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Puppy
preschool - a great start to life
How do you start your rambunctious puppy out on the right track?
Household rules need to be in place as soon as you get your puppy
home but Puppy Preschool goes a step further and helps teach your
pup good manners and socialisation. This results in a confident and
friendly adult dog and a happy and relaxed owner.
Many behavioural problems in dogs are normal behaviours but are
performed at inappropriate times or in inappropriate places.
Training and socialisation before the age of 16 weeks goes a long
way toward keeping your puppy out of trouble.
Our Puppy Preschool’s main aims are:
1. To socialise your puppy so it is comfortable with other dogs and
people.
2. Teach your puppy basic commands and good manners.
3. Help provide you with tips for puppy development and basic pet
care.
4. To provide fun and help so your puppy enjoys future visits to
the vet.
Vaccinations will need to be up to date for your pup to be eligible
to join our classes. Please call the clinic to secure a place so
you can be confident you are getting your pup started on the right
track.
Eye
emergencies - when to see a vet
When
clients notice their pet has a sore eye they often call to ask what
they can do at home and if they need to visit the clinic. Below are
some basic rules to get you out of trouble and keep your pet’s eyes
safe.
You need to see a vet if your pet:
- has one or both eyes closed or is squinting
- has swollen eyelids
- has redness noticed on the white of the eye
- has a sudden increase in discharge
- is continually rubbing its eye
Only ever wipe your pet’s eyes with a damp cotton wool ball.
NEVER put your own eye drops in your pet’s eyes as this may damage
the eye.
Call us for more information.
Planning
for Easter
It is not long until the Easter bunny arrives and it is time to
start planning for your pets at Easter.
Easter means chocolate - and chocolate means danger for dogs.
Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine - toxic for pets and
can lead to death. Hide chocolate out of reach of your dog as they
have a strong sense of smell and can find chocolate anywhere! There
are treats available for your dog such as “doggy
chocolate” which uses carob, a safe alternative and is
a yummy treat. If your dog ingests chocolate, call us
immediately.
Did you know that the popular Easter lily (and other species of
lilies) are poisonous to cats? Ingestion causes kidney failure so
if you own a cat we suggest you keep the cat away from lilies or
remove them from your garden.
If you are planning a trip away, book accommodation for your pet
now as kennels and catteries quickly fill up at this time of the
year. Make sure your pet’s vaccinations are up to date well before
your booking. Speak to us and we can recommend accommodation for
your pet or check out pet friendly accommodation at http://www.holidayingwithdogs.com.au/.
Heartworm
prevention for dogs - a walk in the park!
Heartworm
- this is the disease that nightmares are made of! Spread by
mosquitoes, the worms can mature to 30 cm long and become lodged in
your dog’s heart eventually causing heart failure and death.
The prevention of heartworm disease is one of the most important
things that you must do for your dog. Heartworm is the most
dangerous of all the worms, and an intestinal ‘all wormer’ tablet
does not prevent heartworm infection.
Prevention is best as cure is rarely successful. Getting your dog
started on the right heartworm medication can be confusing,
especially with so many choices on the market.
Thankfully there is a preventative injection available that uses
sustained release technology to protect your dog. It is safe and
effective and can be given to puppies. A booster is required yearly
at your dog’s annual health check and vaccination.
So you can now forget monthly treatments and know your dog is
protected against heartworm. Call the clinic to arrange a heartworm
injection for your dog and for more information click here.
Anxious
moments
The summer
holidays were over and it was back to school for the kids. Jack,
the 2 year old Kelpie cross didn't cope so well. The family had
been around every day for the past months but were now suddenly
gone for long periods. Jack started chewing the legs of the outdoor
table setting, digging up the garden and howling all day while the
kids were away.
Jack was suffering from separation anxiety and was fretting
constantly. Howling and destructive behaviour were helping
alleviate his stress.
How can you prevent this situation?
- Teach your
dog to be comfortable when separated from you. As the school
holidays come to an end, gradually build up the time spent away
from the family
- Make the
time apart a positive experience by leaving your dog with something
to do. Rawhide chews, treatballs and other food treats can
help divert their attention. Visit www.kongcompany.com for
ideas
- When you
leave your dog alone turn on some music or talkback
radio
- Lessen the
enthusiasm in your hellos and goodbyes to help make those moments
calmer - this will lead to less anxiety
- Reward
your dog only when behaving in a calm and relaxed
manner
These tips
helped alleviate Jack's anxiety and he is now content when left at
home. Contact us if you feel your pet is suffering from separation
anxiety or other behavioural problems.
Heart
aches
Does your pet show any of these signs?
- Coughing
or gagging especially after lying down
- Tires from
minimal exercise
- Increased
breathing rate, panting induced easily
If you
answered yes to any of these questions your pet could be showing
signs of heart disease. When the heart is not pumping properly
blood backs up in the lungs. This excess fluid produces coughing,
the most obvious sign of heart disease.
You may also notice your pet tires easily from minimal exercise or
just can't make it around the block like he used too. This is
because the heart is not able to pump enough blood with adequate
oxygen to the tissues.
Diagnosis of heart disease involves a combination of tests to help
evaluate heart function. These include listening with a
stethoscope, x-rays of the chest and examination with ultrasound.
An assessment of the heart's electrical activity with an
electrocardiogram may also be necessary.
The good news is that there are many treatments available to help
the heart function better, and this can help pets live happily for
many more years.
