Wildlife and Raptor Project, Kimberley Veterinary Clinic Group

Wildlife and Raptor Project, Kimberley Veterinary Clinic Group

Before Orthopaedic Surgery - Wildlife and Raptor Project

After Orthopaedic Surgery - Wildlife and Raptor Project

Wildlife and Raptor Project, Kimberley Veterinary Clinic Group

Wildlife and Raptor Project, Kimberley Veterinary Clinic Group

We understand the deep connection you share with your companion, because beyond who we are as veterinary professionals, we are pet parents just like you. We have experienced first-hand this amazing journey, the ups and downs, the joys and challenges. This deeply personal experience is what makes our care so unique.

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Why Are Vultures So Important?

Why Are Vultures So Important?

What would happen to the world if vultures went extinct? The short answer – Chaos. Vultures play an invaluable part within our fragile ecosystem. They are one of the world’s most efficient clean-up crews. Their value has been widely underestimated and is largely...

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Veterinary Waiting Room Etiquette

Veterinary Waiting Room Etiquette

Veterinary waiting room etiquette is not unlike our human medical professional counterparts’ waiting area. The waiting area of any hospital is a hectic place. Practicing good veterinary waiting room etiquette is vital to protect all pets visiting our clinic, as well...

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Medical Tattooing in Animals

Medical Tattooing in Animals

Tattooing in animals has been a controversial topic for a while now. We recently had the opportunity to be a part of something very cool. Little Luna, a very sun and fun-loving pup, was born with no pigment around her right eye. This means that her eye and the...

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Veterinary Nurses Day 2023

Veterinary Nurses Day 2023

It's Vet Nurses Day! Veterinary nurses are integral members of any veterinary team. They care for your pets when they’re away from home. They ensure they get the right medication, the right food and make sure they get enough snuggles and kisses! Nurses have an endless...

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Snake Bites in South Africa

Snake Bites in South Africa

Your pet has been bitten by a snake… What now? We can attest that this is of every pet owner’s worst nightmare. One of them at least. Snakes become more active once the weather warms up. There is a steep increase in snake bites during warmer weather, and we have seen...

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Our Picture Book, KimVet’s Happy Patients

Our Picture Book, KimVet’s Happy Patients

CHECK OUT OUR COOL PET PRODUCTS - MADE FOR YOUR PET!

Blood Donor Super Heroes – WALL OF FAME

Blood Donor Super Heroes – WALL OF FAME

KIMVET'S BLOOD DONOR HEROES - WALL OF FAME

Kimberley Veterinary Clinic Blood Bank - Blood donor super heroes - Katja

KATJA

Kimberley Veterinary Clinic Blood Bank - Blood Donor Hero - Kendi

KENDI

Kimberley Veterinary Clinic Blood Bank - Blood Donor Hero - Leila

LEILA

Kimberley Veterinary Clinic Blood Bank - Blood Donor Hero - Tyne

TYNE

Kimberley Veterinary Clinic Blood Bank - Blood Donor Hero - Kalinka

KALINKA

Kimberley Veterinary Clinic - Blood Donor Hero - Kylie

KYLIE

Kimberley Veterinary Clinic Blood Bank - Blood Donor Hero - Chloe

CHLOE

Kimberley Veterinary Clinic Blood Bank - Blood Donor Hero - Nala

NALA

Kimberley Veterinary Clinic Blood Bank - Blood Donor Hero - Kalie

KALIE

Kimberley Veterinary Clinic Blood Bank - Blood Donor Hero - Sakkie Els

SAKKIE ELS

Kimberley Veterinary Clinic Blood Bank - Blood Donor Hero - Sakkie Els

SAKKIE ELS

Kimberley Veterinary Clinic Blood Bank - Blood Donor Heroes - Sakkie Els

SAKKIE ELS

Kimberley Veterinary Clinic Blood Bank - Blood Donor Hero - Kovu

KOVU

Kimberley Veterinary Clinic Blood Bank - Blood Donor Hero - Leica

LEICA

Kimberley Veterinary Clinic Blood Bank - Blood Donor Hero - Kylie

KYLIE

Kimberley Veterinary Clinic Blood Bank - Blood Donor Hero - Rocket

ROCKET

Kimberley Veterinary Clinic Blood Bank - Blood Donor Hero - Kendi and Tyne

KENDI AND TYNE

Kimberley Veterinary Clinic Blood Bank - Blood Donor Hero - Staffy

STAFFY

Kimberley Veterinary Clinic Blood Bank - Blood Donor Hero - Zashkia

ZASHKIA

Visit Blood Donor Page

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Fill in this form to request an appointment.  Reception will contact you to confirm the time and date.

