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February 2007 edition
1. Congratulations Margaret & Hamish! 2. Wishing your pets a year full of Health and Fitness 3. AquaDog is a great place for Swimming for Weight-loss 4. AquaDog Swimmer of the month 5. Don’t just hear it on the grape vine – Beware! the tasty fruits of summer 6. The benefits of desexing 7. Safety first 8. Zoom in for a Groom 9. Margot to live a longer and happier life 10. It's BACK TO SCHOOL for 2007 11. Moving house with your cat 12. Herbs to love and plants to loathe |
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1. Congratulations Margaret & Hamish! It is with great excitement that we announce the birth of our team member Margaret's new little baby boy! Liam David Kiddle was born 10th January 2007, to proud parents Margaret and Hamish. At 8lb14oz & 51cm he is a healthy little buddle of joy and baby and parents are all doing really well. We'd like to officially welcome Liam to the team with his first football profile (football part not necessarily endorsed by his mother) Liam David Kiddle DOB: 10th January 2007 8.30pm Wt: 8lb 14oz (4.03kg) Ht: 51cm Games for 2007: zero (so far!......although according to Margaret it felt like he was practicing his marks before he was born) Stay tuned for some exquisite family photos of little Liam and his proud parents in next months newsletter. Back to top |
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2. Wishing your pets a year full of Health and Fitness Everyone knows good nutrition and regular exercise improves our quality of life. It's the same for our pets. Obesity is the most common nutritional disorder seen in cats and dogs. In Australia, 41% of dogs and 33% of cats are considered obese. So if you think your pet may have over-done the Christmas cheer a bit this holiday season, The Vets offer a comprehensive range of health and fitness programs including Chubby Checkers weight-loss diets and exclusive AquaDog swimming for weight-loss exercise programs. The Vets Chubby Checkers Club has been specifically designed to help pets rediscover their “waste” line (and literally waste away the excess). As in humans, this problem can be easily tackled if given the right advice and tools to reshape your pet. Our qualified Veterinary Nurse will design a calorie controlled program which includes a special premium nutrition diet, exercise and a few very helpful tips to reshape your pet. As a member of the CHUBBY CHECKERS CLUB you will receive: A Free weight Loss consultation - A full consultation with our Chubby Checkers nurse to detail your pet's current weight, goal weight and design calorie controlled diet. Chubby Checkers File - All Chubby Checkers receive their very own Program summary file, detailing the consultation. Helpful hints - Our Chubby Checkers nurse will help you maintain your pet's weight and give you some helpful tips along the way! Weekly Weigh-in - The Chubby Checkers nurse will schedule a weekly weigh in time for your pet, this is an opportunity to monitor his/her weight and ensure you are heading in the right direction! For more information please click here Back to top |
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3. AquaDog is a great place for Swimming for Weight-loss AquaDog is a great place for Swimming for Weight-loss Would you like to see your dog carrying a little less weight this summer? The answer is easy! A good premium low fat diet food like Hills Science r/d and swimming! Did you know that 10 minutes of swimming is equivalent to at least an hour of walking? By swimming your dog once or twice weekly at Aquadog, your dog will be slim, fit and healthier much faster than just taking them for a walk! Whilst swimming, your dog is using every muscle in their entire body and also strengthening their heart and lungs at the same time. Most dogs also learn to really enjoy their swims as they can play and fetch toys in a fun, safe, fully supervised indoor swimming pool specially designed just for them. Because swimming is non weight bearing, there is no strain put on their bones and joints while they are exercising, which makes losing weight in the AquaDog pool an even safer form of exercise. Aquadog is right next to The Vets at Nerang. Call our friendly team at Aquadog on 5502-2444 to arrange an introductory swim and enquire about our comprehensive weight loss swimming program fully tailored to your dogs needs. For more information please click here Back to top |
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4. AquaDog Swimmer of the month Last month we featured our AquaDog Health & Fitness facility as a great safe place for fun swimming! We do have many regular swimmers that just come along for fun and fitness. Our swimmer of the month this edition has truly perfected the concept of FUN. Spot the dog in this picture…its an airborne Bee ! Bee Bennet is a German Short Haired Pointer and as you can see, she loves leaping airborne into our pool at AquaDog! Bee comes to swim just for fun and to keep her slim body fit! As soon as she pulls up in the carpark, she is so excited she can't wait to jump right in and fetch her toy! Because Bee swims at AquaDog, her mum doesn't have to worry about things like sharks, sand and salt in the car and she can also relax in our indoor air-conditioned facility during the heat of summer! AquaDog Health & Fitness really is a great safe place for you and your dog to cool off and get fit this summer. Back to top |
