The Vet Practice

By The Vet Practice on Thursday, 9 July 2009

Did you know that obesity is one of the most common illnesses affecting pets today?

Overweight pets are not healthy pets.

In fact, being overweight can lead to numerous other disorders such as joint and ligament damage, heart conditions and liver and kidney problems.

Not only that, being overweight drastically reduces your pet's quality of life as they become reluctant to play and exercise.

It also places them at higher risk from anaesthesia should they require surgery.

Are you frustrated about your pet's weight?

Have you tried diets and nothing works?

Then we'd like to help you.

Please consider applying to join our structured weight loss program for dogs starting in August.

It's a 12 week program which will incorporate dietary managemnt, an exercise plan and an initial veterinary examination and blood test.

The cost of the program is only $87.00 plus the cost of the prescribed food.

This program will require some commitment so only serious contenders should apply. There will be a chance that your dog can become our Top Dog Loser and win 6 months supply of a healthy premium diet.

To apply, please email or phone us with your contact details, dog's name, breed and current weight and a reason why you need this program.

By The Vet Practice on Thursday, 2 July 2009

Clinics generally have a rule which asks all visiting patients to be suitably restrained.

This means - Cats in Cat boxes or transport carriers and all dogs on a leash.

There is very good reason for this rule and that is safety for everyone. It has absolutely nothing to do with temperament or size.

Even the friendliest dog can become fearful in strange surroundings and react according to their fears. The lead is used to keep your dog by your side in the reception area and for handling purposes in the examination room.

The lead also allows you or whoever is handling your dog to remain in control. It enables you to keep your dog a safe distance from other dogs which may or may not be as friendly and prevents escape through an open door.

Dog restraints come is all forms to include the simple collar and leash, the check chain or harness. Use whichever gives you the most control.

Some other pointers for safety in the waiting room:

• Don't allow others to pet your dog without permission
• Don't pet other dogs without permission
• Don't allow your dog to roam freely on the end if the leash and approach other dogs without permission

You might think it is rude to igore another dog sitting in the reception area but this is not the case. Giving attention can often lead to excitement which can lead to other unwanted behaviours.

The aim of these rules is to keep your dog as calm and comfortable in strange surroundings and everyone - safe.

By The Vet Practice on Tuesday, 30 June 2009

Preventative care is one of those things we tend to forget about or put on hold, until of course - there's a problem.

And preventative care for our feline companions is no exception.

While fleas tend to get your attention quickly because of the obvious signs i.e. scratching, other parasites such as intestinal worms can be living and multiplying quite happily without giving themselves away too much at all.

Meanwhile, they can be making your cat sick and worse still, potentially contaminating your environment, your family - and your children.

Don't take this risk. Worm your cat regularly with an effective proven intestinal wormer.

The good news is that the days of having to give your cat a tablet are long gone. A spotton product called Profender has been available for some time now. Applying this product every 3 months is easy and a great way to keep your cat and family safe from intestinal worm infections.

By The Vet Practice on Tuesday, 30 June 2009

Much of the attention lately has been focused on vaccinations for dogs, especially with the introduction of the new 3 Year C3 Vaccine.

Let's not forget about the cat. Cats need to be protected from Feline infectious diseases too - espcially the core diseases: Feline Rhinotracheitis, Feline Calicivirus (these make up what is commonly called "Cat Flu") and Feline Enteritis.

These illnesses can be contracted without the need for contact with infected cats so are particularly important. The vaccine effective against these 3 diseases is called a F3 Vaccination which is given yearly.

If your cat is an indoor and outdoor cat - we also recommend vaccination against Feline Immunodeficiency Virus - commonly called "Feline Aids" or FIV.

This disease is most commonly contracted through fighting with an infected cat.

The initial course of three FIV Vaccines are given 2 - 4 weeks apart, then updated with a single FIV Vaccine each year.

Feline aids is dangerous to cats only. It cannot be transmitted to humans.

So while cats demands on your time and pocket are oftem much less than dogs, please don't forget the important preventative care.

By The Vet Practice on Monday, 15 June 2009

A question we're often asked involves the Euthanasia of an older pet - particularly at this time of the year when the weather is cold - and the pain of arthritis becomes more noticeable.

And let's face it - nobody wants to see their pet in pain.

Especially when all options of supportive treatment have been explored and nothing seems to help anymore.

The real issue now becomes quality of life - and you are the one who's best placed to make that decision.

Some of the questions you need to ask yourself are:

1. Is she still enjoying her food? (Eating and drinking normally) Y/N
2. Can she still control bowel and bladder function and keep herself clean? Y/N
3. Is she still responsive to commands and seems interested in what's going on around her? Y/N
4. Does she still walk around of her own free will without too much difficulty? Y/N
5. Are the medications still making an observable difference? Y/N

As pet's age, they slow down - a lot and sleep more than they used to.This is quite normal and isn't a significant indicator of quality of life.

If you are one of those people facing this situation and have questions or concerns - please talk to us.

We can help.