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February 2008 edition IN THIS ISSUE 1. What's happening for your pets down at the vets...? 2. What's up Doc? 3. Pre-anaesthetic blood testing 4. A howling success 5. What's that smell? 6. Aqua Dog swimmer of the month 7. It's Back to school for 2008 8. The secret lives of Ben |
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1. What's happening for your pets down at the vets...? We're wishing you and your pets a year full of good Health, Fun and Fitness. Embrace the New Year!...As we start to get back to work and school and organise our families for a fabulous year ahead. So let us help get you and your pets organised for the busy year ahead with a great 2008 Gardener's Diary. Drop into our clinic and say “Happy (and Healthy) New Year” to your pet care team and receive your FREE pocket size 2008 Diary with gardening and pet care tips to last you all year. These great 2008 diaries are with New Year compliments from your pet care team, Burkes Backyard and Bayer and are available this month until stocks last!. Congratulations Meagan & Rowan and welcome little Lucy Belle! Talk about Embrace the New Year!! 2008 is taking on a whole new meaning for our team member Meagan and her new little family. Yes, little Lucy Belle arrived pretty much on schedule at 4.59am Boxing Day 26th December 2007, weighing 7lb 15oz. Although she missed arriving on Christmas Day by only a few hours, no greater Christmas gift could have been received by proud parents Meagan & Rowan. Not wanting to miss any Christmas or New Year family celebrations they were home with their little princess 4hrs after her arrival. They are all doing really well. Meagan shared with us that “being a mother is amazing” and it sure shows in this gorgeous family photo taken when Lucy Belle was just one day old. Changes to our clinic opening hours: Arundel Plaza Clinic is now closed on Sundays. All our clinics are open Monday to Saturday to provide the best care for your pets. Saturday opening hours are as follows: Arundel Plaza 8am – 12 noon; The Vets Helensvale 8am- 1pm; The Vets Nerang 8am- 5pm. For after hours and emergency veterinary care, please call the clinic and our messaging system will give you our emergency veterinarian's contacts details. Back to top |
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2. What's up Doc? How a Pre Anaesthetic Blood Test saved Lucy's life. Lucy, a happy, healthy 6yr old King Charles Cavalier Spaniel, came to see us for a routine dental procedure. A pre anaesthetic blood screen was recommended for Lucy before commencing the procedure which required a general anaesthetic. Lucy's blood test results indicated elevated liver enzymes, pointing to liver disease. Dr Paul decided to postpone Lucy's procedure until more test could be done. For Lucy to have an anaesthetic, he needed a clearer picture of exactly what was going on with her liver and the severity of the problem. A liver function test was done. When abnormal results were returned from this test, Dr Paul's suspicions of liver disease were confirmed. Lucy was sent to the veterinary specialist centre for a liver scan. Once all the test results were considered a diagnosis of a rare congenital liver disorder called Porto Systemic Shunt was made. “It is a congenital disorder affecting the blood vessels in and around the liver so Lucy would have had this condition since birth” explained Dr Paul. “We would never have known about it without the pre anaesthetic blood test and further diagnostic tests”. Based on Lucy's condition, the specialist veterinarian recommended Lucy should avoid having a general anaesthetic. The liver plays an important part in the body's processing of the anaesthetic agents, so for Lucy it would greatly increase the risk to her health. Lucy's family was very grateful that we had recommended the pre anaesthetic blood test and had deferred Lucy's procedure for further investigation. Our veterinary team and Lucy's family will now work together in managing her condition medically. Read our article below for more about Pre anaesthetic Blood Testing and learn more about what it means to your pet's veterinary care. Back to top |
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3. Pre-anaesthetic blood testing Many of us have felt apprehensive about a loved family pet having a general anaesthetic. While anaesthetics these days are extremely safe, it is normal to worry. Our job is to look after your pets and make the anaesthetic as safe as possible. One of the ways we do this is with a pre-anaesthetic blood test. Prior to an anaesthetic, we examine each pet thoroughly. While this gives us important information about factors such as heart rate and rhythm, a blood test shows us what's going on internally. It gives vital information about the health of the blood and major organs. Pre-anaesthetic blood tests can detect conditions that otherwise may not be detected. These include Diabetes, Kidney and Liver disease, Hyperthyroidism, Anaemia and other blood disorders. Blood tests allow us to decide whether to proceed as planned, delay the anaesthetic until the underlying condition is treated, or adjust the type of anaesthetic used. Pre-anaesthetic blood tests help to ensure your pet receives the best treatment possible. If you'd like more information, please call us. Back to top |
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4. A howling success Is your cat's howling driving you mad? Is it keeping you awake at night? It could be that he or she is trying to tell you something. One of the most common hormonal disorders we see in cats is called hyperthyroidism. This is where an overactive thyroid gland is upsetting the body's normal function. There's much that can be done for these cats. The first thing to do is to diagnose the condition. Look out for: Unusual vocalisation: often howling Poor coat: dull, spiky and sometimes greasy Increased appetite and thirst: excess thyroid hormone makes a cat hungry Losing weight: despite eating more, many cats lose weight with this condition Hyperactive: has trouble resting for long periods Diagnosis involves a full examination with a blood and urine test. We are looking for evidence that the thyroid levels are high but also to rule out other conditions that may be causing these changes: for example kidney disease or diabetes. If hyperthyroidism is diagnosed, treatment options will be discussed and in most cases, there's a high chance of success. Early detection is very important, so we recommend that all cats over 7 years of age have a blood and urine test at their annual examination. For your cat's safety and wellbeing! We request that your feline friends are securely contained in an enclosed basket or specific cat carrier when visiting our clinics. Even the calmest and laidback of cats can take fright at the array of different visitors and busy happenings in our clinic waiting area. We also strongly recommend, for your safety and that of your pet, that cats be securely contained when travelling in cars. Appropriate enclosed cat carry baskets can be ordered for purchase at our clinics. Cat carriers are also available for loan when our stock allows, although due to the high numbers that are not returned by clients we now require a deposit of $30, which is refundable on return of the basket to our clinic. Back to top |
