ARC Vets

ARC Vets Specialist and emergency vet hospitals in 2 Auckland locations - (Schnapper Rock and Freemans Bay).

🍫 Chocolate and Dogs: Not All Chocolate Is Created Equal! 🐶🚨Chocolate might be a delicious treat for us, but for dogs it...
06/09/2026

🍫 Chocolate and Dogs: Not All Chocolate Is Created Equal! 🐶🚨

Chocolate might be a delicious treat for us, but for dogs it can quickly become a medical emergency.

The toxic ingredients in chocolate, theobromine and caffeine, affect the heart, nervous system and muscles. The amount of risk depends on three key factors:

🍫 The type of chocolate

- Cocoa powder and dark chocolate contain the highest levels of theobromine and are the most dangerous.
- Milk chocolate contains lower amounts but can still cause serious illness if enough is eaten.
- White chocolate contains very little theobromine, but its high fat content can still lead to problems such as pancreatitis.

🐕 The size of your dog
A small dog needs to eat far less chocolate than a large dog to develop toxicity. Even a few squares of dark chocolate can be enough to make a toy breed seriously ill.

⚖️ The dose consumed
The more chocolate eaten (particularly dark chocolate or cocoa products), the greater the risk. Mild signs can occur at lower doses, while larger doses can cause life-threatening heart rhythm abnormalities, seizures and collapse.

⏱️ Time matters!
If your dog has eaten chocolate, don't wait for symptoms to develop. The best treatment is often to remove the chocolate from the stomach before it can be absorbed.

Getting your dog to a veterinarian as soon as possible means they may be able to safely induce vomiting (emesis), significantly reducing the amount of toxin absorbed and improving the outcome.

📦 Don't forget the wrappers!
Dogs rarely unwrap their treats neatly. Chocolate wrappers, foil and plastic packaging are commonly swallowed too, creating an additional risk of stomach or intestinal obstruction, even if the chocolate itself wasn't highly toxic.

🚨 If your dog has eaten chocolate:
• Contact your veterinarian or the nearest emergency veterinary hospital immediately.
• Tell them what type of chocolate was eaten, how much, when it happened, and your dog's weight.
• Bring the packaging with you if possible—it helps us estimate the toxic dose.

The sooner your dog is assessed, the more treatment options are available—and the better the chances of a full recovery. 💙🐾

02/09/2026

🧠 Today, we're celebrating our amazing Neurology team! 🐾

Our Specialist Neurologists, Dr Emma Davies and Dr Georgina Stewart, are the experts you call when something isn't quite right with the brain, spinal cord or nerves. From emergency spinal injuries to seizure disorders and brain disease, they're dedicated to helping pets regain comfort, mobility and quality of life.

✨ What's the vibe of a Veterinary Neurologist?

🧠 Brain enthusiast
🔍 Master detective
🧩 Puzzle solver
🩺 Precise surgeon
📚 Lifelong learner
💬 Compassionate communicator
😌 Calm under pressure
💙 Passionate advocate for pets

Using advanced diagnostics such as MRI, CT and CSF analysis, alongside complex neurosurgery and medical management, our team cares for pets with conditions including IVDD, epilepsy, brain tumours, vestibular disease and other neurological disorders.

To Dr Emma Davies and Dr Georgina Stewart—thank you for your incredible expertise, dedication and compassion. Every wag, every purr and every step your patients take because of your care is something worth celebrating. 🌟🐶🐱

💙 A second chance for Bubba.When 7-year-old German Shepherd Bubba arrived at our emergency hospital, he was suffering fr...
01/09/2026

💙 A second chance for Bubba.

When 7-year-old German Shepherd Bubba arrived at our emergency hospital, he was suffering from a gastric dilatation-volvulus (GDV), commonly known as bloat or a twisted stomach. It is one of the most life-threatening emergencies we see in dogs and requires immediate treatment.

After rapid stabilisation, our emergency team took Bubba straight to surgery. His stomach was successfully untwisted and assessed, with the affected areas remaining healthy enough to recover. To help prevent this from happening again, a gastropexy was performed to permanently secure his stomach. During surgery, his spleen was also found to be severely compromised, so a splenectomy was necessary. Thanks to the swift actions of our emergency vets, nurses and support team, Bubba recovered beautifully and was back home with his family just over 24 hours later.

