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25.01.2022 There is adorable and then there is sweet Evo waiting for her chemotherapy treatment - and no, we can't deal either!

25.01.2022 Meet Peppa; Peppa is a 1 year old miniature schnauzer who presented through our North Ryde Emergency Department because she accidently-on purpose ate 145g of chocolate Maltesers! Yes, oh dear. Chocolate contains the chemicals theobromine and caffeine which are toxic to dogs. Signs of toxicity can include vomiting, diarrhoea, anxiety, increased heart rate, cardiac arrhythmias, tremors, stiffness, seizures and even death. ... Gorgeous Peppa wasn’t showing any clinical signs of chocolate toxicity and all of her vitals were stable, however because of the amount of chocolate that the sneaky pup consumed, it was best to make her vomit and to our surprise and to the surprise of Peppa’s family, the chocolate came up along with what looked like a whole bag of mixed lollies! Following this rather colourful explosion, Peppa was then given activated charcoal to bind and inhibit absorption of toxins further down the gastrointestinal tract. She was then discharged with a couple more doses of charcoal to be given at home, along with strict instructions to keep away from the family treat jar! If your pet finds a way to get their paws on something they shouldn’t, please seek veterinary advice. And for all out of hours emergencies, remember that SASH in both North Ryde and Tuggerah are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

23.01.2022 Remember Oliver and the erm projectile substance he produced for us the other night? Well firstly, you will be happy to know that he is feeling much better, and second, the culprit of his induced vomiting was his cheeky taste for MACADAMIA NUTS! Did you know that macadamia nuts are toxic to dogs? And the worst part is that there is no known safe or toxic level of the nutty treat meaning that one nut could be just as toxic as ten nuts! Macadamia nut toxicity symptoms can i...nclude weakness, vomiting, tremors, depression, abdominal pain and more. The good news, however, is that macadamia nut poisoning isn't normally fatal, providing immediate veterinary attention is sought. Veterinary treatment may include induced vomiting (as it was for Oliver) and / or supportive in hospital care. Our domestic pups are natural scavengers and yes, sometimes they will munch on things that they shouldn’t - at SASH we get that; so, if your pet sneaks a naughty treat, please contact us, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

21.01.2022 Oh, hey mum, I was just sitting here and all of a sudden the bean bag exploded. Chopper And just like that, cheeky Chopper was full of beans! Chopper presented to our emergency department with vomiting, following polystyrene ingestion. Blood work showed that the bouncy boxer was mildly dehydrated, but was otherwise well; radiographs, however, showed that Chopper’s gastrointestinal tract was full of polystyrene balls! Chopper was treated with IV fluids to rehydrate and the...n maintain hydration and aid passage of food through the intestines. Antiemetics were given to prevent vomiting and frequent walking was encouraged to promote normal gut motility and defecation. As you can see from the, erm... photo, poor Chopper was pooping balls for a week following ingestion, but his mum is happy to report that the snow in the backyard has finally stopped and the mischievous pup is back to his normal antics once again.

20.01.2022 Snake Season is Here Emergency Vet, Dr Belle gives smooches to gorgeous Hank as she comes off an overnight shift. Hank, the 8 month old Neapolitan Mastiff was admitted to hospital four days prior because he thought it might be fun to play with a Red Bellied Black Snake! Red Bellied Black Snake bites can cause muscle and red blood cell breakdown. The by-products of muscle and red cell damage can potentially be toxic to the kidneys and if left untreated, a bite from one o...f these guys can be fatal. Thankfully for sweet Hank, once his family realised that something wasn’t quite right with their pooch, they brought him directly to our 24 hour emergency department where he was treated with antivenom and supportive care therapies and clearly, a lot of TLC from the ER team! Hank was lucky and has since been discharged and is under the watchful eye of his family for the next few weeks, but this brings us to the question: What should you do if your pet is bitten by a snake? First of all, try and stay calm. If you are calm, your pet will be calm, and keeping them as calm and as immobile as you can assists in slowing the circulation of the venom. If you can, SAFELY and quickly, it is also helpful for vets if you can provide a photo of the snake - but please do not risk your life or the life of your pet to do so. Most importantly, get your pet to the closest veterinary hospital as soon as possible. Most pets will survive a snake bite if attended to immediately. For all after hours pet emergencies, please contact our 24 hour Emergency Departments in both North Ryde and Tuggerah.