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5. Don’t just hear it on the grape vine – Beware! the tasty fruits of summer Dog owners may not be aware of a surprising and relatively unknown risk to their pet's health. Grapes, this summer, may make a tasty, refreshing treat for dog owners but surprisingly, can be a deadly threat to their canine friends. These tasty little fruits of summer along with the dried products like sultanas and raisins can trigger kidney failure in dogs and may be fatal. Dr Richard Malik of the University of Sydney's postgraduate foundation of veterinary science said in a recent Pet Rescue website article “ One grape or three raisins won't do it, but if the dog eats a whole box, 400 to 500 grams they are at risk of developing renal failure”. He went on to explain how, some dogs with unlimited appetites, could easily eat a lethal dose. Dr Kathryn from our team at The Vets added, “while I have personally only seen one case of grape poisoning in a dog, I understand the toxic effects of these fruits are thought to be cumulative. Dogs may become affected by eating the toxic amount over a period of time. The signs to look for include loss of appetite, vomiting, miserable appearance, shaking and unsteadiness”. It is a mystery as to why these fruits are toxic to dogs. In the Pet Rescue article Dr Malik commented “Nobody has done any definitive research. It may be the fruit itself, or something like a fungus growing on their surface” Our team at the vets felt it was important information for dog owners particularly after Dr Donna talked last month about the dangers of festive treats like chocolate. Many pet owners are already aware of other toxic dangers like snail bait and rat poison but may not have suspected these common and seemingly innocent fruits. Back to top |
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6. The benefits of desexing For dogs and cats living in urban areas, being desexed has real advantages for their long term health as well as our community and environment. If left undesexed and uncontrolled, a dog or cat can produce thousands of offspring in a few short years. Breeding like this leaves animals physically drained, produces babies that often become strays and, in turn, pose a threat to local wildlife. There are too many pets being euthanased in welfare shelters as it is. So we recommend desexing for all pets – and there are many other benefits: 1. Less roaming leads to fewer injuries: Desexing removes the desire of males to chase female dogs in season. This means less roaming which in turn means less chance of being hit by a car. Today, car trauma victims are rare – thanks in part to desexing 2. Less disease: Desexing eliminates the risk of a range of reproductive diseases – including breast cancer 3. Reduced aggression: the local park is a more harmonious place with desexed pets – they fight less which means pets can focus on socialising. This is important as the local park is often the only time our pets do get to socialise – a key to keeping dogs healthy 4. Cheaper registration: Council registration fees are much cheaper if your pet is desexed. Back to top |
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7. Safety first We put your pet's safety first in everything we do. An example is the pre-anaesthetic blood test, which helps us maximise the safety of a general anaesthetic. In conjunction with a thorough physical examination, the blood test gives us specific information about the internal health of your pet - often detecting problems that are not visible to us otherwise. Examples of what we detect include: Anaemia: low red blood cell levels Inflammation or infection: high white cell counts Poor kidney function: kidney disease is relatively common in pets but is often not noticed until the condition is well advanced. Testing allows us to pick up the disease in the early stages – leading to better treatment Diabetes: hormonal conditions such as diabetes will be picked up in the early stages with a blood test Finding these conditions before the anaesthetic means we can adjust our course of action. We may delay the anaesthetic until the condition is treated and healed or adjust the type of procedure to fit more closely with the pet's condition. Either way, the results of these tests are important to ensuring your pet's health. When your pet needs an anaesthetic, you'll now be informed as to why we recommend a pre-anaesthetic blood test. Back to top |
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8. Zoom in for a Groom The Vets at Nerang and Helensvale is a great place for your pet to cool off and get a stylish new look for summer. Our professional pet stylist, Lisa is available now to help your pets shed that unnecessary coat for some great carefree summer days of play. Just call us for an appointment. Wishing, your pets no more bad hair days, just carefree summer days of play. Back to top |
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9. Margot to live a longer and happier life Margot is a 5 year old Collie who is overweight and has been suffering from lethargy and a general lack of interest in life. Margot lives with another dog, Jessie and their owners, John and Deidre. The vet told John that the best thing that could be done for her is to lose weight. She began at 37kg and her ideal weight is around 25kg. That means she's 50% overweight! If John can get Margot down to her ideal weight, she has a chance to live an extra 2 years. John was at a loss to understand why Margot should be so overweight when Jessie, the other dog, was not. It transpires that Margot has been eating some of Jessie's food as well as her own – a common problem with dual dog households. The important points for Margot's weight loss are: 1. Slow and Steady - gradual weight loss important – in Margot's case, she has a 9 month programme to lose her weight 2. Keep the balance - it must be done with a complete and balanced food – so that the dog does not suffer any nutritional deficits during the process 3. Reset the boundaries - devise a system to prevent her from eating Jessie's food – Jessie will be fed in the shed and the food then removed to prevent Margot's access Margot was put on a special weight loss food, sent home and told to come back for a weigh in every month. Fast forward to 6 months later and the result is astounding. Margot has lost a massive 9kg and is like a puppy again. John and Deidre are fired up to finish the programme and then keep her at her ideal weight. 