Hammett Street Veterinary Surgery

🥰 Pet of the week 🥰

Everyone meet Maple Jam Donut the 2 year old French Bulldog! 🍩

Maple was in this week for an elective caesarean with Dr Rachel. We all love puppies here but lucky for nurse's Rebecca, Rhi and Courtney they got to help monitor her anaesthetic and resuscitate puppies!
Maple is now a proud mother of three beautiful babies who are still looking for there forever homes. 💙💙🩷🏠

🌈Euthanasia 🌈

Understanding the Euthanasia Process:

Saying goodbye to our beloved pets is one of the hardest decisions we may ever have to make. Euthanasia, or putting an animal to sleep, is a humane and compassionate process to end their suffering when they are facing severe illness, injury, or a significant decline in quality of life.

Here’s what to expect during the process:

- A veterinarian will discuss your pet's condition, prognosis, and the options available. This helps in making an informed decision.

- We will then go through a series of paper work detailing the procedure and the chosen aftercare. You can choose how you wish to handle your pet's remains, with options like cremation (through Pet Heaven), home burial, JCU Donation and Council burial.

- An IV cannula will be placed into one of their limbs (this will either be done in the room or out the back).

- When it is time to say goodbye a medication is then given that gently and painlessly stops the heart.

- When you are ready to leave, we will come in and take paw prints & a fur clip. (This can be taken home/ collected in a few days or sent in the mail- Please let us know your preference).

It's a deeply personal and emotional time, but know that euthanasia is a loving decision to end suffering and offer peace. We can provide support and guidance throughout the process. 💔🐾

If you have questions or need support, don't hesitate to reach out to our professional staff. Below are link's from our website on How will I know its time & Quality of life assessment.
https://www.lapoflove.com/how-will-i-know-it-is-time/interactive-quality-of-life-assessment-and-diary.pdf
&https://vmc.vet.osu.edu/sites/default/files/documents/how-will-i-know_rev_mar2024ms_0.pdf

🌍🐾 Traveling with Pets 🐾🌍

Taking your furry friends along on your travels can be an incredibly rewarding experience! Here are a few tips to make the journey smoother for all of you.
If you have other tips we haven't shared please share your travel tips below for others to try! 🐶🐱

1. Plan Ahead: Research pet-friendly accommodations and destinations.

2. Pack Essentials: Don't forget food, water, toys, and a comfy bed. We recommend making this new environment feel like home. By bringing blankets, a bed and toys, that they are familiar with to make them feel more comforted. These items can help make your pet feel more relaxed and at ease, so you can too. 🧸⚽️

3. Health First: Visit the vet for a check-up and ensure Vaccinations, Heartworm prevention, Flea and Tick prevention, Intestinal worming and Microchip/ ID tags are up to date. 🩺💉💊
* Calming products are available if required, talk with your vet during their health consultation.

4. Safety Matters: Use a pet carrier or seatbelt harness in the car. The harness should be fitted well. Having the harness slip off in the event of a sudden stop puts you and your pet at risk of injury.
Ensure your pet has the space needed to sit down comfortably in the car, without wandering over the backseat. 🚙

5. Take Breaks: Regular stops for bathroom breaks and stretching are crucial.
Ensure they have fresh water and have plenty of fresh air (open the windows or an air vent) also remember that pets have sensitive hearing so limit loud music while travelling.

🐶🐱✈️🚗

🐶🥰Pet of the week 🥰🐶

Everyone meet Molly the 13 week old Japanese Spitz. Molly was in this week with Dr Rebekah for her second vaccination and General Health Check. Molly is a tiny fluff ball weighing in at 2.8kg!! She was so happy to be here and received lots of cuddles from Nurse Dakota. 🩷

🌍🐾 Happy International Cat Day! 🐾🌍

Today, let's paws to celebrate our fabulous feline friends who make our lives infinitely more purrfect! Whether they're lounging like royalty, chasing shadows with ninja-like precision, or simply demanding our attention with a soft meow, cats bring joy and companionship to us all.

Share a photo or a story about your beloved furball and let's spread some kitty love around the world! 🐱💕

If your pet was on Tinder what would their bio & profile picture be? We'll go first..... 🤣

💲💰 Payment options available 💰💲

Here at Hammett St Vets we understand that sometimes the unexpected can happen. Life is very unpredictable, and sometimes the cost of treatment can be significant (esp. if you haven't got pet insurance). To help, we have the below payment options available for use;

- After pay
- Zip pay
- Vet pay
- Humm

Please call the friendly staff on (07) 4725 7691 if you have any information.
PLEASE NOTE: We do require payment at the time services are rendered.

