Vitalvet Animal Medical Centre

12/01/2026

Cooper the Happy Puppy! 🐶

Meet Cooper, a brave 3-month-old Australian Shepherd who came to us for a second opinion after being hit by a vehicle.

Initial radiographs revealed a pelvic fracture, but our vets felt there might be more going on — so Cooper went for a CT scan to make sure nothing serious was missed. Thankfully, no additional internal injuries were found!

He was kept comfortable with pain medication and lots of cuddles over the weekend before being referred to specialist surgeon Dr. Christiaan Triegaardt in Cape Town for surgery. There, it was discovered that Cooper had multiple fractures, and he underwent a big operation — complete with plates, screws, and an external fixator to help him heal properly 🙌

Once strong enough to travel, Cooper returned to us for his post-op care — and he instantly became the star of the clinic! His tail (or shall we say bum) never stopped wagging, especially when food was involved.

After a week of recovery, this little warrior went home to continue his cage rest and physiotherapy surrounded by his loving family. Since then Cooper has been back to have his external fixation removed.

We’re so proud of you, Cooper — your resilience and happy spirit stole all our hearts! ❤️

044 050 6000 | www.vitalvet.co.za | Emergencies: 072 088 1957

08/01/2026

Ollie came to us feeling a little under the weather, and with his well-known love for the occasional sock snack, his owners were worried he might have swallowed another one… and they were absolutely right! 😆

Because the sock had already made its way out of his stomach and into his intestines, inducing vomiting wasn’t an option. We closely monitored Ollie, hoping he might pass it on his own, but this sock proved a little too stubborn.

To prevent any damage from the obstruction, Ollie was taken to theatre promptly. The surgery went smoothly, the offending sock was successfully retrieved, and Ollie has healed beautifully 🙌

We’re thrilled to see him back to his happy self and fingers crossed we won’t be seeing him again for any more sock-related visits!

044 050 6000 | www.vitalvet.co.za | Emergencies: 072 088 1957

07/01/2026

Buy your tickets for this purposeful event 👇🏻

🌊 Ready to take the plunge?
Entries for the Môreson Mile Open Water Swim 2026 are officially OPEN!

🐦 Early Bird Discount now available:
• 1 Mile – R280
• 350m – R165

📍 Island Lake, Wilderness | Garden Route
📅 21 February 2026
🤝 Proudly sponsored by Vital Vet

Whether you’re chasing a personal best or just there for the vibe, this is one swim you don’t want to miss. Community, challenge, and an unforgettable day in the water 💙

👉 Enter now: bit.ly/MoresonMile2026

05/01/2026

Meet Willow, a sweet 5-year-old Golden Retriever who visited us with a swelling around her right eye. An ultrasound revealed a fluid pocket, which was sampled to determine the way forward 🥲

Based on the findings, it was decided to open up the area and flush all the nasty puss out. Once open, we found the culprit: a migrating grass awn hiding deep in the muscle.

Grass awns can sneak their way into pets and cause painful infections, so early checks are important! After removing the awn and cleaning the area thoroughly, Willow recovered beautifully 💪

The swelling is gone, and she’s feeling great again—although she might not forgive
us for the “creative” haircut she got in the process.

We’re so glad she’s back to her happy self.

044 050 6000 | www.vitalvet.co.za | Emergencies: 072 088 1957

01/01/2026

Happy New Year! As we look forward to the adventures 2026 brings, the entire Vitalvet team sends the warmest wishes to all our incredible pet parents and your amazing animal companions! 🥳

Thank you for trusting us with the health and well-being of your family members throughout 2025. We are dedicated to providing the best care possible in the year ahead! 🙌

Here's to a healthy, happy, and adventure-filled 2026! We can't wait to see you all!

25/12/2025

Wishing all our wonderful pet parents and their furry, scaled, and feathered companions a very Merry Christmas! 🎁

May your day be filled with joy, festive treats (pet-safe ones, of course!), cozy cuddles, and endless holiday cheer. Thank you for trusting us with the health and happiness of your family members throughout the year.

We hope you're all enjoying a peaceful and safe time together!

Sending lots of Christmas love and happy wags from everyone at Vitalvet! ❤️

22/12/2025

Trixie’s Sneaky Sneezing Surprise! 😄

Meet Trixie, the sweetest little schnauzer who came in after suddenly starting to sneeze excessively. Her worried owners brought her straight to us—and we’re so glad they did!

Trixie was such a superstar for Dr. Renee, who was able to examine her nose without sedation (a big deal, since most pets definitely don’t love that!). During the exam, Dr. Renee spotted something up her nostril, but couldn’t quite identify it.

