Welcome to our August newsletter!

We have had another busy month keeping the pets of Albany happy and well! Our August newsletter shows off our latest Puppy Preschool graduates, and has a lot of great articles about pet dental health to coincide with National Pet Dental Month which is in August every year.  

We hope you enjoy it!

Every year in August we encourage our clients to think about their pet's oral health during National Pet Dental Month.  As usual our friendly team will be conducting FREE dental checks to allow us to best know if your pet has dental disease.

We all know how important dental health is for our own teeth. We go to the dentist regularly and brush and floss our teeth twice a day. But did you know that dental health is important for your pet as well? Dental disease is the most common health problem of our pets - 70% of cats and 80% of dogs will have some level of dental disease by two years of age.

At Mira Mar Vets, we promote dental home care that is approved by the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC).  The Hill's Prescription t/d range of pet foods has been VOHC approved to reduce both plaque and tartar from the teeth of cats and dogs.  The unique combination of kibble size, shape and interlocking fibre technology allows the tooth to penetrate deeply into the kibble before it breaks. The kibble gently scrubs the tooth surface to clean teeth as the pet eats.

Please check our website for more detailed information about the Hill's range of dental diets, and of course, if you would like to book in a free dental check for your pet, please contact our friendly staff.

Our June class of Puppy Preschool pups graduated just after our last newsletter was released, so they missed their big moment!

Big congratulations to this cute little group, they did so well!
Asha, Blue, Hapi, Tilly and Walter sure have learnt some great skills and have also made some friends along the way. Please call the clinic on 9841 5422 if you have a pup that would like to play with us too!

Has your cat been pickier with food lately? Perhaps a bit touchy for any handling around their mouth? Or have you noticed that their breath smells bad? We know our cats can be experts at disguising their discomfort. Spot these changes? It's time your feline friend may need your help!
Here are three potential reasons why your cat's mouth could be sore:

Periodontal disease
Periodontal disease involves the progressive build-up of plaque (the gooey, bacteria-containing film that forms on unbrushed teeth), which eventually hardens into brown calculus. The gums become inflamed and sore (known as gingivitis), and this can progress to periodontitis, involving painful inflammation and infection around the tooth roots and jawbone. Eventually, affected teeth will become loose and may fall out.
Caught it early? Great! With a thorough dental clean under anaesthetic, we can effectively reverse periodontal disease.

Feline gingivostomatitis
Feline gingivostomatitis involves an allergic response to plaque, which triggers severe, long-lasting inflammation (and sometimes infection) of the gums and throat of affected cats.
These cats usually struggle to eat normally and appear generally lethargic and miserable.
It's possible to manage feline gingivostomatitis with regular dental cleans and high-level home dental care, but many affected cats require the surgical removal of most (or sometimes all) of their teeth to get relief.

FORLs
FORLs (feline odontoclastic resorptive lesions) are raw, painful tooth cavities that worsen over time. They are common in cats, with over half of felines over three years of age developing a FORL in at least one tooth.

Unlike human cavities, these lesions are not caused by eating sugary foods, but the exact cause is still unknown.

Teeth affected by FORLs usually require complete or partial extraction (crown amputation).

Cat teeth issues can be severe! If you notice any symptoms of dental discomfort in your cat, book them for a prompt assessment with our knowledgeable vets. With the right treatment, we'll soon have them feline fine!

Did you know we recommend daily tooth brushing for dogs as part of an ideal dental hygiene maintenance program?

If brushing your pet’s teeth seems impossible for you now, rest assured. With proper training and technique, most good-natured dogs can be trained to accept regular brushing!
Here are the 3 common mistakes to avoid when brushing your pet’s teeth.

1. Brushing when you should be booking a dental procedure
Do you only start trying to brush your pet’s teeth after discovering that your pet has a dental disease?

The issue with this is that if the pet has already developed gingivitis or periodontitis (inflammation around the gumline or tooth roots), brushing will be uncomfortable or even painful for the pet, which means they will likely resist the process.

If your pet has any visible gum redness, we recommend booking them for a prompt dental procedure under anaesthetic. This way, we can get them back to a healthy, comfortable state before you attempt any brushing.

2. Going too hard, too soon
Even if your pet’s mouth is comfortable, they are likely to find it too intense if you immediately try to scrub their teeth with no prior brush training.

We recommend easing your pet into the process with daily 30-60 second brushing sessions. Start with a face flannel over your finger for a gentler sensation the first few sessions, and once your pet accepts this, gradually upgrade to a very soft, moistened toothbrush. Remember to administer plenty of small, tasty treats throughout the process!

