Category: vet blog

There is a lot of talk that your pet will be better off if you cook for them in comparison to buying food from a shop where it is already pre-made; however there have been no studies to date done on this.  Therefore the pros and cons of each method should be weighed up.

Home preparing your pets meals can involve a lot more than just mixing up some rice and a bit of mince.  It is essential to put a little effort into learning about what your pets daily essential needs are.  Also, home preparing meals can be time consuming, as the food needs to remain fresh.  There are also a few more risks involved with handling raw meats and other by products.  To prevent any risk of infection transmission or cross contamination for yourself and your pet, gloves should be worn whilst handling all meat products and there should be specific utensils, bowls and/or other equipment that are specifically for the use of preparing your pets food.  The use of anthelmintic products (which are worming products) may also need to be increased to keep the risk of your pets contracting worms lowered.  Homemade diets are usually veterinary recommended if your dog has sensitive skin or gastrointestinal issues.

Commercial diets include supermarket branded diets to specialist veterinary branded diets.  The average person will just buy a bag of dog food by what the bag says or the pretty bags without really reading the ingredients or contents.  The benefit of feeding a premium or veterinary branded food is that the product has been scientifically designed to meet the nutritional requirements of your pets for each stage of life/lifestyle or to manage health conditions.  Most premium brands will also offer a money back guarantee if your pet doesn’t like or eat the product.

A lot of people believe that the premium branded foods are too expensive and not worth it; however the phrase ‘quality is better than quantity’ comes into play.  Due to the feeds being designed to meet all of the nutritional requirements, your pet will only need a portion of what they would normally receive in comparison to a supermarket branded food.  For example they may only need one cup of a premium branded food in comparison to three cups of a generic brand.  Therefore a bag of premium food would last longer than a generic brand.

At the clinic we stock Hills and Advance products; however if you are wanting another brand of food we are more than happy to order other products especially for you.  If you are unsure if what you are feeding is meeting your pets’ nutritional requirements, come in and have a chat to the nurses at the front desk or the veterinarians.  also feel free to bring your pets down and weigh them so that w can keep an accurate record of their weight.

As the Bundaberg region has rural areas it is well populated with a variety of wildlife; including kangaroos, koalas, many birds native and non-native, possums, sugar gliders, echidnas, bats and the list goes on.

 

The most common cases that are seen in the veterinary industry are baby birds that are brought in. Many a time they have either fallen or been blown out of the nest or tree they were residing in. The bird should be left where it is on the ground in the scenario that it is not at risk of being eaten by the neighbourhood cat or dog. The reason for leaving them is that babies parents are ‘usually’ flying around or close by in a tree monitoring their babies from a distance. The bird should be picked up if you are unsure of its safety or is the parents can’t be seen anywhere.

 

Another common case that is seen is wallaby’s that are from kangaroos that have been struck by a car. It is only safe to check a kangaroos pouch if the adult has clearly passed away. Never approach the animal if it is still alive as they can inflict serious injuries to a human by kicking or scratching with their nails. If a kangaroo is seen half alive or suffering, the council should be phoned to deal with the problem at hand.

Other common things that are seen in the clinic is wildlife that have injuries from household pets. Such as birds or other wildlife getting bite wounds or scratches from cats or dogs. A way that this can be reduced is by keeping your cat or dog inside if possible or even putting bells on your pets collars to warn the bird or other wildlife that there is something lurking about.

Many people that stumble across wildlife hesitate to bring them to a veterinary clinic in fear of being charged for the services or rehabilitation of the animals; however this is incorrect as the veterinarians at the clinic can view wildlife free of charge to the person bringing the wildlife in.

However if the animal can be rehabilitated, they are then forwarded onto a wildlife carer that has the skill and time to correctly revitalise the injured animal or raise them if they are too young. Once the animal is old enough or healthy enough they can be released back into their natural environment.

