Levin & Horowhenua Vets has a purpose built companion animal clinic. We are Best Practice Accredited. We offer a full range of medical and surgical services. We have dedicated companion animal veterinarians, and our mixed-veterinarians in the practice rotate through the companion animal clinic for consultations and surgery.
We have qualified veterinary nurses who work throughout the companion animal clinic on a roster basis. You will meet them when they are seeing nurse consults, discharging your pet from the hospital, or assisting the veterinarians.
Emergency Service
In the event of an emergency during our normal clinic hours, please phone 06 368 2891, or head straight to the clinic.
In the event of an emergency after-hours, please phone
MUPEC on 0800 738 363.
14 Animal Emergencies that require immediate attention
- Severe bleeding or bleeding that doesn't stop within 5 minutes
- Choking, difficulty breathing or nonstop coughing and gagging
- Bleeding from nose, mouth, rectum, coughing up blood, or blood in urine
- Inability to urinate or defecate, or obvious pain associated with urinating or passing faeces
- Injuries to your pet's eye(s)
- You suspect or know your pet has eaten something poisonous (such as antifreeze, xylitol, chocolate, rodent poison, or human medications etc.)
- Seizures and/or staggering
- Fractured bones, severe lameness or inability to move leg(s)
- Obvious signs of pain or extreme anxiety
- Heat stress or heatstroke
- Severe vomiting or diarrhea – more than 2 episodes in a 24-hour period, or either of these combined with obvious illness or any of the other problems listed here
- Refusal to drink for 24 hours or more
- Unconsciousness
- Birthing difficulty or distress
Any concern about your pet's health warrants, at minimum, a call to your veterinary clinic.
Specialist Referral
We are fortunate to have
Massey University Veterinary Teaching Hospital so close to us in Palmerston North, and access to veterinary specialists in a number of fields, including, but not limited to surgery, medicine, critical care, imaging and dentistry.
Dermatology, ophthalmic and feline medicine specialists are available at clinics in Palmerston North or Wellington, and a radiologist is able to come to our clinic for specialist ultrasound and echocardiogram.
The specialist's expertise complements that of your veterinarian. You may be referred to a veterinary specialist if diagnosing or treating your pet's health problem requires specialized equipment and/or expertise.
X-Ray
With our high quality digital x-ray we are able to take x-rays of your pet to check for many diseases and conditions, including fractures, lung, cardiac and gastrointestinal issues, pregnancy confirmation and more. Most patients will be sedated or anaesthetised in order to get the best quality x-ray possible, with little stress to them. Except in the case of emergency, most x-rays will be scheduled following a veterinary consultation.
We can also take digital dental x-rays for a more thorough dental examination of your pet.
Dentals
We have a purpose built dental room, with a wet table, ultrasonic scalar and modern drill, water and air flush, and polishing machine. We can also take digital dental x-rays for a more thorough dental examination of your pet.
Most patients will receive local anaesthetic injections when teeth need to be removed - just like you do at the dentist - and go home with antibiotics and pain-relief for several days.
Poor dental health is one of the most common problems we see. Our pets can’t brush their own teeth, and they often don’t let us know they are experiencing problems or pain until their dental disease is advanced. That’s why it’s so important to have your pets teeth checked regularly.
When we do need to intervene, due to tartar build up, gingivitis or broken teeth for example, it’s not a simple matter. Because animals can’t just open wide, they need to be fully anaesthetised for their dental procedure, placed on IV fluids to support them during the procedure, and just like our surgery patients, they may need to stay the night.
Hospitalisation
We have inside and outside dog kennels, a separate cat room, an isolation ward, and cages in our treatment room for any animals requiring intensive monitoring. We have heated floors, air conditioning, lots of comfy bedding, and everything else needed to make your pet feel as safe and comfortable as possible whilst in the hospital, whether for the day, overnight, or longer.