20.01.2022 Technically, it’s still Vet Nurse Week, so we’re going to keep on celebrating! Meet our wonderful IPC (Inpatent Care) & Emergency Nurse, Rach! How long have you been in the vet industry? ... I have been working in the veterinary industry for over two years. What pets do you have? I have a 2 year old golden retriever named, Oliver and a cockatiel named, Angus. What’s at the top of your Bucket List? To travel around the world and see different animals in their natural environment. I’d also love to do some volunteering with wild animals. What do you do for fun? My favourite thing to do is hang out with my dog Oliver. I also love to go to the beach and to eat out. What do you love most about your job? I love that everyday is different and I get to help change the life’s of my patients - it’s so rewarding. Why did you choose a career in the vet industry? I love medicine and animals, so vet nursing is the perfect combination.

19.01.2022 *** Onions are TOXIC to cats *** More often than not our feline friends are fussy when it comes to food and they seem to have a, somewhat, innate ability to shy away from things that are toxic to them; but then there are, what we like to call, Labrador-cats cats who will eat anything and everything! Meet the stunning, Sir Monty. Monty, who according to his dad is one of those Labrador-cats, the other night got a little carried away with some leftover, onion-laced Spaghe...tti Bolognese. And onions are toxic to cats! In a nutshell, onion toxicity in cats causes a breakdown of red blood cells which can result in hemolytic anaemia, organ damage and also death onion toxicity in cats is an urgent medical emergency, so if you see your cat chomping on an onion, please seek veterinary treatment as soon as possible. Symptoms of onion toxicity in cats don’t usually become apparent for 12 hours to a few days after ingestion. Symptoms can include: panting, weakness, lethargy and inappetence. As mentioned above, if there is even a small chance that your feline fur baby has eaten some onion, the best thing to do is seek veterinary attention and this is exactly what Monty’s dad did. Thankfully, Monty had not consumed a toxic dose of onion, however he was kept in hospital overnight for observation, his blood levels were checked and he was also given activated charcoal to reduce the absorption of toxins. Monty’s family are super happy to have their gorgeous boy home, but it’s safe to say that they’ll be keeping the leftovers away from his cheeky paws from now on. If your cat has tastebuds for unfriendly cat substances, please contact our Emergency Departments in both North Ryde and Tuggerah.

19.01.2022 It’s Vet Nurse Week & to celebrate we’re showcasing some of our amazing Nurses! Meet our senior nurse of trainee nurses, Nurse Jenni! How long have you been in the vet industry? Since I was 16 years old, so 18 years! And I’ve been qualified for 14 years. ... What pets do you have? No pets What’s at the top of your Bucket List? To travel to South America. What do you do for fun? I love getting out of the city and going on fun adventures. I love to go horse riding and going to the beach. What do you love most about your job? I love to teach and share my vet nursing knowledge in a hope to encourage future nurses into being all that they can be! I also enjoy making a difference to the lives of our patients and their families. What in your life are you most proud of? Working with endangered species programs in Mexico, South Africa and Botswana. I have also published two articles: ‘What is Radiation Therapy’, and also a case report on a cancer patient using radiation & chemotherapy combined. Finally, I am super proud to be double registered with RCVS & VNCA Accredited veterinary nurse.

19.01.2022 Whether you’re into American politics or whether you’re not - even here on the other side of the world it’s been a little hard to hide from the Star Spangled drama; BUT, let’s just take a moment to appreciate the adorable, Major. Major was rescued by the Biden family in 2018, and he will now become the first ever White House rescue dog! And we think that’s something worth celebrating!

19.01.2022 Four weeks ago, gorgeous Donnie, the Green Sea Turtle was rescued by Australian Seabird Rescue Central Coast. He was found floating at Terrigal Haven and as you can see, he was in a pretty bad way. When he presented to our Central Coast hospital, he was covered in barnacles and following a CT scan, he was diagnosed with pneumonia. Donnie was hydrated and prescribed a course of antibiotics, and a follow up CT scan was booked. Donnie is currently in care with the incredible tea...m at ASRCC. Last week he spent the day with us for his check-up and repeat CT scan to see if the inflammation in his lungs had subsided and also to see his favourite vet, Dr Adheip! The good news is that Donnie is pneumonia free and he is now being prepped for release in the coming weeks! We will definitely keep you posted. At SASH we care about pets and people, but we care about wildlife too, and it is a privilege to donate our time and our resources to help ensure the survival of such a magnificent endangered species

