, heat, and travel all take their toll. These comprehensive check-ups are the best way to make sure your horse is fit, comfortable, and performing at their best for the months ahead.

Why Summer?
Because this is when most horses are at their busiest — training, competing, trekking, and travelling. The warmer weather also brings extra challenges like heat stress, parasites, and changing pasture quality. A pre-season check helps you stay ahead of these issues and keep your horse feeling their best all summer long. 🌞

We often find small issues — from subtle lameness or dental wear to mineral imbalances — that can quietly affect comfort and condition. Catching them early means easier fixes, faster recovery, and a happier horse overall 🐎💛

Our W.O.F. packages are a great way to give your horse that full “once-over” at a discounted rate, with options to suit every horse — from top performers to treasured paddock mates.
Choose from our comprehensive Platinum package (including gastroscope and balance X-rays) right through to the streamlined Bronze.

✅ Health check and annual treatments
✅ Lameness locator and dental exam
✅ Parasite, mineral and weight assessments
✅ Optional dental float add-on for $150

Because good maintenance isn’t just about performance — it’s about giving your horse the best chance at a long, healthy, and happy life.

📞 Book your Summer W.O.F. today — available November and December only.

It’s that time of the year again when the fizz pop bang of fireworks can be a source of joy for many humans, but a source of fear and anxiety for our furry friends.

Helping Your Pet Stay Calm During Scary Seasons

Halloween, Guy Fawkes, and holiday time are full of fun for us — but for many pets the fizz, pop and bang of fireworks, and strange costumes, new smells and decorations, or being away at a kennel or cattery can all make our furry friends feel anxious.

The good news is there’s a lot you can do to help them feel safe and calm.

 How to Tell if Your Pet’s Feeling Anxious

Anxiety doesn’t always look the same — some pets get jumpy, while others shut down.
Here are a few things to watch for:

Dogs might:
Tremble, pant, or pace
Bark or whine more than usual
Hide or try to escape
Lose interest in food
Have wee or poo accidents inside

Cats might:
Hide under the bed or in cupboards
Meow more, or go unusually quiet
Lick themselves too much (overgrooming)
Stop eating or using the litter box, or wee or poo outside the litter box
Act grumpy or lash out

If you notice any of these, it’s your pet’s way of saying, “I’m not okay right now.”

Simple Things You Can Do at Home

A few small changes can make a big difference:

Set up a safe zone:
Pick a quiet room with their favourite blanket, toys, and water. Close the curtains and pop some soft music or white noise on to help cover the bangs and crackles.

Stay calm yourself:
Your pet looks to you for reassurance. Speak gently, move slowly, and keep things as normal as possible.

Stick to routine:
Regular mealtimes and walks help pets feel secure, even when things outside get noisy or busy. However on evenings like Guy Fawkes night or New Year’s Eve when you know fireworks are likely, it may be a good idea to take your pet for a walk before it gets dark so they are less likely to get spooked by sudden bangs when out and about.

Get them used to noises:
In the weeks before fireworks season, you can play quiet recordings of fireworks or thunder and reward calm behaviour. It helps them learn those sounds aren’t scary. Check out the Sounds Scary desensitisation guide here https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/dog-advice/understanding-your-dog/sound-therapy-for-pets Please be sure to read the guidance before playing the sound tracks as they contain loud noises and you need to follow the step by step plan to help your pet get acclimatised.

Keep them secure:                                                                                                            Ensure cat flaps are closed and dogs are secure in your home as sometimes pets can bolt if very frightened and would be at risk of getting lost or injured by traffic.

If they’re boarding:
Bring along their own blanket or toy so they’ve got a comforting familiar smell. Try a short “practice stay” if it’s their first time at the kennel or cattery.

Gentle Calming Aids You Can Try

Some over-the-counter options can help take the edge off mild anxiety:

Pheromone products like Adaptil (for dogs) and Feliway (for cats) release natural calming scents.
Anxiety wraps or ThunderShirts give comforting, gentle pressure.
Calming supplements with ingredients like L-tryptophan, L-theanine, or casein can help some pets relax such as Calmex or Pro Plan Calming Care and Calm & Relax Chews.

It’s best to start these a few days before things get loud — not on the night itself.

When to Chat with The Vet

If your pet really struggles — or you’re not sure what’s best — your vet can help.

We can:

• Rule out any health problems that might make things worse.
• Recommend short-term calming medications or mild sedatives for firework nights or travel.
• Create a longer-term plan for pets with ongoing anxiety.

Every pet is different, and there’s no one-size-fits-all fix. We’ll work with you to find the right approach.

A Little Planning Goes a Long Way

These celebrations come around every year, so planning ahead makes all the difference.
With a safe space, calm routine, and the right support, your pet can get through the spooky season — and you’ll both enjoy a more peaceful time together.

If your furry friend gets anxious during fireworks or boarding, book a chat with our team before things get noisy — we’re here to help keep tails wagging and whiskers relaxed.