✨Pet of the week! ✨

❓ Do you remember Millie the Miniature Dachshund who needed an emergency cesarean ❓🤔

This week Millie's puppies were in for their first general health check, vaccination and microchip with Dr Max and Nurse Courtney.
We absolutely love watching them grow. 🥰

🎉❓Would you like to WIN a bag of Royal Canin Dental Biscuits❓ 🎉

August is dental month and we are giving away BAG'S of dental biscuits! 🦷
To go into the draw and win, all you have to do is book in for a dental scale and polish😄. So, if you've been putting off your furry friends dental procedure... now is the time to book! ☎️

At the end of the month the WINNERS will be drawn via a randomizer. We will contact you via telephone and proof of drivers license will be required on pick up.
Please note: We will never ask for your bank details. Good Luck! 😁🐶🐱

Staff Profile:

Name: Rebekah (Bek)

Position/role: Veterinarian

How long have you been at Hammett St Vets for? 4.5 years

What attracted you to the industry/organisation? My love for all things medical and animals 💕. I love being able to form relationships with my patients and clients to keep their fur babies happy and healthy 🥰🐾

What pets do you have at home? 2 Doggos 🐶🐶. An 11-year-old Lhasa Apso X (Koda) & 2-year-old Siberian Husky (Korra). I also have 2 snakes, a water python and a spotted python 🐍

Medical or surgical: LOVE being in surgery! But I also enjoy working up complicated medical cases and solving the puzzle of what's going on 🤔.

What's your favourite snack for on the go? Cheese and Biccies! 🧀🍪 and anything else savory 😋

If you were a cat/dog, what breed and why? Any small fluffy dog breed 😍. To be an inside (mostly) dog with free-range to relax all day every day on the couch would be the life. They're also the absolute cutest and best to cuddle up to 🥰.

An interesting fact about you: I use to do competitive dance & cheerleading 🤸‍♀️

Most embarrassing thing you have done at work: Trying to restrain a large dog patient for blood collection - ended up being taken for a ride and arse up on the ground 🙃. I also trip over everything constantly 😅

🐾 The Importance of Fasting Animals Before Surgery🐾

Hey pet parents! 🐶🐱

Did you know that fasting your furry friends before a surgical procedure is crucial for their safety? 🏥 Here's why:

1. Prevents Aspiration: Fasting reduces the risk of your pet vomiting during anesthesia, which can lead to serious complications like aspiration pneumonia.

2. Reduces Nausea: An empty stomach helps minimize post-operative nausea and vomiting, ensuring a smoother recovery for your pet.

3. Accurate Diagnostics: Fasting can help provide more accurate blood test results, which are essential for a successful surgery.

4. Safety First: Anesthetics can cause the stomach to relax, making it easier for food to move into the throat and be inhaled. Fasting helps prevent this.

For most pets, fasting usually means no food for 12 hours before surgery and no water for 2-4 hours before. Always follow our instructions. Let’s keep our pets safe and healthy! 🐾❤️

Hammett street vets is looking for a casual Veterinarian to help us care for our beautiful patients.

The position would suit someone with 2+ years of experience in a small animal clinic and would be approximately 15 to 25 hours per week. We are also happy to accommodate parents returning to work.
An interest in exotics would also be great but not essential.

We can offer:
Flexible hours on weekdays and short and sweet Saturday shifts, NO after hours rotation.
A very supportive and fun team that actually cares about and prioritises mental health.
Lots of varying, interesting medical and surgical cases with support from our experienced vets and nurses.
Access to multiple online training subscriptions.
A great pay rate based on your experience.
A constant flow of treats and snacks.
A great cafe just a 2-minute walk away.

We would be looking for someone who is bright and happy with great communication skills and a sense of humour to fit into our craziness. We don’t take ourselves too seriously and we’re probably not the most dignified or sophisticated team ever, but we love to joke and have fun with our clients and with each other.

If you would like to enquire about the position, please don’t hesitate to send an email to our manager Amber at [email protected] or call (07)47257691
We also welcome “meet and greets” if you’d like to check out our clinic.