His owner later shared these heartfelt words with us:

"I truly cannot put into words how grateful I am for the care, urgency, professionalism, and compassion your team showed from the very first phone call.

From the person who calmly guided me when I called in completely stressed and panicked, to the warm welcome at reception, and of course the incredible vet nurses and vets who performed Bubba’s surgery and cared for him afterwards, every interaction reminded me how amazing your clinic is."

🐾 Know the signs of GDV – it could save your dog's life.

GDV most commonly affects large, deep-chested breeds, including German Shepherds, Great Danes, Dobermans, Weimaraners, Standard Poodles, Irish Setters and Gordon Setters. While it can occur at any age, it is seen most often in middle-aged to older dogs.

⚠️ Seek veterinary attention immediately if your dog develops:
• Repeated, unproductive retching or trying to vomit
• A swollen or tight-looking abdomen
• Restlessness or pacing
• Excessive drooling
• Difficulty breathing
• Weakness, collapse or pale gums

GDV is a true race against time. Every minute matters, and prompt veterinary treatment can make the difference between life and death.

We're so thrilled to see Bubba back to enjoying life with his family. Thank you to his owners for allowing us to share his story and for trusting us with his care. 💙

🌼 Hello Spring! 🌸🐾The days are getting longer, flowers are blooming, and our pets are ready to enjoy the warmer weather!...
31/08/2026

🌼 Hello Spring! 🌸🐾

The days are getting longer, flowers are blooming, and our pets are ready to enjoy the warmer weather! But spring also brings a few seasonal hazards to keep in mind.

🌷 Watch out for:
🐱 Lilies – extremely toxic to cats, even tiny amounts of pollen.
🌼 Daffodil and tulip bulbs – can cause serious stomach upset (and more) if dug up and eaten.
🦟 Fleas – warmer weather means it's time to ensure you are up to date with flea prevention.
🌿 Pollen – can trigger itchy skin and allergies in some pets.
🐌 Slug bait – highly toxic and can be life-threatening if ingested.

🌞 Here's to a happy, healthy spring! If you think your pet has been exposed to a toxin or they're showing signs of illness, contact your veterinarian immediately. 💙🐶🐱

31/08/2026

Appreciation from gentle giant Kadan's owners ❤️

Kadan, a 5-year-old Female Rottweiler, had to visit our emergency team when she became very subdued, went off her food and showed vomiting and regurgitation.

The team checked for anything blocking her stomach or intestines (none seen- whew!) and commenced treatment for gastro-enteritis. We presume that she had got into something she shouldn't have, which inflamed all the linings to her gastro-intestinal tract and upset her normal gut function. She was a great patient in our care, and responded well to supportive treatments 💉😍

Her pet parents had this to say about their experience with our ARC North team emergency team:

"We took our two Rottweilers to ARC Albany in the middle of the night as one was very unwell. They had not met our dogs before. At every touch point they were welcoming, empathetic, confident and professional. Thank you from us, Kadan and Parker for helping lower the stress levels!"

It means the world to us when pet parents appreciate the effort we put in to helping them and their pets 😍This owner had...
28/08/2026

It means the world to us when pet parents appreciate the effort we put in to helping them and their pets 😍

This owner had especially nice things to say about our Oncology team, led by Oncologist Dr Patrick Smith.

If you'd like to know more about our Oncology service, visit https://arcvets.co.nz/our-services/oncology/

👁️🐶 Seeing the Future Together 💙🐾Recently, our Relationships Manager, Dr Rachel Gebbie, and our new Ophthalmology Regist...
25/08/2026

👁️🐶 Seeing the Future Together 💙🐾

Recently, our Relationships Manager, Dr Rachel Gebbie, and our new Ophthalmology Registrar, Dr Fiona McKeever, had the privilege of visiting Blind Low Vision NZ’s Guide Dog Breeding and Development Centre. 🦮✨

They were exploring how our team, and our new ophthalmology service, can support the incredible work being done to raise assistance dogs for people who are blind, deafblind, or have low vision. 💙

Of course, they also had the very difficult job (truly, such a hardship! 😍🐶) of providing some much-needed puppy cuddles. Just look at those adorable faces! 🥹🐾

We're also excited to share that Dr Fiona is now able to provide canine hereditary eye testing and is Dogs NZ-endorsed to perform these examinations. 👁️✅ We're thrilled to now offer this service at ARC Vets.