Our experience, qualified and dedicated nurses are at the clinic from first thing in the morning until last thing at night to ensure all patients have a comfortable stay. Critical patients will be checked by the on-duty vet through the night.
We welcome owners to visit their pets staying at the clinic. Talk to us about the most suitable time.
Vet Consultations
Keeping good health is all about preventing disease and looking for early signs, so any necessary changes or treatment can be more successful - saving you time, money and stress later on. Did you know that one year in a pet’s life is equivalent to approximately 5-7 human years? A lot can change for your pet in that time.
We have three veterinarians consulting from 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday, and two on Saturday mornings. Our veterinarians are available for annual checks, vaccinations, and microchipping, and for any new health or behaviour problem or concern you have about your pet.
Our veterinarians are also available for house-calls when appropriate.
Please call to make an appointment for a veterinary consult.
Nurse Consultations
The nurses have their own consultation room to ensure your pet is attended to as soon as possible. Free clinics include weight checks, dental checks, flea checks, training advice, dietary advice, suture removal, bereavement support, post-operative checks and advice.
Clinics that will incur a fee include microchipping, nail clipping, ear cleaning, dressing changes, sample taking and medication administration. Nurses are available for house-calls when appropriate.
Please call to make an appointment for your nurse consultation.
Puppy Preschool
Proper socialisation, combined with positive reinforcement-based training in the context of a group puppy class helps puppies grow into well-adjusted pets. Classes provide critical socialisation time with a variety of people and other puppies.
Studies have shown that when owners attend training classes, they are much more likely to keep their pets. Puppy Preschool can help owners develop a stronger bond with their pets, establish realistic expectations of their pets' behaviour, and learn proper techniques to continue training. And it's fun!
Rabbit Vaccinations
Did you know you should vaccinate your rabbit against Rabbit Haemorrhagic Viral Disease (RHVD), otherwise known as Rabbit Calicivirus Disease (RCD) every 12 months? The RHVD virus is highly infectious and usually fatal, affecting wild and domestic rabbits in NZ. This disease can be prevented through vaccination. Rabbits in good health can be vaccinated from ten weeks of age, followed by annual boosters.
Rabbit Vaccination Programme
We can vaccinate your rabbit with Filavac, a vaccine that covers all three strains of RHVD found in NZ. If you join our Rabbit Vaccination Programme, we will ensure your rabbits are vaccinated on time, every year.
Export Certificates
Are you exporting your pet to Australia?
Levin & Horowhenua Vets is approved by MPI to certify dogs and cats being exported to Australia. See our
Exporting Your Pet to Australia brochure, and visit the
MPI website for more information.
Microchipping
Levin & Horowhenua Vets strongly recommend that all pets are microchipped. This will significantly increase the chances of your lost pet getting home. A microchip can not fall off, it has no battery to go flat, and it can not be easily removed if your pet has been stolen. In NZ, dogs are required by law, unless they meet exemption criteria, to be microchipped. There is currently no requirement for cats.
You can book your pet in for microchipping with a nurse, vet, or during their surgical procedure. There is a reduced fee for microchipping at time of surgery. Please ask us for details.
All pets details will be added to the LHVC database. Dogs will be issued with a certificate to be presented to local council as evidence of microchipping. Dogs will be on the local council dog register. We highly recommend registering your pet, especially cats, with the
New Zealand Companion Animal Register. This is a national database that can be checked 24/7. Used by over 750 organisations and with over 400,000 NZ pets registered, the (NZCAR) is the largest New Zealand based database for microchipped companion animals. Every day the NZCAR is helping lost pets get home.
Animal Welfare Matters
On 1 October this year new animal welfare regulations came into effect. Whether you’re a commercial farmer or live on a lifestyle block, own a pet or run a petting zoo, transport livestock or ride horses; if you’re responsible for an animal – these regulations could apply to you.
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All Animals
Collars
Poorly fitted collars can cause pain and distress. Check your animal’s collar regularly.