🐱Pet of the Week🐱

Meet Gizmo the 4-month-old Domestic Shorthair 😻.
Gizmo visited Dr Rachel this week for his castration procedure 🤭🔪. He was the bravest little boy & loved all the cuddles with Nurse Leonie 🥰. We wish him a speedy recovery 💙💜

🥳A very big Happy Birthday to Sandra! 🥳

Sandra is our behind the scenes administrator!
Thankyou for everything you do for the clinic behind the scene your work doesn't go unnoticed. As Sandra only pop's into clinic from time to time be sure to wish her a very happy birthday on here. 🎂🎈

We hope you enjoy your day today! 🎉🎁

Staff Profile:

Name: Courtney (Courts)

Position: Senior Vet Nurse

How long have you been at Hammett St Vets: 7 years 💜

What attracted you to the industry/organisation: I’ve always loved helping both humans and animals, but my heart has a special place for animals. 🐾

What pets do you have at home: 3 dogs, George 6 year old Rottweiler, Russell 7 month old Rottweiler and Winter 12 year old border collie x Cattle. 1 blue tongue lizard named Badger, 1 snake called Linguini, 2 chooks and lots of fish. 🐶🐶🐶🦎🐍🐔🐔🐠🐠🐠🐠🐠🐠🐠

Medical or Surgical: Both I love medical and surgical as no two days are the same.

What’s your favourite snack for on the go? Any type of food…. Cakes, chocolate, savory or fruit platter. 🧀🍓🥐🍉🍕🍰🍩🍫🍪

If you were a cat/dog, what breed and why? A rotty… they are calm and confident, courageous but not unduly aggressive. They are loyal, have natural guarding instinct, enjoy space and exercise.

An interesting fact about you: I have an identical twin 👯‍♀️

Most embarrassing thing you have done at work: Whenever an innocent bird flaps it wings in my direction, I am outta there! I will run & scream, no matter the size. 🐦🚫

We would like to discuss abuse in the Veterinary Clinic.

Did you know ❓🤔- Veterinarians have almost four times the su***de rate of the Australian population.

We strive to provide excellent care to you and your furry family members. Unfortunately, we experience verbal abuse directed at our team both over the phone and in clinic. This behaviour is not acceptable in any circumstance.

Our staff often work long hours, face emotional challenges, and navigate complex medical situations to ensure your animals receive the best care possible. It is essential that you show us the respect and gratitude we deserve.

We understand that there are stressful times, but we ask that you communicate with our staff respectfully. We are all highly trained professionals.

A little kindness goes a long way in making our challenging jobs just a bit easier.
Let's spread positivity 🐾❤️

🐾 Pet of the week 🐾

Everybody meet Ace the 8-year-old Great Dane X 🩵

This beautiful BIG boof head has been coming in to see us since he was a puppy. He was in this week for his yearly vaccination and general health check with Dr Max. As you can see he isn't a huge fan of the camera 😂 but he loves coming in and is happy to stand on the scales for all the attention and pats from all the staff.

Ace weighs in at whopping 77Kg! 🤯

Where are all our beautiful BIG dogs at? Post a pic and comment their weight below 😁🐶

Staff Profile

Name: Dakota

Position/role: Nurse

How long have you been at Hammett St Vets: 2 years 🙏

What attracted you to the industry/organisation: Helping animals who don’t have a voice. 💕

What pets do you have at home: 2 x cats (Boo & Ripley) and a German Shepheard X named Ghost 🐱🐱🐶

Medical or Surgical: Surgical

What’s your favourite snack for on the go? Coffee ☕

If you were a cat/dog, what breed and why? Bengal because I talk a lot and make strange sounds. 😁

An interesting fact about you: I’m very creative and artistic. 🖌🪡🧵

Most embarrassing thing you have done at work: Forgetting words and what I’m going to say while talking with clients and then standing there awkwardly 🤪🙃

💥 Celebrating 10 Years of Dedication and Compassion! 💥

Join us in congratulating our amazing head vet nurse, Rhiannan, who has been a vital part of our team for a decade! Over the past 10 years, Rhi has shown incredible dedication, compassion, and expertise, making a difference in the lives of countless pets and their families.

From comforting anxious animals to assisting in life-saving surgeries, Rhi's unwavering commitment and love for animals shine through every day. We're so grateful for everything she brings to our clinic and our community.

Here's to many more years of exceptional care and heartfelt moments! Thank you, Rhi, for all that you do especially keeping us all entertained. ❤️🐾

Staff Profile:

Name: Kristyn

Position: Receptionist 🖊

How long have you been at Hammett St Vets: 2.5 years 😊

What attracted you to this organisation: I was a client and saw the position advertised. I jumped at the chance to apply as I've always wanted to work with animals but had an administration background. 🫶

What pets do you have at home: Kali- A Bullterrier x Mastiff, Paulie & Vinny - Guinea Pigs and Joey - Sucker fish 🐶🐹🐹🐟

Medical or surgical: On our side of the desk it's great to see both go home to their families.

