Remember when we played “bang bang”?  We shot them down, “bang bang” they hit the ground, “bang bang” that big loud sound, “bang bang” we shot those turkeys down. Well, not quite the lovelorn sentiments...... Read More

I am sure many of you think of pet euthanasia as a quick process of minimal stress that comes at the end of a lot of forethought, which includes an attempt to appreciate what the animal’s perspective is. In my experience this is often the case....... Read More

Spring always seems to be a triumph of fertility over atmospheric inclemency. It’s an annual marvel. Increasing day-length gathers momentum through the solstice and although wintry weather may be reluctant to concede ground, new life is an unstoppable...... Read More

One of the joys of spring is the ability to grow and pick a wide range of plants for daily salads. There is nothing healthier than fresh salad from the garden, with loads of different plants and the full range of colours to get the maximum number of anti-oxidants. Standard...... Read More

We have had a particularly warm winter this year and MetService is predicting a warm, wet summer for the eastern North Island due to a combination of La Niña and what looks to be another marine heatwave emerging. This combination of weather events...... Read More

The bare winter branches were decorated with diamanté webs this morning as a low fog clung to the valley – very quickly to be burnt off by unseasonably warm early morning sunshine. As I write, the mercury is wavering above 19 degrees. We...... Read More

Urethral obstruction in cats is a fairly common condition encountered in small animal practice. It affects primarily young to middle-aged neutered males. The condition presents itself as unsuccessful attempts to urinate. Restlessness interspersed...... Read More

My husband will bust his balls on a still day to go for a kayak on our beloved Kaipara Harbour. I had never really concerned myself with her ebb and flow times of day. For me, she has always been like a big organic bed, and when she decides to roll her...... Read More

Wow! Who would have thought we would be in lockdown again after we had reached the important milestone of no new cases for 100 days? Fishing action has been a bit slow, as no boats have been allowed on the waters under Level 3 rules. As the weather has...... Read More

As cats and dogs near the age of ten, they start to fall into the category of geriatrics. Like humans, pets are not immune to the effects of aging, and certain conditions start to manifest in this age group. Also, like human medicine, our ability to identify...... Read More