False Bay Veterinary Clinic

⚠️ URGENT PET MEDICATION UPDATE: Phenobarbital Shortage ⚠️

As many of you are already aware of, we are currently facing a critical supply gap of Phenobarbital 30mg (Sedabarb/Lethyl) and it is officially unavailable nationwide through regular supply channels. Because there is no ready supply, we have already started the transition of affected pets to alternative protocols (such as Pexion and/or Levetiracetam) immediately.

The Transition: What to Expect
Changing seizure medication is a major adjustment for your pet’s brain. During this "bridge" period, it is very common to see transition symptoms, including:

Temporary wobbliness or "drunken" walking.

Increased sleepiness or restlessness.

Minor "odd" behaviors or focal twitching.

The "Overlap" Strategy (Crucial!)
If you still have a small supply of Phenobarbital left, do not stop it immediately. To keep your pet safe:

Overlap is key: We will aim to start the new medication (Pexion) while your pet is still taking their remaining Phenobarbital.

The Goal: We want to keep both medications in the system as long as possible to provide a "safety net" before the Phenobarbital runs out completely.

Stopping Phenobarbital abruptly can potentially lead to life-threatening seizures. Please contact the clinic today so we can coordinate your pet's specific overlap and transition plan before your current supply of phenobarbital is empty.

We are currently working on securing phenobarbital through an alternative source, and will keep you posted once we have secured any stock🐾

Welcome to the Team!
We are thrilled to announce that two wonderful new members have joined the False Bay Vet family this April! Please join us in giving a warm welcome to:

Helen Bastin: Helen joins us at our reception desk. Beyond her front-of-house expertise, she is also actively involved in animal welfare and volunteers most of her free time in that space. We are excited to tap into her wealth of knowledge and passion for animal health to better support our patients and their families.

Zinny Oliphant: Zinny brings an incredible 20 years of experience in the veterinary field. Having worked at a busy veterinary hospital, she brings a deep understanding of patient care and clinic dynamics that will be a massive asset to our team.

Both Helen and Zinny are looking forward to meeting all our clients and their furry companions. We are so happy to have such experienced, knowledgeable professionals on board to help us continue providing the best care possible.

Please make sure to say hello and give them a warm False Bay welcome when you next visit the clinic! Look out for future posts introducing each individual team member over the next couple of weeks :)