18.01.2022 This gorgeous girl is Mae; Mae is a super sweet and super itchy, three year old Border Collie who recently visited our amazing Dermatologist Dr Philippa, for an allergy test. Intradermal allergy testing involves giving a mild sedative to relax our patients. A patch of fur is then clipped from the side of the chest and 74 different injections of allergens and test controls are given into the skin using tiny needles. A positive reaction is seen when a wheal (a ‘hive’ a raise...d red area) occurs at the site where the allergen is injected. Our dermatologists then examine the skin in search of any pink or red circles which may develop. Mae’s intradermal allergy test showed that she is allergic to pollen, however, she is also currently undergoing a food trial to check her sensitivity to different foods. Like in human medicine, there are currently a variety of different allergy medications available for your pet. At SASH, our dermatologists consider each individual patient carefully before deciding on which medication is the most appropriate. If your pet suffers from itchy or irritated skin, please contact our Dermatology Department for a consultation.

17.01.2022 Sweet Caroline bump, bump, bump Good times never seemed so good Ok, so her name is Adaline (not Caroline) BUT, she is just the sweetest thing! Miss Adaline recently presented to our Surgery Department following an accident whilst rough and tumbling with her fur siblings and falling from the backyard deck. As you can see from the X-ray, the black and white pooch sustained a right radius and ulna fracture yes, ouch! Thankfully, our lovely specialist surgeon, Dr Fui was o...n the scene and Adaline was immediately prepped for surgery. Adaline’s fracture was repaired using a stainless steel plate which was secured to the bone with screws. And although she will be on strict rest for the next two months, according to her dad, she is doing really well. We know that confinement is tough for you, Miss Adaline, but please know that we’re cheering you on and we can’t wait to see you for your follow up X-ray!

17.01.2022 There is cute and then there is Talia And we bet you can’t guess how old Princess Talia is... One guess per comment, and go!

17.01.2022 We had a very special patient in the hospital yesterday, Stevie the Albatross - and don’t let the photo fool you, he’s huge! The Albatross is an endangered species, so it was an absolute privilege to have him in our care. Stevie was rescued by Australian Seabird Rescue Central Coast and, as you can see, he presented to us with a badly fractured leg - yes, ouch! The good news is that he is otherwise healthy and our amazing Specialist Surgeon, Dr Steve Fearnside has scheduled him in for a fracture repair surgery tomorrow! We’ll keep you updated on the stunning seabird’s progress over the coming weeks, so stay tuned.

16.01.2022 He might just be one of the best looking cats we have ever seen! Meet Buster aka the Casanova of the feline world! But, despite his gorgeous appearance, in 2018 five year old Buster was diagnosed with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy hyper-cardi-what? Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy or HCM is a type of abnormal thickening of the heart and is often diagnosed in young to middle aged cats. This, often silent, disease causes the heart to become too muscular which effects blood distri...bution within the heart. It can also result in congestive heart failure, blood clots and an irregular heart rhythm making HCM the most common cause of sudden death in cats. Although HCM has no known cure, Buster is on a specialized treatment plan to help manage clinical signs of the condition. And, two years on he is doing great! As mentioned, HCM can often go undiagnosed, therefore all cats with heart issues should be referred to specialist cardiologist for a thorough heart examination. Other symptoms can include: rapid breathing, lethargy and collapse. If you have concerns about your cat’s heart health please contact our amazing specialist staff at SASH.

15.01.2022 You often hear the saying, that after a while people and their pets start to look the same; but whilst Barney and his dad don’t physically resemble one and another, they do share the same health condition. Both Barney and his dad have Myxomatous Mitral Valve Disease or MMVD. When Dr Justin first diagnosed Barney, we couldn’t believe that he had the same heart condition as I did, it was scary, but at the same time it, strangely, made me feel closer to him. Barney’s dad told ...us. MMVD is the most commonly diagnosed form of heart disease in our canine pals. It mostly affects small to medium dogs, but any sized dog can be affected. Symptoms of heart disease can include coughing, excessive panting, trouble breathing, lethargy and fainting. Alike to human medicine, the best way to diagnose heart disease, such as MMVD, is via an echocardiogram which is basically an intricate ultrasound of the heart performed by a cardiology specialist like our very own Dr Justin Wimpole. You will be happy to know that both Barney and his dad are on specialised monitoring and exercise plans (such as hydrotherapy, as you can see below) to keep both their hearts and bodies in good health and they are doing great! The slightest of mention of any kind of heart issue from your vet (or in this case, your doctor) can be really scary; but at SASH, we do our best to come alongside both you and your pet whilst you navigate the seasons ahead. If you have any concerns about your pet’s heart health, please contact your regular vet for a check-up and possible referral as soon as possible.

