Our Blog
Mira Mar Vet, your local vet in Albany
All the latest news from Mira Mar Vets and informative pet tips
Separation Anxiety
Dogs are social creatures and they form strong bonds with people. Having a furry best friend is, without doubt, the greatest thing in the world, but it is not uncommon for your pooch to feel anxious when they are separated from you. Most dogs will adapt well to daily...
Sharpen Those Claws
Cats love a good scratch. Not only is it a good form of exercise but they get to sharpen their claws. Scratching also helps them to leave scent markers or a "calling card." Unfortunately, some cats choose to sharpen their claws on furniture and think that the back of...
Endocrine disease
An endocrine disease is a fancy way of describing a disease that is caused by a hormonal imbalance. These diseases are relatively common and can greatly affect your pet’s quality of life. Some diseases can even be life threatening if they are not diagnosed and treated...
Staff News
It's been a busy time for our staff at Mira Mar Vets recently! We are thrilled to congratulate our head nurse, Jess Brennan, on her recent engagement! We wish Jess and her fiance Zane all the best for the future. On a much sadder (and more painful) note, Dr Dave...
Training tips for your pet
If you have just brought home a new puppy, kitten or rescue pet, training should begin straight away. It is easy for a dog or cat to pick up bad habits quickly, especially when they are settling in. If you let your puppy sleep in your bed initially, this is where he...
Well Done Jim!
We couldn't be prouder of our very own Dr Jim Darmody, after he competed in (and completed!) the Albany Half Triathlon in January. Jim managed to swim 1.9km, bike 90km and run 21.1km on an overcast Albany day to complete the race in just over 5 hours. Congratulations...
Insect bites and stings
Meet Charlie, one of our very cute patients! Earlier this month, Charlie's face suddenly became very swollen after an unfortunate run-in with a bee. Insect bite reactions are very common in dogs, especially puppies, who tend to put their noses into everything! The...
Make 2015 your pet’s best year yet
Does your pet have any New Year's resolutions? Here are our tips to help make 2015 their happiest and healthiest yet. Please click here to read more from our latest newsletter
Sad news for Albany
It is with great sadness that all of us at Mira Mar Vets pass on our condolences to our friends Mark and Sheryl Muscat from Head To Tail Pet Shop, following the tragic passing of their son, Jay. Our thoughts are with Sheryl, Mark, Ebony and their family during this...
Jim and Dave excel at the 2014 Blackwood Marathon!
Two of our veterinarians, Dr Jim Darmody and Dr Dave Warren participated in the 2014 Blackwood Marathon as part of a team, the "Great Southern Veteran Vets". Teams are required to run 12km, kayak 8.5km, swim 1km, horse ride 16km, and bike ride 20km. The team...
Snake bite and your pet
It is not uncommon in the warmer months for our furry friends to come into contact with a snake. Even our more residential pets can still be at risk if walked near waterways or at the beach. As snakes hibernate or are inactive during cold weather, snake bites usually...
Have you heard why vaccination is so important?
Vaccinating your pet is one of the most important things you can do to ensure they lead a healthy life. Read more here...
Mira Mar Vets Goes Green
It may not be obvious to many of our clients, but 2014 has been the year that we at Mira Mar Vets have made a big effort to reduce our carbon footprint, and do our bit to help the planet! Our lovely new solar panels have been in place for almost 12 months, which not...
Cat and Dog Laws for Albany residents
Did you know that thousands of unwanted, stray or feral cats and dogs are euthanased every year in Western Australia? In order to reduce this number, and to promote responsible pet ownership, new cat and dog laws are being introduced throughout all of WA. The...
Cruciate Ligament Disease
Rex the fun loving kelpie was running in the park chasing his ball when he suddenly couldn't put any weight on his left hind leg. A veterinary examination revealed a suspected cranial cruciate ligament rupture (CrCl) - one of the most common orthopaedic conditions...
New Spot-On Flea Control
Activyl is the excellent new monthly 'spot-on' flea product for cats and dogs. it uses new technology to activate a potent insecticide inside the flea and means less unnecessary chemical exposure to your pet, family and household. It is water-fast for 4 weeks, and...
Smart Phone Respiration App
Our tech-savvy readers may be interested to know that there is now a smart phone app available to help calculate your pet's resting respiratory rate (RRR) called 'Heart2Heart monitoring app'. Detecting elevations in RRR can help in the early diagnosis and treatment of...
RIP Midas
The clinic lost a favourite friend last month with the passing of 'Midas', a beloved Labrador Retriever. Midas first visited our hospital for his initial puppy vaccination over 14 years ago! Through the subsequent years he has befriended us all, coming in frequently...
Dental Care
How to help your cats have healthy teeth and gums throughout their lives. Your pet counts on you for protection With major advances in treating serious infectious and other pet diseases, oral disease – most importantly periodontal or gum disease caused by the buildup...
Allergies in Cats
How to tell if your cat may have an allergy, and an introduction to some treatments. Like people, cats can suffer from allergies. As in the human population, the incidence of allergies in pets seems to be increasing. While allergic humans may often sneeze, wheeze or...
Diabetes
Information on the diagnosis and treatment of this important disease. What is diabetes? Diabetes mellitus is a disease in which your pet’s pancreas can no longer produce enough of the hormone insulin and/or for some reason their body has become resistant to the...
Behaviour
Good communication builds good relationships Just as between people, good relationships between dogs and their owners are based on good communication. Dogs communicate between themselves by means of body signals. It’s only natural, then, that they’ll use the same...
Fleas and Ticks
Ticks are small spider-like acarids and fleas are insects, but these two tiny creatures have at least one thing in common—they are both parasites that feed on your dog’s or cat’s blood and can cause a lot of discomfort and more serious health problems. Flea bites may...
Bereavement
Dealing with the Loss of a Pet The death of a beloved pet can be very distressing. Our pets are not only members of the family, they are our faithful friends, our children’s devoted playmates and reliable, affectionate companions for the elderly or disabled. They...