🦷 August is Dental Month at Ovens & Kiewa Vets! 🐶🐱

Give your pet something to... smile about this August! A healthy mouth is about much more than fresh breath—it helps prevent pain, infection, tooth loss, and can even improve your pet's overall health.

🎉 August Dental Month Offers:
✅ FREE Nurse Dental Checks
✅ $80 OFF Dental Procedures

Our friendly nurses will examine your pet's teeth, discuss any concerns, and let you know if a professional dental clean is recommended. If your pet needs a dental procedure during August, you'll receive $80 off the cost.

Signs your pet may need a dental check include:
🦷 Bad breath
🦷 Yellow or brown tartar build-up
🦷 Red or bleeding gums
🦷 Difficulty chewing or dropping food
🦷 Pawing at the mouth

Don't wait until your pet is in pain—early treatment can make all the difference.

📅 Offer valid throughout August.
📞 Call Ovens & Kiewa Vets to book your FREE Nurse Dental Check today!

✨ Get to Know Sharon (Again!)

Sharon has been part of the veterinary world since she was... 18 💚 She has now been a valued member of our team for the past 9 years, bringing a wealth of experience, calm reassurance, and genuine care to every patient she meets 🐶🐱

Many of you will recognise Sharon from consults and hospital care — she is especially known for her excellent client communication and outstanding patient care, ensuring every patient that comes through her care is thoroughly loved, comforted, and well looked after 🩺💚

Over the years, Sharon has built incredible experience across all areas of nursing and is a steady, trusted presence in the clinic. Whether it’s supporting complex cases, assisting in procedures, or guiding clients through care plans, she approaches every situation with kindness and professionalism ✨

When it comes to veterinary nursing, Sharon is exceptional at client communication, calm and caring under pressure, and always dedicated to making every patient feel safe and loved 💚

🏡 At home, Sharon is kept busy by her Wirehaired Pointer, Mac 🐾 On her days off, you’ll often find her making sure her house is spotless — she certainly doesn’t slow down outside of work either! ✨

We’re so lucky to have her dedication, compassion, and commitment as part of the team 💚

Colic in Horses – Know the Signs

Colic is one of the most common emergencies seen in ...horses and can range from mild discomfort to a life-threatening condition. Knowing the signs early can make all the difference.

What is Colic?
“Colic” is a term used to describe abdominal pain in horses. It can be caused by many things including gas build-up, feed changes, dehydration, blockages, or twisted intestines.

Signs to Watch For 👀
• Pawing at the ground
• Looking or kicking at the belly
• Rolling repeatedly
• Restlessness or getting up and down often
• Reduced appetite
• Little or no manure production
• Sweating or increased heart rate
• Stretching out as if trying to urinate

What Should You Do? 📞
If you suspect colic:
✅ Remove access to food
✅ Keep your horse calm and monitor closely
✅ Walk gently if safe to do so
✅ Contact your veterinarian promptly

Prevention Tips 🐎
• Provide constant access to fresh water
• Introduce feed changes gradually
• Maintain regular dental care and worming
• Ensure consistent exercise and turnout
• Avoid sudden diet or routine changes

Colic can worsen quickly, so early veterinary attention is always recommended if your horse is showing signs of abdominal pain.

Healthy gut, happy horse 🐾

🔬 Pharmacy Fridays 🩺✨

Let's take a closer look at one of our most valuable ...in-clinic diagnostic tools — our microscope!

Our microscope plays an important role in helping us diagnose a wide range of conditions quickly and accurately. From examining skin and ear samples for mites, bacteria, and yeast, to checking urine sediment, blood smears, and identifying parasites, it's a tool we use every day.

Being able to examine samples in-house means we can often provide answers during your pet's appointment, allowing treatment to begin sooner and giving your pet the best chance of a speedy recovery.

Whether your pet has itchy skin, sore ears, urinary concerns, or we're investigating an illness, our microscope helps us get a closer look at what's happening beneath the surface.

Fast diagnostics mean faster treatment and better care for your furry family members — every step of the way. 🐶🐱🔬💙

🚨 Bird Flu Advisory 🚨

As some of you may be aware, bird flu has recently been ...detected in Australia. While there are currently no confirmed cases in Victoria, the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) and the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) have advised veterinary clinics to implement precautionary measures and help educate the public.

