Scamps Pet Health People

15/02/2026

Grass Awns

It’s that time of year when grass awns are plentiful. For dogs that are rural or spend time off lead, these are a potential issue. They can affect any dog; however, those with denser coats and fluffier paws tend to be more at risk.

Grass awns have a sharp point and can pe*****te the skin. They often cause localised inflammation and swelling, frequently requiring minor surgery to locate and remove them. They can also migrate under the skin and, in some cases, be very tricky to track down.

Common places for grass awns to pe*****te include between the digits of the paws, although they can affect other areas of a dog’s body as well.

To avoid problems, it is a good idea to thoroughly check or comb your dog after they have been running in areas with long grass during grass awn season.

23/12/2025

24/11/2025

Had a lovely visit to Alfie to give him a cytopoint injection to help manage his allergic skin disease (like eczema in humans). The time that suited his mum coincided with my kids needing to get to sport. Conveniently one kid has a just got her full driver's license. Given it was a fine day and Alfie lives close by, I dusted off the pannier, packed what I needed and hopped on the e-bike. Better than a consult room in my humble opinion.
Alfie’s a very cool, relaxed little dog. Here he is showing us one of the tricks he has up his sleeve.

03/11/2025

I visited a sweet cavoodle yesterday who is lucky enough to live in a house with a beautiful garden. I did notice a couple of the potted plants were cycads, in this case Sago Palms. These aren't overly common in New Zealand so people may not be aware that they are potentially very toxic to dogs and can cause fatal liver failure. Given dogs aren't always too discerning about what they eat, it is probably safer for dog owners to avoid these plants in their garden.

30/09/2025

I had the pleasure of visting Frank and Russell last week. Here they are while I talk to their owner. Given I castrated them on the tail gate of the the ute a few months ago (using anaesthetic and pain relief), it seems there are no hard feelings. I would like to say all cats are this relaxed about a home visit. Cats have the tendency to run for cover when they hear a vehicle or unfamiliar voice and this does happen with home visits sometimes. These two are the most chilled out cats I have come across. They live in and around a big farm shed and are free rangers. They weren't confined prior to my arrival. Cats are surprising and Frank and Russell were very pleasantly surprising. It was a special visit.

15/09/2025

Rat Bait Poisoning in Dogs

There are two types of rat bait poisons (rodenticides) in NZ

• An anticoagulant which interferes with blood clotting.
• A type of vitamin D (cholecalciferol) which interferes with the calcium and phosphorus levels in the blood.

Both types can poison dogs as well as rodents.

Anticoagulant rat bait decreases the production of some clotting factors by interfering with vitamin K levels in the liver. Think of this like a supermarket shelf that is not able to be restocked. Once the clotting factors on hand are used they are not replaced and then the dog bleeds.

The two common scenarios for this type of rat bait are:

1. Dogs are seen to eat the bait and the owner takes them to the vet straight away where they are made to vomit and may have a blood test to check clotting factors a few days later.

2. Dogs eat rat bait in sufficient quantities to cause a problem without the owner knowing. Two to five days later the dog starts to bleed, usually into the body so it is often not obvious until they are getting weak, their gums are pale or clinical signs are caused by the bleeding. For example coughing if the bleeding is into the lungs. The other important point is there is a lag. Rat bait doesn’t cause these signs straight away. Dogs that develop clinical signs need to see a vet ASAP for blood testing including clotting factors, hospitalisation, often blood transfusions and vitamin K supplementation for a number of weeks.

The outcome is good with scenario one and usually good with scenario two if the dog is brought to the vet in time.

The other type of rat bait is a type of vitamin D (cholecalciferol) in excessive quantities. This throws the calcium and phosphorus levels in the blood out of kilter and these dogs can develop severe kidney failure as well as having other organs affected. Clinical signs include loss of appetite, vomiting, increased drinking and weakness. These dogs need hospitalisation and intensive treatment. Unfortunately, some of these dogs do not survive especially if owners did not realise they had eaten the rat bait and treatment was not started until the clinical signs had developed and considerable damage had been done.

In summary, rat bait is a risk to dogs. If using rat poison, the anticoagulant type is a better option. Rat and mouse traps which don’t rely on poisons, such as the Good Nature traps, are a better choice for dog owners.

