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March 2008 edition IN THIS ISSUE 1. Whats happening for your pets down at the vets...? 2. Byron saves 6 young lives 3. Ok, I'll feed you 4. Aqua Dog swimmer of the month 5. Help save the Bilby this Easter 6. Toffee's cough 7. Puppy Preschool...the beginning of a beautiful friendship 8. Leaving a personal note |
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1. Whats happening for your pets down at the vets...? Have you heard our pets talking about it over the fence? In this month's newsletter we continue to embrace the new year. With a real focus on Health & Fitness for life this month's edition is packed with great information. We will be looking at that old saying “you are what you eat” as we unleash our fitness on pets and people exercising together. You'll read about how Tameka, one of our very own pet care team has struggled with her dog Charlie's weight and with a little help from their friends, have discovered a diet and exercise program just perfect for both of them. You'll meet some stars of our puppy preschool, find out how our resident pet star, Byron the golden retriever, and our pet care team helped save 6 six week old puppies while also getting the inside word on the clear & present danger of parasites especially this steamy, wet summer season. Its not just ticks that are a problem at this time of year. “ With the rain and humidity, it's perfect weather for many parasites including fleas, heartworm from mosquitoes and hookworm” commented Dr Tony recently in the Gold Coast Sun Newspaper article “Rain proves unhealthy for Pets. What a team…………some exciting announcements! Dr. Sonja has commenced further studies in ultrasonography. The course is run by the University of Sydney via it's distance education program and involves Sonja spending 8-10 hours per week over the next year on advancing her technical skills in the use of Ultrasound diagnoses. Sonja is really excited about the opportunity to pursue excellence in this area of special interest and ultimately providing your pets with the latest technological advances in patient care. Our ultrasound machine is already proving to be an extremely valuable diagnostic tool and Sonja looks forward to doing many more ultrasounds over the next year. Good luck and happy studying Sonja!! Dr. Meredith has taken an academic position at the University of Queensland Vet School and we wish her well there. Dr Kathryn James has been part of our Nerang veterinary team for the last 4 years and will now be joining our Helensvale team, mostly based there. Dr Liz Duncan who was part of our team for 6 years before heading overseas, joins us again on a permanent part time basis at Helensvale. Welcome back to the team Liz! Dr Matt Lawton joined our Helensvale team in mid February and is very busy getting to know all your pets and settling in with Dr Kathryn, Dr Liz, Dr Paul and all the petcare team. A big welcome to Matt and stay tuned for Matt's official introduction in next months newsletter. Back to top |
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2. Byron saves 6 young lives This amazing story was published recently by our local Nerang Gold Coast Sun Newspaper. For more details and great reading get your Wed 13 Feb copy and refer to p30. story titled “Dog donor saves pups” Dr. Tony recently saw a litter of very sick 6 week old cocker spaniel pups. The puppies' gums were pale and they had dark coloured diarrhoea. Sadly one puppy in the litter had already died. An examination of the faeces under the microscope showed masses of hookworm eggs. Hookworms feed on blood in the small intestine, cause anaemia and can cause death due to blood loss. The pups had red blood cell percentages of between 10% and 20 % compared to normal levels of 35 - 50 %. Tony called on the services of one of our resident pets, his dog Byron. For those of you who know Byron his relaxed loving nature made using him as a donor easy. Byron happily donated 150 ml of blood and this was shared and transfused between the pups. Our nurses Emma and Sam did a fantastic job of hand transfusing the pups over the next 4 hours. Shortly after the blood transfusion all pups were brighter and pinker and returned for check ups then vaccinations at the end of January. Rain and warm weather, which we certainly have experienced in recent times, is perfect for parasites such as worms and fleas. Hookworm especially love these warm humid conditions. Regular worming is very important to maintain your pet's health & wellbeing. All pet cats and dogs require intestinal worming at least every three months, more frequently for pets under six months of age. Did you know parasites in your pets can also affect the health of other family members? We recommend Drontal chewable tablets due to its high worm kill rate, if you are not using a multi parasite product such as Sentinel or Advocate. Ask us about the best product for your pet at your next visit. Ask about our Special Offer: DRONTAL All Wormer CHEWS Buy 3 get one FREE… That's a whole years worth of worming for your adult pet! *Contact the clinic if you would like to give one of these gorgeous puppies a new home* Back to top |