You’ll be OK if the collar you use meets these requirements:
- Right size and fit for each individual animal.
- Allows normal breathing, panting and drinking.
- Not so tight or heavy that it can cause skin abrasions, cuts or swelling.
- Not so loose that it can cause an injury, for example by getting a leg caught in the collar.
Otherwise, you can be fined $300.
Tethers
If you need to tether your animal, ensure that the tether you use:
- is an appropriate length and material to allow normal breathing, panting, and drinking
- keeps the animal from being caught up on nearby objects and injured.
Otherwise, you can be fined $300.
A tether is any form of restraint that secures any part of an animal to an object or the ground.
Use of electric prodders is restricted.
- In some limited circumstances, electric prodders can be used on the muscled hind or forequarters of:
- cattle over 150kg
- pigs, over 150kg, during loading or unloading for transport, or when loading into stunning pens
- deer, when loading into a stunning pen.
- If you use a prodder in these limited circumstances, the animal must be able to move away from the prodder.
- If you use an electric prodder for any other purpose, you can be fined $500.
- This regulation doesn’t cover situations where your personal safety is at risk.
Striking or prodding an animal in sensitive areas causes unreasonable pain and distress, and is prohibited.
- Do not strike or prod an animal with a goad in the udder, anus, genitals or eyes.
- If you don’t comply, you can be fined $500.
- A goad is an object used to make an animal move but doesn't include an electric prodder.
Dogs
Restrictive muzzles can cause your dog pain and distress.
You'll be OK if the muzzle you use meets these requirements:
- Right size and fit for each dog. A muzzle which works for one dog may not work for all.
- Doesn't cause cuts, swellings or abrasions.
- Allows the dog to open its mouth for normal breathing, panting, drinking, and vomiting.
Otherwise, you can be fined $300.
- You can use a more restrictive muzzle when giving treatment, including preventative treatment, but the dog must be under constant supervision. For example, a vet vaccinating a dog that is a safety risk can use a restrictive muzzle, provided the dog isn't left unsupervised.
- Check with your local authority for specific rules if you are required to muzzle your dog.
- Your dog must have access to appropriate shelter.
- Check on your dog regularly.
Your dog's shelter and living area must meet these requirements:
- Your dog can access a sheltered area at any time that is clean, dry, shaded, and ventilated – but not draughty – and protects them from extremes of heat and cold.
- The sheltered area must be big enough for the dog to stand up, turn around, and lie down in a natural position.
- The dog has constant access to water.
- The dog's droppings and urine don't accumulate where they live.
Otherwise, you can be fined $300.
Leaving your dog in the car on a warm day is a risk. Dogs quickly suffer and die in hot cars.
- If you leave a dog in a hot car and it becomes heat stressed, you and the owner of the vehicle can be fined $300.
Thinking about bringing your dog on a journey? Plan ahead and ask yourself:
- What's the weather like?
- Will you have to leave your dog in the car?
- How long will the dog be in the car?
- Is it better to leave the dog at home?
A hot dog seeks shade and may pant, drool, and hyperventilate.
- If you see a dog suffering in a hot car, take immediate action. Find the dog owner or call the:
Dogs transported unsecured on the back of trucks, utes, and trailers can fall off or hang off the side, suffering severe injuries.
You’ll be OK
when travelling on a public road if your dog is:
- secured in a cage or crate, or
- tied up safely when it's on the back.
If you use a rope or leash, it must:
- allow the dog to stand and lie down in a natural position
- prevent the dog from getting its legs over the side of the vehicle.
Otherwise, you and the owner of the vehicle can be fined $300.
- Farm dogs can be loose on a vehicle, including on public roads, when they are actively working.
Collars
Poorly fitted collars can cause pain and distress. Check your dog's collar regularly.
You'll be OK if the collar you use meets these requirements:
- Right size and fit for each individual dog.
- Allows normal breathing, panting, and drinking.
- Not so tight or heavy that it can cause skin abrasions, cuts or swelling.