15.01.2022 Paralysis TICKS are real. Paralysis TICKS are out there. AND Paralysis TICKS WILL KILL YOUR PET. So, PLEASE, we can not urge you enough, speak to your local vet about TICK prevention - it is simple and affordable and it WILL save their life.

15.01.2022 Do you have a senior rescue pet? If yes, we’d love to see a photo and hear their story in the comments below. Meet Zena; Zena is an elderly girl who was, sadly, surrendered to the RSPCA because her human mum and dad had to go into an aged care facility where they were not allowed to have pets. Poor Zena was scared and all alone until (and I really feel like we need trumpets here) our lovely, Nurse Sam came along. Sam took one look at Zena and knew she was hers. Zena has slott...ed in perfectly with Sam’s family, including her toddler who adores the elderly pup, and despite having a few minor health issues, Zena has a new lease on life and is being treated like a queen! It takes a special person to adopt an animal, but it takes an extra special person to adopt a senior animal. What’s your senior rescue pet’s story?

15.01.2022 Did you know that MOULD is toxic to pets? In the vet world we call it, Mycotoxin Toxicity. Mycotoxins are poisonous substances produced by fungi and mould that grow on old food. Dogs that like to rummage through rubbish bins are highly likely to develop mold toxicity. You were probably expecting a story about a bouncy Labrador with a vacuum cleaner appetite (no offence to our labbys out there) but no, not this time. Meet the gorgeous, Miss Sadie. Sadie is a two year old Pomer...anian who was overcome by the ancient-wild-dog-scavenger-spirit when she found herself sifting through the grass where her family’s bin had been cleaned and left out to dry. It was all wild fun and games until the stunning pup started to not feel so good. When Sadie presented to our Emergency Department, she was tremoring severely and she was unable to walk. She was treated with an emergency fluid bolus and some medication to help reduce the tremors. Other symptoms of Mycotoxin Toxicity can include vomiting, diarrhoea, restlessness, seizures and tummy pain. Thankfully, Sadie’s family sought veterinary treatment as soon as they realised that their little girl wasn’t well and she was able to be discharged the following day; however, this is not always the case. Mould poisoning, when not treated quickly and properly, can be fatal. Keeping your bins out of reach and always feeding fresh food to your pets is the best way to prevent toxicity. Basic rule of thumb is this: If it doesn’t look fresh enough for you to eat, then your pet shouldn’t eat it either no matter how cute their puppy dog eyes are!

13.01.2022 In January 2019, 16 year old Lucy was booked in to have knee surgery at her local vet, however a mass was discovered on her neck. The knee surgery was abandoned and a biopsy of the neck mass was taken. It was then that Lucy was diagnosed with a thyroid carcinoma. Thyroid carcinomas are not common in dogs and are often slow growing, they can sometimes be surgically removed, however in Lucy’s case surgery was not an option; so, following a consultation with our Oncology Departm...ent, a chemotherapy plan was developed for the elderly girl. And almost TWO YEARS on, Lucy is looking great! There is more to this story though; you see, when Lucy first started visiting SASH for her treatment, she was so frightened that our team couldn’t get near her, she was very reactive and it was heartbreaking to see. But, thanks to the dedication, kindness and patience of our amazing Oncology Team, Lucy’s treatments are now stress free and she even takes treats! At SASH we understand that a new environment can be really scary for your pet, but please know that our kind and professional staff will do whatever it takes to make your pet’s journey as stress free as possible

12.01.2022 It’s Veterinary Nurse Week & to celebrate we’re showcasing some of our Superhero Vet Nurses! Meet our amazing, Kristen! What is your position at SASH? ... Avian & Exotics Nurse How long have you been in the vet industry? Coming close to ten years What pets do you have? No pets for me, but I live with one rascal of a kitty named Dot. What’s at the top of your Bucket List? Taking care of bears affected by the bile farming industry in Vietnam and Cambodia. What do you do for fun? Yoga and exploring our beautiful city. Prone to a drink or two. What do you love most about your job? Everyday you make a real difference to animals lives. Why did you choose a career in the vet industry? It chose me? What in your life are you most proud of? My involvement with great organisations that run wildlife clinics and Pets in the Park, who assist vulnerable people and their pets. Is there anything else that you would like to mention? I simply cannot wait until our borders open again so I can go to the NT and help dogs and cats living in remote communities.

