Westville Veterinary Hospital

9 Tips for keeping your pet happy, healthy and safe this holiday season. Many veterinary clinics close over the holidays and running out of medication can leave you trying to find them elsewhere. Keep in mind that veterinarians are legally required to examine your pet before dispensing scheduled medication, making last-minute refills challenging. Waiting until the last minute can leave you scrambling to find available spaces, as many kennels fill up quickly. Aim to do this at least a few weeks ahead, as last-minute visits can result in long waits at veterinary clinics, especially during the busy December holiday season when staff shortages are common due to employees being on leave. If your pet experiences noise anxiety, be sure to stock up on sedatives ahead of New Year’s Eve. Additionally, ensure your pet is in a safe and secure environment, especially if you will be out celebrating. Unfortunately, pets with noise anxiety often escape when left unattended, which can lead to injuries ...

Welcome to our ANNUAL OUTREACH PROJECT, an initiative dedicated to the support of organisations who rescue, care for and rehome vulnerable pets. This outreach project aims to be a beacon of hope to those who strive for change through care, commitment and compassion every day. Your donation of R30 (or more) can make a difference! Paw Prints Rescue and Rehoming Persian Cat Rescue Durban PACT Safe Foster Network Our reception staff will be happy to accept your donation when you visit the practice. You can then personally place your donation sticker on our wall in the waiting area. Westville Veterinary Hospital Bank : ABSA Account number : 93 7167 9078 Branch Code : 632005 IMPORTANT! Please be sure to use this reference: WV_43052  please send a proof of payment to reception@westvet.co.za The team at  Westville Veterinary Hospital  thank you for your support.

Fireworks and storms can be stressful and unsettling for most of our pets. As many as 50% of pets will exhibit signs of noise anxiety. Given that a pet’s hearing is 10 times more sensitive than yours, this is hardly surprising. The key point is to keep your pet indoors and be prepared well in advance.  Here are a few tips to keep them safe, secure and settled. Read our article written by Dr Perling and find out more about why preparing for Fireworks and Storms is crucial for your pet and why you should act now without delay.   https://bit.ly/3QaTiWV

Hip dysplasia occurs in many species (including humans and cats) but is mainly a concern in dogs. It can occur in any breed or size of the dog but is more common and tends to be a bigger issue in larger breeds. The hip is the ball and socket joint that connects the hind limb to the pelvis. The femur is the thigh bone. The ball is called the femoral head, and the socket in the pelvis is the acetabulum. The ball and socket grow in concert with one another in the normal hip joint. The ball sits deeply in the socket and rotates within. The ball and socket are held together by a ligament (a band of tough tissue between the bones), a joint capsule (which also contains joint or synovial fluid), and muscles that connect the pelvis to the femur. Articular cartilage (joint) lines the ball and socket. In a hip with dysplasia ( dysplasia  meaning abnormal growth and development), the connection between the ball and socket becomes looser than what is considered normal. This results in abno...