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| a great place for pets - www.thevets.com.au | |||
April 2006 edition
1. New trend: Canine Freestyle 2. Parvovirus outbreak in Sydney 3. Easy Easter treats 4. Hairball Mayhem 5. Pet Insurance |
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1. New trend: Canine Freestyle Achieved your basic training and looking for the next step? Consider tripping the light fantastic and learn to dance with your dog. Correctly termed Canine Freestyle, this energetic and fun new pastime has taken North America by storm and is now taking off here - click here to watch the fabulous video. Canine Freestyle is a series of choreographed moves performed by dog and handler. It combines obedience and dance and the main focus is on having fun. In this creative environment, new skills are learnt, further strengthening the bond between dog and handler. The great thing about Canine Freestyle is that anyone can participate. You don't have to be a dancer and your dog doesn't need to be an obedience champion. It does help if you and your dog can perform a few basic commands such as sit and drop. At the introductory level, the concept of the target is taught where the dog learns to follow a hand or pointer the basis on which a dance move is built. Other skills include spinning and leg weaving. At the advanced level, more complex moves are taught and are then linked to form a dance. This is the ultimate when looking for an activity to do with your dog keeping minds and bodies active while maintaining a sense of fun and adventure oh, and it's a great way to get out and boogie to your favourite music. For more information please call the clinic. Back to top |
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2. Parvovirus outbreak in Sydney Nine dogs have died recently in a sudden outbreak of Parvovirus in Sydney's inner suburbs. Parvovirus causes severe vomiting and diarrhoea in dogs especially puppies. Vets in the area are urging all dog owners to ensure their pets are vaccinated against the killer virus. This is a frightening but timely reminder to all of our clients to ensure vaccination is up to date. Caught in the outbreak was George. His owners adopted this beautiful 12 week old Dalmatian Cross from an animal shelter. They'd only just got him home when he began to vomit and have diarrhoea. His owners took him straight to the vet where he was hospitalised as he was already quite dehydrated and the vets feared Parvovirus was a possible cause. He spent the next five days in hospital on a drip, unable to eat anything and being administered antibiotics. He got worse before he got better and finally, on day 4, he started to pick up and ate some chicken. This was a real breakthrough he continued to improve throughout the day and finally, on day 5, he went home. His family are relieved it was quite a shock to have seen such a young pup as George go through the trauma of this disease. The most important message is to make sure your dogs are vaccinated. Vaccination is the only way to prevent Parvovirus. Puppies need a course of injections and then it's every year, as part of the annual health check. Back to top |
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3. Easy Easter treats Here are some Easter tips to make the holiday period a safe and restful one for pets and people alike. Things to avoid: Chocolate it contains theobromine and caffeine, which are toxic for dogs. Signs can range from hyperactivity in mild cases to coma in more severe cases Lilies a very popular flower at Easter and other times of the year. Unfortunately, many lily species, if ingested, can cause kidney failure in cats. Known to cause problems are the Tiger, Easter lily, Rubrum, Day, Glory, Stargazer, Japanese Show, Asian types, Peace and Calla lilies While chocolate is toxic, you can make your own Easter safe treats. Here's a recipe for tasty Chick'N Fingers, suitable for dogs and cats: 2 1/2 cups white flour 3/4 cup yellow polenta 1/4 cup chopped chicken 1 cup chicken broth 4 tablespoons softened margarine 1 egg 2 tablespoons milk Preheat oven to approx 160 degrees. Combine flour, polenta, chicken, chicken broth and margarine. Form into a soft dough and knead for 3 minutes. Roll dough to 1/4 inch thickness and cut into 3 to 4 inch finger shapes. Beat egg and milk together and apply to top of biscuits with brush. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 160 degrees for 35 minutes. Makes 24 fingers. Note: treats should not exceed 10% of the daily intake to ensure the diet remains complete and balanced. If your pets are boarding while you go away this Easter, ensure they are up to date with their vaccinations, worming and flea control. All good boarding facilities require a current vaccination certificate call us if you need a new certificate issued. Back to top |
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4. Hairball Mayhem It's normal for cats to ingest hair wild cats have to when they hunt. So is it normal for our cats to throw up large wads of hair called furballs or hairballs? The answer is most probably not. It's considered that a healthy cat should be able to pass hair without the production of the grotesque hairball. There are several factors that may influence hairball production: Long haired cats - such as Persians and Chinchillas tend to have more problems. Regular grooming helps reduce hairballs Fleas itchy skin from biting fleas can lead to over grooming and excessive ingestion of hair. Regular flea control is a must Diet a substandard or patchy diet may lead to hair build up in the stomach and intestine. Feed a high quality food with ingredients designed to aid the passage of hair through the intestine. If the production of hairballs persists there may be an underlying problem with the digestive system. Hairballs that are not vomited or passed can lead to intestinal blockages a serious situation that may require surgery. If you are concerned about your cat's coughing or hairball production, please call us. Hill's* Science Diet* Hairball Control Formula uses natural vegetable fibres to help move hair safely and naturally through a cat's digestive system. Available in canned and dry versions: for more information click here Back to top |
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5. Pet Insurance There are two components to keeping your pet in the best health possible. Firstly prevent illness and secondly be prepared if an unexpected illness occurs. Here are the keys: Problem Prevention 1. Diet feed the best available. We recommend a premium commercial food 2. Body weight keep at optimum body weight for the longest life possible. Recent studies show that dogs can live up to 2 years longer simply by maintaining optimum body weight 3. Prevent and detect illness early have an annual health check at the clinic when it's due every year. As part of this check we provide protective vaccinations as well as flea, intestinal worm and heartworm control Emergency plan An emergency or sudden illness can strike at any time and despite the best prevention, accidents do happen. Serious cases such as being hit by a car, fight wounds and internal organ injuries can require intensive care. In preparing for the unexpected, one option is to take out pet insurance. For those that use pet health insurance, there is peace of mind that the cost of treatment will be met in the event of an accident or unexpected illness. The major pet health insurance companies will cover approximately 80% [up to $5000] of the cost of treatment for unexpected illness or injury. For more information, contact the clinic. Back to top |
The Vets Nerang Unit 5/90 Spencer Road Nerang 4211 ph 5596 2322 fx 5596 0549 Helensvale Unit 7/14 Sir John Overall Drive Helensvale 4212 ph 5529 8011 fx 5529 4133 www.thevets.com.au |
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