18/05/2025

Arthritis in dogs is most commonly osteoarthritis - inflammation of joints most commonly seen as dogs get older, influenced by genetics, body condition throughout life and presently and previous joint injuries and conditions.

Dogs are often stoic and do their best for as long as they can. The signs of arthritis are subtle, such as being slower getting up, slower when going for walks and more deliberate negotiating stairs or getting into vehicles. As the arthritis gets worse dogs that previously could, are not able to jump into higher vehicles without help.

See full articles at scamps.co.nz to learn of the various ways that we can help dogs with arthritis enjoy an improved quality of life for longer.

18/04/2025

Parvovirus in Dogs - Understanding Vaccination and its Importance

Parvovirus was first recognised in dogs in the late 1970s. Before vaccinations became available it spread rapidly and caused many deaths, particularly among puppies.

The first parvovirus vaccine was developed in 1979, and vaccination has since become very effective at preventing infection and disease. Even today, though, we still see cases of parvo—especially in unvaccinated pups. It's a serious illness that causes:

Loss of appetite

Vomiting

Bloody diarrhoea

Rapid dehydration

Weakness

Death

Treatment can be intensive and costly, and sadly, some puppies don’t survive despite the best care.

Why Vaccination Is So Important?

Parvovirus vaccination is almost 100% effective at preventing the disease when given correctly. This is especially important for young puppies. From colostrum or the mother's early milk they get antibodies against various diseases including parvovirus. Within a few months these levels fall to a level that no longer protects them. We use vaccination to stimulate puppies to produce their own, longer lasting antibodies without causing disease. Young puppies don't respond to vaccination until the maternal antibody falls below a certain level.

See https://vetsatscamps.blogspot.com/ for a more indepth explanation of parvovirus vaccination and why the usual recommendation is to vaccinate puppies every 3-4 weeks from 6-8 weeks of age until they are 16 weeks of age and to avoid public places until the pup is fully vaccinated.

15/03/2025

Sun Damage is a Problem for Pets

Sun damage is associated with skin problems in cats and dogs.
Animals with white fur and pink skin are most at risk because their skin has little or no pigment.

For white cats (and cats with white patches) the most common problem is sun damage to the ears, the white hairless area on the nose and the eyelids. Sun damage over the years causes subtle changes. These may then go on to become squamous cell carcoma - a skin cancer which can cause ulceration of the nose, eyelids and ears. Treatment often involves surgery.

White dogs are susceptible to sun damage. The area most commonly affected is the belly and the inside of the hindlegs where the skin is pink and the haircoat is thin. Dogs who like to lie on their back in the sun are more at risk. Sun damage causes skin changes, not unlike older people with fair skin who grew up when sunscreen wasn’t a thing.
The affected skin becomes thickened, red and rough and can develop blackheads, crusts, ulcers, blood-blister-like lesions and infection. These skin changes are not reversible and may progress to developing skin cancers such as squamous cell carcinoma and cutuaneous (of the skin) haemangiosarcoma.

UV light plays a part in a skin disease called discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE). This affects the junction between the skin and the darker thicker skin covering the nose of dogs.

The take home message for pets with white fur and pink skin is that sun protection is important.

Keeping your pet out of the sun in the hotter parts of the day (between 10am and 4pm especially in the warmer months) makes the most difference. There are sunsuits available for dogs and sunscreen can be used on cats ears and the belly and top of the nose of dogs.

For the more detailed article with images see
https://vetsatscamps.blogspot.com/2025/03/sun-damage-is-problem-for-pets-sun.html

19/01/2025

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐃𝐨𝐠 𝐬𝐨 𝐈𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐲?

Do you notice your dog stopping play to itch, shaking their head, constantly licking their feet or belly or even waking up during the night and waking you up too? Have you tried over the counter sprays and shampoos from the pet shop that make little difference?

There are various reasons for increased itchiness in dogs. The most common cause, especially in the humid, warm weather is allergic skin disease. This is similar to eczema. We can help your dog with medications to help stop the itch and treat infections so you can all sleep easily. More information in the blog ‘Why is my dog so itchy?’ on the Scamps website.

