Narre Warren Veterinary Clinic would like to congratulate our new Puppy Class graduates:

Pictured top left (from left) Jasper the Bichon Frise X Cavalier, Scruffy the Maltese X, Charlie the Lab X Border Collie, Lochi the Maltese X and Leo the Spoodle.

Pictured bottom left (from left, back row) Bella the Spoodle, Tank the Mini Foxy X Chihuahua, Boo the Maltese.
(from left, front row) Angel the Staffy X, sisters Bella and Polly both Maltese X Shitzu and Milly the Mini Foxy X Cavalier.

Good luck with all further training!

Giardia, pronounced gee-are-dee-yah, is a parasite that causes serious and ongoing gastrointestinal upsets in dogs and humans.

Unexplained watery diarrhoea is the most common sign. Giardia is spread from dog to dog via contact with infected faeces, however the parasite may also lie dormant in the soil and stagnant water sources such as tanks and dirty water bowls.

Humans, especially children, are at risk if they ingest the eggs through drinking contaminated water or even through putting contaminated fingers in their mouth.

How can you help prevent giardia?
Always clean up and properly dispose of faeces by throwing it in the bin. Hosing with water not only increases the spread of the parasite, it is a waste of precious water.

What will we do if we suspect giardia in your dog?
We will need a sample of your dog's faeces to test for eggs. If giardia is confirmed medication will be dispensed to kill the parasite.

An intestinal all wormer can reduce the shedding of the eggs, lowering the risk of infection to other dogs and humans. Ask us for more information.

Jim woke to a terrible smell and when he turned on the light, Spike the Cairn Terrier had left a surprise on the end of the bed - a puddle of diarrhoea. He called the clinic and after a few questions we isolated the culprit - Spike had eaten a juicy lamb shank bone the day before.

Changes in diet are a common reason for sudden diarrhoea. It is often fatty foods such as a bone or even food stolen from the neighbour's bin that causes the upset.

If the case is mild we recommend withholding food for up to 24 hours (not in a puppy or kitten) and then commencing a bland diet for 3-4 days. Bland foods such as special prescription diets that we provide or steamed chicken (no bones) and boiled rice are ideal. 

If the diarrhoea persists, is watery and bloody, or if your pet is not eating we recommend a consultation. Further testing such as a blood test, faecal test and xrays may be required.

Younger animals become dehydrated very quickly so you should phone us for advice immediately if your puppy or kitten has diarrhoea.

Thankfully, Spike's diarrhoea disappeared but not before he had to spend a few nights on the couch.

Did you know that our furry friends are turning into fatties? Figures indicate that 41% of dogs and 33% of cats are either overweight or obese. Many of us are subjecting our pets to unnecessary illness due to over feeding. Did you know that a slice of buttered toast is equivalent to your dog eating a Big Mac?

Not only does an overweight pet lead to diseases such as diabetes, extra kilos may contribute to arthritis and painful injuries such as cruciate ligament rupture.

The good news is there is now a prescription food to help your podgy pet become healthy again. The food allows safe weight loss in as little as 8 weeks. The canine diet contains high fibre levels so your dog feels fuller for longer, while the feline diet actually alters your cat's metabolism and burns fat safely.

For a weight loss program to be successful, it is important to cut out snacks, treats and especially those left over scraps from your plate. Ask us about starting your pet on a weight loss program.

Hill's^TM Prescription Diet^TM r/d foods are designed by veterinarians for safe and effective weight loss programs in dogs and cats. For more information click here.

The recent Victorian bushfires have been devastating for so many. Thankfully there are incredible stories of survival and several of these involve our pets and wildlife.

Many animals were able to flee the fires. It is thought that they protected themselves by hiding in places such as wombat holes. As they returned and passed over where the fire had been most received burns to their footpads and face and suffered smoke inhalation.

Vets and wildlife carers are working around the clock to care for these animals. Dogs and cats, koalas, kangaroos, possums, birds and reptiles are all on the injured list. Care includes drips for rehydration plus antibiotics and pain relief day and night. Daily cleaning of their burnt feet to help prevent infection is needed and their pads are coated with a cream and bandaged to assist in healing of the burns.

There is still a long way to go for these animals and treatment will continue for months. You can help by making a donation to the Veterinary Emergency Taskforce ph: 03 9600 2930. Money is needed to pay for the tonnes of bandages, ointment and pain relief, which vets need to buy.

For wildlife go to:
Healesville Sanctuary http://www.zoo.org.au 
Wildlife Victoria http://www.wildlifevictoria.org.au
Help for Wildlife http://www.helpforwildlife.com

Murphy the Tabby was in for his annual check up. His owner Jenny commented that she thought Murphy had lost weight and had been a bit lethargic.

Murphy had unusual sores along his gums and we were suspicious that he might have been infected with Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) which can cause Feline AIDS. A simple blood test at the clinic confirmed he was positive.

What is FIV?
FIV interferes with the immune system of the cat. It lives in the blood and is carried for life. Most cats with FIV are healthy for up to 10 years but as the disease progresses the cat becomes too weak to fight off infections and may die. FIV is not transmissible to humans.

How is FIV contracted?
FIV is spread primarily through bite wounds and saliva. Cats that roam outside at any time are at risk of being bitten by another cat infected with the disease. Not surprisingly, Murphy had been treated at one point for a cat bite abscess.

How can you aid in prevention of FIV?
1) Vaccination - the best prevention
2) Don't allow indoor cats to come into contact with outdoor cats
3) Test a new cat before allowing it to join the household

Ask us about the best prevention program for your cat.