Cats are the best at hiding arthritis Cats are even better than dogs at hiding or covering up pain caused by arthritis. If you think about it, cats spend much of their time sleeping and we generally don't take cats for a walk, so it is hard to see a change in their...
Cruciate ligament disease One of the most common injuries we see in dogs is a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament. This is the same injury seen in many a footballer - the notorious ACL, and it can can lead to dramatic arthritis in your dog's knee if it is not treated...
Top tips for managing arthritis If we've diagnosed your pet with arthritis we will work with you to come up with the best management plan to keep your pet pain free. The key to success is a multi-targeted approach as this can help reduce the need for large amounts of...
Does your dog have arthritis? Arthritis is a sneaky condition. It tends to creep up over time and our pets won't always show obvious signs until they are in considerable pain. The disease is caused by the wearing down of the cartilage that covers the bones at the end...
When European Rabbits were introduced into Australia at the time of white settlement, nobody could have predicted how well the species would adapt and thrive in the Australian environment. Recent studies show that wild rabbits are affecting over 300 threatened...
My pet is vomiting - should I be worried? There are many reasons your pet might vomit, and physical obstruction from eating a sock is just one of them! Diseases such as pancreatitis, liver or kidney disease, or endocrine diseases like diabetes can all produce...
Pyometra - easy to prevent Pyometra is a serious condition that can develop in female pets that have not been desexed. It is more common in middle-aged to older dogs but cats are not immune from the condition. Over time, there are changes to a female's reproductive...
Why we recommend desexing Surgical desexing or neutering involves removing part of the reproductive system of dogs and cats so that they can't have puppies or kittens. In females it is known as a spey and in males it is referred to as castration. Why do vets recommend...
The cat burglar We heard about another pet who loves to steal clothing this month and her name is Brigit. Brigit is a six year old Tonkinese cat who has stolen many pairs of men's undies and socks in her local neighbourhood in Hamilton, New Zealand! Brigit's owner has...
Where's my sock? This is a tale about a missing sock. The sock was long, red and very smelly and one afternoon it went missing from a footy bag. The next day, Jake, the well-loved and playful labrador started to look a bit 'off'. He was quieter than usual and didn't...
Senior Pet Month at Mira Mar Vets gives owners of older pets in Albany the perfect opportunity to get their friend checked out. So far, since the start of April, we have examined and blood tested over 70 older animals, which we think is fantastic! Due to this...
PLEASE NOTE: all free dental checks are by appointment, please call us on 98415422 for a booking Dental Month 2016 - Free checks and savings! Dental disease is the single most common and preventable disease in our pets. It can affect pets as young as 2 years of age...
What's an endocrine disease? An endocrine disease is a fancy medical term used to describe a disease caused by a hormonal imbalance. These diseases are pretty common and can unfortunately affect your pet's quality of life. Endocrine diseases can even be life...
How blood testing works Have you ever wondered what happens when we take blood from your pet? Most blood samples are taken from the jugular vein in the neck. This vein is large enough to provide a good sample and allows us to collect the blood as quickly as possible....
Top tips to help your senior pet We have compiled a list of the top things you can do at home to help improve your senior pet's quality of life: Diet: Older animals may be less able to cope with nutrient excesses or deficiencies, or changes in nutrient intake and...
Our ageing pets require a little bit of extra attention to help keep them on all four paws for longer. A check up at least once a year is essential for your ageing friend. Much can change over this time and we aim to pick up on any problems and act quickly. Some...
Our pet of the month for this month has traveled many miles and visited many vets to be back with us today completely cured! The story of Bandit began with him visiting us for his first puppy vaccination at 8 weeks of age. At this examination it was discovered that he...
Some easy ways to reduce your cat's stress Many people put off taking their cat to the vet as they feel it is just too stressful. As a result we don't get to see your feline friend as often as we should and inevitably health problems go unseen. Dental disease, heart...
Why socialisation sets up your dog for life Many people aren't always aware that the most critical time in your dog's life is in during their first four months. Socialisation at this time with other dogs (both big and small) is one of the most important ingredients...
Help! My dog just ate my Lindt bunny! Like us, dogs love chocolate and they are very good at finding it! Not surprisingly, Easter is one of the busiest times of the year for vets when it comes to chocolate toxicities. If your dog eats your favourite Lindt bunny (the...
What's off limits for your pet this Easter? Easter can be a dangerous time for our pets and there's a few things you need to keep off limits. Take note of the following! 1. Chocolate Chocolate contains theobromine, a derivative of caffeine that cannot be metabolised...
The link between smelly breath and heart disease Did you know that improving your pet's teeth could save his life? There is now clear evidence that dental disease is linked to heart disease. Plaque and tartar that accumulate on the teeth lead to infection of the gums....
What is SRR? SRR refers to your pet's Sleeping Respiratory Rate. The SRR is a very useful tool in recognising the onset of or monitoring left sided congestive heart failure (CHF) in both dogs and cats. Many of the common heart diseases lead to left sided congestive...
Recognising a broken heart With Valentine's Day in this month, there's never been a better time to discuss heart disease. Heart disease isn't easy to spot. It tends to creep up on our pets slowly over many months to many years. Being able to recognise some of the...