Working Dog

OUR APPROACH

We work with you to know your animals and your farm inside out.

West Coast Vets are well equipped to look after the needs of many different dogs. From stitching up pig dogs and other emergency procedures to desexing a tiny Chihuahua we offer your pet or working dog a high standard of love and care.

Our modern facilities boast comprehensive diagnostic equipment such as machines for blood analysis, digital x-ray equipment for quality radiographs, microscopes for examination of slides and portable ultrasound machines which are useful for pregnancy diagnosis as well and abdominal scans of your dog.

West Coast Vets also boasts a wealth of knowledge and skill in small animal orthopaedic injuries. Whilst we would rather not see them happen, if your pet is unfortunate enough to suffer from such an injury, the small animal team can present you with all the options and expert skill in diagnosis and treatment. Our small animal surgical suite is equipped with the latest, safer anaesthetic machines using isoflurane, pulse oximeters and ap-alerts to assist us with monitoring your pet while under anaesthesia. Our experienced veterinary nurses are well trained in anaesthetic protocols and monitoring.

We are passionate about providing the best start and on-going preventative health care for your dog. This starts from when your dog is a puppy and receives vaccinations against some nasty diseases such as parvovirus. At every consultation your dog is given a full examination to ensure they are fit and healthy. We are able to flea and worm your dog for you.

West Coast Vets has a wide range of food to keep your dog healthy and maintain a well balanced diet for their life stage, breed and activity levels. We also have lots of friendly staff who can offer advice on the best choices for nutrition and care. Our microchipping service ensures that your dog will be identified if found and we also have a wide range of petware available for dogs. Your dogs dental health is also very important to us, plaque and tartar build up can lead to gingivitis, (inflammation of the gums), potentially causing periodontal disease (bacterial infection). Periodontal disease left untreated can cause bad breath, teeth loss, inability to eat and damage to internal organs. We are able to routinely check your dog’s mouth and keep it clean and healthy using modern dental equipment to do so including an ultrasonic scaler and polisher.

THE BENEFITS

Why West Coast Vets is a great choice

We're locals

We’ve been located throughout the West Coast area for decades. It’s where we’re from and where we raise our families.

Wide network

We’re plugged into the Veterinary world and our team can call on expertise from all over the world, then deliver it locally.

Handy clinics

We’re close to you for consults, supplements, supplies...whatever you need. Pop on in or organise a delivery.

FURTHER READING

Latest news

Minerals: you can't improve what you don't measure!

Our advice is to check the mineral status of your herd before mating, to which the common response is often "but I haven’t changed anything", or, "our results have always been ok".  Unfortunately,Read more

Managing internal parasites in calves

Internal parasites (worms) can have a large effect on calf growth rates if not managed correctly. Drenching your calves is important to help reduce worm burdens, but it is just one tool that weRead more

Lameness - no tip-toeing about

Lameness is a painful condition that can rob your herd's productivity, health, welfare and fertility, as well as your back pocket! Read more

Chicken care 101

Recent regulatory changes banning battery cages for layer hens in NZ mean supermarkets are now only accepting cage-free eggs. This is a great win for our feathered friends, who now have the room theyRead more

Chocolate - the sweet but deadly treat

Chocolate is delicious - to both humans and dogs. Unfortunately, dogs are much slower to metabolise theobromine, one of the chemical components in chocolate, making even a small amount potentiallyRead more

Weight management for pets

Weight management is a crucial part of taking care of your dogs and cats. Ensuring your pet maintains a healthy weight minimises the risk of disease or injuries that can be associated with obesity orRead more

A healthy guide to feeding pets

When feeding your beloved pet, whether it be a new puppy or kitten, or an older cat or dog, there is such a thing as ‘loving them too much’. Overindulging your pet can lead to health problems ifRead more

Protect your calves with Covexin10

Clostridial disease is an easily preventable deadly disease in cattle and sheep. We know vaccination works really well in preventing death in animals. Last season we introduced the use of Covexin 10 Read more

Winter tips for pets

The seasons have changed, and the togs have been replaced with jackets and hats. Not only do we feel the change, but so too do our pets. During this time please consider what you can do to keep yourRead more

Poison of the Season – Rat Bait

Every autumn and early winter we see a number of cases of rat bait poisoning in dogs, either via direct ingestion of the rat bait or less often by ingestion of rats/mice that have died from eatingRead more

West Coast Vets proud to support Meat the Need

West Coast Vets are proud to be a sponsor of the Meat the Need charity, a kiwi based operation aiming at connecting the dots and getting New Zealand meat into our food banks. This was founded byRead more

Ukraine's Paws and Peeps Fundraiser with NZ Vets

Times are tough at the moment, but can be and are even tougher for others. With the current situation in Ukraine, we did our bit with a fundraiser from NZ to support animal welfare and those thatRead more