Veterinary Specialists Aotearoa

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Veterinary Specialists Aotearoa

VSA brings you the very best in an animal hospital providing advanced veterinary care for cats & dogs

01/12/2025

A huge thank you to the NZVA for organising a fantastic conclusion to the Prelude to Practice event at Massey University’s School of Veterinary Science last week!

This annual event is a wonderful opportunity for final-year vet students to explore the many career pathways their qualification opens up. We were honoured to contribute to these conversations—Dr Rosemary Price and Dr Jordan Kho shared insights into clinical specialisation, and together with Dr Liz Means, enjoyed meeting and chatting with students about the exciting options ahead.
It was a long day with an early start, but so inspiring to see the enthusiasm and engagement from the next generation of veterinarians. The future of our profession is looking bright!

🎉 Congratulations to Morgan Bailey, winner of our Prezzy card prize draw! Our Business Development Manager Rebecca has sent you an email, and we’ll get that couriered down to you this week.

30/10/2025

🎃 HALLOWEEN 🎃⁠
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Halloween is tomorrow, and while we're excited for all the treats, remember our cats and dogs can't share them with us!⁠
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If you suspect your pet has ingested any lollies or chocolate, contact your vet, or an emergency vet as soon as possible - time is of the essence ⌚⁠
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✓ Store all Halloween candy in secure, pet-proof containers⁠
✓ Try not to leave treats lying around⁠
✓ Check for dropped lollies after trick-or-treaters⁠
✓ Consider giving your pet their own special dog/cat-safe treats so they don't feel left out⁠
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Have a safe and happy Halloween! 🧡🐕🐈⁠

22/10/2025

Meet Zebulon (Zeb)

Zeb came into our Auckland West hospital via the Emergency department with a phoenix palm stick embedded in his chest! 😰

He was first assessed by one of our emergency vets, Dr. Bhayva Puri, who had x-rays taken of Zeb’s chest.

The good news? After having the case handed over to him and with some careful examination, our surgical resident Dr Ryan Philips found that the stick had only penetrated the soft tissues and hadn't reached the thoracic cavity—meaning Zeb's lungs and heart were safe. Dr. Philips performed an exploration procedure to remove the stick and thoroughly cleaned the area with warm sterile saline.

This brave boy recovered beautifully and spent the next 24 hours under our watchful care before heading home. Zeb was an absolute sweetheart throughout the entire process! 💙

Stay away from those spiky palms in the future, Zeb! We're so glad you're okay. 🌴✨

15/10/2025

One of the hallmarks of our rigorous small animal surgical residency program is the opportunity for continued education and global collaboration. This includes attending the prestigious European College of Veterinary Surgeons (ECVS) International Conference—a hub for cutting-edge surgical knowledge and global expertise.

This year, we’re incredibly proud of our 3rd-year Small Animal Surgical Resident, Dr. Ryan Philips, who represented VSA and New Zealand at the ECVS Conference in Antwerp, Belgium! 🇧🇪🐾

Not only did Dr. Philips attend world-class lectures, collaborate with international peers on complex surgical challenges, and eat a few Belgium chocolates...but he was also one of the select few chosen to present his own research—a project he's dedicated the past two years to:

🔬 "Detection of Intra-Articular Implant Pe*******on of the Canine Stifle with Radiography: A Cadaveric Study"

To be selected by the ECVS Scientific Committee to present at this level is a huge honour, and we couldn't be prouder of his accomplishment. This moment marks a significant milestone in his career and showcases the incredible talent coming out of New Zealand.

And the cherry on top? 🏆 His full research paper is now published in the world-renowned Veterinary Surgery Journal! 📚👏

👉 Check out the article abstract here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/vsu.14238

11/10/2025

Meet Emily's boys! 🐾

Winston (black lab) came first – named after Winston Churchill, who called his depression "the black dog." True to his name, he's our chill older brother: calm, relaxed, and the ultimate cuddle buddy on cold nights.

Angus (yellow lab) joined us weeks later after being returned to the breeder. He's the energetic, attention-seeking younger brother who's equal parts goofball and overachiever. Somehow manages to be both chaotic AND obedient!

Two brothers, one perfect pair. ❤️

Emily is one of our Animal Emergency nurses 🩺

10/10/2025

This week we've been celebrating two incredible causes - Vet Nurse Awareness Week, and Mental Health Awareness Week 🎉
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Shoutout to all the Vet Nurses out there absolutely crushing it every day—you're the real MVPs. The care, the cuddles, the chaos... you handle it all with such heart.⁠
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And a reminder to everyone: your mental health matters. Really matters. Whether you're having a tough day or a tough year, it's okay to not be okay, and it's more than okay to reach out for support.⁠
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To our vet nursing crew especially—please remember you can't pour from an empty cup. Taking care of yourself isn't selfish, it's essential. 💙⁠

08/10/2025

Meet Molly 🐶

Molly was referred by her family vet for an outpatient abdominal ultrasound to investigate any reason for her intermittent vomiting over a 3 – 4-week period.

She was a great patient in hospital and was perfectly behaved for her ultrasound scan!

