Animal Referral Hospital - Essendon

29/04/2026

*** ANOTHER GREAT ARH ESSENDON GOOGLE REVIEW! ***
“An outstanding emergency veterinary service. We were referred from Werribee while they were on bypass and sent to ARH, and from our very first call with Suzanne, through to the kind, knowledgeable nurses and excellent vet care, we felt completely at ease. Thank you for taking such great care of our little Arlo.🐾”

Many thanks to Arlo's mum Carley Clendenning for these lovely words, our team really appreciate it and hope Arlo is still doing well...

28/04/2026

*** GOT A DESTRUCTIVE DOG? ***
We've all seen those funny memes where a dog is covered in fluff from ripping up the lounge... but why do they do it and can it be controlled??

Animal Behaviourist Dr. Joanne Righetti has a few tips that might help!
The basic in this story...

+ Destructive and messy dog behaviour may be unwanted by humans but many are natural canine behaviours.

+ Management of the destructive dog behaviour involves supervising your dog’s activities or locating them where they cannot create mess or destruction.

+ Long term solutions involve satisfying the dog’s needs and providing appropriate activities for your dog.

To read more... just click the photo.

Destructive and messy dog behaviour explained. Understand canine behaviours such as digging, chewing or rolling in mud and learn how to reduce them.

27/04/2026

*** OUCH!... STOP IT! ***
They're pretty cute aren't they even when they take a bit of a nibble of your hand but how much is too much and why do they do it? Some good tips in the article thanks again to PetMD.

+ Puppy biting is a normal part of development, especially during teething (12–16 weeks).

+ Puppies bite to explore, play, and learn bite inhibition.

+ Consistent redirection and removing attention are key to stopping puppy nipping.

+ Never use harsh punishment—it can increase fear or aggression.

+ Persistent, painful biting in older puppies or adult dogs warrants professional help.

Is your new puppy’s biting getting a bit out of control? Here’s veterinary behaviorist Wailani Sung’s insight into why puppies bite and how to stop a puppy from biting you, your clothes, and your stuff.

26/04/2026

*** OWWWHOOOOO... OWWWHOOOOO... ! ***
We've all heard it right?... Whether our own dogs or a neighbours?

Some very interesting facts in this article thanks to PetMD

Ever wonder why dogs love howling at sirens? Our vet expert shares why dogs exhibit this behavior towards this specific noise.

25/04/2026

*** WORLD VETERINARY DAY Sat 25th APRIL 2026 -VIDEO ***
Yesterday was International World Veterinary Day!... Of course with so many teams working here at ARH Essendon Fields we've shared 'the love' from yesterday and today and thankyou all for all you do 24/7!

Once again we'd like to thank our entire team for the early mornings, the late nights, the tough calls, and the endless compassion you give every single day. Your kindness, skills and continued dedication never go unnoticed , even if your patients can’t say it themselves (we know they’d say thank you if they could 🙂

We’re so grateful for everything you do. Today is all about celebrating you! ❤️ - Laura Cotton, Hospital Manager

25/04/2026

*** WORLD VETERINARY DAY Sat 25th APRIL 2026 ***
Happy Vet Day to all of our incredible Vets! With so much going on such as ANZAC Day, we thought why not say EVERY day is Veterinary Day!...
Thank you for the early mornings, the late nights, the tough calls, and the endless compassion you give every single day. Your kindness, skills and continued dedication never go unnoticed , even if your patients can’t say it themselves (we know they’d say thank you if they could :-)

We’re so grateful for everything you do. Today is all about celebrating you! ❤️ - Laura Cotton, Hospital Manager

We'll have some more photos later today!

ABOUT WORLD VET DAY...
World Veterinary Day falls on the last Saturday of April and is a day to celebrate the noble profession of veterinarians. The day provides recognition for those who have dedicated their lives to helping animals, and it honour's the profession’s role in the health and well-being of animals, people, and communities around the globe. Veterinarians are some of the most caring and selfless people in the world.

They have the difficult task of taking care of and helping animals recover from injury and illness.

