Some vet clinics may be closed for the holidays, so people can expect clinics that are open to be busy. Photo: 123RF
The Veterinary Council (VCNZ) is urging pet owners to look after their pets over the holiday season, and to be prepared in case of emergencies.
VCNZ professional advisor Seton Butler said staff shortages affecting the sector were an important factor to consider when going away on holiday.
It was crucial for owners to establish where the nearest vet was and when it was open, and they should also be considerate of the stress vets face over the holiday period, he said.
"One of the challenges for us all is, in an emergency, everyone panics."
Keeping calm and knowing how to get to the nearest vet was important when dealing with pet emergencies over summer, Butler said.
"If you're stressed, the veterinarians are stressed, the tension rises and it becomes an uncomfortable situation for everyone," he said.
Pet owners should be prepared to travel a little further when taking their pets to the vet, as local clinics may be closed for the holidays, Butler said.
VCNZ also encouraged owners to check the essentials for their pets, like making sure they were fully vaccinated, and watching out for hazards such as dehydration or unfamiliar environments where they might act unpredictably.
Whether people were going away or not, it was important to plan ahead to ensure pets had any medication they needed, and received any essential routine care before the Christmas break, VCNZ said.
Butler said pet owners should expect long wait times at clinics, as vets triage patients for care, just as in human hospitals, due to the strained sector.
"Sometimes it's going to take a little bit of patience to be able to navigate this so that everybody gets the care they need to get," he said.