12.01.2022 Shoutout to Scholastic Australia in Tuggerah for, not only dropping this little guy into our hospital, but also for giving him his own special Scholastics possum toy to act as a pseudo mamma. The young Brushtail, Magic as he is now known, presented to us with hypothermia and hypoglycaemia, however following a day stay in hospital and some TLC by our Wildlife Nurse, he is now safe and sound in the arms of an experienced wildlife carer and is doing great!

11.01.2022 It’s Sunday afternoon and you’re out having a few drinks with your friends when suddenly you notice what seems like a small dark piece of wood in the distance, at first you think nothing of it, but then, you think to yourself, ‘Did that wood just move?’ You quickly dismiss your thought and replace it with, ‘Maybe I should ease up on the chardy.’ But then, there, it definitely moved that time, and it looked like it was trying to get airborne; so, you go and investigate and wha...t you find moves you with compassion. It’s an injured bird, a raven. As you stand there looking at the black bird, knowing that you have had too much to drink to be able to drive, you have two options: 1. You could do nothing. Or, 2. You could CALL AN UBER AND SEND IT SASH! HUGE shoutout to the lovely lady who sent the injured raven to our Central Coast Hospital, in her wine cooler, via Uber! Your kindness and compassion are something to truly be admired! And also, a shoutout to the Uber Driver for agreeing to drop him off! Sadly, the raven had sustained a severely broken leg and had to be euthanised, however because of this lady’s kindness, we were able to end what could have been a horrific few days of suffering for the bird.

09.01.2022 Polly was only three years old when she started to lose sight in one of her eyes and by the time she was six, she was completely blind. She could move around the house and use the stairs by staying close to the wall, but one day she fell down the stairs, we found her in the middle of the staircase and that’s when we knew she had lost her sight completely. Polly’s mum told us. Polly had developed cataracts in both of her eyes. There are a number of reasons why cataracts deve...lop in dogs, but like in humans, the most common is genetics. Cataracts cause the eye to look cloudy and dark, and they can occur in all dogs regardless of age and breed. It is also worth mentioning that dogs with diabetes have a very high risk of developing cataracts. Like in human medicine, surgery is the best treatment for cataracts in our canine companions. Therefore, following confirmation diagnostics, our sweet Miss Polly was prepped for cataract surgery with our amazing Ophthalmology Team, Dr Kate and Nurse Holly. Cataract surgery involves the removal and replacement of the old eye lens with an artificial lens sort of like a permanent contact lens. Dr Kate was able to remove both of Polly’s lenses, however due to the damage in her left eye, an artificial lens could not be placed in that eye. Fast forward a few months, Polly is like a different dog! According to her family, she zooms around the house and jumps up onto the bed again! She has regained her sight and she acts like a normal, happy six year old dog and we couldn’t be happier for her! If your pet suddenly or gradually has become blind, or you notice any changes within their eye, please contact our Ophthalmology Department for a consultation

09.01.2022 All babies need a dummy, right?! In this case WRONG Sweet Ted, the two month old Groodle was feeling a little jealous of his human sibling’s chew toy, so in a moment of cheekiness the gorgeous pup grabbed the dummy and ran! But, instead of suckling on the strange object, Ted swallowed it. Yes, he swallowed the baby’s dummy and the fact that he himself is so darn baby-adorable makes it a little funny, but at the same time, not funny at all! Fortunately, Ted’s family gra...bbed the cute puppy and brought him directly to our Emergency Department to see Dr Belle. Dr Belle gave Ted some medication to make him vomit and luckily, he vomited up the stolen object. If vomiting was not inducted in a timely fashion, gorgeous Teddy would have been facing life threatening surgery. Foreign body ingestion is common in puppies and obviously, prevention is always better than cure, however raising a puppy is like raising a toddler - you need eyes in the back of your head! So, if your puppy (or pet) develops an appetite for sneaky objects, please contact our 24 hour, 7 day a week Emergency Department.

