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| a great place for pets - www.thevets.com.au | |||
October 2006 edition
1. Maggie's indulgent lifestyle bites back 2. Chasing your tail - literally! 3. History making World Animal Week 4. How to stop your pet from going barking mad 5. Snake in the grass |
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1. Maggie's indulgent lifestyle bites back Maggie was a happy 9 year old tabby cat when she developed a cold and went off her food. Her owner, Jill, thought that going off her food wouldn't be bad for Maggie as she was quite overweight. Having a cold meant Maggie couldn't smell the food and simply lost interest in eating. Rather than being good for her, not eating almost killed Maggie. For other animals and people, not eating for a couple of days can lead to weight loss. In cats, the mobilised fat reaches the liver but cannot be processed into energy – for reasons that are not yet clear. As a result, the liver clogs with fat and this obstructs the liver's function. Untreated, this condition can lead to liver failure and death. Maggie was quickly diagnosed with the aid of blood tests and an ultrasound. She was then hospitalised to try to stabilise her condition. While in hospital she received intravenous fluids and a feeding tube to be able to deliver food directly to her stomach. The key to treating this condition is to get the right food into the body on a regular basis – Maggie couldn't do this herself as she wasn't eating. Maggie was fed small amounts regularly throughout her stay in hospital. Once stabilised, she was sent home and Jill continued the tube feeding. Maggie slowly but surely improved. After about 3 weeks, the tube was removed as Maggie was eating by herself again. She was put on a weight loss programme and now is trim and terrific. If she can maintain her new figure, she won't get this illness again. Take home message: Overweight cats are at risk of developing "Fatty Liver" or Hepatic Lipidosis anytime they stop eating. If you have an overweight cat, contact us if he or she hasn't eaten for 48 hours or more. Hill's* Science Diet* premium brand pet food and Hill's* Prescription Diet* therapeutic brand pet food provide the most complete range of products specially formulated for the successful weight management of dogs and cats. For more information click here Back to top |
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2. Chasing your tail - literally! We all have our little obsessions – but when it takes over your life it becomes a problem. When a cup of coffee a day becomes 3, 5 and then 10, you know you're in trouble. Pets are the same. Instead of coffee, it's things like tail chasing, catching imaginary flies and excessive grooming. The good news is that help is at hand and the problem can often be solved. Tail chasing is the most common of these disorders. We've all seen a dog chasing his or her tail. It's an often lampooned part of a dog's behaviour [remember Disney's Pluto and his incessant tail chasing]. The reality is that for some dogs it can be a compulsive disorder – leading to injuries and distress. What to do if your dog is chasing his or her tail: · Come and see us sooner than later. The earlier the problem is dealt with the easier it is to treat compulsive disorders. · We will do a thorough examination – often there's a physical reason for what seems like “mad dog” behaviour: tail damage, fleas and blocked anal glands can all cause a dog to chase the tail · If there's no physical damage, we then consider a compulsive disorder as the cause. Treatment involves a combination of medication and management [such as training and environmental stimulation]. Other compulsive conditions include Fly catching – where Cavalier King Charles Spaniels try to catch imaginary flies and Flank sucking – a condition in Dobermans where they suck their sides so much it can damage the skin. Back to top |
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3. History making World Animal Week You have a chance to help make animal welfare history this World Animal Week from October 4-10. The World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) is inviting you to take part in the Week by joining their Animals Matter To Me campaign – the most exciting global effort to improve the lives of animals yet. The campaign aims to achieve a world-first Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare at the United Nations – similar to a declaration of human rights. This means that for the first time, countries will have a foundation on which to make all animal welfare related decisions. It will help to raise awareness of the needs of animals on a global scale and thus is an extremely worthwhile project. So make your voice heard for animals this World Animal Week by adding your name to the Animals Matter To Me petition. Just visit www.wspa.org.au/animalsmatter to find out more. WSPA would like to thank all the people who supported the recent bear project in Vietnam. WSPA worked with local animal protection groups to gain an agreement with the Vietnamese Government to phase out the cruel practice of bear farming in that country – a process which is now well underway. Back to top |
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4. How to stop your pet from going barking mad This is the last in our series about what keeps pets happy. Happiness in pets is attained when small hurdles or challenges are successfully achieved. As an owner, you can provide these challenges and influence your pet's happiness. The examples we've discussed have included providing vegetation, training, off lead walking and play. In this edition, we'll address the final two areas: View of a busy scene: Providing a view is one of the most calming things you can do for pets and is especially good for dogs that bark incessantly. The key lies in them being able to see a complex scene. Cars, people and other animals passing by are of great interest. In choosing between a backyard with no view and a balcony with a view, the balcony wins every time. Work harder and longer for food: Strangely, the harder a pet has to work to get a meal, the more satisfying it is. Rather than putting food in a bowl to eat, scatter it around the garden or house. You can even hide it. This is more akin to the situation found by dogs and cats in the wild. The hunt leads to more satisfaction. Scattering food also encourages more chewing. Chewing releases serotonin in the brain, adding to the feeling of satisfaction. Back to top |
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5. Snake in the grass Around 6,000 dogs and cats are treated in Australia each year after being bitten by snakes. If treated quickly, pets have a good chance of survival but there's much we can do to prevent bites in the first place. As we move into the warmer months, it's a good time to take stock and make your local environment as safe as possible. Here's what you can do: Backyard clean up – keep grass cut short, remove any garden rubbish, woodpiles or debris Discourage rodents – remove food sources for rodents such as open feed bags or fruit dropped from trees. Rodents are a food source for snakes and will attract snakes into a backyard. Keep away from long grass - keep dogs on leads near long grass or river banks. Look out for the following signs of possible snakebite: · Shaking or shivering · Listlessness · Drooling · Dilated pupils · Red coloured urine [Cats that have been bitten are often quiet, not very responsive and floppy when picked up] First aid: If you suspect snakebite call us immediately for assistance. The quicker we can treat a victim of snakebite, the better are the chances of survival. Keep your pet calm and prevent from walking. Where possible carry and limit any movement that may increase the rate of movement of venom in the body. Don't try to kill the snake – many people get bitten this way and snakes are protected. 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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