Is your pet a senior citizen? Is your pet starting to age a little? Did you know that cats and dogs are considered senior citizens after the age around 8 years? As they reach their golden years there are a few things you need to watch out for. Obvious changes might...
Help your senior pet stay happy and healthy Caring for a senior pet is an important job and your furry friends are relying on you to guide them through their twilight years. Here are our top three tips for senior care: 1. Keep your eyes open for changes in behaviour,...
My dog's done his knee! It's footy season but your dog doesn't need to be on the sports field to do his ACL! Rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the knee is one of the most common injuries we see in dogs. This injury can lead to painful arthritis in...
How to help an arthritic pet at home If your pet is diagnosed with arthritis, there are plenty of things you can do at home to help them feel more comfortable. We recommend a multi-pronged attack as this helps to reduce the need for large amounts of medication and...
Why microchipping is essential The recent floods in Queensland and New South Wales have sadly resulted in hundreds of displaced pets. Natural disasters are an important reminder as to why it is essential ALL of your pets are microchipped. When a lost pet has a...
Mum's the word With Mother's Day this month, we thought now would be a good time to share a few things about pregnancy in dogs. Here are some key facts: Pregnancy (or the gestation period) in bitches normally ranges from 58 to 65 days with an average of 63 days During...
Annual Easter Bunny alert As the Easter Bunny gears up to make his deliveries, it is our job to remind you keep ALL chocolate out of paw's reach. Our canine friends are specifically designed to seek out any morsel of chocolate - big or small, wrapped or unwrapped! The...
Cushing's disease case study Jimmy is a 9 year old Maltese cross. This boisterous little man was thirstier than normal and had suddenly started to wee in the house. His owners noticed he had a bit of a pot belly but had put this down to Jimmy getting older. A...
Rat bait ingestion - what you need to know The poison used to kill rats and mice interferes with blood clotting. These products are just as toxic to dogs and cats, and alarmingly your pets may even seek these poisons out. What to do if your pet finds rat bait: If you...
Top three tips for preventing rat bait toxicity Sadly, we often see pets that have eaten rat bait. This can be extremely upsetting especially when ingestion can often be prevented. Here are our top tips for prevention rat bait toxicity: 1. The first, and probably most...
Anxiety - the leading behaviour problem in dogs Anxiety disorders are probably the most common type of behaviour problem we see in dogs. For most dogs, stress plays a key role in the development of an anxiety problem but there may also be a breed predisposition in...
Urine spraying in cats If you've ever seen a cat spraying you may have been intrigued. It's a strange looking activity where the cat stands with a vertical tail (sometimes quivering at the tip) and delivers a squirt of urine against a vertical surface. Urine spraying...
Feisty cat does all he can to avoid trip to the vet Wrangling your cat and getting them into a carrier can be a very stressful event - as demonstrated in this hilarious video. This can put you off bringing your cat to us and it means they might miss out on essential...
Common behavioural questions Here are a few of the behavioural issues we talk about with our clients on a daily basis. Dog Behaviour Barking: It's important to understand that barking is a normal way that dogs communicate with others. Dogs might bark to get attention,...
When good behaviour goes bad Has your pet always been well behaved but all of a sudden things have changed? Has toilet training gone out the window? Is your dog suddenly digging up the garden or barking non stop? Is your cat clawing at your favourite piece of...
Arthritis - what to watch out for Arthritis is a nasty disease. It sneaks up on our pets and always seems to rear its ugly head as the weather starts to cool down. Many people put the signs of arthritis down to "getting old" but have you ever thought that your pet...
March is all about pet behaviour - linking with the Australian Veterinary Association's 'Polite Pets Month' - designed to highlight common behavioural problems in pets, and ways that your vet can be involved in the management and improvement of these problems. As well...
Is your dog suffering from separation anxiety? Dogs are social creatures and they form strong bonds with humans. Most dogs cope ok with the daily separation from their owners but unfortunately some dogs will become very distressed and even destructive, a problem known...
We can highly recommend the dog trainers at the Albany All Breeds Dog Club. They follow a dog-friendly positive reinforcement program, and can help dogs of all ages and stages. For more information, have a look at their Facebook Page or take a look at their...
There's something wrong in ear! If you think your pet has smelly, dirty or red ears it is time for a check up with us. Ear infections are very common at this time of the year and it's important that we visualise the canal and make sure your pet is not in any pain. The...
Recognising heart disease in your pet With Valentine's Day in February, there's never a better time to talk about your pet's heart health. Knowing the early signs of heart disease can really make a difference to your pet's life. It means you can seek medical help from...
Preventing fly bites Flies are back in force this summer and they can be a real nuisance for your pet. Did you know that some fly species will actually bite around your pet's ears and nose causing painful and infected sores? Look out for dried, bloody scabs at the...
Attention all dog owners We are often asked: why is it necessary to vaccinate against kennel cough even though my dog isn't boarding? Here are the facts. Kennel cough's correct name is canine cough. It is commonly spread via water droplets through the air and can be...
Watch out for grass seeds! As the grass starts to dry off you need to keep your eyes peeled for the dreaded grass seed... who knew that something so small and innocent could cause so many problems!? Certain types of grass seeds are shaped like a pointy arrow with a...