Companion Animal Hospital , Hōhipera hoa kararehe

Bring your pets to us for outstanding veterinary care. We offer routine services such as vaccinations, neutering and specialist care for all pets, including birds and reptiles.

Student and dog

Contact and hours

Companion Animal Hospital

Hours

8am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday. Closed on Public Holidays

Routine appointments phone
Pet emergencies phone (any time)

0800 PetEmergency (0800 738363)

Location

Physical address
Massey Vets - Companion Animal Hospital
University Avenue
Fitzherbert
Palmerston North 4474

Practice Manager

Pauline Nijman, p.a.nijman@massey.ac.nz

What we do

Our team of vets, technicians and nurses work alongside Massey's vet students to care for sick and injured pets of all shapes and sizes. Our clinic is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Routine healthcare

Bring your pet to us by appointment for all routine healthcare including:

  • vaccinations
  • health and dental checks
  • spays or castrations.

We sell pet food, flea and worming products.

Community Practice clients book here using our client booking portal.

Bird and reptile care

Call our friendly reception to book an appointment with Wildbase Hospital for your pet bird or reptile.

Vet referrals

Vets – refer a companion animal to us for specialist care.

Emergency care

Our team is ready to give your pet emergency and critical care in our purpose-built hospital.

Find out more about the Pet Emergency Centre

How to get your pet treated

1, Make an appointment first

Email or phone us to arrange an appointment, or ask your local vet to refer your pet to us.

2, Bring your pet to us

If it's your first visit, arrive 10 minutes before your appointment time to give us details for you and your pet.

If you haven't filled in a form before you arrive, bring details of:

  • your pet's age and medical history
  • any medication your pet is taking or has taken in the past
  • any medical treatment your pet has had recently
  • the vet clinic you usually go to
  • your pet insurance, if you have any.

We will discuss our recommended treatment with you before starting it.

3, Pay for your pet's treatment

You need to pay on the day of your consultation.

Student involvement

When you bring your pet to us, you're helping to train the next generation of caring, highly-skilled vets.

Students learn on the job, closely supervised by our vets and veterinary nurses.

Who we are

Reception

Rachel Sturgess

Telephonist/Receptionist, School of Veterinary Science

Danielle Laws

Veterinary Receptionist (After Hours) - Small Animal Hospital, School of Veterinary Science

Vets

Dr Thomas Odom's photo

Dr Thomas Odom

DVM, BSc

Group Leader - Community Practice/Radiology, School of Veterinary Science

I completed my undergraduate training at the University of Wisconsin and my veterinary degree at the University of Tennessee (1999).  I completed a rotating internship in small animal medicine and surgery in 2000.  I then practiced small animal medicine in private practice in San Francisco for 15 years, the majority of that as the practice owner.  I moved to New Zealand in 2014 to join Massey and now head the team of talented veterinarians in the VTH Primary Practice.

Susan Tomlin

BVSc(Hons), BSc

Companion Animal Veterinarian/Senior Practicing Veterinarian, School of Veterinary Science

Graduated from Massey University in 1991. Owner of the Hokowhitu Veterinary Clinic from 1996-2005. Shareholder of the Central CityVets and Cattery 2005-2007. This company then became Pet Doctors Palmerston North where she worked as a small animal veterinarian until 2015. 2015- current- Small Animal Clinician, Massey University Veterinary Teaching Hospital

Dr Jon Cochrane

Senior Practising Veterinarian, School of Veterinary Science

Kevanne McGlade

Companion Animal Veterinarian, School of Veterinary Science
 Steve De Grey's photo

Steve De Grey

BVSc, BSc

Senior Practicing Veterinarian, School of Veterinary Science

I'm a Senior Practising Veterinarian with 29 years experience, initially in mixed practices (rural), and since 2014 working in the School of Veterinary Science with the Massey Vet clinic.

I am also involved with the Veterinary Emergency Response Team and have training/experience in large and small animal rescue/disaster support.

Nursing

Casi Renner

Treatment Room Nurse, School of Veterinary Science

Chelsea Morris

Veterinary Nurse - Companion Animal Hospital, School of Veterinary Science

Julie Purchas

Community Practice Nurse, School of Veterinary Science

Accreditation

Cat-friendly clinic

We are proud to be an accredited cat-friendly clinic. Our staff are specially trained to make your cat's visit as positive as possible, by minimising contact with dogs and using low-stress handling techniques. Find out more about cat-friendly clinics.

Learn more

Low-stress handling

Most of our staff are certified in low-stress handling for dogs and cats. They can tailor their techniques to your pet's personality and needs. Our students learn and practise these techniques while supervised by certified staff.

Learn more

American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)

Accredited. Last evaluation: 2021. Next evaluation: 2028.

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Australasian Veterinary Board Council (AVBC)

Massey’s BVSc programme is accredited by the Australian Veterinary Boards Council with minor deficiencies; graduates can work in New Zealand and Australia. Last evaluation: 2021. Next evaluation: 2028.

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QS Ranking - Veterinary Science

The Massey is ranked by QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) as 28th in the world for veterinary science.

Learn more

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