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July 2005 edition
1. Power steering for your dog 2. Howling Harry the hyperthyroid 3. Enduro Ball - for the toughest player 4. How to bond over dinner 5. Dog Scooters 6. Pet of the month: Devon Rex |
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1. Power steering for your dog Sounds great doesn't it! We all know how much easier it is to drive a car with power steering. Imagine if our dog had power steering. A standard lead and collar, lead and check chain or choker chain or harness provide little or no control. A specially fitted Black dog Halti helps control the head to steer your dog. Just imagine having complete control of your dog and making it an enjoyable walk for you and your dog. Interested in Power steering – give us a call! Professional grooming Coast and Country Vets Nerang and Helensvale have Professional groomers who are able to give your pet the perfect doo for their next special outing. Lisa our Professional groomer at Nerang is available to groom your pets on Thursday and Fridays while at Helensvale Vicki looks forward to reshaping your pet's look on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Both of our groomers have several years experience grooming pets and do a great job of bringing out your pet's best features! Or if your pet is not in need of a groom but a good bath we can take care of that! We offer hydrobathing at both clinics during the week and on Saturdays. Both Hydrobathing and Grooming include a nail trim, ear clean and thorough bath to have your pet smelling fresh. Back to top |
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2. Howling Harry the hyperthyroid Harry is a beautiful 8 year old cat who had begun howling a lot more than normal. Known for his vocal abilities since a kitten, his owner June had noticed he'd recently become louder, howling more frequently and with an edge of desperation in his voice. He wasn't looking as good either. His usually silky coat had become a bit dry and wasn't sitting flat and smooth. June thought this was just a phase he was going through as he was eating well – in fact better than ever. He was brought to the vet and a complete examination performed. In addition to checking him externally, blood and urine tests were done to examine the function of his major organs. The results were dramatic – it showed that Harry was suffering from hyperthyroidism. This is the most common hormonal condition in cats and is where the body produces too much thyroid hormone [see images at left of normal and abnormal thyroid glands]. Thyroid hormone has an essential role - to keep the body going. However, when in excess, it drives the body too hard. That's why Harry was hungry and in poor condition – the result of an increased metabolic rate. If left untreated, heart and kidney disease can result and this will lead ultimately to death. Harry began treatment immediately. He was given the special medication that suppresses the activity of the thyroid gland [where the excess thyroid hormone is coming from]. He began to improve within the first few days. He was eating and howling less. A series of blood tests were undertaken to ensure his thyroid hormone dropped to the normal level. Since then he's continued to improve and is happy to spend his days doing his favourite job - lying in the sun drenched window sill at the front of his house. Back to top |
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3. Enduro Ball - for the toughest player Have you got a dog that loves balls but destroys everything you give her? Here's the solution; click here to watch a short video [1.83MB]. Finding toys that will provide ongoing stimulation for any dog is a challenge. For those dogs that destroy anything it's a particularly difficult task because the normal rawhide chew or fresh bones may only last a few minutes. Good mental satisfaction for a dog comes from a more drawn out challenge. It's the process they appreciate, not necessarily the result. A good analogy for us is how we appreciate a view from the top of a hill. If we've walked up rather than driven, the view is somehow so much nicer. Long, drawn out activities are especially needed when leaving your high energy dog for the day while you go out. Without this sort of stimulation, high energy dogs can become bored, leading to anti-social behaviour such as barking, whining or destroying the back garden. At first glimpse, the Enduro ball does not look inviting. Its hard plastic surface is smooth with little purchase points for teeth. What is surprising is how well dogs take to this basketball sized toy. As seen in the video above, dogs learn to play a form of soccer. It challenges them to play in different ways; using their forelegs to shuffle and direct the ball while constantly mouthing the smooth surface. Introducing the ball to a dog takes little preparation. If they are into balls and are energetic, they will go for it. Back to top |
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4. How to bond over dinner How you feed your pet is one of the most powerful things you can do to impact his or her health. “You are what you eat” applies to pets as much as it does to us. From conception, a pup or kitten is formed from building blocks provided solely by food. We now know that the type and quality of food can influence a range of issues including bone development, skin health, allergies and, last but not least, the lifespan of a pet. One of the great things about feeding your pet is how much it influences bonding. Feeding is a great opportunity to strengthen the relationship. Starting at a base point of feeding your pet in a bowl, here are some tips to build that bond: • Ensure your dog is sitting before the food is provided. This simple act will provide a connection between you, particularly through eye contact • Use part of the meal for training. Before dinner, go through some basic training steps. Sit, come and stay are simple but good for building the bond. On an empty stomach, you'll get the best results • Use another part of the meal for mental stimulation when you're not at home. Use one of the various toys, such as the Kong, or hide the food around the garden, to provide a challenge that will distract from the fact that you are absent When doing the above, make an effort to not overfeed. Measure out how much you'd feed normally according to the directions on the pack and don't exceed that. Ask us for help if you are unsure of the correct amount to feed. Hill's Science Diet provides superior nutrition for the lifelong health of your pet. For more information click here. Back to top |
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5. Dog Scooters Zac is an enthusiastic Labrador cross owned by Michael and Jenny. They got him from a welfare shelter and have had him since a pup. He's a terrific dog; he loves children and is very gentle but once out for a walk he pulls on the lead like there's no tomorrow. Michael used to run with him on the lead. This worked well until Michael injured his knee and had to slow down a bit. Things were looking a bit grim until they discovered “Dog Scootering”. This is where you ride a scooter pulled by your dog in a special harness. You push, the dog pulls and off you go. To view a short video please click here [1.86MB]. Michael and Jenny first saw this when they were visiting a friend competing in a sled dog event on dirt in the country. Several of the dogs had scooters and it was clearly a fun way to exercise. Michael got hold of a second hand scooter and started in their local park. It was pretty much “Go!” from the beginning. Once the harness was on, Zac was off. Scootering requires teamwork and both Michael and Jenny report that the relationship with Zac has just blossomed since they began using the scooter - they feel so much closer to him now. The benefits are that Zac gets the exercise he needs and it's a great fun way to get outdoors. For more information click here. Back to top |
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6. Pet of the month: Devon Rex One of the most extraordinary cats – not just because of it's wide eyed look but also because of it's striking calmness – the Devon Rex wins hearts at first sight. Only recognised as a breed since the sixties, the Devon arose from a mutation from a litter of farm cats in England. So distinctive are their big ears, open eyes and very fine wavy coat they are thought to have inspired several famous Hollywood animated characters - guess who? Care: Because their coat is so short, there is very little grooming to do. They drop only small amounts of hair and are ideal as indoor cats [in fact they prefer the warmth of being indoors]. Ideal for: There is a chance that allergy sufferers will react less to a Devon. However, this is a generalisation and the only way to really tell is to spend time with the cat and see how you respond. Their short coat means they feel warmer than other cats. If you like curling up with a warm, cosy cat, the Devon is for you. Cost: For pets, kittens range in price from $400 - $600. Ask us about how to contact a breeder. 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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