During August we welcomed out newest veterinarian to the OVH team. We asked Megan to tell us a little about herself.....

"Hi! I’m Megan Wright and am very excited to be joining the team at OVH as a veterinarian. Originally from Maitland, NSW, I made the journey to Wagga Wagga to study Veterinary Science at Charles Sturt University, where I graduated in July 2017.

I am passionate about working outside with large animals, however I also love the challenges of working in the clinic with all kinds of smaller animals and particularly enjoy small animal surgery.

I’m enjoying living in Orange and exploring the region. In my spare time you’ll also find me riding and looking after my horse, or running, hiking, playing social sports such as touch football and skiing in the winter – I like to keep busy!

I'm looking forward to meeting you all and working with your pets and farm animals."

Thanks Megan we know our clients and patients will be delighted to meet you. 

Have you noticed any of the following in your pet?

• increased thirst
• increased urination
• weight loss
• vomiting
• lethargy 

Any of these changes may be an early sign of kidney disease. The sooner we detect this disease and initiate treatment, the better your pet will feel and the longer he or she will live.

Kidney disease occurs when there is damage to the nephrons. Nephrons are simply little factories that work out how much water should be conserved in the body. Once damaged, nephrons don't function properly and can't regenerate. Toxins, drugs and diseases can harm the nephrons but what's alarming is that your pet may not show any signs until 75% of these nephrons are damaged.

There are plenty of other diseases that present with similar signs to kidney disease (such as diabetes) so it is always important that we investigate further if you notice these symptoms. A blood test, urine test, a measure of your pet's blood pressure and an ultrasound may be necessary.

It's best to arrange an appointment with us as soon as possible if you notice any changes or are worried about your pet.

As the days get longer and warmer, you and your pet might be spending more time outside in the garden.

Here's a list of some of the more common dangers to be aware of:

Bee and wasp stings: these can cause a painful sting and in some pets, a dangerous anaphylactic reaction. Signs to watch out for include sudden limping, excessive licking, swelling, vomiting or problems breathing. If you think your pet has been stung you should call us for advice

Snail and slug bait: these are very attractive to pets. Ingestion of small quantities can be rapidly fatal. Be aware of products that claim they are "pet safe" - they are bitter in taste so only act as a deterrent. Pets will still eat these highly toxic baits so you should always consider carefully whether these baits are absolutely necessary in your garden

Poisonous plants such as rhododendrons and azaleas, daffodil bulbs and daphne are best avoided. Some lilies (the Lilium or Hemerocallis species including the tiger and Easter lily) if ingested can cause kidney failure in cats. If you are in doubt it's best to pull them out!

Fertiliser: unfortunately pets love the smell and taste of some fertilisers and if eaten, these can prove rapidly toxic or even fatal

Compost: the garden compost heap is very interesting to your pet but the contents contain bacteria, moulds and toxins all of which can make your pet very sick

Insecticides and weed killers: these are toxic to pets and should be safely stored and locked up

Rodent baits: these cause blood clotting disorders and can be deadly. Often signs don't appear until a few days to weeks after ingestion. Keep these out of reach of pets and again, consider if these baits are absolutely necessary

If you are worried about your pet or think they might be in danger please call us for advice.