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5. What's that smell? One of the pleasures of pets is having a cuddle. Whether you're sitting in the sun in the back yard or collapsed on the couch after a long day at work, pets are always there for you and love getting up close for a scratch or a pat. Keeping them smelling good is important, however, as wafts of bad air can really turn you off. This is especially noticeable when pets live indoors. Bad breath and smelly coats are two main culprits. Here's how to deal with them: Bad breath was until recently so common in dogs and cats it was considered normal. With better understanding of dental care in pets, most people now recognise bad breath as indicating dental disease. Regular raw bones and brushing are the best way to prevent dental problems, but some pets will need a dental clean performed under general anaesthetic. The smelly coat is usually the domain of dogs rather than cats. Dogs love to roll in the smelliest gunge they can but this is easy to fix: a good wash will do the job. Other smells may be tougher to banish. Excess sebum, a natural skin secretion, is a common cause of bad smell. It encourages bacterial growth, leading to the odour. To get your sweet smelling pet back, do the following: 1. Feed a premium dry food. These contain omega 3 fatty acids in the correct ratio to reduce skin inflammation, a factor in smelly coats 2. Use flea control every month of the year. Fleas contribute to most inflammatory skin conditions 3. Brush the coat regularly. This removes loose hair, debris and dirt. 4. Use an anti-microbial shampoo; talk to us, we'll recommend the right one for your pet. If the smell does not improve in 3-4 washes, book an appointment for us to investigate the problem further. 5. Zoom in for a Groom. Let us make caring for your pets coat fresher and easier this summer. The Vets at Nerang and Helensvale is a great place for your pet to get a cool new hair style for summer. Our professional pet stylist, Lisa can get even the scruffiest coat looking great and smelling sweet. Just call us for an appointment. Embrace the New Year special! Zoom in for a groom and receive 50% off an Introductory Swim at AquaDog Health & Fitness Centre. Back to top |
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6. Aqua Dog swimmer of the month Charlie, a happy one year old Labrador, started swimming with us at Aquadog in August last year. He was referred to us with joint problems in his hips. Charlie was also a little overweight which would have contributed to his joint problems. Charlie needed to lose a few kilos to improve his hip joints and prevent any further complications in later life. As swimming is non-weight bearing and there is no strain on bones and joints swimming at Aquadog was an ideal weight loss and overall fitness program for Charlie. Ten minutes of swimming is equivalent to a least one hour of walking so Charlie was quickly on his way to being slim, fit and healthy. Only a few months down the track and Charlie has been very successful in losing a few kilos and his hip joints have improved enormously. Charlie is a lot happier now and all his hard work has paid off. After all, it's actually great fun learning to swim, diving like a seal and playing and fetching toys in a safe, fully supervised indoor pool specially designed just for him! Charlie is so fit now he rushes into AquaDog twice a week and greets us with so much excitement that we just can't miss the arrival of one of our champion fun & fitness swimmers. Aquadog is situated 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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7. It's Back to school for 2008 Whilst school children all over the Gold Coast have just returned to classes for 2008, our puppy preschools haven't wasted any time in getting on with life and learning. After only a short break for Christmas our first puppy classes for this year have already started. In early January our first classes for 2008 embraced the New Year with all the enthusiasm and exuberance you could expect from a bunch of preschoolers and their parents. Puppy Preschool …really is the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Puppy Preschool is where we “Love, Listen, Laugh and Learn". It's 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 at our Nerang, Helensvale and Arundel Clinics. To join our next class, please call the location that suits your family and ask our friendly staff for more details. Our 4 week program includes a puppy water safety class at our indoor swimming facility, AquaDog Health & Fitness Centre. For more information click here. Stay tuned! The first graduation announcements and class photos for 2008 will be posted in next month's newsletter. Back to top |
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8. The secret lives of Ben Ben was a beautiful Labrador who lived with his family in Sydney, near the water. He was your typical Labrador; loved chasing a ball, sometimes chewed the furniture and was a great mate. Robbie, his owner, was shocked one day to find he'd been living a secret life. It began when she took a call from the chaplain of the local boys school. Could she please come and pick up Ben. Surprised that Ben would be anywhere other than home, she was amazed to learn that Ben had been visiting him every morning for months. He was so well loved by the school that he was presented with his own school report. The report read, "Ben is quick to adjust to new challenges. His friendly, faithful nature endears him to everyone. He has been a most cooperative member of the class and eagerly participated in the last supper in the Chaplain's Office. Well done Ben!" On another occasion, Robbie received a call from the local sailing club. Like the school visits, Ben had been a regular at Wednesday social sailing. He had his own crew and loved going out on the water. Ben is sadly no longer with us but Robbie treasures the school report and memories she still has. If you have a great story about your pet or another you know, email it to info@petpack.com.au and it will be considered for publication. 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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