The Queensland Wildlife Carers and Volunteers Association is a non-profit organisation that relies heavily on donations and support from the community.

 

Are your pets feeling the heat, got a few knots or a little on the smelly side?  Do they need a nail trim or flea bath?  Grooming is an essential part of your pets daily needs.  Each breed has different requirements, such as a Schnauzer which would require more maintenance than something like a Rottweiler.

Bathing is something that all dogs will experience throughout their life.  There are many different products available; such as natural shampoos, medicated shampoos, leave in conditioners, specific coat colour treatments and the list goes on.  A dog requires a bath at least once a month however weekly or daily baths can be detrimental to the coat and skin. However a medicated shampoo may be recommended to use a few times a week for specific conditions.  At the surgery we offer a range of bathing treatments; such as flea treatments, regular everyday bathing or medicated washes.

Regular coat brushing can be beneficial for not only your dog or cat, but also for yourself as it is quality time spent and can reduce the amount of hair loss.  Brushing can also encourage hair growth and stimulate the skin follicles to help remove the ‘dandruff’ or loose skin that appears in your pets coat.  Another benefit of grooming is to prevent hair matting that is formed from knots.  Matts can be uncomfortable and detrimental towards your pet as they pull on the underlying skin and can cause infections and wounds from damage to the skin.  We offer a range of brushes and combs.

Nail trimming is also important for your dog as it can prevent scratches and harm coming from the sharp points.  Regular trimming also keeps the nails short as the ‘quick’ (the pink bit of the nail) will keep growing longer if the nails are left long, making the nails appear long even after being trimmed.

At the surgery we now have a designated grooming facility; including a heated hydrobath, blow dryer and top of the range clipping equipment.  The groomers at the clinic have had experience with dogs as small as chihuahuas to the largest of breeds such as wolfhounds and they are also experienced with cats.

Grooming appointments can be arranged from Monday through to Friday (excluding weekends).  We offer a wide range of services; including a simple tidy, full body clips, breed specific styling cuts or even just a bath to get your fur babies smelling scrumptious again!

Please phone the surgery on (07) 4151 3688 for prices and to arrange an appointment for your pets today!

After the devastating Bundaberg Flood early in 2013, it became apparent that there were many people who were unprepared for what do do with their precious pets in the event of another natural disaster.

Did you know that animal ownership was the number one reason for failed evacuations during the QLD Floods in 2011 and in Victoria’s Bush Fires?

We have listed below some measure you could put in place for such a situation:

• Update Pet Records (Microchip register/council register/vaccinations/ID tags)
• Prepare a pet Evacuation Kit
• Sign up to local emergency update sources to stay on top of alerts and messages
• Take photos of your pets and unusual markings
• Check tyres on horse trailers for large animal evacuation

It is also very important to have an evacuation kit ready for your pet. If you would like to purchase a first aid kit for your pet, we have them for sale at our surgery for $34.50.  You may prefer to gather your own together, and we have listed below some important items to put in such a kit:

PET’s Emergency Evacuation Kit

• Leads, Harnesses, Muzzles
• Food and Water (3 day supply)
• Medications
• Medical ID Records
• Poo-bags, Cat litter and tray
• Cages, Beds and Toys
• ID Tags and photos

 

In a previous blog titled “Love is in the air..”, we told you about “Reckless’ who is owned by one of our veterinary nurses Nicole.  The hope was that she was pregnant.

On the 16th December “Reckless” had her first ultrasound at twenty-six days after being served and also had a manual pregnancy examination at fifty-one days after being served.  So we are very excited to announce “Reckless” is in foal..

“Reckless”is currently fifty-nine days into her pregnancy and is expected to foal in September/October as the gestation period for horses averages out to 340 days.  Due to being in foal, “Reckless” is enjoying being spoilt with a hard feed mixture twice a day of breeder pellets, millrun and lucerne chaff.

We promise to keep you all updated throughout the pregnancy and will have progress photos to share!