10/12/2024

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐌𝐲 𝐂𝐚𝐭 𝐆𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐲?
Understanding Common Health Issues

There are many reasons why cats lose weight. Two common ones—diabetes mellitus and hyperthyroidism—can cause significant weight loss even though the cat has a good or even ravenous appetite. In addition to weight loss, cats with diabetes often drink much more water than usual. Both of these conditions are linked to hormones being out of whack and can be treated.

𝐃𝐢𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐌𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐬

Diabetes mellitus occurs when there is a deficiency of the hormone insulin, which is necessary for cells to use glucose in the bloodstream properly. Insulin is produced by the pancreas. In cats with diabetes they do not produce enough insulin and their insulin is not as effective. Overweight cats are particularly at risk of developing Type 2 diabetes similar to overweight humans.
Diabetes in cats is easily diagnosed with a blood and urine test showing high glucose levels. Diabetes is treatable with injectable insulin and a diet that is high in protein and low in carbohydrates. In some cases, the diabetes can even be reversed, and the cat no longer requires insulin. However, other cats may need insulin for life.

Without treatment, cats with diabetes continue to lose weight and can develop diabetic ketoacidosis, a serious condition that can be fatal. Maintaining a healthy weight goes a long way to preventing diabetes in cats from occurring.

𝐇𝐲𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐲𝐫𝐨𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐬

Hyperthyroidism is a common condition in older cats caused by increased production of thyroid hormone from the thryoid glands. Thyroid hormone ramps up the body’s metabolism and when too much is produced cats lose weight. These cats are often skinny with scruffy coat.

A blood test can easily diagnose this condition and there are effective treatment options which includes daily medication options and an injection which in many cases fixes the problem.

Left untreated, cats with hyperthyroidism will continue to lose weight and may become dangerously thin and develop diseases that may not be fixed.
Both conditions can be managed at home. The priority when treating to cats is to fix the problem with the least stress and hassle for cats and their people.

Read the full article on the Scamps blog
https://vetsatscamps.blogspot.com/2024/12/skinny-cat-with-good-appetite-common.html

08/12/2024

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐡𝐮𝐛𝐛𝐲 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐬?
Whilst there is something endearing about a fat cat there are no health benefits to being overweight. Chubby cats have an increased risk of developing 𝐭𝐲𝐩𝐞 𝟐 𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐬 mellitus, which interestingly, is not a common issue for overweight dogs.

Body condition scoring can be done, although I find it trickier to do for cats than dogs. To keep it simple the width across the lumbar spine (between the ribs and pelvis) should be narrower than the depth of the trunk. The dpeth of the trunk of a cat with a healthy weight should be 1.5 to 1.75 times their width. The points of the vertebrae along the middle of the back and the bones of the pelvis either side of the spine should be felt with gentle pressure. If your cat is getting wide across the back and looking more of a square shape than a rectangle it is very likely they are overweight.

Putting a cat on a diet can be challenging so preventing them getting chubby in the first place is best. If they are overweight they are eating more than they require and their diet needs tweaking. Cat biscuits tend to be have more energy per amount fed and so merely reducing the amount fed is often not successful and leads to a hungry, vocal cat. For the sake of peace and harmony the cat usually wins the food restriction battle. There are biscuits available with less calories per amount fed and soft food has more bulk so can be an option to reduce the calories consumed and have the cat feel satisfied.

Cats more than dogs, can get diseases that cause fluid to build up in their abdomen which can make them appear fat but often the bones along the back are easily felt. These cats need to see the vet promptly as this indicates a significant health problem.

The Hills BFI index helps determine if your cat is a healthy weight and lists common health issues of overweight cats. The link can be found on

𝐡𝐭𝐭𝐩𝐬://𝐯𝐞𝐭𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐬.𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐭.𝐜𝐨𝐦/𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒/𝟏𝟐/𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭-𝐢𝐬-𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐲-𝐰𝐞𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭-𝐟𝐨𝐫-𝐜𝐚𝐭.𝐡𝐭𝐦𝐥

Contact Scamps if you would like some further advice in determining whether your cat is a healthy weight.
Phone - 𝟎𝟐𝟖𝟖𝟓𝟏𝟕𝟒𝟓𝟒𝟑
Email - 𝐯𝐞𝐭𝐬@𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐬.𝐜𝐨.𝐧𝐳