- Not so loose that it can cause an injury – for example, by getting its leg caught in the collar.
Otherwise, you can be fined $300.
Tethers
If you need to tether your dog, make sure the tether:
- is an appropriate length and material to allow normal breathing, panting, and drinking
- doesn't let the dog get caught up on nearby objects and injured.
Otherwise, you can be fined $300.
- Don’t forget dogs need time off tethers for exercise.
- Routine tail docking (or 'banding') is no longer allowed.
- If you dock your dog's tail or allow it to be docked, you could face a criminal conviction and fine of up to $3,000 for an individual, or $15,000 for the business.
- If your dog's tail is injured, go to the vet.
- If you see docked puppies for sale, report it to:
- There are new restrictions on removing dogs' dewclaws.
- If you remove a front limb dewclaw, or an articulated hind limb dewclaw, from a dog of any age you could face a criminal conviction and a fine of up to:
- $3,000 for an individual, or
- $15,000 for a business
- If your dog's claws are injured, go to the vet
- If you see puppies for sale that have their articulated dewclaws removed, report it to:
Report on tail docking
Due to the high interest in tail docking, MPI commissioned an independent review of the science and arguments supporting or opposing the practice. The report concluded that dog tail docking is:
- a significant surgical procedure with the potential to cause considerable pain and distress
- not justified by any benefit to the dog.
Affected parties were given a chance to comment on the report.
Chickens
Although these regulations are more relevant to commercial producers, if you own hens on a small scale you still need to meet these requirements.
- From 1 October 2018, using conventional cages after the transition dates listed in the regulation will be an offence.
- If you don't comply, you could face a criminal conviction and be fined up to:
- $5,000 for an individual, or
- $25,000 for a business.
- If you induce moulting in hens you could face a criminal conviction and a fine of up to:
- $5,000 for an individual, or
- $25,000 for a business.
• Check! Are you doing it right? Encourage others to check too
www.mpi.govt.nz/animalregs • Ask! Email us your questions – animalwelfare@mpi.govt.nz • Tell! Call us about an animal welfare issue – 0800 00 83 33
Repeat Prescriptions
Please note that we require 24hours notice for repeat prescription requests. We need to make sure that the prescription is always appropriate for your pet, no matter how long they’ve been on the medication or how many repeats have been authorised previously. We need to know that your pet is responding to their medication how we expect them to, and we care about their welfare. Things may change and we need to know. In order to do that we will ask you a few questions about the medication and your pet before forwarding on the request. It takes time to review the information you have given us, as well as your pet’s history and the instructions from the authorising vet. Please allow 24hours for a repeat prescription to be dispensed. In some cases it will not be possible or in your pet’s best interest to dispense the medication until your vet has talked to you, or we have seen your pet again.
Surgery
We do a wide range of surgeries, Monday to Friday, including speys and castrations, lump removals, orthopaedic surgeries and many more. Most surgeries are scheduled following a consultation with a veterinarian, although speys and castrates can be booked directly by the client.
Read More About Surgery
We tailor the necessary drugs to your pets’ individual needs, following physical examination and preferably blood tests to indicate organ function status on the day of surgery. Most patients will be intubated and receive gaseous anaesthetic and oxygen, unless otherwise indicated. Patients will have an IV catheter placed and most will be placed on IV fluids to support them during their anaesthesia.
Our instruments and equipment are sterilised using a modern autoclave. Qualified nurses, trained to monitor anaesthetics and assist in the surgery theatre, are complimented by excellent monitoring equipment, including Pulse Oximetry, ECG, and Doppler blood pressure monitoring.
All of our patients receive pain relief before, during and after their surgical procedure. Pain is not just painful – it can actually slow down healing. Recovery after surgery is monitored and managed closely. We will modify our pain-relief to each individual patient’s needs.
