Category: vet blog

For anyone who has recently obtained a puppy or may soon be getting one, we have a great offer for free heartworm prevention.  From 1 February through to 30 April we are able to provide your 12 week old  puppy with a free Proheart Injection.  The cost of this injection is normally $45.00.

Heartworm is deadly and it is very important to begin preventative treatment for your puppy from around 12 weeks of age.  A single bite from a mosquito is all it takes to spread this potentially fatal disease.

Our clinic will send you a reminder when your puppy is next due for their injection, just as we do when your puppy’s vaccinations are due.  This saves you from having to worry about lapsing with any heartworm prevention, which is a common problem with monthly tablets.

After puppy’s initial injection at 12 weeks of age, they require another injection at 6 months of age, then another at 15 months of age.  From then on they only require the injection once a year.  This makes it very easy for dog owners to bring their dog in once each year to receive both their vaccination and their heartworm injection and full health check.

“Prevention is better than cure” couldn’t be more true when it comes to heartworm because it is very difficult to treat.  This is why vets recommend continuous 12 month protection for all dogs.

We will be advertising this promotion on local radio and posting regular website blogs/facebook posts so that you are kept informed. Click on the link below for some great information”

http://www.think12.com.au

Please call us if you would like any further information about this promotion or if you would like any more information about heartworm and how it can affect your pet.  We would love to hear from you.

Would you like to have the peace of mind of knowing your dog is protected against heartworm without having to ever give monthly or daily tablets again?

Unfortunately there has been a resurgence of cases of Heartworm positive cases in the past two years.  In fact there have been more than 490 heartworm positive cases reported around Australia since January 2014.  Heartworm is contracted through the bite of an infected mosquito and therefore impossible to guard against without a preventative.

Puppies can be  started on Proheart Sr12 prevention as early as 3 months, however for those dogs who are a minimum of 6 months of age who have never used a heartworm preventative, or have not regularly used one, it is very important to have a heartworm test prior to commencing Proheart Sr12.

Normally this test costs $60.00 but we have a great offer which is currently running for 8 weeks.  The ending  date of this offer will be 4 July.  For anyone wishing to book in their pet for a Proheart Sr12 injection, we are offering the heartworm test completely free.

The manufacturer of the Proheart injection, Zoetis, has recently conducted research into heartworm prevalence in dogs and it found that 40% of dogs that recently tested heartworm positive were on owner-given monthly treatments.  Have you ever missed a dose?  When you lead a busy life, some things fall through the gaps.  Failing to give dogs heartworm prevention on time can leave them at risk from this deadly disease.  That’s why we reommend testing and year-round heartworm prevention.

If you would like any more information on this offer, please just phone us and our friendly staff will be able to help you.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY  TO HAVE YOUR DOG TESTED FOR HEARTWORM, PLEASE PHONE US BEFORE 4 JULY TO MAKE A BOOKING.

Seresto is a collar which provides dogs and cats up to 8 months protection against fleas and 4 months control of ticks in dogs.  We have been able to offer this product for only $79.95 to our clients and this makes it the most economical and effective way to treat your pet for fleas and ticks.  This equates to only $9.99/month!!

It can be used in puppies from 7 weeks of age, and kittens from 10 weeks of age.

It not only kills adult fleas, but flea larvae as well.  It will also kill all adult ticks including the paralysis tick.

Unlike other products, Seresto works without fleas and ticks having to bite!!

How Seresto works: 

• Active ingredients (actives) are integrated into Seresto’s innovative polymer matrix.
• Low doses of these actives are released from the matrix over time and migrate into the lipid (fatty/oily) layer of your pet’s skin and hair.
• Actives are not significantly absorbed through the skin. but remain within the naturally water-resistant, lipid layer of the skin and hair – so your dog can still enjoy the water.
• The actives in the skin and hair of your pet kills fleas and ticks on contact therefore not relying on them having to bite your pet.
• The hair and dead skin that your pet sheds naturally each day contain small amounts of actives, enough to kill flea larvae that may live in your pet’s surroundings.

Your don’t need to remove Seresto when you give your pet a bath or if they get wet.  This is because:

• the innovative polymer matrix formulation shields actives from unwanted release and washing off
• actives localise within the lipid layer of your pet’s skin and coat, which minimises their loss with wetting.

If some of the actives are lost, with frequent shampooing or water immersion, the collar will quickly replenish levels in your pet’s skin and coat.

Please call in anytime to purchase one of these collars, or just to find out more from our friendly and knowledgeable staff.

This month is pet dental month and there are quite a few products which can help prevent potential problems for your pet. Pictured below are just some of the many dental products we have available.

