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The best ways to care for a senior pet Did you know that dogs and cats are considered senior when they reach 8 years of age? Most importantly, senior pets require some extra special attention to help keep them happy and healthy. Here are some of the best ways you can...

Celebrating the Golden Years At Mira Mar Vets, we love oldies! We dedicate an entire month every year to promoting the care and wellbeing of our Senior Pet patients. We know that with ongoing health screening, early intervention and good quality preventative care, we...

The magic of a blood test Blood tests can give us a wealth of information about the health of your pet. They provide an insight into the health of many organs, help detect disease and can also confirm if your pet is safe to undergo anaesthesia. From a blood test, we...

The power of a wee sample It's not only blood tests that give us an insight into the health of your pet. Testing your pet's urine is another essential part of good veterinary medicine. Did you know that a small amount of urine can give us information about your pet's...

Unhappy hormones An endocrine disease is caused by an upset in the normal balance or regulation of hormones. These 'unhappy hormones' lead to a range of diseases that can greatly affect your pet's quality of life. When too much hormone is produced, the disease is...

Jackson is thirsty Jackson the cat came in for a check up. He had been drinking copious amounts of water over the past month and even though he usually had an excellent appetite, he was looking 'a bit skinny.' Examination revealed that Jackson was dehydrated and had...

Chocolate toxicity - what to do Most dogs love chocolate and with their strong sense of smell they are very good at finding it! The problem is, dogs are not able to metabolise theobromine, a derivative of caffeine found in chocolate. Ingestion can lead to an increased...

Easter health hazards you might not know about It's not only chocolate that can be an issue at Easter! There are a few other potential dangers - here's what you should watch out for: Hot Cross Buns Many people are not aware that sultanas and raisins (and grapes) may...

A new study links raw chicken to paralysis in dogs There has recently been a study that has linked the consumption of raw chicken with an increased risk of paralysis in dogs. The study, conducted by the University of Melbourne’s U-Vet Werribee Animal Hospital, found...

What's your pet's SRR? SRR is an acronym for your pet's sleeping respiratory rate. The SRR is a very powerful tool that you, the pet owner can undertake in your own home. It can help detect the onset of/or improve the monitoring of left sided congestive heart failure...

High blood pressure For some pets, measuring their blood pressure is essential for a more thorough veterinary examination. An elevation in blood pressure (or hypertension) can indicate an underlying disease and if left undetected, can cause damage to organs and in...

Heart health 101 Heart disease sneaks up on our pets and most of the time it isn't until your cat or dog is in heart failure that physical changes are visible. Signs of heart disease are generally related to a reduced function of the heart. The heart has to work...

A healthy mouth for a happy heart Did you know that improving the condition of your pet's teeth could lead to a healthier heart? This is because there is plenty of evidence that dental disease is linked to heart disease. Here's how it works... Plaque and tartar that...

We 'ear you've got a problem! Ear problems are common at this time of the year so if you've noticed anything out of the ordinary with your pet's ears, it's important we take a look. The ear canal is its own mini environment and this can be disturbed by heat, moisture,...

Summer hazards Long summer days and balmy nights mean we are often out and about with our pets more than other times of the year. Here are a few summer hazards we always like to remind you to watch out for: Heat exhaustion: It can be easy to over do it in the heat and...

Keeping cool The summer heat can really affect our pets so how do you best keep your pet cool this summer? Air flow is key to keeping cool While shade is a non negotiable essential, there may be some extreme days where you need to bring your pet inside and place them...

Snake bite - what to watch out for With changing weather patterns as well as a wet start to summer for many parts of Australia, snakes are being seen in urban areas previously thought to be 'snake free'. It's a good idea to be remind yourself of what to watch out for...

Leo and the Christmas ham Leo the ten year old schnauzer usually loves Christmas. And it isn't because of all the new toys he finds in his stocking, it's because he usually gets some leftover ham! That was until last Christmas. On Boxing Day last year, Leo developed a...