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| a great place for pets - www.thevets.com.au | |||
June 2007 edition
1. What's on 2. Walking better in 21 days 3. Helping Tahli save water 4. Not everyone likes change 5. Whats up Doc? 6. What a team! 7. Puppy Preschool... the beginning of a beautiful friendship 8. School holiday fun 9. Is your pet having a bad hair day??... Zoom in for a “cool times” Groom |
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1. What's on “What's happening for pets down at the vets!” you say? Haven't you heard?? Our local pets are talking about it over the fence!! Down at the vets this month the gossip is all about “Respect for your Elders” with the Sensational Seniors Celebration. Psst! I heard its something about a Hills seven year switch. No, no …not itch….I said switch!...listen up now !...It's not fleas...it's Hill's Science Diet, the best food suited to the changing needs of us mature pets!! Hill's Science Diet has developed a range of great nutrition specially formulated for mature pets to help us get the most out of life. You know! Live longer...Live better...sounds good to me! Now don't get me wrong, fleas can be a problem to us mature folk (pets) too and need to be treated. I heard they have a great offer on Advocate that treats, protects against and prevents not just fleas but the major parasites too, inside and out! When your family buys some they get a photo frame and we get to have our picture on display for them all to admire. So...This month Take the 7 YEAR SWITCH….. Purchase any Hills Science Diet Mature Adult formula or Prescription Diet and RECEIVE $10 OFF NEXT PURCHASE. Put your pet in the picture with Advocate Receive a FREE PHOTO FRAME with your 6 month purchase of Advocate - Plus your Chance to WIN the ultimate Digital Photography Kit or one of 10 Philips Digital Photo Frames So don't just gossip about it over the fence, get your family down to the vets to make the most of this months specials!...Tell em ya neighbour sent ya! Back to top |
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2. Walking better in 21 days Jeff is worried about his best mate, Robbie, a Blue Heeler. The two are inseparable: Jeff runs a feed store and Robbie comes with him, riding in the back of the ute. At work he's always to be found lounging around the office or in his favourite sunny spot out the back. Recently though, Robbie has been slowing down. He can't jump into the back of the ute and is less enthused to see people he knows well. Jeff brought Robbie to the vet to find out what was wrong. It turns out that Robbie is suffering from arthritis. Arthritis is a disease that affects 1 in 5 dogs and is the leading cause of chronic pain. It means his joints are painful and stiff. Jumping into the car, climbing stairs and running are all difficult. This has probably been going on for some time but because dogs tend to hide their pain, it wasn't noticeable to Jeff until it became severe. As part of his treatment, Robbie was put on a remarkable food formulated to help dogs with sore joints. Within 21 days, Robbie was noticeably improved. The food works by doing the following: Shut down: Special ingredients cleverly shut down the damaging arthritis enzymes that damage the joint Soothing: The correct blend of fatty acids are added to soothe the joint, reducing the inflammation that flares up in arthritis Rebuild: Other components provide the building blocks to help rebuild the joint and any damaged cartilage Reshape: L-carnitine helps to burn fat and thus take weight off the joints In addition, Robbie is on a moderate exercise programme, has been prescribed anti-inflammatory medication and is in the process of losing some weight. Exercise helps to strengthen the supporting structures around affected joints and dropping kilos takes the pressure off those joints. Take the 7 YEAR SWITCH….. Purchase any Hills Science Diet Mature Adult formula or Prescription Diet and RECEIVE $10 OFF NEXT PURCHASE. AquaDog Health and Fitness….a great safe place for gentle swimming exercise & weight loss. Specialised hydrotherapy programs available for joint treatment. For more details please visit www.thevets.com.au/aquadog To win a month's supply of Hill's* Science Diet* for your pet, click on the button below. Hill's* Prescription Diet* Canine j/d has a unique formula for the management of arthritis in dogs. For more information click here Back to top |
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3. Helping Tahli save water When Jan noticed her beautiful long haired Moggie Tahli drinking water out of the shower recess, she thought it was weird but didn't realise it could indicate something more serious. A chance conversation with a neighbour about his old cat's failing kidneys made her think she should get it checked out. Jan took Tahli to the vet where as part of the examination, a urine sample showed that Tahli's kidneys were not concentrating the urine as well as they could. Concentrating urine is a vital role of the kidney that helps prevent dehydration. To determine the cause, a blood test was taken and together with the urine results, showed that Tahli was suffering from early stage kidney disease. Kidney disease is one of the most common conditions in older cats. It's typified by the gradual deterioration of the kidney, which if left untreated, can lead to dehydration, nausea and severe weight loss. Tahli was immediately put onto medication and a special food to help manage the condition. The medication reduces blood pressure to slow the progression of the disease, helps with water retention and protein losses. The food limits the load on the kidney by through its low sodium levels and high quality protein. Tahli is back at home and doing really well. While kidney failure is not cureable, in early stage cases like Tahli's it can often be managed well. She has 6 monthly blood tests to see how she's travelling in the meantime she can focus on terrorising her mate Elvis the dog. Sensational Seniors Celebration Take the 7 YEAR SWITCH….. Purchase any Hills Science Diet Mature Adult formula or Prescription Diet and RECEIVE $10 OFF NEXT PURCHASE. Back to top |