We ask everyone to take extra care when handling wildlife, particularly birds.

If you find a sick or injured bird:

Do not touch or handle the bird unless advised to do so.
Please contact our clinic before bringing any bird in so we can ask a few screening questions and determine the safest course of action.
If the bird is safe to identify from a distance, please note the species and any signs of illness or injury.

These precautions help protect our staff, clients, pets, and local wildlife. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Breed of the Month 🐾
This is Honey! 🐶

✨ Meet the Border Collie – The ...Brainiac of the Dog World! ✨🐾
Known for their incredible intelligence, energy, and work ethic, Border Collies are happiest when they have a job to do. Originally bred for herding sheep, these dogs are quick learners and love staying active both mentally and physically. 🐑⚡

🧠 Fun Fact: Border Collies are widely considered one of the smartest dog breeds in the world and can learn an impressive number of words and commands! 🧠🐾

Loyal, athletic, and eager to please, Border Collies thrive in active homes where they can enjoy training, agility, games, and outdoor adventures. Without enough stimulation, these clever pups can quickly become bored and mischievous! ❤️

Their intense “herding stare,” known as the eye, is used to control livestock — and sometimes even their humans! 👀🐶

Send us a photo of your Border Collie — whether they’re hard at work, chasing a ball, or supervising the household! 👇📸

🐾💙 Wellness Program – Preventative Care Made Simple 💙🐾

At Ovens & Kiewa ...Veterinary Hospital, your pet’s health is our priority. Our Wellness Program is designed to make preventative healthcare simple, affordable, and stress-free — helping keep pets healthy all year round.

✨ What’s included:
• Annual vaccinations
• Unlimited sick pet consultations
• Microchipping
• Nurse nail clips
• Nurse dental checks
• Nurse anal gland expression
• Annual diagnostic blood tests
• Annual diagnostic urine tests
• $150 dental discount (scale & polish per year)

💰 Cost:
• $49.95 per month
• $90 upfront joining fee (direct debited)

🐶🐱 Is it insurance?
No — this is not pet insurance. The Wellness Program focuses on preventative healthcare, while insurance is designed for accidents and unexpected illness. For complete peace of mind, we recommend using both together.

💡 Why it matters:
Preventative care helps detect health issues early, reduces the risk of disease, and supports your pet’s long-term wellbeing. It also helps improve vaccination compliance in our community, protecting pets from preventable diseases.

💙 We’re passionate about making it easier for pet owners to provide the very best care — because prevention is always better than cure.

📞 To find out more or join the program, contact our friendly team at Ovens & Kiewa Veterinary Hospital.

#PetWellness #PreventativeCare #VeterinaryCare #HealthyPets #WellnessProgram #PetHealth #OvensAndKiewaVets #ResponsiblePetOwnership

✨ Meet the Team – Reintroducing Alyssa ✨
Nurse Alyssa has been a valued part of the team ...for seven years 🌟. She first joined us as a kennel hand while completing her final years of high school 🎓 and has since worked her way through the ranks, becoming a qualified veterinary nurse four years ago 👩‍⚕️

If you’ve visited OKVH, chances are you’ve been welcomed by Alyssa’s warm and caring nature at reception 💕 or while she’s nursing patients 🐶🐱. The entire team admires her exceptional client communication skills and her ability to support pet parents through both the happiest and most difficult moments.

Alyssa is also known for her impeccable attention to detail in every aspect of her role 🔍. She has a particular talent for social media creation and curation 📱—earning her the title of our “social media queen” 👑!

Another fun fact about Alyssa is that she has recently started her own business specialising in large-animal ultrasound pregnancy testing 🐄📡, expanding her skills and experience every chance she gets.

Outside of work, Alyssa, her partner, and her Kelpie, Pippa 🐕, enjoy all things outdoors 🌿—especially camping 🏕️ and fishing 🎣. We often hear about their weekend adventures and the great spots they discover around the region.

We absolutely love having Alyssa as part of our team ❤️