Our Blog
Mira Mar Vet, your local vet in Albany
All the latest news from Mira Mar Vet and informative pet tips
Playing nicely with nurses
Unfortunately, despite all their training, knowledge, hard work, gentle care of pets and understanding assistance of owners, our wonderful veterinary nurses are not always appreciated as much as they should be! Nurses are often the first point of contact for owners,...
Keeping up appearances (and sterility)
Veterinary nursing definitely doesn’t just involve cuddling cute puppies and kittens! In addition to their vital role in various medical, surgical, laboratory and imaging procedures, our nurses also have to regularly tackle some pretty unpleasant jobs to keep...
Safe surgical procedures
Did you know that when our veterinarians perform surgery on your pet, our veterinary nurses play a vital role in helping to monitor and run a smooth general anaesthetic for them? Here’s how our nurses help your pet have a safe anaesthetic for their surgical procedure....
The two ‘P’s’ of prioritising patients
Just like in a human emergency ward, our veterinary nurses play an essential role in triaging patients. Triage involves a brief overall assessment of incoming patients to rapidly gauge the severity of their illness or injury so that we can prioritise care for...
Four reasons why your pet’s teeth might not be white
Have you checked your pet’s teeth and noticed that some of their pearly whites aren’t very white? What could it mean? Here are four common reasons for discoloured teeth in dogs and cats: 1. Dental disease If teeth are not cleaned regularly, they will develop a film of...
August is Dental Month at Mira Mar Vets!
Each year Mira Mar Vets celebrates National Pet Dental Month in August by raising awareness of pet dental health, and this year, the target is younger pets! Did you know that 70% of cats and 80% of dogs have some form of dental disease after the age of three years? In...
How to check your pet’s dental health at home
We talk a lot about dental disease in pets, and how we can treat it to maintain the comfort and health of our patients. But it’s also important that owners know how to check their pet’s teeth at home, so you can monitor for any issues between vet checks. Here is our...
A bone to pick
“Tibia” honest, bones just aren’t suitable for every dog! Whilst raw bones are safer than cooked bones (which are more brittle, and therefore more likely to crack into dangerously sharp pieces), raw bones can still cause problems. Here’s a few reasons to take care...
Seeing the root cause of the issue
If your dog or cat requires dental treatment, we may recommend that they also undergo x-rays of their teeth and jaw. Why is this? Why don’t we just remove any teeth that look obviously diseased? Dental x-rays are required for the diagnosis of some tooth or jaw...
Charlie’s Cheeky Chompers
Charlie the cavoodle adores his Kong toy, particularly when it’s stuffed with peanut butter! However, when he was five months old, his owner Vanessa noticed that he suddenly seemed less keen on the Kong, and would only lick at it a few times before walking away. On...
YOUNG AT HEART – SENIOR PET MONTH 2022
For many years, Mira Mar Vets have been dedicating one month of every year promoting the health and wellbeing of our older patients. Senior Pets are considered older than 7 years of age, or 5 years old for giant breed dogs. We are very excited to announce that we will...
Supporting our seniors
As our beloved pets grow older, they may start to require our help with certain self-care tasks. Here are a few things that you might need to assist your senior pet with. Grooming Most elderly cats and dogs will require (and enjoy!) regular “beauty therapy” from their...
More than just the bare bones on joint care
Unfortunately, arthritis affects a significant proportion of middle-aged to elderly dogs and cats, particularly those born with developmental joint problems (such as hip dysplasia) or who have previously suffered a significant joint injury. What is arthritis?...
Mental health maintenance for senior pets
When it comes to quality of life in cats and dogs, mental health is just as important as physical health. Here are some practical ways you can help support your pet’s brain health and function as they age. Environmental enrichment Keeping older dogs and cats mentally...
Cloud formations
As our pets age, some may develop a cloudy appearance to their eyes. Here are a few of the most common reasons for cloudy eyes in dogs. Corneal changes The cornea is the clear “window” portion of the eye, through which we can see the circular, coloured iris and black...
“Please hold” – urinary incontinence explained
Unfortunately, even pets who have previously had excellent toileting control can develop incontinence (urine or stool leakage) issues as they get older. Significant urinary or faecal incontinence can have a negative effect on the quality of life of affected pets, as...
Dog weight loss 101
Dog weight loss 101 Uh oh, your dog’s body weight has crept up… Unfortunately, being overweight can predispose pets to joint injuries, breathing problems, heart issues and some cancers. But don’t worry - we’re here to help, starting with some tips for healthy, gradual...
Food for thought
Food for thought “What is the best food for my pet?” There is often no perfect diet to suit every pet, however there are some things to keep in mind when choosing a type of pet food for your furry friend. Here’s some of the most common food types on offer for dogs and...
Mass confusion
Mass confusion When it comes to body condition, we actually want your pet to get an “average” score, as this indicates that your pet is at their healthiest weight. A low score, however, suggests that your pet is underweight, whilst a high score indicates that your pet...
The tastiest medicine
The tastiest medicine Sometimes, good food really is the best therapy. No, we’re not talking about sweets or cupcakes (although our staff would never say no to cupcakes!) – we’re actually referring to prescription diets for pets! Here are some of the most frequently...
Fuel for mischief!
Fuel for mischief! How can you support your new pup’s growth and development? Offering the right nutrition and exercise is a great place to start. Nutrition It’s recommended that puppies are fed a high quality, complete and balanced puppy growth diet until they have...
Not-so-simple fatty tumours
Not-so-simple fatty tumours Lipomas are fatty tumours that are commonly diagnosed in middle-aged to older dogs of any breed, but particularly breeds such as labradors, beagles, weimaraners and schnauzers. However, there can be more to these lumps than what first meets...
To test or not to test?
To test or not to test? If you’ve noticed that your pet has a new lump, especially if it is growing quickly or causing discomfort, we recommend booking a consultation with our veterinary team for a proper assessment. With physical examination and further laboratory...
When a lump isn’t a tumour
When a lump isn't a tumour Yes, a lump on your pet’s skin could potentially be a tumour requiring further investigation. But rest assured, there are a lot of other things it could be too! Here are some common alternative reasons for localised skin swelling in dogs and...