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4. Not everyone likes change The saying goes, "a change is as good as a holiday". This is often true but in the case of your pet's health, it may not be. Because pets age so fast [the equivalent of 7 human years in 1 calendar year], changes that represent disease can progress significantly in one year. That's why the annual health check is so important. Our goal at the annual health check is to detect these damaging changes because early intervention is the best chance we have to keep your pet healthy and happy. You can help us by reporting on the following: Drinking and urinating – increases in either can indicate problems with the kidneys or even hormonal conditions such as diabetes Eating habits – eating less can indicate dental disease, eating more can be a sign of hormonal changes and eating different things can be behavioural Body Weight – whether your pet is gaining weight or losing it, we want to know about it. Changes to body weight in adults can signal serious underlying disease. If there is no disease, increasing weight is a serious issue in itself for the long term health of your pet Changes in personality - a sudden reluctance to exercise or aggression where previously there was none may indicate an underlying condition. It is instinctive for pets to hide their pain but for their owners, changes in personality are often noticeable. Arthritis is a good example of a painful condition that may present as a change in personality. Mouth: any bad smell coming out of your pet's mouth is worth mentioning. Dental disease is the most common infection in pets over 3 years of age and is often indicated by bad breath. Our Sensational Seniors Celebration It's all about living longer …..living better……….Regular Wellness Testing is highly recommended for all pets over 5yrs (young!) A simple blood test can make sure your pet's inside looks as healthy as their outside. Even though we'd like to think they can, our pets can't always tell us where it hurts and we can't always see what's happening on the inside. A pet that appears healthy on the outside may be hiding internal signs of disease. So how we can tell whether a pet is healthy on the inside? A simple blood test is one way of helping detect early signs of disease. Wellness testing includes a complete blood count, tests for liver and kidney function, diabetes and a urine concentration test. If you would like to find out more about your pet's internal health just make an appointment for a Wellness Test for your pet and if possible bring along a urine sample. It's simple & easy. If you require any help just call and talk to our friendly pet care team. Back to top |
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5. Whats up Doc? Our veterinary team shares some of their interesting stories with you….. Our last article titled “not everyone likes change” underlined that in the case of your pets health, a change is not always as good as a holiday and highlighted the importance of annual, or for mature pets, 6mthly health checks. Our veterinary team this month shares with you some examples of the importance of regular and thorough Top to Tail health checks and Wellness Tests for your pets. Thankfully, during thorough medical examinations, these pet's conditions were detected in time and they all had good outcomes. Jake, an 8yr old rottweiler had been unwell overnight when his owner brought him to see Dr Tony. After a thorough examination and xrays a tennis ball sized lump could be seen off his spleen. Exploratory surgery was performed and a total of three lumps were found. The other abdominal organs appeared to be healthy. Unfortunately Jake's spleen had to be removed but pathology of the lumps showed that the growths were not malignant (cancer). This was a great result for Jake and his family and they have all recovered well from the ordeal. Kezzy, a 3yr old Moggie, came to see Dr Paul for his annual top to tail examination and vaccination. Kezzy appeared a bundle of health and his owner had nothing unusual to detect. In performing our standard, thorough top to tail examination, Dr Paul felt something unusual in Kezzy's abdominal area. Further exploration, palpation and tests revealed polycystic kidneys with the largest cyst around 4cm. Thankfully tests detected no tumors and Kezzy's health remains stable. Kezzy's owners will keep a close eye out for any changes in his appearance or behaviour and Dr Paul has strongly recommended regular wellness tests to identify any changes in kidney function. Back to top |
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6. What a team! As promised this month we are again really excited about introducing you to the newest members of our pet care team. They are already off to a great start getting to know you and your pets, so look out for some friendly new faces when you next visit our clinics! Introducing... another new member of our pet care team! Dr. Katie Ross – Associate Veterinarian Katie graduated from the University of Queensland in 2005 with First Class Honours and has previously worked in a mixed animal practice in Victoria. Katie has now made The Vets on the sunny Gold Coast her home, so as to pursue her interest in small animals. Katie's favourite small animal is her beloved labrador named 'Becky'. Back to top |
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7. Puppy Preschool... the beginning of a beautiful friendship Live, Love, Listen, Laugh and Learn. 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, families 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. Puppy Preschool includes a puppy swim class in our hydrotherapy pool at AquaDog. To join our next class, please call the location that suits your family and ask our friendly staff for more details. Congratulations to our most recent graduates: Nerang Benny Harrison Georgie Kelly Saber Joy Starfish Smith Max Farr Charlie Green Abi Walder Helensvale Gypsy Senior Bronco Burt Ruby Pamler Nina Burton Finola English Xenia DeSwardt Homer Graydon Back to top |
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8. School holiday fun With school holidays coming up, it's an ideal time for activities that involve both the kids and pets. Here are some fun suggestions: • Hide and Seek: Best played with 2 people and a dog. Some cats also will play. One person hides and while the other waits with the dog. Seeking out the hidden person is what dogs love. Start by hiding in easy places and reward when found with treats and pats. Progressively hide in more difficult places. Once you've played this a few times, you may find you have a pet fit for search and rescue work! • Tasty Pet Treats: Kids love to cook and so why not make something your pets can enjoy too. 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 Remember, treats like this should make up less than 10% of your pet's diet. • Treasure hunt: like an Easter egg hunt but using pet food or treats, this game provides fun for everyone. Best done before meal time when your pet is most hungry, this game exercises a dog or cat's sense of smell and hunting instincts. Hide the food around the garden or house and then let your pet sniff it out. To add excitement, use a stop watch to time how quickly the food is found. Does your pet get better and quicker? Back to top |
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9. Is your pet having a bad hair day??... Zoom in for a “cool times” Groom The Vets at Nerang and Helensvale is a great place for your pet to get a “cool” new hair style. Our professional pet stylist, Lisa can get even the scruffiest coat looking great and smelling sweet, as we start to catch glimpses of the approaching cooler months!! Even if they are not being fully clipped Zoom in for a “cool times” Top to tail trim including bath, blow dry, nails, ears clean and trim face and bottom. No more bad hair days...Just call us for an appointment. Wishing, your pets the best in hair care. 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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