Have you heard our pets talking about it over the fence?

Ready Set Go...In this month's newsletter, we're off to a great start as we leave winter behind and race towards spring. And with Olympic fever over for another four years, we're going for our own gold with some world beating offers.

Great starts, like new beginnings, have happy endings when you microchip your pet. Young or young at heart, it's never too late to ensure your best friend can find their way home. Simple and easy - it only takes a few minutes for us to insert a tiny identification chip under your pet's skin. Collars can be lost but with a microchip if ever you are separated from your pet a veterinarian or animal officer can scan the microchip and access your contact details from a national pet registry.

Celebrate new beginnings with happy endings... microchip your pet NOW!  SPECIAL SPRING OFFER ...This month microchip your pet for only $30  (Save $20)

As Spring approaches we also find that it is not just flowers that are blooming...Fleas can be a blooming nuisance when your pet is not correctly treated, not to mention the serious dangers of paralysis ticks without a robust tick prevention program for your pet. In this month's edition you can learn how to look out for all sorts of stings and things that come with spring.

A fresh new start on Dental Health continues as we discover it is that makes Casey smile.

AquaDog celebrates the Aussie team's medals with some Olympic spirit and team building of their own. Find out about the reward you'll receive when you bring a friend to join the AquaDog swim team and make a champion start to spring together.

Charlie, a ginger and much loved "Moggie", visited the vet earlier this month after his owners noticed him biting around the base of his tail. Flicking through his coat with a flea comb his vet found the evidence - flea dirt, also known as flea poo or digested blood. "But Charlie is wearing a flea collar from the supermarket, so why would he have flea dirt?" his owners asked. 

Adult fleas live on the pet and lay eggs that fall onto the ground. If the conditions are not suitable for hatching, such as during the cold winter weather, the eggs become dormant. As the weather warms up, movement and vibrations allow the eggs to hatch. Swarms of fleas emerge, jump onto and bite your pet and cause a nasty itch. Even if we don't see fleas on your pet, flea dirt indicates that the flea has visited. 

For Charlie a tailored flea control programme was recommended. This involved using a flea control product that breaks the flea breeding cycle, prevents the build up of eggs in the pet's environment and, importantly, is safer and more effective than supermarket flea collars. This was good news for Charlie and his family.

Charlie's owners threw out his flea collar and followed the recommended programme. Charlie is now flea free! What a great olympic gold medal start to spring for Charlie and his family.

Paralysis ticks are off to a great start this season. Unfortunately they have already beaten some pet owners to the starting blocks. This year already we have seen many potent cases of tick paralysis, some as early as June and we are preparing for a dangerous spring and summer season.

The paralysis tick attaches to the pet and causes signs such as a cough, vomiting, or wobbly legs. If untreated, this can lead to coma and death. Treatment varies depending on each case but always involves the use of antivenene.

Preventing tick paralysis is ideal but difficult to do. It requires vigilance and regular treatments. You will need to search your pet every day and consider cutting the hair short for long haired breeds.

So LOOK OUT LOOK OUT ...there are TICKS about. Don't get left behind on the blocks, ensure you have a robust tick prevention programme in place for your pets. Ask our petcare team at the clinic what's best for your pet to prevent paralysis tick.

For a great start to spring we recommend you Zoom in for a Groom with our professional pet hair stylist, Lisa.  Don't take the risk...a stylish new short coat for your pet will help give Ticks the Flick this season.

Wishing your pets the best in hair care and tick prevention

Spring is in the air. The days are getting longer, the flowers are beginning to bloom and we are spending more time outside after the cold winter months. Be aware, there are also potential dangers. 

Insect bites, particularly from bees and wasps occur commonly in spring and can cause a serious allergic reaction. Due to their curious nature, dogs (and less commonly cats) are often bitten around the face or the paw. 

Signs to watch out for:

• Swelling around face or mouth
• Sore paw or sudden lameness
• Breathing or swallowing problems. 

Action: If your pet is experiencing extreme breathing or swallowing difficulties, call us immediately for help. Even in less severe cases, the sting is often still imbedded and needs to be removed. Your pet may also need an injection to help reduce swelling and pain. 

To help prevent stings, keep grass trimmed and remove flowering weeds and objects that may attract bees and wasps such as smelly old bones. Always be on the look out for bee and wasp activity outside and contact us if you think your pet may have been stung.

The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel can be traced back to the 16^th century royal courts of King Charles II. The king was so fond of his little companions that he passed a law that the breed should be allowed into any public place! 

This aristocratic and appealing toy breed comes in four colour variations Blenheim, Ruby, Black & Tan and Tricolour. 

