Finally after a timely overdue wait a little baby boy arrives. Congratulations  to Jo and Younis on the safe arrival of their second child, Jai Hukam, weighing 10lb 2oz.

On behalf of all of the staff at the clinic I would like to extend my congratulations to the proud parents and wish them all the best and look forward to Jo's return. But I'm a little concerned about the ‘water' at BVC - yes another one of the nurses Tali has just announced the pregnancy of her second child. I look forward to all the baby talk yet again, congratulations to Tali and Luke.

On another note all the staff and myself would like to extend our thanks to all our clients for their donations to the Wildlife Victoria bushfire appeal. We raised a total of $1400 which was used to help our furry,scaly and feathered friends affected by the fires.Your generosity is greatly appreciated.

Is your pet microchipped? This is the most effective way of ensuring that you will be reunited with your pet as quickly as possible. Here at the BVC we offer this service.

The microchip is inserted between the animals shoulders, the chip is about the size of a grain of rice and is electronically imprinted with a unique and unalterable code of 10 to 15 digits. The number is read by passing an infrared scanner over the animal in the area of the chip.

Microchipping can be done quickly and easily in a consultation visit. The fee of $49.50 includes implantation, certificate and lifetime national registration. For further queries or to make an appointment please phone the clinic on 9769 8777. 

Has your cat stopped using the litter tray? You may need retrain your cat but rule out these problems first:

1. Lower Urinary Tract Disease: a painful condition, potentially life threatening. A check over with the vet will rule this out
2. Dirty litter tray: remove faeces daily, completely empty twice weekly
3. Tray too clean: do not use disinfectants, these discourage your cat, clean with mild detergent and warm water
4. Wrong litter: use a sandy type, avoid scented litter
5. Position: place tray in a safe, quiet area, away from threats, such as the dog. Don't place food and water bowls too close to the tray
6. Bad association: some cats associate scary noises with using the tray, for example the washing machine

Retraining:
Cats won't toilet where they sleep so start by confining your cat to a crate or a small room with the tray and a bed. Place any faeces in the tray to help your cat get the idea.

As your cat starts to use the tray again, move the set up to a larger room. Clean accidents with a vet approved enzymatic cleaner to prevent your cat reoffending. Speak to us for more information.

Hill's has a range of Prescription Diets which are clinically proven to address the most important health concerns of your pet. For more information please call the Hill's HelpLine on 1800 800 733.

Whether you live in a tick infested area or plan to travel with your pet to these regions, you must protect against the potentially deadly paralysis tick. The paralysis tick hangs out along the east coast of Australia, predominantly Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. Once the tick attaches at a suitable site it engorges with blood, injecting a toxin leading to muscle paralysis.

Paralysis starts in the hind legs and moves up the body. Death is likely if the muscles that enable your pet to breathe are affected. Look out for:

• weakness, especially in the hind legs
  
• difficulty breathing
  
• drooling, coughing or gagging

In tick infested areas, regular prevention is the key. If you are planning to travel to a high risk area, treatment during this time is needed. Daily tick searches concentrating on hidden areas such as under the arms and in between the paws are also recommended. Ask us for more information.

There is now a great spot on product available for dogs. Advantix works by repelling ticks so they drop off and die before they have a chance to attach. Advantix is a product specifically designed for dogs and cannot be used on cats. For more information go to www.advantix.com.au

Spring has sprung and it is time to dust off the garden tools. Pets love investigating the garden shed but be aware; there are many hidden dangers.

Fertiliser
Most blood and bone fertiliser contains high levels of nitrogenous additives and if eaten, these can prove rapidly toxic or even fatal.

Insecticides and Weed killers
These are toxic to pets and should be safely stored and locked up.

Compost
The garden compost heap is very attractive to your pet but the contents contain bacteria, moulds and toxins all of which can make your pet very sick if ingested.

Snail and Slug Bait
This is a common cause of death in dogs and cats. On the garden bed or in the box, these are attractive to pets. Ingestion of small quantities can be rapidly fatal. Products that claim they are ‘pet friendly' contain a bittering agent but this only act as a deterrent. Some pets will still eat these highly toxic baits so use these products with caution.

Rat and Mouse Baits
These are very toxic and unfortunately very attractive to pets. Ingestion causes internal bleeding and your pet can become unwell before you are even aware.

September 7^th is National Threatened Species Day - this day commemorates the death of the last Tasmanian Tiger at Hobart Zoo in 1936. It aims to highlight the ways in which we can protect and manage threatened species and their habitats.

Are you aware how a changing climate, land development and humans place additional pressure on our threatened species and their shrinking habitats?

Here are a few examples - spare a thought for these little guys on September 7^th.

Green and gold frog - one of Australia's largest frogs, has had its home decimated by the drought since 2005.

Yellow snouted gecko - living in the world heritage listed Kakadu National Park doesn't protect you from threats such as bushfires and weeds. It is thought the wild population of these endangered geckos is as low as 10.

Red tailed black cockatoo - the Official Mascot of the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games has lost many nesting hollows in Southeastern Australia due to urban development.

Yellow footed rock wallaby- huge habitat loss means there are only 2,000 wallabies left in South Australia and less than 500 in New South Wales.

For more information about National Threatened Species Day and events in your state visit http://wwf.org.au/ourwork/species/ntsd/

This lively, medium sized dog originally came from Southern Ireland and was a popular companion of the locals.  The Wheaton Terrier was a working dog used for herding, guarding and hunting.

This breed has a soft coat that forms loose curls and the coat colour resembles that of ripening wheat - gorgeous to look at.

Like most terriers, the Wheaten is an active and intelligent breed. Discipline from an early age is essential as they can be very exuberant, especially around kids.

Wheatens make excellent indoor dogs but daily exercise of at least 30 minutes duration is strongly recommended.

Temperament: active, loyal and full of confidence

Lifespan: 10 - 14 years

Maintenance: medium, regular brushing of the coat required

Recommended for: families, will devote themselves to everyone

If you're interested in a Wheaton, ask us for more information