Southern View: June 18, 2020

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6 Thursday June 18 2020 Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz SOUTHERN VIEW McMaster & Heap Veterinary practice A few SPECIALISED services you may not know about… 1. CHEMOTHERAPY The past 12 months has seen our Practice treat many cancer patients with Chemotherapy. We have an experienced, dedicated team of vets and nurses who really connect with these patients and their owners. We see referrals from other Practices and we can offer sound advice, deliverance of care and ongoing support for these patients. We often seek the advice from specialists when formulating the appropriate plans and drugs to be used. surgical workload and have purchased the necessary specialised equipment so that spinal, orthopaedic, soft tissue, and thoracic surgery can proceed without a hitch. We also can organise patients to have CT/ MRI scans, prior to surgery, through Pacific Radiology if necessary. Spinal ( CSF) taps are also carried out if deemed necessary for spinal/intracranial patients. Your vet needs to refer your pet to Helen for her expert opinion and surgical expertise. 3. ENDOSCOPY This is a great, non invasive service which allows us vets to have a good look down airways into the lungs (can even go up nostrils) and down or up the gastrointestinal tract. We have just purchased a smaller scope to visualise the urinary system in dogs and can get into smaller airways. Traffic congestion on the Colombo St railway bridge at the intersection with Moorhouse Ave, Sydenham in 1961. Kirsty and Mauger sharing the love, after Mauger was in for chemotherapy to treat his Mast Cell Tumour. Chemotherapy in pets is not as aggressive as in humans, therefore the side effects are less. We aim for “Quality of Life” versus squeezing every minute out of living. We do aim for “complete clinical remission” though. Most tumours are removed initially or debulked and then chemo is used to reduce the risk of spread of cancer to other sites. We do not have access to radiation therapy in Christchurch. Side effects ( nausea, vomiting, lethargy, fever, diarrhoea, anorexia) can occur, but are not as severe as in humans as doses given are lower. We manage these with medications or reducing the next chemo drug dosage. Pets can still enjoy their normal foods and exercise whilst on chemotherapy. There are a few exceptions though. If your pet’s White Blood cell count gets too low, then avoid high density dog areas so disease transmission is low. Raw food diets are not advised during chemotherapy due to an increased risk of infection if the pet’s immune system comes compromised. It is thought a premium diet, higher in protein and fat/lower in carbohydrate are preferred and fish oil has been talked about. Pets DON’T lose hair like humans. After surgical clipping, hair regrowth can be slow but it will grow back. There is no risk to the owner of a pet receiving chemotherapy, although pregnant women should not handle any chemotherapy medications that are to be given at home. Our Vet Kirsty does the lion share of Chemotherapy in the Practice. She has a dedicated, experienced nursing team and these patients are all typically scheduled on one day. Blood work is initially done to check they are fit and healthy for their chemo drugs, then they are injected slowly via an IV line or given orally. No sedation drugs are usually required. It is quick, easy and painless for your pet. Kirsty is really passionate about helping your pet seek cancer remission whilst enjoying a full, great quality of life. She is with you every step of the way, answering your questions, especially when big decisions need to be made. 2. SURGICAL REFERRALS We are now able to offer a surgical referral service thanks to Dr Helen Milner (a registered specialist in Small Animal Surgery) coming on board recently. Helen sees referral patients from all over the South Island where they are typically booked for a 1 hours consultation, with surgery then scheduled if required. We have built a dedicated sterile surgery and theatre area to cope with this Dr Helen Milner, our surgical specialist. Open 7 days Cnr Hoon Hay & Coppell place phone 338 2534, Fax 339 8624 e. mcmasterandheap@yahoo.co.nz www.mcmasterheap.co.nz Catherine and Kirsty seen here manoevering the endoscope to retrieve the scrunches from Floyd’s stomach. The patient is required to be under anaesthetic but the procedure is fast and often effective at getting a diagnosis, biopsying tissue or retrieving “foreign bodies” which is most fun. Recently “Floyd”, a 4 month old Labradoodle was endoscoped late one afternoon for eating “scrunchie” hair ties, with 6 ended up being retrieved via the endoscope. Very satisfying, quick and less expensive compared to The retrieved scrunchie exploratory surgery. 4. RESTORATIVE DENTISTRY Our new vet “ Terryne Loney” is an expert in the field of dentistry, so coupled with vet Olivia who enjoys all things in the teeth and gum department, we are able to handle most dental problems and emergencies. Our state of the art dental suite is fully equipped with 2 dental stations, allowing scaling, polishing and extractions to be performed on 2 patients at the same time. Digital dental radiographs are very important Terryne, our new vet. when deciding what teeth need extracting, checking for cancers and root infections and congenital tooth abnormalities. We now have the veterinary skills and equipment to perform restorative dental care including root canal surgery and offering alternatives to extraction in teeth that are important to retain. For any further information on the above services please don’t hesitate to call or message us. Dr Michele McMaster McMaster & Heap Snow on Colombo St, Sydenham in 1989, looking south from the overbridge. HOME LEISURE Horncastle Arena, 21-23 August 2020 Exhibitors Book now Don’t miss your opportunity to showcase your business in front of 10,000+ qualified attendees New exhibitor packages available lisa.lynch@starmedia.kiwi or 021 800 809
SOUTHERN VIEW Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz Thursday June 18 2020 7 A walk along memory lane A crowded Wings and Wheels airshow at Wigram 1985. An RNZAF A4 Skyhawk is in the foreground. Construction of Christchurch Railway Station, Moorhouse Ave in 1953. The Sydenham Post Office building in 1946 covered in scaffolding in preparation for the demolition of the clock tower to reduce the risk of collapse during an earthquake. Authentic Thai Cuisine From $10 Lunch Special Tuesday - Saturday Lunch Tuesday – Saturday, 11am to 2pm Dinner Monday - Sunday, 4.30pm to 9pm HOON HAY THAI RESTAURANT Open 7 Days • Lunch & Dinner • 9 Coppell Place • Phone 339 0320
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Southern View: June 18, 2020

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