What's your favourite snack for on the go? Coffee lol ☕

If you were a cat/dog, what breed and why? Pitbull/Bully Breed - Loving & fiercely protective of my family. But a big softy too.

An interesting fact about you: I'm double jointed in my elbows

Most embarrassing thing you have done at work: May or may not have wet my pants at work. I was 8 months pregnant to be fair 😂😬

👅Does your pet like to smile??👅

Here are some of our staff pets showing off their cheeky grins 😁
Post a picture of your pet smiling below to make our day brighter!

🥳HAPPY BIRTHDAY 🥳

Happy birthday to our AMAZING, Rottie-loving Nurse Courtney 💕🎈.

Your compassion, hard work and dedication make a world of difference every day! Thank you for your tireless efforts in caring for your furry patients - they are so lucky to have you 💜. Wishing you a day filled with joy, love and all the cuddles from your Rotties at home 🥰🐶.

Please help us in wishing Court a massive Happy Birthday! (and maybe help wake her up) 😂 🎉🥰

🐍 Pet Of The Week! 🐍

Everybody meet Pedro the 12-year-old Carpet Python. 💚

Pedro visited Dr Max this week for a new lump check that had popped up over the last few weeks. Upon examination the lump appears most likely benign and is currently not causing any discomfort. Pedro's owner is going to monitor closely over the next few months to ensure it doesn't get any bigger or impede Pedro's mobility - if so Pedro's lump will need to be surgically removed. Watch this space 🔪😁

Staff Profile

Name: Ashur

Position/role: Vet

How long have you been at Hammett St Vets: Jan 2024

What attracted you to the industry/organisation: Hammett St has a reputation for having an incredible work environment. Everyone gets along and puts so much effort into caring for every patient. ❤️

What pets do you have at home: A 17-year-old Persian x Ragdoll called Magela and a 12-year-old spotted python called pandora. 🐱🐍

Medical or Surgical: Both!

What’s your favourite snack for on the go? Brownies for sure

If you were a cat/dog, what breed and why? Maybe an Abyssinian cat? I feel like I can relate to their playful personalities

An interesting fact about you: I broke my arm working with cattle at veterinary school 😁

Most embarrassing thing you have done at work: Tripping over my own feet! Accidentally punching Rhi on the face. 🤭😬🤣 I’m sure there will be more when I’ve been here for a bit longer.

Staff Profile:

Name: Lisa

Position: Senior Vet Nurse

How long have you been at Hammett St Vets: 12 years in October but minus maternity leaving during that 🙏

What attracted you to the industry/organisation: They hired me (lol)… no it was more they gave me a chance when having had worked for RSPCA previously as an Animal Attendant but had no nursing experience at the time.

What pets do you have at home: Willow 9.5 year old boxer x , Ace 10 year old Bull Arab x Ridgeback, and Ruby 2 year old DMH. Oh....and my 2 (furr-less) girls ofcourse 🐶🐶🐱

Medical or surgical: Both but maybe slightly more medical - I love wound care & following interesting/in-depth medical cases - seeing the body heal (or the patient recover) is amazing. Give me a good bandage change any day! 🩹

What's your favourite snack for on the go? Rocky road protein bar (Sam's pantry) - a recent discovery 😋

If you were a cat/dog, what breed and why? Dog! Greyhound, fit/healthy but also can be a couch potato - or a Frenchy coz of their crazy zoomies & goofiness too haha

An interesting fact about you: Love being creative & adventurous, will give most things a go; resin, mosaics, floral arrangements, anything that can be a DIY project I'll give it a whirl 🧰 I DIY'd most of my wedding deco's!

Most embarrassing thing you have done at work: Split my pants bending down years ago, had to pass a room full of reps having a meeting with the boss to find spare scrub pants! Burst out laughing when they looked at me coming into the room and had to confess what just happened 😅🙈🤣

🪱 Hookworm 🪱

Hookworms are a zoonotic parasite that we see quite commonly at Hammett Street Vets 😞🪱. These worms feed from blood within the intestines, leading to a significant anaemia that can be fatal (esp. in young puppies). Infected puppies commonly present with pale gums, general weakness/lethargy, and may or may not have diarrhoea.

🐾 Transmission:
These worms thrive in warm, moist, often dirty environments. However, there are several ways for a pet to become infected:
* Faecal-oral route (ingestion of contaminated material - e.g. dirt, prey, rodents)
* Percutaneous (the worm penetrates through the pets skin that is in contact with the ground)
* Trans-mammary & in-utero (young puppies drink mums infected milk or are infected before birth!)
NOTE: It is also important to note that we humans can also get hookworm through these methods!