 

All the team are hoping everyone had a very Merry Christmas and wish you all the very best for the new year.  With the new year has come a new product for fleas and ticks.

NexGard is the first of its kind.  The chewable tablet is said to be the most palatable tablet, making administration easier.  NexGard also offers not only one month protection from fleas, but from all of the ticks; Brown Dog, Bush and Paralysis ticks.  This makes it the only preventative on the market apart from tick collars that offer this sort of protection.

One of the many benefits of the chewable tablet is that it can be given to puppies as young as eight weeks old.  NexGard can also be given on either an empty or full stomach and statistics have shown dogs are three times less likely to vomit on this product compared to Comfortis (which also has a miniscule percentage of dogs that vomit).  Another benefit of the chewable tablet is that because it is an oral prevention, there is no need to worry about your dog swimming or bathing.

The chewable tablets can be bought singly for your convenience or in a 3pack and 6pack.  We hope to see you soon to try this new product and can’t wait for your feedback!

We hope 2015 is a happy and safe year for you and your pets.

 

At the beginning of this week we were excited to welcome a new member to our small family at the surgery.   Dr. Alexandr studied Veterinary Science at the James Cook University in Townsville, which he graduated from in 2013.  After achieving the Bachelor of Veterinary Science degree, Dr. Alexandr moved to Nanango where he worked in a mixed practice of both large and small animals.

Dr. Alexandr has a special interest for anything avian (birds), wildlife, reptiles and small animals; he also enjoys working with large animals.

He has brought his small family with him, which includes his beautiful partner Carla, Pinky the galah, Sherlock the green cheek conure and Moylee the cat.  When Alex has some spare time he enjoys rock climbing, hiking, and has developed a new passion for archery.

Alex has already endeared himself to all of the staff and to the clients he has consulted with throughout his first week, and we are absolutely thrilled to have him join our team.

While it is tempting to give your loved pets extra treats, especially with Christmas coming up, it is important to know what not to give them, particularly with regards to edible treats.  You may be surprised at some of the foods on this list.

Chocolate:  While most of us humans love chocolate, unfortunately it is toxic to a dog’s heart and nervous system and can lead to death.  As a general rule, the darker the chocolate, the worse it is for your dog because the toxic ingredient is cocoa.

Fatty Hams:  Another culprit that can cause issues is fatty hams – it is common for us to see dogs suffering from pancreatitis as a result of the high fat content of the hams.

Macadamia Nuts:  These nuts are all around bad news – if eaten whole in the shell, they often cause blockages that can only be removed surgically, and eaten without the shell they can cause severe gut pain.  They can even cause paralysis.

Alcohol:  This is a big no no.  Alcohol can lead to coma and death.

Avocado:  Avocado contains persin which causes vomiting and diarrhoea in dogs.

Raisins and Currants:  Can cause kidney failure.

Dairy:  Can cause diarrhoea.

Mushrooms:  Some varieties can cause shock and death.

Onions and Garlic:  Too much onions/garlic can lead to blood cell damage and anaemia.

Grapes:  Can lead to kidney failure.

It is also important to remember that some medications can be very toxic to dogs and can lead to kidney and/liver failure and more.  These include paracetamol and advil.

Finally, please be aware also of giving your dog any leftovers which may contain toothpicks, kebab sticks, mesh from rolled meats and the ties used for tying roasts.  We have had to surgically remove all of the items from dogs in the past.  Dogs tend to eat everything on their plate, regardless of whether these items are in there or not.

Christmas is such a wonderful time of the year and we want you and your pets to enjoy every moment of it.  If you enjoy giving your dogs extra treats at Christmas, we have a great range of both toys and treats such as pigs ears, lamb leg joints, liver treats and more, all of which are safe to eat and that your dog will absolutely love.

Merry Christmas to all of our wonderful clients and pets.

