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September 2006 edition
1. Who's your pet's sporting hero? 2. Liquid gold under the microscope 3. Finding the right pea for your pod 4. New wildlife rescue hospital 5. Put a smile on your pet's dial 6. Case Study: Bella's beautiful babies 7. Name change 8. Aquadog swimmer of the month: Makita |
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1. Who's your pet's sporting hero? It's finals fever time and with both the AFL and NRL grand finals due in 4 weeks, this is one of the biggest times of the year for sports fans - a time when our sporting heroes are in the spotlight. It's nice to know that often these heroes are pet lovers as highlighted by www.footydogs.com. Check out the great images of these dogs and players - there's clearly some hero worship going on here both ways! Who's your pet's sporting hero? It's time to show your true colours and where your allegiances lie so we'd like to know which sportsperson your pet would most relate to. Whose poster would he or she put up in the kennel? And this is for all pets Guinea Pigs have heroes too you know. Swimmers might go for a Thorpey or Leisel Jones. Tireless workers may go for a Lleyton Hewitt. Or for those more cruisey types, there's a hero in someone like Russell Meyer, the lawn bowls champion. To enter, click on the button below, enter your pet's name, who their sporting hero is and why. We'll put you in the draw to win a Village Cinemas Double Pass [valued at RRP$34]. Back to top |
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2. Liquid gold under the microscope A urine sample from your pet is like liquid gold to us under the microscope it can tell us a wealth of information about the health of your pet. From the status of the bladder and kidneys through to complex hormonal conditions, a urine sample can reveal all. Once collected, there are a range of tests we can carry out on a urine sample: 1. Dipstick test gives us information about the pH [acidity] of the urine, the presence of sugar, ketones, blood, proteins and other compounds 2. Refractometer measures the specific gravity of the urine. This is key information in understanding how well concentrated the urine is relates to kidney disease often seen in older dogs and cats 3. Microscope examination detects the presence of red blood cells [haemorrhage in the urinary tract], white blood cells [inflammation], bacteria [associated with infection-cystitis] and crystals [may relate to possible blockage and dietary factors] 4. Culture and sensitivity bacteria in the urine are encouraged to grow under laboratory conditions. The bacteria are then challenged with antibiotics to see which antibiotic is most effective for treating the pet's condition. We recommend that all healthy pets over 7 years of age have an annual urinalysis. The results can be vital in helping to keep your pet happy and healthy for years to come. Hill's* Science Diet* and Prescription Diet* offer a range of foods designed by veterinarians to prevent and manage diseases of the urinary tract. For more information click here Back to top |
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3. Finding the right pea for your pod Choosing a new pet is one of the most important decisions you'll make in your and your pet's life and considering you could be together for fifteen years, it's a bit like the commitment of getting married. The success of this relationship depends greatly on how well you choose your pet and we're here to help. Here are our tips: First step - choose based on behaviour not looks: Because choosing a pet with the wrong behaviour is the No. 1 reason why pets end up in pounds, we can't stress this enough. With our help, you will be able to find a pet with the behaviour that is right for your family and lifestyle Second step - take your time and plan for your new pet: It may sound bizarre but write a Pet Description. Like a job description, this will help to outline the key characteristics that you are looking for. Some categories to cover include: Trainability do you want your pet to respond to basic commands or are you looking for something more such as agility training? Aggression Do you want a dog that is good with kids or a guard dog? Responsiveness Do you want a chilled out pet or one that is full of beans? Physical requirements is coat type or size of pet an issue? Do you live in a flat? If so, are you prepared to provide the necessary exercise? Third step - finding the pet: Seek as much independent expert advice as possible professionals in the pet business who have no vested interest in a particular breed or type of dog. In this category, we're your first port of call. We see thousands of pets every year and our local knowledge is often useful for recommending breeders of dogs we know well. Other experts to talk to are groomers, trainers and park rangers. Back to top |
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4. New wildlife rescue hospital Wildlife rescue just took a giant leap forward with the opening of the world leading Australian Wildlife Health Centre at Healesville Sanctuary. The reality of wildlife care is now on display. The tears, the joy and the commitment of vets and nurses can now be witnessed first hand. The centre is supported by an excellent website www.awhc.zoo.org.au where you can follow cases, get involved and access a wealth of learning resources. A typical case - injured rescued Platypus: A female platypus was found in a river with a hair elastic entangled around her neck and front leg. The elastic had caused a severe injury, cutting into the leg to the point where the bone was exposed. The platypus was in poor condition and would not have lasted the winter. Admitted to the centre's hospital, the platypus was assessed then anaesthetised so an X-ray could be taken to establish the extent of the injury. The wound was then cleaned up and repaired. She was then allowed to recover in a private platypus area that included her own pool and nesting boxes while being fed her favourite food - mealworms, fly pupae, yabbies, blood worms and crickets. This lucky platypus is doing really well and hopefully will be released back into her environment soon. This is a good case of how education goes hand in hand with wildlife rescue keeping rivers and waterways clean will reduce the number of platypus and other creatures that become injured and need emergency care. To read more about this case and others click here or for some fun games for kids click here. Back to top |
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5. Put a smile on your pet's dial This month we're continuing our look at what makes pets happy. Environmental enrichment is the key providing small and achievable hurdles. For your pet, this leads to a feeling of being able to control his or her environment, resulting in happiness. There's a lot you can do for your pet it often doesn't require expense but just some thought. Here are some more ideas: Free running exercise, or off leash walking means your pet can sniff bushes, grasses and posts. It allows a dog to investigate strange objects in his or her environment and then to feel in control as each object is analysed and determined to be non-threatening. Free running exercise is not feasible for cats but teaching your cat to walk on a lead is a great alternative. Training: Small challenges such as sit, come and stay have numerous benefits for pets. There's the sense of success at completing a task as well as the bonding with owners that occurs. Teaching new commands adds to the enriching process. Play: is all about learning to deal with unpredictable responses. Play with people and other animals is more enriching than play with objects. A cat will pretty quickly work out what a fluffy squeak toy does and, after playing for some time, will walk away. However, if a person picks up the fluffy toy and waves it around in front of the cat, the interaction is so much more intense and long lasting. Back to top |
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6. Case Study: Bella's beautiful babies Bella, a three year old Neopolitan Mastiff was put into pup and due to the possibility of complications during whelping, Bella was scheduled for an elective caesarean. Bella was admitted to hospital Wednesday morning. After a pre anaesthetic blood screen to check that her liver and kidneys were functioning correctly, Bella was given preanaesthetic medication & anaesthetised. Nine beautiful, healthy pups were delivered during a very intense 45 minutes. Bella recovered from her anaesthetic and in no time was eagerly feeding her newly arrived babies. The pups are all doing really well and have all now moved on to their new homes. Back to top |
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7. Name change As most of our clients have noticed, we have recently changed the name of two of our clinics. Coast & Country Veterinarians at Helensvale is now The Vets, Helensvale & Coast & Country Veterinarians Nerang is now The Vets, Nerang. Nothing else has changed, the ownership and staffing all remain the same, just an exciting new name! Back to top |
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8. Aquadog swimmer of the month: Makita Makita is a 10 year old German Shepherd x Rottweiler. His owner Kiri Speedy noticed that he was getting slower when out for his walk and a little stiff in his hindquarters. Mak was diagnosed with osteoarthritis by his vet who recommended he start swimming to help rebuild his muscles and improve his mobility. Mak has been swimming at Aquadog for one month now and we are already seeing an improvement in his joint range of motion as well as his general fitness. 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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