07.01.2022 Today is Veterinary Nurses Day! Today we are celebrating the important role that our nurses perform within the SASH team, from the general day to day to the varying extremes of patient care. We are extremely fortunate to have a team of highly skilled nurses who play a valuable role across our hospitals and it is without a doubt that we wouldn’t be able to do what we do without our nursing team! We want to take the opportunity to thank you all for your ongoing dedication and p...assion for all of our patients, big and small. As a big thank you from SASH, we have arranged a few surprises for our nursing team today so keep an eye out! We wouldn’t be where we are today without each and every one of you so thank you! Send our nurses some love, Pet Community

06.01.2022 Hi, my name is Ollie and I like to eat socks; but, last week a sock got stuck in my tummy and it made me feel really sick and sad too. Thankfully, Dr Ingrid came in on her day off especially just to remove that naughty sock from my tummy and boy, am I feeling much better now! Did you know that the SASH vets and nurses are SUPER lovely; they took such good care of me, AND they are open ALL OF THE TIME! That’s right, they don’t even sleep. I love everyone at SASH, but I especially love Dr Ingrid. ~ Ollie

06.01.2022 She is the epitome of cuteness and her name is Zuma The six month old rottweiler puppy recently became what we call a ‘Trifecta Patient’ at our Central Coast Hospital. Zuma initially visited our Emergency Department for evaluation of vomiting; following X-rays the sweet girl was diagnosed with an intussusception. As in human babies, an intussusception is a rare, serious disorder where part of the bowel telescopes on itself. In addition to the intussusception, Zuma also dev...eloped an associated abscess and perforation of the bowel which developed into an infection in the puppy’s abdomen. Zuma was quickly referred to our Surgery Department where she underwent surgery to have part of her small bowel removed. Following surgery, she was referred to our Medicine Department for ongoing treatment hence the departmental-trifecta! Gorgeous Zuma spent five days in hospital and, as you can imagine, she won the hearts of the entire team! Zuma was such a pleasure to have in hospital I don’t know that we’re supposed to have favourite patients, but And then when she came in for her re-visit, I almost cried. She looks so good. Pets like her are the reason that I love my job so much! Nurse Rachael [pictured below] told us. Zuma has since been discharged and she is doing great! She is bright, happy and she is eating well - she has put on 5kg in a week! Being a Trifecta Patient at SASH is not uncommon, as we are a multi-departmental specialist hospital and we have everything you need under one roof which means less for you and less stress for your pets.

06.01.2022 Technically, it’s still Vet Nurse Week, so we’re going to keep on celebrating Meet our lovely British import and Inpatent Care Nurse, who is also studying a Bachelor of Natural Science AND Diploma in Emergency & Critical Care Veterinary Nursing... Nurse Sam! How long have you been in the vet industry?... I started in a British wildlife hospital, then did 13 years in and out of practice (locuming and traveling). I have been qualified for 8 years. What pets do you have? I have a dog named, Zena (11 year Jack russel Cross), who I adopted from the RSPCA in February. What’s at the top of your Bucket List? Climb Mount Everest; see the Milky Way in Antarctica; camp in the Amazon rainforest; ride on the trans-Siberian railway; volunteer with the orangutans in Borneo What do you do for fun? I love to travel, hike, experience new places, walk my dog, spend time with my baby. What do you love most about your job? I love being able to help my patients recover in a relaxed and stress free environment. To see a really sick patient wag their tail or purr their way out the door is the best feeling ever! As much as I love to cuddle them and treat them as my own, I know the best thing for their physical and mental wellbeing is to be back in their own home. Why did you choose a career in the vet industry? I didn’t choose IT ... it chose me From a very young age I was always drawn to animals and nature. It’s a part of who I am and it gives me purpose in life. I wouldn’t know what to do with myself without it What in your life are you most proud of? Using my vet nurse qualification to travel all over the world. To volunteer in India, Thailand and China with lots of different animals including dogs, cats, cows, donkeys, pigs, monkeys, elephants and bears. Also, being a mum to my cheeky little boy, Romeo.

