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1. Desexing saves lives
To understand how desexing saves lives, we need to look back 30 to 40
years. Undesexed pets, especially dogs, roamed widely in search of a
mate. While this is safe in the wild, in urban areas the risk of being
hit by a car was high.
Partly as a result of so many dogs being run over, desexing became more
common. Today, most pets are desexed and road accident victims are few
and far between.
Other great reasons to desex are:
· Reduced risk of cancer and other reproductive disease in both males and females
· Lower aggression for many male dogs
· Reduced inappropriate urinating behaviour [eg the male dog that wees on the curtains or male cats that spray]
· Helps control the number of unwanted puppies and kittens
· Reduced council pet registration fees
Desexing of dogs and cats is carried out at the clinic. The procedure
includes a full general anaesthetic, sterile surgery and pain
management. The combination of these modern techniques means pets
recover quickly and comfortably.
2. Pre-anaesthetic blood testing
Many of us have felt apprehensive about a loved family pet having a
general anaesthetic. While anaesthetics these days are extremely safe,
it is normal to worry. Our job is to look after your pets and make the
anaesthetic as safe as possible. One of the ways we do this is with a
pre-anaesthetic blood test.
Prior to an anaesthetic, we examine each pet thoroughly. While this
gives us important information about factors such as heart rate and
rhythm, a blood test shows us what's going on internally. It gives
vital information about the health of the blood and major organs.
Pre-anaesthetic blood tests can detect conditions that otherwise may
not be detected. These include Diabetes, Kidney and Liver
disease, Anaemia and other blood disorders.
Blood tests allow us to decide whether to proceed as planned, delay the
anaesthetic until the underlying condition is treated, or adjust the
type of anaesthetic used.
Pre-anaesthetic blood tests help to ensure your pet receives the best
treatment possible. If you'd like more information, please call us.
3. Ok, I'll feed you
Those adoring eyes look up at you and say, "Feed me...please!" How can
you resist? It's very hard, even when you know you have been feeding
too much. This is the challenge faced by all pet owners and we're here
to help you win. Winning is worth it as we love our pets and studies
show keeping them at their correct weight can give them an extra 2
joyful years of life.
Why is it so hard to keep pets at the correct weight? It is only in
relatively recent times that dogs and cats have had enough to eat. It
was out of starving necessity that Labradors learnt to do the doleful
eye look or Tabby cats learnt to rub up against a leg incessantly. Both
these actions brought the reward of more food from their human friends.
So while keeping pets at their correct weight is probably the best gift
you can give your pet, doing it is hard. There is an abundance of food
in our pantries and we're soft at heart. Here are some tips:
· Use a food dispenser toy. Available from the
clinic, these toys hold the pets meal but only let small amounts out at
a time. This means longer meal times and more satisfaction
· Scatter food around the garden. Rather than
feeding in a bowl, scatter food around the garden. This replicates
pets' normal instinct to hunt for food, presents a challenge and leaves
them feeling more satisfied
· Weigh your pet at the clinic. The scales are in the waiting room and you can use them at any time. We can advise about a weight loss diet if required.
4. What's that smell?
One of the pleasures of pets is having a cuddle. Whether you're
sitting in the sun in the back yard or collapsed on the couch after a
long day at work, pets are always there for you and love getting up
close for a scratch or a pat. Keeping them smelling good is important,
however, as wafts of bad air can really turn you off. This is
especially noticeable when pets live indoors. Bad breath and smelly
coats are two main culprits. Here's how to deal with them:
Bad breath was until recently so common in dogs and
cats it was considered normal. With better understanding of dental care
in pets, most people now recognise bad breath as indicating dental
disease. Regular raw bones and brushing are the best way to prevent
dental problems, but some pets will need a dental clean performed under
general anaesthetic.
The smelly coat is usually the domain of dogs rather
than cats. Dogs love to roll in the smelliest gunge they can but this
is easy to fix: a good wash will do the job. Other smells may be
tougher to banish. Excess sebum, a natural skin secretion, is a common
cause of bad smell. It encourages bacterial growth, leading to the
odour. To get your sweet smelling pet back, do the following:
1. Feed a premium dry food. These contain omega 3 fatty acids in the
correct ratio to reduce skin inflammation, a factor in smelly coats
2. Use flea control every month of the year. Fleas contribute to most inflammatory skin conditions
3. Brush the coat regularly. This removes loose hair, debris and dirt.
4. Use an anti-microbial shampoo; talk to us, we'll recommend the right
one for your pet. If the smell does not improve in 3-4 washes, book an
appointment for us to investigate the problem further.
5. The secret lives of Ben
Ben was a beautiful Labrador who lived with his family in Sydney, near
the water. He was your typical Labrador; loved chasing a ball,
sometimes chewed the furniture and was a great mate. Robbie, his owner,
was shocked one day to find he'd been living a secret life.
It began when she took a call from the chaplain of the local boys
school. Could she please come and pick up Ben. Surprised that Ben would
be anywhere other than home, she was amazed to learn that Ben had been
visiting him every morning for months.
He was so well loved by the school that he was presented with his own
school report. The report read, "Ben is quick to adjust to new
challenges. His friendly, faithful nature endears him to everyone. He
has been a most cooperative member of the class and eagerly
participated in the last supper in the Chaplain's Office. Well done
Ben!"
On another occasion, Robbie received a call from the local sailing
club. Like the school visits, Ben had been a regular at Wednesday
social sailing. He had his own crew and loved going out on the water.
Ben is sadly no longer with us but Robbie treasures the school report and memories she still has.
If you have a great story about your pet or another you know, email it to
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