We also have a few different treat bags with products that your pet will enjoy eating, but at the same time will help prevent tooth decay.  We have made up  special dental packs, one for dogs and another for cats.  The dog pack contains a porky chew, Greenies dental chews, chewable toothbrushes and a sample bag of dental health food. (see photo below)  The cat pack includes Greenies dental chews, a sample bag of dental health food, a fish twist treat and 5 chicken necks . Please call in to purchase a dental pack – your pet will thank you!

There is a revolutionary new product out for dogs which our vets highly recommend to our clients for their dogs. It is Simparica and what makes it different from the rest is that it treats not only fleas and ticks, but mites as well.  This makes it a really great option for those dogs with skin irritations caused from fleas and/or mites/mange. It is also very comparable in price to products which only treat for fleas and ticks.

What does it cover?      Simparica treats fleas, all ticks (including the paralysis tick), ear mites, sarcoptic mite and demodex mites.

What sizes does it come in?  Puppy 1.3 – 2.5kg’s (3pk) Extra Small 2.6 – 5kg’s (3pk) Small 5.1 – 10kg’s (3 and 6pks), Medium 10.1 – 20kg;s (3 and 6pks), Large 20.1 – 40kg’s (3 and 6pks) and Extra Large 40.1 – 60kg’s (3 and 6pks)

Is it safe for puppies?   Yes – it  can be given from 8 weeks of age and 1.3kg’s.

How quickly does it work?  Simparica starts killing fleas within 3 hours, with a complete kill in 8 hours after treatment.  It will give fast relief from itching and scratching, even in dogs with flea allergic dermatitis.

How long does it last?  Simparica is a chewable tablet and gives proven protection for a full month which can be given at any time of the day as it can be given with or without food.

Why protect against fleas, ticks, mange and mites?   Fleas can cause terrible skin irritation that will make your dog scratch, lick and bite itself.  This can results in rashes, scaly skin, hot spots and hair loss.  Ticks can cause diseases that can lead to significant health issues such as debilitating illness, paralysis and even death.  Mange and Mites can cause severe itching and a variety of problems that can impact a dog’s health if left untreated.

Do I need to treat for ticks in this area?   Yes!! It is a common misconception that ticks, particularly the paralysis tick are not common in this regional area.  Below is a graph which shows clearly where the different species of ticks are found:

Caring for your horse means protecting it from diseases, and the only way you can protect your horse from Tetanus, Hendra, Strangles and Equine Herpes Virus is by vaccinating against them.

This month is Equine Vaccination month, and we would really love to bring more awareness to equine diseases that can be prevented by vaccination.

This week we would like to focus on Tetanus which is a completely preventable disease.

A recent survey of Australian equine veterinarians reported at least 150 cases of tetanus with a fatality rate of 85%.

The vaccination regime for tetanus involves just 2 vaccinations one month apart, followed by yearly vaccinations.  Given the terrible pain and suffering that tetanus causes before likely death, it is a small price to pay.

Having a preventative healthcare plan in place provides comprehensive protection from preventable diseases, plus it helps you maintain regular contact with veterinary experts and plan financially for the wellbeing of your horse.

Your horse should be protected, even if it never leaves your property!

Some symptoms of tetanus include a stiff legged gait, pricked ears, tail held out stiff, paralysis of breathing muscles. (see picture below)

Some causes of tetanus include any deep penetrating wound e.g. barbed wire injury, nail/stick injury, and in foals eating contaminated faeces which then may get into a tooth socket to mention a few.

Zoetis Australia, the manufacturer of tetanus vaccination (amongst many other) has an online community devoted to health, preventative care and well-being for horses. Please copy and paste this link into your web browser if you are interested in learning more:  https://www.zoetis.com.au/programs/health4horses.aspx

Bravecto is a chewable tablet which provides treatment and prevention of flea infestations for 3 months and treatment and control of all ticks including the paralysis ticks for 4 months, something that no other product can offer.

This is a great option for those of us who just want something to last for as long as possible before having to re-treat.  This way you will only have to treat 4 times each year for full year round protection.

With the weather having been so hot and humid recently, fleas and ticks are thriving and we are seeing lots of clients coming in with this issue.

It can be used in puppies from 8 weeks of age as long as they do not weigh less than 2kgs.  It comes in 5 sizes so it is just a matter of buying the correct size for your dog.

We currently have a great promotion where you receive a really great cooler bag (see pictured below) with the purchase of one pack. (1 x pack = 1 tablet).

If you purchase 2 packs, you will receive a bonus $20 eftpos card simply by filling in a claim form online.  This is a really great saving on a great product.

Please call in anytime to discuss any of your pet concerns with our friendly and knowledgeable staff.

We have a great promotion at the moment for our customers who may be looking to buy a flea and tick preventative.  Nexgard is a chewable tablet which treats dogs for fleas and ticks (including the paralysis tick) for one month.  Call in anytime to see our friendly and knowledgeable staff about this great product.