We ask for all of our scheduled surgery patients brought in at 8:00am, and most should have been fasted overnight. We will confirm the procedure taking place, and ask for your contact details. It is vital we are able to contact you if any situation with your pet or their procedure changes. We will also ask you to sign a consent form, and give you an estimate of the costs. Your pet will stay for the day. Some patients may need to stay overnight, although most will be able to go home from late afternoon. We endeavour to contact you after their procedure with a discharge time.
You will be given instructions at home care from the nurse discharging your pet, pain-relief to administer at home, and any other medications prescribed. In most cases we require your pet be brought back in three days for a post-op check, and again in 10 days’ time for sutures to be removed. This will require a scheduled appointment with the Community Nurse.
Euthanasia
When it’s time to say goodbye
There sometimes comes a time in a pet’s life where you as their owner have to make the heart-wrenching decision to say goodbye and elect for euthanasia. It may be due to accident, behaviour or an age-related disease. Vets are able to give advice but ultimately it is up to you, as the pet’s caregiver, to make the decision to end their life humanely. Some age related diseases give us time, but in other circumstances an urgent decision is required to prevent further suffering. Your pet’s quality of life is most important, but how do we measure that?
Keep Reading
We know our own pets better than anyone, but it can be difficult to be objective about their quality of life when there is any sort of question around it. Here are some signs that may indicate your pet is suffering or no longer enjoying a good quality of life:
Chronic pain that cannot be controlled with medication (your veterinarian can help you determine if your pet is in pain).
- No longer eating or will only eat if you force feed them.
- Frequent vomiting or diarrhoea causing dehydration and/or significant weight loss.
- Incontinence to the degree that they frequently soil themselves.
- Loss of interest in all or most of their favourite activities – walks, playing with toys or other pets, eating treats.
- Withdrawing from family.
- Unable to stand on their own or falls down when trying to walk.
- Chronic laboured breathing or coughing.
If you recognise any of these signs in your pet, it is certainly time to have the discussion with your vet.
What happens once the decision to euthanase is made? You can arrange for the vet to come to your home or you can bring your pet into the clinic. Most people want to stay with their pet, sometimes with friends or family to support them, but you may want to leave your pet with the vet and remember them the way they were.
We try to make the process as calm and stress-free as possible. Your pet may be sedated, and we will place a catheter in their leg. We will inject an anaesthetic drug. Your pet goes unconscious immediately, and very often the heart has stopped before all of the drug has been given.
Usually when pets die, their bladder relaxes and they may defecate. They may give some gasps. This is a bodily reflex, but if you’re not prepared it may be unnerving. Dogs and cats do not close their eyes when they die; they stay open even once passed away.
You can choose to bury your pet at home, or have them cremated with their ashes returned to you in a cardboard or wooden box. There are many memorial options available, and it may be helpful to create one of your own. Alternatively your clinic can arrange for the ashes to be disposed of.
As difficult as it is, it pays to think about these things before you are called on the make the final decision. Discussing options with other family members may also be a good idea.
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We have inside and outside dog kennels, a separate cat room, an isolation ward, and cages in our treatment room for any animals requiring intensive monitoring. We have heated floors, air conditioning, lots of comfy bedding, and everything else needed to make your pet feel as safe and comfortable as possible whilst in the hospital, whether for the day, overnight, or longer.
Our experience, qualified and dedicated nurses are at the clinic from first thing in the morning until last thing at night to ensure all patients have a comfortable stay. Critical patients will be checked by the on-duty vet through the night.
We welcome owners to visit their pets staying at the clinic. Talk to us about the most suitable time.
The nurses have their own consultation room to ensure your pet is attended to as soon as possible. Free clinics include weight checks, dental checks, flea checks, training advice, dietary advice, suture removal, bereavement support, post-operative checks and advice.
Clinics that will incur a fee include microchipping, nail clipping, ear cleaning, dressing changes, sample taking and medication administration. Nurses are available for house-calls when appropriate.
Please call to make an appointment for your nurse consultation.