Or call — 053 832 5711

Sugar’s Story – Surviving Canine Parvovirus

Sugar’s Story – Surviving Canine Parvovirus

This little bundle of joy is Sugar.
Baby Sugar is another survivor of one of the deadliest diseases among puppies all around the globe – Canine parvovirus.

What Is Canine Parvo Virus (CPV)?

Canine parvovirus, or Parvo, is a highly contagious viral disease in dogs. While mostly seen in puppies from the ages of 2 – 6 months that aren’t adequately vaccinated, we have seen quite a few older canines. One was as old as 11 years, that have fell victim to this awful virus, whether vaccinated or not.
Parvo causes severe diarrhoea, sometimes with blood, vomiting, severe dehydration, weakness and lethargy.
Once your pup has been infected with this virus, it takes a few days for it to make its way to where it wants to be, the fast dividing cells. This is primarily the gut and the bone marrow, but in very young puppies the virus can even affect the heart muscle!

The intestine is where parvo causes the most damage, destroying the epithelial layer of the gut and preventing new, healthy epithelia from forming. By preventing the replacement of the old and dying cells, the virus leaves the intestinal surface unable to adequately absorb nutrients, the gastrointestinal tract cannot prevent fluid loss, or prevent bacteria from moving from the gut into the body. This is why these puppies dehydrate so rapidly and acquire many secondary bacterial infections on top of the initial virus.

What Can I Do To Prevent CPV?

There is no cure for parvo. All we can do is treat the symptoms and manage any secondary infections. In hospital we rehydrate the patient, provide adequate feeding, mostly via feeding tubes and treat their severe nausea and diarrhoea.
Unfortunately, very few pups survive this ordeal unless admitted to hospital. And even then the odds aren’t always on our side.
The survival rates for in-house patients on drips and with intravenous medication is barely over 75 – 80%. If they are taken home for treatment, this number drops to well below 50%.

Preventing CPV:

The only way to properly fight this virus, is to vaccinate your pets. While vaccines may not completely prevent your dog from getting parvovirus, it does decrease the severity of clinical signs dramatically. This means that those one or two or three vaccinations you got for your pet is literally the difference between life and death.
Getting rid of parvo in the environment proves just as difficult as treating it.

This small virus is extremely hardy and can survive in your environment for months after exposure. In some cases even years. It survives through the harshest winters and thrives in the summertime. It is nearly impossible to get rid of it once it has been introduced onto your property. Parvo is transmitted via many different routes, including on clothing or shoes.

Sugar is one of the lucky ones. She was admitted to hospital for almost 2 weeks.
The standard vaccination protocol for puppies is as follows – They get their first vaccination at 6 weeks, their second at 9 weeks, their third at 12 weeks with their first rabies booster and then at 14 weeks they get their last puppy vaccination. Thereafter they need yearly boosters.

For more information on puppy vaccinations, see our blog: https://kimvet.co.za/canine-vaccinations/
The kindest thing you can do for your puppy is to protect them from harm. Vaccines save lives.

Tank the Tortoise

Tank the Tortoise

Our patient of the week, Tank the Tortoise. This little guy is an absolute fighter, even though he’s smaller than a 2ml syringe!

Tank is a Leopard Tortoise.

Although Leopard Tortoises live a long time in captivity, they seldom thrive! In fact, they slowly become anorexic and nutritionally deficient and, unfortunately, their owners rarely notice because of their shell.

The reason they become nutrient-deficient is that, in the wild, they are highly selective feeders and eat exactly what they need to maintain optimal health!
What they are fed in captivity is very rarely correct or sufficient.

Fun Fact: One of their main sources of protein and calcium is from eating carnivore poop!

Also, they carry a number of undesirable diseases…

These are some of the main reasons it is imperative to have a permit from Nature Conservation to keep any animal found in the wild.

It is highly discouraged for people to try turn them into pets!

Young tortoises, like Tank, are highly vulnerable to predators like dogs, cats, jackals, crows, birds of prey and mongooses because their shells are still very soft.
We suspect he was chomped on by a dog.
(By the way, this is hands down the cutest bandage we’ve ever done!)

He has been safely handed over to the dedicated staff in the Zoology department of the McGregor Museum, who have agreed to help save this adorable reptile. They will monitor him closely and keep him healthy until he can be released into the wild.

Thank you to the wonderful people who brought him to our clinic. The world needs more people as compassionate as you!

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