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3. Ok, I'll feed you Those adoring eyes look up at you and say, "Feed me...please!" How can you resist? It's very hard, even when you know you have been feeding too much. This is the challenge faced by all pet owners and we're here to help you win. Winning is worth it as we love our pets and studies show keeping them at their correct weight can give them an extra 2 joyful years of life. Why is it so hard to keep pets at the correct weight? It is only in relatively recent times that dogs and cats have had enough to eat. It was out of starving necessity that Labradors learnt to do the doleful eye look or Tabby cats learnt to rub up against a leg incessantly. Both these actions brought the reward of more food from their human friends. So while keeping pets at their correct weight is probably the best gift you can give your pet, doing it is hard. There is an abundance of food in our pantries and we're soft at heart. Here are some tips: · Feed raw bones 2-3 times a week. Chewing releases serotonin in the brain producing a sense of well being. Pets will then pester you less for food plus have healthier teeth · Use a food dispenser toy. Available from the clinic, these toys hold the pets meal but only let small amounts out at a time. This means longer meal times and more satisfaction · Scatter food around the garden. Rather than feeding in a bowl, scatter food around the garden. This replicates pets' normal instinct to hunt for food, presents a challenge and leaves them feeling more satisfied · Weigh your pet at the clinic. The scales are in the waiting room and you can use them at any time. We can advise about a weight loss diet if required. We also offer a comprehensive range of health and fitness programs: Does your pet need to lose a few kilos? Ask us NOW about our special offer Fit for Life Pets and People. Join our Chubby Checkers weight loss programme - including lifetime membership, your pets very own personal trainer, a free introductory swim and discounted “6 pack” swimming program at Aquadog. Chance to WIN great prizes, including travel vouchers by entering Hills Pet Slimmer of the Year competition. For more information please click here Back to top |
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4. Aqua Dog swimmer of the month When it comes to keeping your pet at their ideal weight, our very own pet care team member Tameka can personally relate to our story ”OK I'll feed you” in this edition. She knows just how hard it can be to resist when her family dog Charlie looks up at her with adoring eyes and says “ feed me ….please” even though she fully understands the seriousness and truth of studies showing keeping your pet at the correct weight can give them an extra two joyful years of life. Charlie a 3yr old border collie cross king charles cavalier spaniel has since a young puppy lived a blessed life. Tameka explains “ He has always been spoilt by my whole family especially my two younger brothers who love to give him treats from our pantry. I guess his weight has just been slowing gaining without us realizing”. Tameka started helping out at The Vets when she was still at school and has been part of the team now for about 3yrs. It was only recently when she commenced some nurse training in nutrition and weight loss that she realized her own dog had a weight problem. At his annual Top to Tail examination Charlie's weight problem was confirmed by Dr Paul. “It took me a while to come to terms with it and convince my family that we had to take action now” Tameka confessed. “ Once we got over that initial hurdle and made a commitment to the weight loss program it has been great”. Charlie has joined our Chubby Checkers Club including fortnightly weigh ins, prescription weight loss diet and Aqua Dog swimming exercise program. In the first week of the program Charlie lost 2kg. “The Aqua Dog swim program is great” Tameka explained “having to get Charlie exercising and swimming has made me more active and we are spending more quality and fun time together". He loves playing fetch with Tameka, splashing into the pool and swimming to retrieve his toys. Charlie is well on his way to achieving his goal weight and Tameka has certainly gained some hands on experience to pass you and your pets. Well done Charlie and Tameka. Aqua Dog is situated next to The Vets at Nerang. Call our friendly team at Aqua Dog on 5502-2444 to arrange an introductory swim and enquire about our Chubby Checkers Club including a personal trainer, weight loss diet and comprehensive “6 pack” swimming program fully tailored to your dogs needs. For more information please click here Back to top |
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5. Help save the Bilby this Easter Easter is almost upon us and it will be chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate! Unfortunately chocolate is toxic for pets but there is a way to have a safe Easter and at the same time help save another little critter, the endangered Bilby. Bilbys are the “Australian Easter Bunny”; tiny, cute marsupials that live in dry bushland and once were found across most of Australia. Today they are endangered, due primarily to habitat destruction and the introduction of foxes and cats. To help save these remarkable creatures, some very dedicated people are working hard at different locations around Australia. You can help by buying chocolate Bilbies from Darrell Lea. For more information click here. To give your pets a safe and fun Easter, here are some tips: 1. Avoid chocolate: it contains theobromine and caffeine which are toxic. 