Special qualities:

• Loyal and gentle
• Loves to play
• Sociable
• Easy to manage
• Excellent choice for children and the elderly 

Special Requirements: 

• Consistent companionship and attention
• Medium level grooming, especially ears and feet
• Careful weight management and regular exercise 

Cost: from $600 to more than $1000 

Our veterinary team shares some of their interesting cases with you...

What made Casey smile again?
Casey Sutton is a 9 year old male Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and a beautiful example of our specially featured breed of the month.

Recently Casey came to see Dr Tony, unwell and not eating. That morning his owners had heard him yelp for no reason, he also was unable to eat his breakfast. For a long time now, Casey's owners had noticed he didn't like being touched around the head and often cried.

Dr Tony did a thorough physical examination and found Casey to have very bad dental disease. All his teeth had a significant build up of tartar which was causing severe gingivitis (inflammation of the gums) resulting in exposure of his tooth roots and loose teeth. His mouth was also badly infected. The loose teeth and gingivitis were certainly causing pain and may have been the explanation for his signs. Dr Tony recommended that Casey have a general anaesthetic to have his teeth scaled and polished and to remove the badly diseased teeth.

Casey was admitted to hospital. He had a preanaesthetic blood test which showed his liver, kidney, glucose and blood values where all within normal limits. Under general anaesthetic his teeth were examined more closely. Unfortunately, because the roots of some teeth were exposed, he had 16 teeth extracted! The healthy teeth that remained were ultrasonically scaled and polished. Casey was given pain relief medication and antibiotics which he continued at home. Casey's owner was also instructed on how to clean his teeth and he was started on a new diet that is specifically used for dogs with dental disease. Now Casey's painful teeth have been removed, he should find eating much better and be a happier dog all round. 

Hill's Science Diet Oral Care and Hill's Prescription Diet t/d use natural fibres in a patented technology to scrub a pet's teeth like a toothbrush. For more information click here

We're Going for Gold this month with our great start to spring "Bring a Friend" offer.

Our Aquadog team would like some new members to try out for our swim team and experience the health benefits and fun of swimming for fitness. The proven benefits to heart, muscles and joints are terrific for dogs of all ages. We'd also like to thank our existing team for their great winter workouts.

Bring a friend for an introductory swim and receive $20 to spend at Aquadog.

Just tell your friends to say that you sent them and you will receive a $20 credit each time.

Join the gold medal Aquadog team. Get in the swim with your friends, and get a great start to Spring together.

For more information click here

Call our friendly team at Aquadog on 5502-2444 to arrange an introductory swim NOW.

Having native birds in the garden is one of the delights of living in Australia. If the conditions are right, they will come. This means growing the right type of plants and putting up nesting boxes. There's something pretty special about having a pair of Rosellas or even Kookaburras nesting in your back yard, and by attracting these birds, you're doing something positive for the environment.

How to build nesting boxes:
Most native birds nest naturally in hollow logs. The problem is there aren't many hollow logs left in urban areas - when a tree dies, we remove it rather than let it rot and form hollows. So, we have to recreate the hollows by building nesting boxes. Click on the following link to view comprehensive manuals from Zoos Victoria. Nesting boxes make great Christmas gifts for nature loving friends and family.

Native birds also need:

• Native plants: provide shelter and food while needing little water. Choose those plants that are indigenous to your area - your local nursery can help
• A chemical-free environment: reduce use of sprays and poisons to maintain a high diversity of insect and bacterial life in gardens, providing food for birds as well as promoting healthy soils
• Thick leaf litter or mulch: encourages worms, insects and grubs to thrive, providing birds with food and improving the soil at the same time
• Fresh water: to drink and bathe in. Ensure this is out of reach of your pets.

Building nesting boxes click here

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 of our Puppy Preschool classes:

At Helensvale:
Class commenced  14.7.08
Elli Safarikas, Chester Do Rozario, Bella McQueen, Cherie Patterson, Jack Turner, Honey Gravenor, Bella Sutherland (pictured top left)

At Nerang:
Class commenced 25.6.08
Bentley Rhodes, Indy Hindes, Khan McCarthy, Diamond Jordon, Saffy Farrelly, Bagel Bereza, Jack O'Dowd (pictured middle left)

Class commenced 23.7.08
Alfi Coleman, Nera Ramiah, Rolly Roser, Jesse O'Neill, Hunter Cobb (pictured bottom left)

Thank you to all the enthusiastic puppy preschoolers and their dedicated parents for sharing the experience with lots of love and laughter.

We hope you will enjoy the memories of your time together at Puppy Preschool by printing your class photo to display in the frame provided. To print your class photo or to email to friends and family go to our website www.thevets.com.au then go to E-cards to find your framed photo.