Park Ridge Animal Hospital

Throwback Thursday!

We had to dig deep into the archives to uncover these gems of Dr Nigel from years gone by!

While a few things may have changed over the years, one thing certainly hasn't, Dr Nigel's passion for caring for pets and supporting our community.

Do you remember visiting Dr Nigel back then? We'd love to hear your favourite memories or see your own throwback photos in the comments!

Introducing our new Canine Blood Donor Program!

We are incredibly excited to announce the launch of our new blood donor program at Park Ridge Animal Hospital!

Over recent months, we have been on the hunt for some very special canine heroes who may be eligible to join our blood donor list. Becoming a blood donor is a wonderful way for a healthy dog to potentially help save the life of another pet in an emergency.

There are several important requirements for our donors, including age, size, overall health, temperament, heartworm status and blood type. We are also looking for dogs who are comfortable visiting our veterinary hospital and able to remain calm and relaxed during the donation process.

As we do not currently have the facilities required for long-term blood storage, our donor dogs also need to live locally and be available to respond when an emergency request arises.

The potential impact of this program is enormous. Having access to our own community of canine blood donors means that, when a patient urgently needs a blood transfusion, we are able to act quickly and save lives.

We are incredibly grateful to the amazing members of our community who we have already approached and who have so generously signed up their canine companions as potential blood donors.

To our canine heroes and their wonderful families ... thank you! We can’t wait to see just how many lives this incredible community program will help save 💙

✨ Gypsy’s little miracles ✨

Gypsy’s journey hasn’t been an easy one, experiencing two phantom pregnancies and an open pyometra. With everything she had been through, her owners decided to give her one special chance to become a mum through artificial insemination, before desexing her.

And what a beautiful decision that turned out to be ❤️

Gypsy gave birth to two gorgeous little girls, Dolly and Joelene, who are now just over two weeks old and absolutely stealing hearts!

Because of Gypsy’s journey and the story these little ones share, Dolly and Joelene will remain a part of this very special family. Sometimes the most unexpected journeys lead to the most beautiful beginnings.

Pot Luck & Play!

Our recent staff meeting looked a little different… and we’re not mad about it!

We introduced “Pot Luck & Play” where every staff member brought along a dish that was special to them, whether it was a beloved family favourite or a culturally significant delight. From savoury to sweet, we had a delicious spread that definitely made meetings a whole lot more exciting!

And of course, no good Aussie gathering is complete without a BBQ! Dr Nigel took one for the team and manned the BBQ, proving that his skills extend beyond the consult room… although we’re still deciding whether he’s a better vet or a BBQ chef!

And because food isn’t enough… everyone also brought along a game to play!

There was plenty of eating, laughing, friendly competition and lots of getting to know each other outside of our usual work environment. Safe to say, Pot Luck & Play was a huge success!

We might just have to make this a regular occurrence… because who said staff meetings had to be boring?!

Meet Mr Bingley 🐾💙

At the time of this visit, the gorgeous Frenchie, Mr Bingley, was just seven weeks old. He completely captivated us from the moment he arrived, reminding us of just how much love, joy and personality a tiny new puppy can bring into our lives.

R U OK? Day is particularly important within the veterinary industry, where caring for animals often means caring for people through some of their most difficult and emotional moments.

Veterinary teams can face compassion fatigue, grief, challenging client conversations, financial pressures, unpredictable workloads and the emotional weight of making life-and-death decisions.

In such a demanding profession, checking in with our colleagues is more than simply asking “Are you OK?”; it is about creating a workplace where people feel safe to be honest, supported when things are tough, and reminded that they don't have to carry everything alone. R U OK? Day provides an opportunity to pause, connect with each other and strengthen a culture of kindness, compassion and genuine care within our teams.

Norman has been soaking up lots of vitamin D on these lovely Spring mornings 🌞

Fear Free Handling at PRAH

Recently, we have cared for patients who have found their veterinary visits particularly stressful. We understand that fear, anxiety and stress are natural behavioural responses in both dogs and cats, and every pet communicates these feelings in different ways. Learning to recognise the early signs can make a tremendous difference to your pet’s wellbeing and help us create a more positive experience together.

At our hospital, we work hard every day to create a calm, welcoming environment where pets and their families feel safe and supported, while still ensuring that the medical and surgical care your pet needs can be provided.

We encourage you to take a moment to review these Fear Free resources, which explain the subtle signs of fear, anxiety and stress that pets often show long before they become overwhelmed. These signs may include avoiding eye contact, turning away, lip licking in dogs, changes in ear position, pupil dilation, crouching, tail movements, or seeking reassurance from their owner.

You may already have noticed some of the Fear Free techniques we use in hospital, such as getting down on the floor with your pet, allowing time for gentle introductions, using plenty of praise and treats (everyone’s favourite!), and adapting our approach to suit each individual patient. For some pets, pre-visit calming medications can also play an important role in reducing stress and helping future visits remain positive.

Our goal is not simply to complete an examination or procedure; it is to prevent fear from escalating over time and to help every pet feel more comfortable and confident with veterinary care throughout their life.

Thank you for partnering with us and for your ongoing commitment to your pet’s health, happiness and emotional wellbeing.

Happy Father’s Day to the brave men of our veterinary family! 💙

Working in a predominantly female workplace takes a special kind of resilience… and we think our small but mighty group of male colleagues deserves some recognition!

They may be outnumbered on a daily basis, but they certainly hold their own amongst the chatter, laughter, strong opinions and occasional chaos that comes with working in a veterinary hospital!

Some are proud dads to two-legged children, some are dads to four-legged children, and some are constantly searching for that perfect pet.

But what we love most about our guys is the qualities they bring to our team every single day; compassion, care, humour, integrity and genuine kindness.

Whether they are caring for a patient, comforting a worried pet parent, helping a teammate, or simply making us laugh when we need it most, they are an incredibly valued part of our veterinary family.

So today, we celebrate our dads, pet dads, future pet dads and honorary dads; and the wonderful men who bravely survive being surrounded by women all day, every day!

Happy Father’s Day! 🩵
We’re very lucky to have you.