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Newsletters

Our monthly client newsletter includes information about emerging animal health issues, new tests and services, continuing professional development opportunities and tips for getting the most out of your local laboratory. To view and download back issues of our newsletter select from the volumes below:

Easter weekend closures

All of our laboratories will be closed the entire of Easter weekend – Friday 18 April to Monday 21 April.  We will reopen for business on Tuesday 22 April.Please avoid sending samples overnight on Thursday 17 April, as they will not be delivered until after the weekend and will likely be unsuitable for testing (with […]

Zinc toxicity in cattle

Hania KlobukwskaIntroductionZinc toxicity is almost exclusively seen following the prophylactic use of zinc supplementation administered during the facial eczema (FE) season. Zinc toxicity is not new to the New Zealand scene however it is important to consider it as a differential diagnosis under certain circumstances, especially when the farm is known to be supplementing the […]

Otago anniversary day

Our Dunedin laboratory will be closed on Monday 24 March, in observance of the regional anniversary day holiday. However, it will be open during regular business hours on Saturday, 22 March.If you have any questions or concerns, please call your local laboratory.

An unusual finding in a bloated dog

Bernie VaatstraClinical findingsA 13-year-old, spayed female Lhasa Apso presented at an after-hours veterinary clinic for acute gastric dilatation. Prior history included several years of upper gastrointestinal signs including intermittent vomiting and inappetence. Clinical signs improved on institution of treatment with 10mg omeprazole SID in 2023, and remained stable until October 2024, when the dog presented […]

Spindle cells

Cathy HarveyOf all the masses that occur in the skin and subcutis, probably the most care needs to be taken when evaluating spindle cells from mass lesions, as reactive spindle cells associated with fibroplasia cannot be easily distinguished from neoplastic cells on cytology. Often these lesions are firm and do not exfoliate well, making diagnosis […]

Fees for credit card payments

We are no longer able to absorb the merchant fee associated with credit card payments. As a result, we will be passing this cost onto our customers at a rate of 2.5%, effective for payments made on or after March 1, 2025.However, payments made via direct debit will still be completely free of charge. You […]

PMSG testing issue

We have encountered an issue with our current batch of PMSG testing kits. The supplier has been notified, but unfortunately, they are unable to provide replacements as the kits are out of stock. A new batch is expected to be ready in April and will be shipped to us from Germany.Until the new kits arrive, […]

New price book effective 1 March

If you didn’t receive a copy of the email sent to subscribers earlier this month regarding our price review, then please get in touch.> Email karen.cooper@awanuigroup.co.nz to receive a PDF> Sign up to our mailing list here to avoid missing out on important updates.Note: Clients using ezyVet with our SDI integration will have their PMS […]

A rare but deadly diagnosis

Cristina GansClinical historyA one-year-old DLH cat presented to the veterinarian for acute -onset anorexia and lethargy. Additional findings on clinical examination were a reduced body condition and moderate pyrexia. After treatment with antibiotics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, the cat displayed a marked improvement in appetite and demeanour and was discharged from the hospital.  Shortly afterwards, the […]

What’s your diagnosis?

Lisa Hulme-MoirFigure 1 is a photomicrograph of a blood film from a four year-old male castrated Australian Kelpie. The dog had been in an induced coma with constant rate infusion (CRI) of propofol to manage hepatic encephalopathy due to acute liver failure. Haematocrit was 0.23 L/L.What’s your diagnosis?Answer:Eccentrocytosis indicating oxidative injury and a likely haemolytic […]