After a gentle sedation, the culprit was finally revealed…A grass seed! 🌱

Trixie must have picked it up during her sniffing adventures and just got a bit unlucky. Thankfully, it’s now safely removed and she’s feeling much more comfortable.

044 050 6000 | www.vitalvet.co.za | Emergencies: 072 088 1957

16/12/2025

🐾 Join the Vitalvet Leadership Team! 🚀

Are you a passionate individual who has experience in the veterinary industry, with a drive for Leadership and Practice Management? Vitalvet Animal Medical Centre is looking for a dynamic individual to step into a Senior Position and help shape our future!

What We're Looking For:

🔸 A deep passion for high-quality patient care and clinical standards.
🔸 A strong interest in practice management, leadership, and team development.
🔸 A good understanding of the day-to-day workings of an advanced veterinary practice.
🔸 Confident and effective communication with both clients and colleagues.
🔸 Eager to contribute directly to the growth and long-term future of Vitalvet.

This is a unique opportunity to secure a Practice Manager role at Vitalvet.

Send your CV or any queries to chante@vitalvet.co.za

15/12/2025

Please take note of our Festive Season operating dates. On the following public holidays, we will be available for any emergency retail shopping:

🔸 Tuesday, 16 December 2025 8am - 1pm
🔸 Thursday, 25 December 2025 8am - 1pm
🔸 Friday, 26 December 2025 8am - 1pm
🔸 Thursday, 01 January 2026 8am - 1pm

🚨 Emergency Care During Closures:
During these dates, please know that emergency veterinary services remain available 24/7! If you have a pet emergency, please call the number below so our on-call team can assist you.

044 050 6000 | www.vitalvet.co.za | Emergencies: 072 088 1957

11/12/2025

We love a satisfying cystotomy here at VitalVet, and Muffin did not disappoint! 😁

Sweet Muffin came to us struggling to urinate, so we performed an ultrasound to collect a urine sample. What we found was much more than expected… her bladder was packed with small urinary stones.

The following day, radiographs confirmed what we had seen, and once she was stabilized, Muffin headed into surgery. It was a challenging procedure, but our team successfully removed every single stone.

Muffin stayed in the hospital with a urinary catheter so we could closely monitor her urine output and keep her comfortable during recovery. 🙌

We’re happy to report she’s doing wonderfully, and we’re so proud of this tough little lady!

044 050 6000 | www.vitalvet.co.za | Emergencies: 072 088 1957

08/12/2025

Junie’s Journey to a Pain-Free Life! 🥰

Sweet Junie came to see us after experiencing pain in both her elbows. Radiographs helped us get a closer look, and it was decided that a bilateral elbow arthroscopy with specialist surgeon Dr. Christiaan Triegaardt would be the best way to help her feel better.

This minimally invasive procedure uses a tiny camera (called a scope) to look inside each elbow joint and treat any problems directly. Once inside, we discovered a painful bone fragment, which was successfully removed.

Junie was amazing — up and walking the same evening, rocking her cute elbow pad bandages like a little pro skateboarder! 😄

She’s now doing great and attending physiotherapy to keep her joints strong and mobile. We’re so happy to see her back to her joyful, active self!

044 050 6000 | www.vitalvet.co.za | Emergencies: 072 088 1957

05/12/2025

Little Halo’s Big Comeback 🙌

Meet Halo, a sweet 4-month-old puppy who gave her family quite the scare. One evening, they came home to find she couldn’t walk and was slipping in and out of consciousness. With young puppies, accidental ingestion of something outdoors is always possible - but sometimes, we simply never know the cause.

When Halo arrived, she showed several worrying neurological signs. Our team quickly moved to stabilise her with fluids, supportive care, and gentle sedation to keep her comfortable. Throughout the night she was closely monitored, but her symptoms continued to progress, and she needed even more intensive care.

These cases can be some of the most challenging - so many factors to consider and often no clear answers. But our amazing veterinary team worked together to rule out potential conditions and narrowed it down to three likely causes. With targeted treatment throughout the day, Halo finally began to turn a corner… and by the next morning, she was back to her bright, tail-wagging self, greeting everyone who walked past her kennel 🐶

Cases like Halo’s remind us that pets can’t always tell us what’s wrong, and sometimes the road to a diagnosis isn’t straightforward. We’re incredibly grateful she responded so well to treatment — not every case has such a happy ending.

But today, we celebrate Halo’s recovery and the teamwork, dedication, and a little bit of puppy resilience that made it happen.

044 050 6000 | www.vitalvet.co.za | Emergencies: 072 088 1957