Mira Mar Veterinary Hospital

Whilst we often consider desexing operations to be “routine” in pets, it’s important to remember that they are still a surgical procedure (and a particularly significant one in the case of female pets!), and potentially serious complications can sometimes occur....

If your pet has just been caught "red-pawed" raiding the bin, pantry, shed, or medicine cabinet, it's important to act quickly to help reduce potential harm. Here's what to do and what not to do if your pet has eaten something silly. What to do: 1. Be aware of the...

Larry the Labrador and his owner Otis had enjoyed a big autumn weekend at the family farm. As usual, Larry had the time of his life trying to keep up with the two working kelpies and then paddling happily around in the river afterwards. The next day, however, Larry...

Whilst puppies are certainly adorable, they’re also hard work! Here’s how to gently guide your new pup’s behaviour to set them up for lots of “good dog” days ahead! Planning Before you bring your pup home, have a discussion with any other family members to confirm the...

Whilst we tend to think of cats as solitary animals, they can demonstrate more social behaviours depending on their local environment and the individual cats involved. Two cats are more likely to form a close bond if they are from the same litter, are a kitten and...

If you’re thinking of getting a poodle cross dog (often commonly referred to as a doodle!), it’s a good idea to be aware of their special grooming and skin care requirements. Here, we’ll answer some curly questions about doodle grooming. 1. How often should I groom my...

Do you want to have a strong rental application while being open about your four-legged family members? Writing a pet resume can really help your landlord consider your pet a harmless plus rather than an inconvenience or risk. Here’s our guide on how to apply with...

Whilst barking is a natural means of communication for dogs, too much yappy means no one's happy (sorry, we couldn't help ourselves!) Here are our top tips to help reduce bothersome barking: Work out why Before we can start to work on your pet's excessive barking,...

Unfortunately, nail trim phobias in pets are reasonably common. They can result from a negative experience (such as a nail accidentally being cut too short previously) or may develop in naturally anxious pets or puppies who didn't receive adequate positive...

If you’ve watched any funny animal video compilations, you may have giggled once or twice at footage of dogs chasing their own tails in a ridiculous fashion. But is this behaviour a harmless canine quirk, or does it represent a problem? What is tail chasing? Tail...

Anxiety is being increasingly recognised in pets, with up to 20% of dogs believed to have an anxiety problem. Anxiety may be situation-specific (e.g. triggered by thunderstorms or unfamiliar visitors) or more generalised. If you think your pet might be affected by...

We get it! Not every cat is cooperative with administering necessary medications, and they can be remarkably ninja-like and adept at using their natural defences. So here are our top tips for low-stress tabletting of tricky cats. 1. Bribes A spoonful of sugar sure...

If your dog is elderly or significantly overweight, coexisting health issues could make exercise a bit of a struggle for all involved. However, daily activity is important for your pet’s mental and physical well-being, and if performed in an appropriate manner, can be...

With so much contradictory information out there, choosing a pet food has never seemed so complicated! To help you feel confident in selecting the healthiest, safest, and tastiest diet for your pet, we’ve broken down some key recommendations into bite-sized chunks: 1....

In any pet with recurrent skin irritation or gut upset symptoms, the possibility of an underlying food allergy should be considered. Read on for the ins and outs of food allergies in pets. Causes of food allergies Food allergies occur when pets develop an allergic...

A frequent question that we field from pet owners is, “Is it OK to keep my cat indoors?” Yes! Keeping your cat inside not only helps to keep them safe by reducing their likelihood of traumatic injuries and contagious diseases, but also protects our beloved wildlife...

This Spey/Neuter Awareness month, we’re discussing the post-desexing period in pets and how your care can help your pet stay in tip-top condition after their “snip!” The benefits of desexing Unless you are planning to breed responsibly from your pet, then it is...

Are you planning to host a barbeque this January? If so, we recommend checking out these pet-related safety reminders. Feed your pet the wrong food; their well-being could be at 'steak'. (Yes, when it comes to making BBQ puns, we are silly sausages!) Here's how to...

We understand visiting the vet can sometimes be a hassle, so we want our appointments to be as efficient and fruitful as possible. We want to show you how to prepare and communicate to ensure every appointment allows us to examine thoroughly and catch issues early...

The reception team are the first friendly faces (or voices) you'll encounter when you enter or phone our veterinary clinic. They're an essential part of our team, and they do fantastic work! Here are some ways our reception team members support our animal patients and...

This month, we’d love to celebrate some of the less glamorous but still essential jobs our vets do to help keep patients comfortable and well. Here are our team’s top 3 “icky but important” veterinary tasks: Anal sac expression The anal sacs (also called anal glands)...

Whilst many pets will bounce happily through the clinic doors for each visit, others may feel neutral or anxious about anticipated veterinary treatments. A pet’s resilience to unfamiliar or challenging situations will be governed by their natural genetics (with some...

If you enjoy including your pet in the Christmas Day festivities, check out this list that our team has compiled of Naughty vs Nice Christmas foods for dogs and cats! Unless your pet has previously been diagnosed with special dietary requirements, it should be safe to...