Her family vet was provided with a comprehensive report on what was seen by our internal medicine specialist, Dr Mike Coleman, as well as some suggestions for follow-up treatment if her symptoms persist.

05/10/2025

Meet Heather 🐶 ⁠
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Heather, a brave 12-year-old huntaway cross, who is already managing a heart condition and arthritis, started acting oddly shortly after eating her dinner. Her vigilant owners noticed two critical warning signs: unusual restlessness and a visibly bloated abdomen. Their vigilance and quick action are a testament to pet owners' crucial role in their pets' health.⁠
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Recognising these as potential red flags, Heather's owners immediately brought her to the emergency department at our Auckland West Hospital. Dr Maddy Houston quickly suspected a GDV (Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus) - a life-threatening condition where the stomach fills with gas and twists, cutting off blood supply. An abdominal x-ray confirmed the diagnosis (the first x-ray image is of a normal stomach, the second is Heather's stomach!). ⁠
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A GDV is a veterinary emergency that can be fatal within hours if untreated. Warning signs usually include: ⁠
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⭕ Bloated, distended abdomen ⁠
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⭕ Restlessness or pacing ⁠
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⭕ Unsuccessful attempts to vomit ⁠
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⭕ Excessive drooling ⁠
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⭕ Rapid breathing ⁠
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The two x-rays show what a stomach should look like (the arrow) and the other show what Heather's stomach looked like!

Time is absolutely critical with GDV - every minute counts. Heather's owners' quick thinking and immediate action were crucial to her outcome. ⁠
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Heather was taken into emergency surgery, and after only 2 nights in hospital, her owners have reported that she is back to her usual self. 🎉 ⁠

01/10/2025

Meet Holly ✨ ⁠
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When Holly, a charming 4-year-old Cavoodle, was brought to our emergency department after being hit by a car, her owners had concerns about her back legs not working, with our team taking immediate action to diagnose what was wrong.⁠
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Holly was stabilised and had X-rays taken, which showed extensive pelvic injuries and a hip luxation. She was then transferred to the surgery service for assessment of her injuries. Luckily, her urinary bladder was intact, and she didn’t have any serious injuries to her chest, so getting her pelvis back together was the top priority. ⁠
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A computed tomography (CT) scan was performed at our Auckland West Hospital, which enabled the team to see the full extent of her orthopaedic injuries in 3D and to help plan her complicated surgical repair. ⁠
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Following the CT scan, it was evident that a complex surgery was needed, requiring specialised equipment available at our Sylvia Park Hospital. With her dedicated team, Holly made the journey across town, and the extensive surgery was a resounding success! 🎉⁠
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After the surgery, Holly returned to our Auckland West Hospital, where she was given VIP snuggles and a room with a view. Her recovery was a joy to witness, and we were thrilled to discharge her home to her very thankful family!⁠
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A heartfelt thank you to everyone across both our Auckland Hospitals who were involved with Holly’s care. Your dedication and expertise made all the difference. ❤️

27/09/2025

Staff Pet Sunday 💫

Meet Lightning, the Hermann's Tortoise 🐢

At only 2 years young, this cheeky character has already developed quite the personality.

While Hermann's tortoises can live up to 70 years (meaning he'll definitely outlive his mum, her reptile-loving nephew is lined up to be his future caregiver.

This little guy has some adorable quirks that never fail to make anyone smile. He's got a sweet tooth and will choose biscuits over his healthy greens and flowers every time 🍪

Bath time brings out his 'singing' voice (which is actually just enthusiastic yawning!), and nothing beats watching him take leisurely strolls around the clover paddock during our holidays in the Far North.

Lightning belongs to Leash, one of our Imaging Nurses, based in our Auckland West Hospital.

25/09/2025

Introducing Rebecca ✨

Rebecca is VSA's new Business Development Manager! 🌟

Rebecca started her career in pharmaceutical development for humans and animals, and she has a genuine passion for animal health.

Some of you may have already met her as she has been out and about connecting with our referring vets in both Auckland and Christchurch, and was at the Pet and Animal Expo recently.

Welcome to the team, Rebecca!

18/09/2025

📣 Calling all Pet & Animal lovers 📣

VSA will be at the Auckland Pet & Animal Expo this weekend @ the Greenlane Showgrounds.

We will have some prizes to be won, as well as some harnesses and life jackets for sale.

Come along and say hi to our amazing team.⁠

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Dates: 20th and 21st of September
Time: 10am - 5pm Daily⁠
Address: 217 Green Lane West, Epsom, Auckland 1051⁠
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Can't wait to see you all there!⁠

Address

1 Te Apunga Place, Sylvia Park
Auckland
1060

Telephone

09 3205645

Website

http://www.vsahospital.co.nz/

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Our Story

Veterinary Specialists Auckland is proud to bring you the very best in an animal hospital, with a dedicated team providing advanced surgery, imaging and physiotherapy, together with excellent emergency and after-hours care. We offer clinical expertise with absolute quality of care and our high-tech facility allows us to lead from the front to deliver optimal outcomes for our patients.

Exceptional Care Together

Website https://www.vsahospital.co.nz/