3. Trying to brush away calculus
Trying to scrub away that hard brown accumulation (known as calculus) that gradually forms on unbrushed teeth is tempting. Unfortunately, brushing won’t remove this hardened material.
Calculus is best removed with a proper dental scale and polish performed under anaesthetic, allowing us to clean both above and below the gumline properly.

For more information on keeping your pet’s teeth clean and healthy at home, consult our team – we’re passionate about pearly whites!

At some point in your cat’s life, we may recommend that your pet undergoes dental extractions due to tooth fractures, abnormal tooth placement, or significant dental disease. Whilst this can be worrying news, our skilled vets will always ensure your pet experiences minimal discomfort.
Here’s how we will help keep your pet comfortable throughout the process.

Pre-procedural care
If we note significant dental disease in your pet (such as a tooth root abscess), we may recommend that they start on antibiotics and pain relief before their dental procedure.
We’ll dispense the right medication based on your pet’s pain level and general health. If your pet has any known health issues or is middle-aged to older, we recommend blood tests to assess their organ health before the dental procedure so that we can plan the safest pain relief and anaesthetic protocol for them.

Pain control during the procedure
When you admit your pet to the hospital for their dental procedure, we will first administer a calming injection – a combination of pain relief and sedative medications.
Once your pet is under anaesthesia, we will perform targeted nerve blocks to numb certain regions of their mouth. Nerve blocks help them have a smooth anaesthetic and minimise the pain they feel when awake.
We will review their case before we wake your pet again and administer additional “top-up” pain relief medications as necessary.

Aftercare
When your pet recovers sufficiently from their procedure, we will send them home with ongoing pain relief and dietary recommendations to support a comfortable healing process.
Most pets will recover surprisingly quickly from dental extraction procedures. And of course, they feel a lot better after the removal of any painful teeth!

For more information on dental procedures for your pet, contact our helpful team.

Ever wonder why we recommend a dental check-up with your pet every 6-12 months, even if they seem to be in tip-top shape? Here are 3 reasons why!

1. If we check your pets’ teeth regularly, we can detect dental diseases earlier
Periodontal disease (inflammation and infection around your pet’s gums, tooth roots and jaws) starts with reversible gum inflammation. With regular dental checks, we can detect periodontal disease and other developing diseases in your pet earlier and perform a prompt dental clean to remove plaque and calculus above and below the gumline.
Prompt thorough cleaning means that:

• We can reverse any early periodontal disease and get your pet’s mouth back to a healthy, comfortable state
• If teeth are permanently damaged, we can extract them promptly to prevent your pet suffering long-term pain and infection
• We can provide personalised advice on how to best keep your pet’s mouth clean and healthy at home between dental procedures

2. We may detect other health problems earlier
When our vets thoroughly check your pet’s mouth and jaws, we can sometimes detect other health issues that may not have been obvious otherwise.
Such issues could include:

• Lumps in your pet’s mouth
• Tongue ulcers
• Broken teeth
• Enlarged lymph nodes around the jaw

3. We can build a better relationship with your pet and be more proactive about their general health
You might bring your pet to see us when they’re ill or injured. However, when your pets miss out on regular check-ups, we miss the opportunity to make proactive healthcare recommendations to help keep them well! As well as guidance on dental health, we can also advise on the following:

• Parasite control
• Healthy body condition
• Vaccination routines
• Any new lumps on your pet’s body
• Joint health

Not to mention, if we see your pet routinely when they’re well, we’ll be able to give them lots of treats and cuddles, helping them to be more comfortable for future vet visits.

Call us today to book regular checks with our knowledgeable team to help keep your pet happy and healthy!

French Mayor hopes to catch problem-poopers with pet DNA tests

The city of Beziers in France has introduced a controversial "genetic passport" scheme to combat the issue of dog owners failing to clean up their pets' feces. The plan, launched by Mayor Robert Menard, requires dog owners to have their pets DNA registered, allowing authorities to identify and fine those who do not clean up after their dogs.

The move comes in response to the increasing problem of dog waste in public spaces, with the mayor hoping that the threat of fines will encourage responsible ownership and cleaner streets. "We did a count, and we pick up more than 1,000 messes a month, sometimes a lot more, just in the town centre. It just cannot go on," said Mayor Menard. The new system requires pet owners to provide an animal DNA sample which local police may use to identify the perpetrators of mysterious local pet poops. Once matched, those brazen enough to leave a 'surprise' steaming on the public pavement can expect a bill of up to 122 euros (roughly AUD 200). Dog owners of Beziers will be required to carry a genetic "passport" for their pets and, if caught in public (with their pets) without that passport, face a fine of 38 euros (close to AUD 60).

However, Francophile dog lovers planning a trip to Beziers needn't hasten to cancel their plans. Mayor Menard confirmed that non-residents and visitors would not receive fines for lack of such a passport. "Foreigners aren't the problem", he said, "it's the locals who aren't cleaning up".

