Healthy Pets NZ is a charity that supports research into improved health and welfare for Kiwi pets. Established by the New Zealand Veterinary Association’s Companion Animal Branch, we’ve been funding research into the big health and welfare issues facing Kiwi pets since 1998.
Exploring New Horizons in Companion Animal Research
Change is constant and inevitable. New discoveries are being made, and new technologies are being developed, which makes it impossible to maintain the status quo. The more we learn, the more we must adapt and change our ways of thinking and doing things.
Airway diseases are common in dogs, but highly variable. To correctly diagnose which disease is present, airway secretions need to be collected, which can be done using bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). However, the best way to do this has not been determined. This is why HPNZ is funding Dr Rhea Jagdhane's study to do just that!
With more strong applications in the November 2023 granting round, one study in particular stood out to the Healthy Pets NZ grants assessment team.
Dr Rene Corner-Thomas and her team are seeking to assess the impact and duration of environmental enrichment in dogs by novel methods that reduce the risks of human bias. While this research is specifically aimed at ensuring the welfare of working dogs, it is likely the outcomes will help us understand how to provide a more enriched life for all dogs who may spend some time in enclosed spaces, hence the value of this project.
A huge thanks to Medical Uniforms NZ for their generous donation of $1000 of medical uniforms to be used how we felt would give the greatest benefit!
After a bit of brain-storming, we decided it would be a great idea to run a colouring competition to help spread the word about both organisations to the public, as well as through veterinary clinics.
Additive manufactured (computer designed and 3D printed) titanium orthopaedic plates are gaining popularity in the veterinary industry, and have some advantages when it comes to patient-specific limb alignment surgeries, however while they have a greater bending strength than conventionally manufactured titanium plates, they are more prone to cyclic failure in a shorter fatigue period. Careful selection of their use on a case/patient-specific basis is recommended.
After a couple of successful events in Invercargill, HPNZ decided to take Dogs Day Out north, all the way to Tauranga on 7th & 8th of October.
Thanks to everyone who came and visited us at the NZVA Conference, and a special congratulations to the winners of our silent auctions who raised over $450 for HPNZ research!
Alistair Stockdill - Tauhou/Wax-eye
Laura Dodds - Takahe
Rose Gillis - Mt Cook
This is the question Professor Andrew Worth is setting to out answer to help orthopeadic surgeons understand whether a custom-printed 3D titanium plate is as strong as an equivalent off the shelf titanium bone plate.