Thursday, 26 August 2021 14:58

Non-urgent veterinary appointments on hold until alert levels reduce

Written by Staff Reporters

font size decrease font size increase font size
Print
Email

Non-urgent veterinary care will have to be postponed until after Covid-19 alert levels reduce, say NZVA and VCNZ.

While veterinarians are still providing providing care and treatment for animals during lockdown, it’s far from business as usual.

According to the Veterinary Council of New Zealand (VCNZ) and the New Zealand Veterinary Association (NZVA), Covid-19 restrictions have changed how animals, as well as people, receive healthcare.

“Under Alert Level 4 restrictions, veterinarians can only provide care that can’t be postponed,” says VCNZ’s veterinary advisor Dr Seton Butler. “As a result, non-urgent healthcare, routine vaccinations and regular checks need to be postponed until the situation changes.”

Butler says that if people follow Covid-19 rules and stay home, there should be no serious effects on their animal’s health by having routine procedures postponed by a few weeks.

“If you are concerned about delaying an appointment or unsure if your animal needs urgent veterinary care, you should always call your veterinary practice for advice.”

VCNZ and NZVA say they will review their advice as alert levels shift and will keep vets updated.

More like this

Vets Back Dairy Cattle Code of Welfare Changes: NZVA

Veterinarians say changes to the code of welfare for dairy cattle provides a positive foundation for improved cattle welfare across the country.

Mary Bowron Named Best Sheep and Beef Vet of the Year

B+LNZ's Wormwise veterinarian Mary Bowron has won the Best Sheep and Beef Vet of the Year Award in recognition of her outstanding contribution to New Zealand’s sheep and beef sector.

M.I.A.

OPINION: The previous government spent too much during the Covid-19 pandemic, despite warnings from officials, according to a briefing released by the Treasury.

Gaslight much?

OPINION: Labour leader Chris 'Chippy' Hipkins is carrying on the world-class gaslighting of the nation that he and his cohorts started after their disastrous Covid response; now trying to undermine the Covid inquiry to protect his own backside.

Sorry, not sorry

OPINION: Did former PM Jacinda Ardern get fawning reviews for her book?

Featured

Pāmu Silver Stabilizer Dairy Beef Genetics Open to Farmers

A major move is about to get underway to improve the quality and viability of dairy beef and cattle in NZ.

Vets Back Dairy Cattle Code of Welfare Changes: NZVA

Veterinarians say changes to the code of welfare for dairy cattle provides a positive foundation for improved cattle welfare across the country.

International Day of Rural Women: Two DairyNZ Farmers’ Stories

Today, 15 October, is the International Day of Rural Women, which recognises rural women’s contribution to farming, communities and the environment.

Breckenridge to Lead Lactalis Australia

Global dairy giant Lactalis has integrated its Australian operations with the Mainland Dairy consumer business it acquired from Fonterra earlier this year.

Sharemilkers Aaron and Marcia Flay Buy Their First Farm

After almost two decades of sharemilking, saving and building equity, Aaron and Marcia Flay this year realised their long-held dream of settling on their first dairy farm.

NZ Beef’s US Opportunity and the Dairy Beef Initiative

Good medium to long term prospects for NZ beef, especially in the US, has heighted the focus on various initiatives to capitalise on this situation.

National

Ballance Welcomes National's Policy on Securing Fertiliser Supply Contracts

Farmer-owned fertiliser company, Ballance Agri Nutrients is welcoming National’s plan to negotiate security agreements with key supplier countries to protect…