NZVS Platinum Deep Edition

Animal Health & Wellness Education

Practical educational articles for pet owners, covering early warning signs, preventive care, common symptoms, and when veterinary attention may be needed.

Urinary Discomfort in Cats

By NZVS Feline Health Columnist

Cats are famously private animals, which is one reason urinary discomfort can progress further than many owners expect before becoming obvious.

Some cats begin hiding more often. Others visit the tray repeatedly, pass only small amounts, vocalise briefly, groom the lower abdomen excessively, or become strangely restless.

Stress, hydration, litter tray preferences, household changes, previous urinary history, age, and diet may all influence what owners are seeing.

A cat straining with little or no urine passed may need urgent care rather than watchful waiting.

Repeated Vomiting in Pets

By NZVS Internal Medicine Contributor

Vomiting may occur for many reasons, from mild dietary indiscretion to significant systemic disease.

Multiple vomiting episodes within 24 hours
Blood in vomit
Lethargy or weakness
Refusal to eat or drink
Abdominal discomfort or bloating

Persistent vomiting may rapidly lead to dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, reduced nutrient intake, and worsening weakness.

Repeated vomiting should never be ignored, especially with behavioural change or systemic signs.

Hidden Pain Signs Owners Often Miss

By NZVS Senior Practitioner

Pain is not always loud. In many pets it appears as hesitation, withdrawal, irritability, altered sleep, slower movement, or reduced interest in activities once enjoyed.

Dogs may still wag their tails while sore. Cats may continue eating despite arthritis. Many animals adapt impressively, which can unintentionally hide suffering.

When behaviour changes gradually, pain should remain on the list of possibilities worth discussing.

When Itching Should Be Taken Seriously

By NZVS Dermatology Desk

Scratching now and then is ordinary. Scratching that changes daily life is something else entirely.

Persistent itching can disturb sleep, damage the skin barrier, invite secondary infection, and create ongoing stress for both pet and household.

Licking paws, rubbing faces, chewing flanks, recurrent ear shaking, redness, odour, and hair thinning are common clues.

Early treatment is often kinder, simpler, and less expensive than repeated flare-ups.

Early Digestive Warning Signals

By NZVS Preventive Care Editor

The digestive system often whispers before it shouts.

Occasional loose stool, new pickiness, excess gas, slower appetite, intermittent stomach noise, or subtle weight drift may seem minor when viewed one at a time.

Together, they can suggest that tolerance or balance has changed.

Small digestive clues are easy to ignore until they become larger ones.

Why Drinking More Water Can Matter

By NZVS Clinical Advisor

Water bowls sometimes tell an important story long before blood tests do.

Increased thirst may follow heat, exercise, dry diets, travel, or medication use. It can also accompany kidney disease, diabetes, hormonal disorders, urinary problems, liver disease, or chronic inflammation.

Simple observations at home often become valuable clues in the clinic.

Understanding Persistent Coughing in Pets

By NZVS Respiratory Contributor

Coughing attracts attention because it involves breathing, and rightly so.

Some coughs are brief irritations after excitement or pulling on a lead. Others may point toward airway inflammation, heart disease, infection, collapsing airways, aspiration, or chest pressure.

When respiration is involved, caution is usually sensible.

When Immediate Veterinary Attention Is Needed

By NZVS Emergency Care Column

There are moments when monitoring at home stops being the sensible option.

Difficulty breathing
Repeated collapse
Inability to urinate
Severe weakness
Seizures or major trauma
Toxin exposure or profound distress

In urgent situations, speed is often kinder than certainty.