To learn more about the extraordinary work of Blind Low Vision NZ, visit BlindLowVision.org.nz. 💙🦮

🐾 Always learning. Always improving. Always putting pets first. 💙At ARC Vets, continuing education isn't just something ...
24/08/2026

🐾 Always learning. Always improving. Always putting pets first. 💙

At ARC Vets, continuing education isn't just something we do—it's part of who we are. Our nursing team is committed to continually developing their knowledge and refining their skills so they can provide every patient with the very highest standard of specialist and emergency care.

Recently, nurses from both our ARC Central and ARC North hospitals came together for an incredible full day of advanced anaesthesia training with the amazing Marcia Fletcher from The Pink Stethoscope

Marcia is a Veterinary Technician Specialist (VTS) in Anaesthesia & Analgesia and a passionate educator whose expertise is recognised internationally. It was a fantastic opportunity for our team to learn from one of the very best while also strengthening connections across our two hospitals.

📚 Topics covered included:
🩺 The Top Avoidable Anaesthetic Accidents
💉 Rough Induction and Difficult Recoveries
🧠 Neurological Anaesthesia – Don't Let It Blow Your Mind
⚠️ Risky Business – Difficult Anaesthesia Cases
🌬️ Mechanical Ventilation – Beyond the Spontaneous Breath

Anaesthesia is one of the most important aspects of veterinary medicine, and ongoing education like this helps ensure we're delivering the safest, most advanced care possible—whether your pet is undergoing a routine procedure or a complex specialist surgery.

A huge thank you to Marcia for sharing her knowledge and enthusiasm with our team. We're proud to invest in our nurses because exceptional patient care starts with exceptional people. 💙🐶🐱

Keep your cat safe during bird fluA third case of H5N1 avian influenza has been confirmed by MPI. As such, we thought we...
24/08/2026

Keep your cat safe during bird flu

A third case of H5N1 avian influenza has been confirmed by MPI. As such, we thought we'd take the opportunity to remind you of the steps we advise you take to keep your precious kitties safe.

These great infographics were created by the team at the The New Zealand Veterinary Association.

At ARC Vets, we're taking every advised step to keep your pets, and NZ's wildlife, is as safe as possible.

If you have any concerns about your kitty, see your regular vet. Or, of course, our team are here 24/7 if your vet is shut.

⚠️ A single discarded fishing hook can be fatal.These radiographs, taken last week, show a s**g that was brought to our ...
23/08/2026

⚠️ A single discarded fishing hook can be fatal.

These radiographs, taken last week, show a s**g that was brought to our emergency team after ingesting a large fishing hook. The Department of conservation were consulted. Sadly, the poor bird had to be euthanised.

Every year, New Zealand's seabirds and coastal wildlife are injured or killed by discarded fishing hooks, line, and tackle. Birds can mistake baited hooks for food, become tangled in fishing line, or suffer devastating internal injuries after swallowing hooks. Dogs and cats are also affected!

💔 These are preventable tragedies.

If you're fishing, you can help protect our incredible wildlife and pets by:
🎣 Taking all fishing line, hooks and tackle home with you
🗑️ Using designated fishing line recycling bins where available
🚮 Never leaving baited hooks or tackle on the ground, rocks or wharves
🐦 Safely reporting or seeking help for injured wildlife if you find it

New Zealand's native wildlife shares our beaches, harbours and waterways. A few extra moments to clean up after fishing can save a life.

Please help spread the message by sharing this post. Together, we can help keep our wildlife safe. 💙

Address

224 Albany Highway, Schnapper Rock
Auckland
0632

Telephone

+6492815815

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