🐾 Prevention and Control
Treatment involves repeated deworming with one of several products 💊. In some hookworm cases, simply killing the worms will not be enough, with the patient also requiring hospitalisation and blood transfusion🩸.

Efforts to control hookworm infestations focus on improving hygiene within the environment and administering regular worming treatments.

If you are unsure on your animals worming status please call the girls on (07) 4725 7691. Please note: Puppies should be wormed every 2 weeks until they are 12 weeks old and then every month until they are 6 months old.

Pictured: Gums of a puppy with hookworm and the eggs under the microscope.

🌍🐾 Today is World Zoonoses Day! 🐾🌍

Every year on July 6th, we raise awareness about zoonotic diseases—those that can be transmitted between animals and humans. This day commemorates the historic first vaccination against rabies by Louis Pasteur in 1885, a groundbreaking moment in the fight against zoonotic diseases. 🐶🐱🧍‍♀️🧍

Zoonotic diseases Rabies, Leptospirosis, Ebola, Hendra and COVID-19 (to name a few), reminding us of the critical connection between animal health, human health, and our environment. By understanding and preventing these diseases, we can protect both ourselves and our animal friends. 💉

Let's commit to supporting initiatives that promote hygiene, vaccination, and responsible animal care. Together, we can create a healthier, safer world for all species.🌱🩺🐕

✨Pet of the week ✨

Everyone meet Molly the 4-year-old Jack Russell! 🐾
Molly first presented to see Dr Max after her owners noticed her having some difficulty urinating. Molly was constantly straining and would make very frequent attempts to urinate with little success😞. After some further diagnostics, Molly was soon diagnosed with a MASSIVE bladder stone! 😲🫣

Molly was booked in for surgery, with Dr Rebekah performing the cystotomy procedure to remove the stone🔪. Look at the size of it😬😮! Molly was incredibly brave throughout the entire process, even wanting belly rubs & cuddles straight after surgery 🥰.

After some much needed rest & recovery at home, we had the pleasure of seeing Molly again this week for her post-op check. Molly is doing very well and is back to her normal happy self 😄❤️.

If you would like to read information about bladder stones, Click on the link below

https://www.hillspet.com/dog-care/healthcare/bladder-stones-in-dogs?lightboxfired=true #

Staff Profile

Name: Rachel (Rach)

Position/role: Vet

How long have you been at Hammett St Vets: 6 years 🙏

What attracted you to the industry/organisation: I wanted to be a vet because I felt like animals understood me better. 🩺🐾

What pets do you have at home: 3 cats, 3 dogs and 11 Puppies (Cane Corso's looking for their forever homes- enquire within) 🐱🐱🐱🐶🐶🐶 and 🩷🩷🩷🩷🩷💙💙💙💙💙💙

Medical or Surgical: Medical, I love reading, finding out problems and solving them to make them feel better. 📖

What’s your favourite snack for on the go? Bread and butter 🍞🧈

If you were a cat/dog, what breed and why? Persian- An independent couch potato 🛋🥔

An interesting fact about you: My middle name is Wolferstan 🐺

Most embarrassing thing you have done at work: Answered the phone with “Thanks for calling JCU Vets” and getting a**l glands all over me…. everywhere including my face! 🤭🤪🤣

❗️WELCOME BACK ❗️

We would like to welcome back our amazing nurse Emma!
Emma first started with us back in early 2019 and after working away and starting her family she is back on a more permanent basis. Emma is funny and will definitely make you laugh out loud but she is also a very sensitive and caring nurse. Please help us in welcoming her back to the team!! ❤️

Staff Profile

Name: Emma

Position/role: Cert IV Vet Nurse

How long have you been at Hammett St Vets: 3 years full time. Been visiting casually ever since. 🤣

What attracted you to this organisation: Animal welfare and my passion to nurse sick animals back to good health. ❤️

What pets do you have at home: Corgi x Cavalier King Charles named Odie, a mix breed large dog named Jack. 2 rescue cats named Luna and Jasper 🐶🐶🐱🐱

Medical or surgical: Medical for sure! Although I don't mind an interesting surgical case. 🩺

What's your favourite snack for on the go? Potato chips 😋

If you were a cat/dog, what breed and why? Cat - most definitely a stray.

An interesting fact about you: I can move my ears. Come in and ask me to sometime 🙃

Most embarrassing thing you have done at work: I don't embarrass easily, so I'm unsure, haha 😉