24/04/2026

*** LEST WE FORGET - THE ANIMALS ***
While the focus of ANZAC Day is always the men & women who served our countries over the years in various conflicts we should also try to remember the role animals played.
* CATS - Helping protect food stocks from mice & rats
* BIRDS - Pigeons saving lives taking messages from the front
* KANGAROO - A Kangaroo in Cairo? - Pet or mascot?.. and many more.
PLUS..
Some information about the Australian Army Vets
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Army_Veterinary_Corps

*** SHARE YOUR MEMORIES ***
Got a photo from your own family archives of someone who served? (with or without an animal!) - Just add it to the comments below.

23/04/2026

*** HOPE YOU HAVE A YAPPY FRIDAY! ***
Fridays are traditionally a day to wind down and have bit of fun getting ready for the weekend right? So we hope you manage to have your own 'Yappy Friday' with family & friends!

Of course should you need us we are here for you 24/7...
ARH Essendon Fields - 72 Hargrave Ave Essendon, Ph: (03) 9379 0700
Or for any of our other locations just go to http://arhvets.com.au/

22/04/2026

*** ENZO...GO EASY!... NO JUMPING OK!***
12 week old Enzo had only been with his owners for 3 weeks when he unfortunately broke his right forearm… Italian greyhounds seem to be exquisitely predisposed to this particular fracture, with their long skinny legs and propensity for sudden zoomies 🫠

Till this day, no one knows what happened but we suspect Enzo had jumped from a couch. His fracture was fixed with a bone plate on the front of his forearm. We are glad to report that Enzo has recovered fully, and was given the go ahead to return to a lifestyle free of restrictions after 6 weeks of rest.

A big thank you to Enzo’s family for entrusting ARH with Enzo’s care 💕 and we hope that he stays out of trouble!

And an update from Enzo's family...

https://www.instagram.com/enzotheiggyy/
We thank the team at ARH for all your support and help to get Enzo’s leg fixed and healed - he is now doing better than ever thanks to you all🤍🐾🥰

21/04/2026

*** WHAT IS IT & HOW CAN IT BE FIXED?! **
So what is 'Patella Luxation' and what should we look out for?

Patella luxation is the dislocation of the patella bone. The normal patella runs in an up and down direction within a groove on the thigh bone. A luxating patella can slip in and out of its normal position in the patella groove. Patella luxation is an extremely common condition in young small breed dogs such as Poodles, Pomeranians, and Shih Tzus, and occurs occasionally in large breed dogs.

Check out the rest of this very informative story thanks to Greencross Vets

Patella luxation (dislocation) is a condition that commonly affects young small breed dogs. Find out the symptoms, causes, and available treatments.

20/04/2026

*** GOT A KITTY THAT DOES ZOOMIES? ***
If your cat suddenly sprints across the house at full speed, darting from room to room, skidding across floors, and bouncing off furniture, you’ve just witnessed the infamous “zoomies.” While it might seem random (and a little chaotic), this behaviour is actually very normal. Those bursts of energy, especially at night, are deeply rooted in your cat’s natural instincts, daily routine, and overall energy levels.

Some good tips in this article about controlling this behaviour if you're concerend - or annoyed if it happens late at night!!

Is This Normal?

19/04/2026

*** CELEBRATING VET RECEPTIONIST WEEK! ***
In honour of the unsung Vet clinic heroes, April 19th – 25th, 2026.
Veterinary Receptionists have a difficult job. It's not just about answering the phone or greeting clients on arrival.

"Vet Receptionists play a crucial part in the smooth functioning of veterinary clinics. They often serve as clients’ first point of contact and their last impression before they leave. Despite their pivotal role, Veterinary Receptionists often don’t receive the recognition they deserve. They handle many responsibilities beyond traditional veterinary care, including administrative tasks, client communication, and emotional support to clients and colleagues." (quote from: iloveveterinary.com)

So from all of us here at ARH-Essendon Fields, THANKYOU for everything you do every day of the week!