Narre Warren Veterinary Clinic would like to congradulate our newest puppy class graduates: Pictured top left (from left) are 'Ella' the Pomeranian, 'Chloe' the Maltese X Poodle, 'Chasey' the Lab, 'Max' the Maltese X Shitzu, 'Lulu' the Maltese X Shitzu and 'Rowdy' the Border Collie X.
 
Pictured bottom left (from left) are 'Herlew' the Chihuahua and 'Daphney' the Cavilier X Maltese. Congratulations to all of the other puppies who could not make it to the last lesson, but passed with flying colours! (Not pictured: Spud, Buddy, Lilly, Cooper and Kayley)

Good luck with all further training!

How do you start your rambunctious puppy out on the right track? Household rules need to be in place as soon as you get your puppy home but Puppy Preschool goes a step further and helps teach your pup good manners and socialisation. This results in a confident and friendly adult dog and a happy and relaxed owner.

Many behavioural problems in dogs are normal behaviours but are performed at inappropriate times or in inappropriate places. Training and socialisation before the age of 16 weeks goes a long way toward keeping your puppy out of trouble.

Our Puppy Preschool’s main aims are:

1. To socialise your puppy so it is comfortable with other dogs and people.
2. Teach your puppy basic commands and good manners.
3. Help provide you with tips for puppy development and basic pet care.
4. To provide fun and help so your puppy enjoys future visits to the vet.

Vaccinations will need to be up to date for your pup to be eligible to join our classes. Please call the clinic to secure a place so you can be confident you are getting your pup started on the right track.

To find out more information about puppy behaviour and nutrition from Hill's Pet Nutrition, click here

When clients notice their pet has a sore eye they often call to ask what they can do at home and if they need to visit the clinic. Below are some basic rules to get you out of trouble and keep your pet’s eyes safe.

You need to see a vet if your pet:

- has one or both eyes closed or is squinting
- has swollen eyelids
- has redness noticed on the white of the eye
- has a sudden increase in discharge
- is continually rubbing its eye

Only ever wipe your pet’s eyes with a damp cotton wool ball.

NEVER put your own eye drops in your pet’s eyes as this may damage the eye.

Call us for more information.

Sam and Jayne were bringing home their new baby James for the first time and they wondered how Gemma, their Ridgeback cross, would cope.

Here are some tips they followed to help Gemma with the transition:

- During the pregnancy, Sam and Jayne introduced Gemma to child like touch such as gently pulling her ears, tails and feet; they made this playful and rewarded her as she accepted the behaviour.
- Before bringing James home, they allowed Gemma to get used to his new scent by bringing a blanket home from the hospital.
- When James and Gemma were in the same room, they praised and rewarded Gemma. This helped to create a positive feeling about James in Gemma’s mind
- Gemma was never ignored, which is easy to do when focusing on the new child, so she never felt excluded.
- Lastly and most importantly, James and Gemma were never left alone. Statistically, it is children under the age of 5 who are most at risk of being bitten. The family dog usually bites these children, or one they know well, such as a neighbour's.

By following these tips, Sam and Jayne found that Gemma coped well with their changed family dynamics, resulting in a smooth transition and a happy family.

It is not long until the Easter bunny arrives and it is time to start planning for your pets at Easter.

Easter means chocolate - and chocolate means danger for dogs. Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine - toxic for pets and can lead to death. Hide chocolate out of reach of your dog as they have a strong sense of smell and can find chocolate anywhere! There are treats available for your dog such as “doggy chocolate” which uses carob, a safe alternative and is a yummy treat. If your dog ingests chocolate, call us immediately.

Did you know that the popular Easter lily (and other species of lilies) are poisonous to cats? Ingestion causes kidney failure so if you own a cat we suggest you keep the cat away from lilies or remove them from your garden.

If you are planning a trip away, book accommodation for your pet now as kennels and catteries quickly fill up at this time of the year. Make sure your pet’s vaccinations are up to date well before your booking. Speak to us and we can recommend accommodation for your pet or check out pet friendly accommodation at http://www.holidayingwithdogs.com.au/.

Heartworm - this is the disease that nightmares are made of! Spread by mosquitoes, the worms can mature to 30 cm long and become lodged in your dog’s heart eventually causing heart failure and death.

The prevention of heartworm disease is one of the most important things that you must do for your dog. Heartworm is the most dangerous of all the worms, and an intestinal ‘all wormer’ tablet does not prevent heartworm infection.

Prevention is best as cure is rarely successful. Getting your dog started on the right heartworm medication can be confusing, especially with so many choices on the market.

Thankfully there is a preventative injection available that uses sustained release technology to protect your dog. It is safe and effective and can be given to puppies. A booster is required yearly at your dog’s annual health check and vaccination.

So you can now forget monthly treatments and know your dog is protected against heartworm. Call the clinic to arrange a heartworm injection for your dog and for more information click here.