 

 

“Reckless” is owned by Nic Andrews, one of our Veterinary Nurses.  She is a 20 year old appaloosa paint mare.  Recently “Reckless” has been serviced by her new found love “Doc”, who is a chestnut and white overo stallion.  Fingers crossed for “Reckless” that she is pregnant.  We will know in about three weeks time the results of the pregnancy ultrasound and will let you all know the news.  You can see from the photo she will have a beautiful foal!

“Reckless” is 20 years old and has already had one other foal named “Mambo”.  “Mambo” is now 3 years old.

Nic also has “Shyanne” , a chestnut warmblood quarter horse cross, and “Malibu” who is “Shyanne’s” baby.

Nic is very hopeful that she will be able to add to her stable of horses…….be sure to keep checking our latest blogs for the updates.

Given that we are currently treating 2 dogs who have parvovirus, we thought it was an important time to share some information on this devastating illness so that you have a better understanding of why it is so important to vaccination your dogs.

What is canine parvovirus (parvo)?

Canine parvovirus, more commonly known as parvo, is a highly contagious viral disease causing severe illness that can pose a fatal risk to your dog.  There are two forms of canine parvovirus; one attacks the gastrointestinal tract and the other attacks the cardiovascular system.  By far the most commonly seen type is the gastrointestinal tract form.  Once the virus is in the gastrointestinal tract, the cells rapidly divide causing damage to the lining of the intestines and even affecting the bone marrow within the tract.   Because white blood cells are damaged and or destroyed in this process, your dog is then vulnerable to a broad spectrum of infections.  In the photo below, it is easy to see how sick this puppy is from this terrible disease.

How does my dog catch canine parvovirus?

Although puppies under six months of age are most at risk with the disease, dogs of all ages are susceptible if there are no prevention measures in place.  The main source of virus transmission is when your dog ingests or comes into contact with contaminated faeces from in infected dog. This can be from footpaths, parks, shoes and coming into contact with infected dogs.  While you may be thinking “I didn’t see any poo or come in contact with any other dogs”, it is important to know that the virus can remain actively infectious in the environment for up to eight months.  The virus can also be transmitted by people coming into contact with an infected dog and then touching your dog without correctly washing their hands and or clothing.  Therefore if there has been parvovirus within your environment, precautions must be taken when bringing or sending animals from the premises.

What are the symptoms?

Dogs who become infected with canine parvovirus can sometimes take four to fourteen days from the initial exposure to become ill or show any symptoms.  Common clinical symptoms include:

• loss of appetite
• fever
• depression
• lethargy
• profuse bloody/watery diarrhoea and or vomiting.

Dehydration is then also an issue as your dog is expelling a lot more fluid than they are taking in.  The photo below is very typical of what typical parvo diarrhoea looks like.

How is parvovirus diagnosed and treated?

If you think your dog may have canine parvovirus it is important to seek veterinary advice as soon as possible. Once in the consultation room a quick and painless faecal or rectal swab will be taken and tested to determine whether your dog has the virus.  If a positive reading is returned, treatment can be started immediately.  This involves intravenous fluids for rehydration, medication to reduce vomiting, anitbiotics to treat any bacterial infections that may arise, pain relief if the animal is in pain and anti-inflammatories to help reduce symptoms.  The patient is kept in isolation and there are strict protocols for entering and exiting the isolation room to rule out the spread of the virus to other patients within the clinic.  Treatment has the best outcome if the dog or puppy is brought in as soon as they show clinical symptoms.

How to prevent against canine parvovirus?

The best way to prevent the virus is to vaccinate.  Vaccinations start when  puppies are between six to eight weeks of age, followed by a booster at twelve weeks of age, after which a yearly booster is then required.  Until your puppy is fully vaccinated you can prevent them contracting the virus by keeping them away from other dogs and other sources of infections such as parks as well as making sure you don’t come into contact with an unvaccinated or infected dog.

Please feel free to ask any staff member at the surgery to provide information and advice on vaccination for your pets!