Speak to us if you feel your pet is showing any of the signs of
heart disease
Jasper's
angry ear
Jasper
the energetic Cocker Spaniel pup visited us earlier
this month with an irritated ear. Earlier that day he had been to
the park and had rummaged around in the long grass - his favourite
activity. When home he suddenly started shaking his head and
scratching his left ear frantically.
Examination of his ear canal with a special light called an
otoscope revealed the culprit - a grass seed. The tip of it was
only just visible but impossible to grab as Jasper was so
sensitive.
Brief sedation allowed us to safely remove the grass seed without
causing Jasper's delicate ear structures any damage.
Jasper was sent home a much happier dog. A revisit 3 days later
ruled out any infection caused by scratching.
Prevention tips:
- Avoid
walking your pet in long grass
- Check
around your pet's ear for grass seeds
- If you
suspect your pet has an ear problem call us to arrange an
appointment
Desexing
saves lives
To understand how desexing saves lives, we need to look
back 30 to 40 years. Undesexed pets, especially dogs, roamed
widely in search of a mate. While this is safe in the
wild, in urban areas the risk of being hit by a car was
high.
Partly as a result of so many dogs being run over, desexing became
more common. Today, most pets are desexed and road
accident victims are few and far between.
Other great reasons to desex are:
· Reduced risk of cancer and other reproductive disease in
both males and females
· Lower aggression for many male dogs
· Reduced inappropriate urinating behaviour [eg the male dog
that wees on the curtains or male cats that spray]
· Helps control the number of unwanted puppies and kittens
· Reduced council pet registration fees
Desexing of dogs and cats is carried out at the clinic. The
procedure includes a full general anaesthetic, sterile surgery and
pain management. The combination of these modern techniques means
pets recover quickly and comfortably.
Pre-anaesthetic
blood testing
Many of us have felt apprehensive about a loved family pet
having a general anaesthetic. While anaesthetics these days are
extremely safe, it is normal to worry. Our job is to look after
your pets and make the anaesthetic as safe as possible. One of the
ways we do this is with a pre-anaesthetic blood test.
Prior to an anaesthetic, we examine each pet thoroughly. While this
gives us important information about factors such as heart
rate and rhythm, a blood test shows us what's going on internally.
It gives vital information about the health of the blood and major
organs.
Pre-anaesthetic blood tests can detect conditions that otherwise
may not be detected. These include Diabetes, Kidney and
Liver disease, Hyperthyroidism, Anaemia and other blood
disorders.
Blood tests allow us to decide whether to proceed as
planned, delay the anaesthetic until the underlying condition
is treated, or adjust the type of anaesthetic used.
Pre-anaesthetic blood tests help to ensure your pet receives the
best treatment possible. If you'd like more information, please
call us.
Ok,
I'll feed you
Those adoring eyes look up at you and say, "Feed me...please!" How
can you resist? It's very hard, even when you know you have been
feeding too much. This is the challenge faced by all pet owners and
we're here to help you win. Winning is worth it
as we love our pets and studies show
keeping them at their correct weight can give them an extra 2
joyful years of life.
Why is it so hard to keep pets at the correct weight? It is only in
relatively recent times that dogs and cats have had enough to eat.
It was out of starving necessity that Labradors learnt to do the
doleful eye look or Tabby cats learnt to rub up against a leg
incessantly. Both these actions brought the reward of more food
from their human friends.
So while keeping pets at their correct weight is probably the best
gift you can give your pet, doing it is hard. There is an abundance
of food in our pantries and we're soft at heart. Here are some
tips:
· Feed raw bones 2-3 times a week. Chewing
releases serotonin in the brain producing a sense of well being.
Pets will then pester you less for food plus have healthier
teeth
· Use a food dispenser toy. Available from
the clinic, these toys hold the pets meal but only let small
amounts out at a time. This means longer meal times and more
satisfaction
· Scatter food around the garden. Rather
than feeding in a bowl, scatter food around the garden. This
replicates pets' normal instinct to hunt for food, presents a
challenge and leaves them feeling more satisfied
· Weigh your pet at the clinic. The scales
are in the waiting room and you can use them at any time. We can
advise about a weight loss diet if required.
What's
that smell?
One of the pleasures of pets is having a cuddle. Whether you're
sitting in the sun in the back yard or collapsed on the
couch after a long day at work, pets are always there for you and
love getting up close for a scratch or a pat. Keeping them smelling
good is important, however, as wafts of bad air can really
turn you off. This is especially noticeable when pets live indoors.
Bad breath and smelly coats are two main culprits. Here's how
to deal with them:
Bad breath was until recently so common in
dogs and cats it was considered normal. With better understanding
of dental care in pets, most people now recognise bad breath as
indicating dental disease. Regular raw bones and brushing are the
best way to prevent dental problems, but some pets will need a
dental clean performed under general anaesthetic.
The smelly coat is usually the domain of dogs
rather than cats. Dogs love to roll in the smelliest gunge they can
but this is easy to fix: a good wash will do the job. Other smells
may be tougher to banish. Excess sebum, a natural skin secretion,
is a common cause of bad smell. It encourages bacterial growth,
leading to the odour. To get your sweet smelling pet back, do the
following:
1. Feed a premium dry food. These contain omega 3 fatty acids
in the correct ratio to reduce skin inflammation, a factor in
smelly coats
2. Use flea control every month of the year. Fleas contribute
to most inflammatory skin conditions
3. Brush the coat regularly. This removes loose hair, debris
and dirt.
4. Use an anti-microbial shampoo; talk to us, we'll recommend
the right one for your pet. If the smell does not improve in 3-4
washes, book an appointment for us to investigate the problem
further.
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