04.01.2022 It’s Veterinary Nurse Week & to celebrate we’re showcasing some of our wonderful Nurses Meet Trainee Vet Nurse, Georgia! How long have you been in the vet industry? I have been in the industry for one year. ... What pets do you have? I have 4 spoilt French Bulldogs. What’s at the top of your Bucket List? The top of my bucket list is to finish my Veterinary Nurse qualification and to travel the world! What do you do for fun? For fun I hang out with my doggies and hang out with friends. What do you love most about your job? I love my job because I love helping animals and I want to continue providing the best possible health care for all of our patients! Why did you choose a career in the vet industry? I chose a career in the vet industry because I love animals more than life! What in your life are you most proud of? I am most proud of myself for finally choosing a career that I love!

03.01.2022 Oliver has got us all like.. ‘Don’t you know that it’s toxic?’ Ok, that was kinda lame, but can you guess what toxic substance the gorgeous golden consumed and why we had to make him vomit? One guess per comment - and go!

03.01.2022 It’s World Mental Health Day and at SASH we believe that pets play an integral role in reducing stress and promoting healthy wellbeing. The following is a reflection from one of our team members, on how her Alaskan Malamute, Armani (pictured below) helped pull her out of a deep depression. I’d lost both my parents and my boyfriend in the space of a few years. It felt like death was all around me; and honestly, without my dog I never would have made it. You see, there were s...o many days when I didn’t want to get out of bed. It all felt too hard. Being alive felt too hard. But, anyone who has ever owned an Alaskan Malamute will tell you, if you don’t get up and take them for a run, they’ll bash down your door until you open it. And that’s what Armani did for me - he made me get up. He made me stand and he made me walk. He was rambunctious and he was stubborn, but during that season of my life, he was exactly what I needed. That crazy-gorgeous kid saved my life. He’s been gone for a few years now, but he’ll always be my angel. Do you have a story of how your pet has helped you? If yes, we’d love to hear it. Please post it in the comments below, or you can email us at: [email protected] ATT: Facebook Pet Story For more information on World Mental Health Day please see the following link: https://lookafteryourmentalhealthaustralia.org.au

02.01.2022 Gorgeous Hunter is a 4 year old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, who recently presented to our SASH Emergency Department because he got himself into a little spot of bother with a bone that was stuck to the roof of his mouth! Hunter often gets pork bones as a delicious treat, yes, he's a very lucky boy; however, during the evening Hunter's mum noticed some very strange behaviour. Hunter was pawing at his mouth and chewing in a peculiar way. Hunter’s mum became worried as she ha...s not seen this behaviour before, so she brought him straight to SASH, through the 24 hour emergency department. After a thorough examination, it was very quickly noticed that Hunter had a piece of the bone wedged across the roof of the mouth between his teeth. Luckily, the bone was easily removed with some forceps and no further injuries were sustained in his mouth. While we all love to feed our furry friends bones, it is important to ALWAYS feed raw bones, as cooked bones can splinter and can cause serious damage to your beloved pooch. It is also important to keep an eye out for bone induced broken teeth and mouth injuries. Always consider the type of bone you are feeding, and keep in mind that bone ingestion can also cause very serious compilations. If you do become concerned after feeding a bone to your pet please do not hesitate to call our 24 hour Emergency Department. As for our sweet boy, Hunter, he was discharged with the instructions of, lots of cuddles for being such a brave boy!

02.01.2022 It was a morning of news cameras and checkups for our beloved sea turtles at our SASH Central Coast - see below for the full news report. https://www.nbnnews.com.au//checkup-for-bluey-the-turtle/

01.01.2022 Love it or hate it, Halloween is here and dressing up our pets during the scary season is definitely a thing; but did you know that pet fancy dress is a phenomenon that began centuries ago? Queen Victoria records in her private journals that she dressed her dog in a scarlet jacket and blue trousers and it is recorded that King Louie XI lavished his pet greyhound in a red velvet collar with 20 pearls and 11 rubies! Do your fur babies get a Halloween makeover? If Yes, we’d love to see their photos in the comments below

01.01.2022 At SASH we love pets and we love people, but we love wildlife too, and it is a privilege to freely donate both our time and resources to help ensure the survival of an endangered species, such as the stunning Green Sea Turtle. When we first met Donnie, as he is now known, he was deathly sick with pneumonia and he was covered in barnacles; but following specialist treatment from our amazing team at SASH Tuggerah and a few months of rehabilitation with Australian Seabird Rescue Central Coast, this gorgeous creature was ready to be released and there wasn’t a dry eye on the beach! We wish you well beautiful Donnie, may you swim wild and free for many years to come