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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10. It's BACK TO SCHOOL for 2007 Whilst school children all over the Gold Coast are just now returning to classes for 2007, our puppy pre-schools here at The Vets, didn't waste any time in getting on with life and learning. After only a short break for Christmas our first puppy classes for 2007 have already started in January and with all the enthusiasm and exuberance you could expected from a bunch of pre-schoolers and their parents Puppy Preschool …really is the beginning of a beautiful friendship Our puppy pre-school is a fun way for puppies and families to learn all the skills required for a rewarding life together. Under the expert guidance of our qualified nurses, parents can enjoy being involved in developing their new puppy's social skills to ensure they become polite and well behaved canine citizens. Classes are held once a week for 4 weeks 6.30 - 7.30pm. To join our next class, please call the location that suits your family and ask our friendly staff for more details or click here Back to top |
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11. Moving house with your cat According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, approximately 30% of people move house every 3 years – which is quite extraordinary. So if you're moving soon and have a cat, keep the following in mind: Cats are highly sensitive to changes in their environment and they find moving house disruptive. If you're prepared and have a plan, the discomfort to all involved can be minimised – and it can even be fun. Here's what to do in 3 stages: 1. Before leaving your home Your cat will detect there is something odd going on very early – so be prepared. Begin by limiting your cat's movements to one secure room in the house just before you begin packing. If you leave it till after you pack, you may find your cat runs away – or at least goes into hiding [which is not what you need]. Keeping your cat in one room will also be less stressful for your cat. Things we recommend: a purpose built cat carry container, id tag for the collar and a microchip. A pheromone spray is also very useful to calm your cat's nerves. 2. Travelling to your new home Put your cat in the cat carry container that has previously been sprayed with the pheromone spray. Secure the container in the car – either with a belt on the seat or place the container in the boot area if you have a station wagon. 3. Settling into the new home Allocate one room for your cat [often the laundry is ideal] to stay in for the first few days. Provide a litter tray, food and water and somewhere to hide – the carry container can be ideal with the cat's own bedding inside. Spray the room with pheromone spray. This confinement will allow your cat to acclimatise to the new environment gradually. After a few days, when you feel your cat is behaving calmly, allow her to explore the house gradually with you. Wait for a week or so before allowing her outside. Initially go out with her and only for short periods. Neighbourhood cats may see the garden as their own territory and this will take some time to change. Do not leave your cat in the garden by herself until you're confident other cats have moved on. Back to top |
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12. Herbs to love and plants to loathe As part of our series on gardens for pets, we're looking at which plants are best for pets and which to avoid. Some herbs that your pet will love: Catgrass (Dactylic glomerate) – cats and dogs naturally seek this plant out to chew on Catnip (Nepeta cataria) – some cats go head over heels over this herb. They chew on it, rub their heads against it and play with the fronds. The plant contains nepatalactone which stimulates a cat's sense of smell. The plant has grey-green leaves with a distinctive minty odour. Spikes of white flowers appear in summer. Excellent in pots. Catmint (Nepeta x fassenii) – contains the same chemical found in Catnip that stimulates some cats. Has purplish-blue flower spikes in summer, with grey-green foliage. Grows to about 40cm. Plants to avoid: While pets don't often eat poisonous plants, puppies are particularly susceptible as they'll eat anything. Cats are at risk of kidney failure if they ingest some lilies. Here's a list: · Arum Lily/Calla Lily · Asparagus Fern ·Azalea · Black / Common Nightshade · Bulbs [including Belladonna Lily] · Daffodil · Gladioli · Hippeastrum · Hyacinth · Iris · Jonquil · Onion · Ranunculus · Tulip · Castor Oil Plant · Cycad or Sago Palm · Datura or Angels Trumpet · Dumb Cane · Elephant Ears / Cunjevoi · Euphorbia / Spurge / Poinsettia · Foxglove · Hellebore / Lenten Rose · Holly · Ivy · Lantana · Honeysuckle · Morning Glory · Oleander · Philodendron · Privet · Rhubarb · Robinia · White Cedar · Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow This list is not complete. For more information ask us, talk to your local nursery or click on the following link: www.abc.net.au/gardening Thanks to Andrew O'Sullivan from Gardening Australia for his help with this article. 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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