To find out more about Bezier's genetic passport plan, read The Guardian's full article.

Photo: TNT Magazine/Alamy

Guide Dogs Australia’s rush to pair vision-impaired woman with new dog, Ava

After two decades of travelling confidently with various guide dogs by her side, senior disability advocate Donna Purcell faced a significant challenge when her beloved guide dog and friend, Dora, unexpectedly passed away last year. For the first time in 20 years, Donna found herself without the support she had grown accustomed to. Once easy journeys now required careful planning, and even her daily train trips became anxiety-inducing. The matching process with a new guide dog can take months, and while waiting, Donna had to revert to using a cane, which she had rarely done since getting her first guide dog.

Relying on a cane made moving around the city slower, sometimes requiring good samaritan assistance. "I'm okay using a cane in my local environment, [but] catching public transport and navigating through Central Station, which is always changing and under construction, is something I just don't feel confident doing," said Donna. While some vision-impaired people prefer to use a cane, a guide dog offers unique benefits such as navigating around objects and, generally, enabling travel at a swifter pace. "We were looking for a dog for Donna that was going to be good on all public transport [and in] office environments... a fast confident walker... and they don't come around every day," said Guide Dogs Australia Instructor Doug Richie.

Eventually, after extensive lifestyle, personality and walking assessment, Guide Dogs Australia matched Donna with Ava, and the pair are due to begin their first month of training together. "[I'm excited about] the absolute freedom that having a guide dog is going to bring back into my life," said Ms Purcell.

Click here to read the ABC News' coverage of Donna and Ava's journey to success.

‘Moore’ dogs than Robert expected: Hundreds of dogs at 100th birthday pet parade

Meet the Moore family of San Jose, California. They planned to make their father Robert's 100th birthday special, but with many of Robert Moore's friends no longer with them, daughter Alison felt it important to organise something besides a family dinner. Robert's birthday wish was straightforward: to sit outside and pet a few dogs.

Alison took to social media, with a general invitation to dog owners of San Jose to join a pet parade in the Moore’s neighbourhood on Robert’s birthday. The family expected a handful of local pets and their owners to participate, but not much more than that. However, on June 17th, Robert was greeted by a queue of more than 200 dogs waiting patiently for pats. Some dogs had travelled over 10 miles (16 km) to join the parade with their owners. There were dogs of all breeds and sizes, some with disabilities, all on their best behaviour, sporting flowers, birthday cards and lots of waggy tails. "So many strangers showed up," said Robert's granddaughter, Caroline Moore, "Not only did they show up, but they made cards and posters, [and] brought him cupcakes. It was the most heartwarming thing ever."

Robert enjoyed the pooch parade for nearly two hours, smiling and petting every dog in attendance. "He was so overwhelmed," said Alison Moore, "He was just so sweet and talking to the kids and petting all the dogs and saying their names. It was so much fun."
As for the final verdict from the birthday boy himself? "It was a special, special birthday parade," said Robert, "because of all the numbers and all the different breeds of dogs".

To check out cute pictures from the pup parade, view the full article by The Washington Post.

Local Hobartians were devastated by the death of 'Larila' the platypus late last year. Larila, named after the palawa kani word for 'platypus', lived in the Hobart Rivulet (which joins the Derwent Estuary). She was known locally after appearing in a viral video in 2021. Six months later, locals rushed Larila to an animal rescue centre. A stray piece of twine had entangled itself around her body, embedding so deeply into her skin that it required surgical removal. Hobartians held high hopes for her recovery, but sadly Larila died the week following her surgery.

Pollution continues to threaten Australian wildlife, alongside climate change, drought, the damming of rivers, poor water management, and invasive species such as foxes, according to Dr Gilad Bino, platypus biologist and senior lecturer at the Centre for Ecosystem Science at the University of NSW. "Either at a national or a state level you need a conservation plan for when the next drought hits. If need be, we might need to undertake interventions and rescues." said Dr Bino.

Of course, anybody can support the health of the platypus' habitat by practising conservation at grassroots level, from simple actions like putting rubbish in the bin to organising large-scale cleanup working bees, as the children of Hobart Primary School have done. "In a perfect world, the platypi and other creatures in the rivulet would be OK ... we don't live in a perfect world, but if we all make a choice to be kind to the environment and animals, we can all work together to make that happen," said Ellis, a Hobart Primary student. "We need to remember to think about our animals — rubbish in the bin, pick it up if it's on the ground, even if it's not yours — and remember Larila. Do it for her."

Read (and watch!) the captivating audiovisual article at ABC News.

This email contains comments of a general nature only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional veterinary advice. It should not be relied on as the basis for whether you do or don't do anything. 

All content © PetPack 2022