2. Choose flowers other than lilies: the following types are toxic to cats, causing kidney failure if ingested: • Tiger lily [Lilium tigrinum] • Easter lily [Lilium longiflorum] • Rubrum [Lilium speciosum] • Day lily [Hemerocallis species]• Glory lily [gloriosa superba] • Stargazer lily [Lilium orientalis] • Japanese show lily [Lilium lancifolium] • Asian lilies [lily asiatic delicious and montreux] 3. Spend lots of quality time with your pets. Go for a walk, including time off leash. Take the time to sit and have a pat. Enjoy your friend's company, he or she certainly will enjoy yours. Wishing you all the very best for your pets and a wonderfully abundant Easter celebration of family fun and special times together…From all your Pet Care Team. Easter clinic opening hours: Over the Easter Holidays 21-24 March we will be closed on Good Friday and Easter Sunday & Monday. Easter Saturday opening hours will be as follows: Arundel Plaza 8am – 12 noon; The Vets Helensvale 8am- 1pm; The Vets Nerang 8am- 3pm. All our clinics will be open to provide the best care for your pets normal clinic hours commencing Tues 25 March. Arundel Plaza is now closed on Sundays. 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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6. Toffee's cough Toffee, a beautiful Cocker Spaniel, had a cough that wouldn't go away. Her owner, Mark, thought it was nothing at first but when she started to lag on their regular walks, he became worried and took her to the vet for a check up. At the clinic Toffee was given a full examination and found to be in good condition except for the cough. There was some indication that the heart was involved so a blood test was performed. It revealed that she had heartworm, a potentially fatal condition. Heartworm is a parasite that lives in the heart of dogs causing heart and lung disease. This is why Toffee was coughing and without treatment, the condition is ultimately fatal. Heartworm is passed to dogs by mosquitoes. Once the mosquito has bitten the dog, the heartworm travels to the heart where it remains, growing bigger every day and disrupting the function of the heart. Toffee was immediately hospitalised. After further blood tests and X-rays showed the heartworm had caused minimal damage to her body so far, the treatment to remove the heartworm began. Toffee came through the treatment successfully and follow up testing showed her body recovered well. Toffee is now on heartworm prevention to stop this happening again. Because of cases like Toffee, we recommend all dogs begin heartworm prevention when they are pups and continue it for life. With the rain and humidity we've experienced this summer season its perfect weather for all sort of parasites, particularly heartworm carrying mosquitoes. If your dog isn't on a regular heartworm preventative or you have missed some treatments contact our pet care team for advice. A yearly vaccination for heartworm prevention is now available making it as easy as your yearly check up. Back to top |
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7. Puppy Preschool...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 Congratulations to our recent graduates: At Nerang Nugget Smith, Gizmo Woodward, Bella Thornton, Monte Thornton, Buttons Cornwell, Heinrick Black, Mickey Sheppard, Ruby Thomas, Solomon Calleja At Helensvale Roy Walsh, Rani Gilshenan, Sockie Hoops, Kadillac Taber, Nala Doyle, Bo Bliss, Zuhri Bathurst At Arundel Pluto Lock, Meeka Holden, Larry Anderson, Trevor Whybrow Thank you to all the enthusiastic puppy students and their dedicated parents for sharing the experience with lots of love and laughter. Special “New Beginnings” Offer: Try Best Start HILLS SCIENCE DIET for your puppy this month and RECEIVE $5 OFF (purchases up to 3kg) AND $10 OFF next bag (purchses of 4.5kg -18kg). Back to top |
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8. Leaving a personal note One of the most talked about topics in the clinic is anal glands. They produce such a horrible smell that we can't avoid them and are often helping pet owners deal with the issue. Dogs and cats have 2 anal glands; they're found on either side of the anus. They function to produce a personal scent. Each time a poo is produced, the anal glands mark the faeces with the distinctive smell. This is the equivalent to a pet's signature – other pets know whose poo it is. The significance of this sophisticated labelling device is lost on us, we only smell the odour and are repulsed. It's when the glands become blocked that they are a problem. This leads to discomfort, rubbing of bottoms on the ground and the discharge of the smell. It's not uncommon for pet owners to notice the smell while sharing the couch with their pooch and watching TV. The best treatment is for us to manually empty the glands. Other factors that reduce anal gland impaction include encouraging firm faeces by feeding dry food and keeping body weight down to optimum levels. Pets with ongoing problems may benefit from surgery to flush the glands or to remove them all together. In the name of freshness, comfort, and cleanliness for our extra furry long haired friends it is also a good idea to keep the area under the tail well trimmed. That way it ensures no amount of anything from this area has a chance to stick or hang around (If you know what we mean!). We recommend you Zoom in for a Groom and 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 “The Express” - Top n Tail trim tidy with hydrobath or “The Works” including a whole 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. We look forward to seeing you and your pet. 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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