It's September and time for our latest newsletter.  This issue is all about the allergies and skin irritations we see with the onset of Spring.  We hope you and your pet find the articles useful!

It's also time to extend a huge congratulations to Jess, our latest qualified Veterinary Nurse! Jess has spent the last 18 months studying, completing blocks of practical assessment in Perth, working full time, and keeping up an amazing attitude and work ethic throughout the whole journey.
Not only that, she has gone straight on to study another certificate in Wildlife and Exhibited Animal Care to further her special interest in zoo animals. Congratulations Jess, we are so very proud of you!

If your pet suffers from recurrent allergic skin and ear issues, you’ll know that it usually requires consistent management to help keep those pesky irritations at bay.

Here are some of our team’s top tips for home management of allergy symptoms in pets, and when it’s best to see our allergy-aware vets for more help.

Home management tips:

• Remove any irritating plants from your garden that are likely to trigger your pet – a visual guide for common allergen plants can be found on page two of this brochure
• If your pet seems to be suffering from an acute irritation flare-up after being outside, try rinsing them off in a cool bath to help remove any allergen particles from their skin - remember to keep their ears dry, and dry their fur thoroughly afterwards to prevent moist skin problems
• Ask our veterinary team for recommendations on safe fish oil and antihistamine dosages for your pet, as these can help to maintain skin quality and reduce mild skin inflammation
• Consult our veterinary team about whether it’s recommended for your pet to be washed with a prescription shampoo on a regular basis to help keep secondary yeast or bacterial over-growths at bay
• After washing your pet in a suitable pet shampoo, it helps to then apply a good-quality pet conditioner to their skin, ideally one containing soothing and moisturising ingredients such as ceramides or oatmeal

When veterinary help is recommended

We would recommend a prompt consultation with our vets if:

• Your pet is scratching so much that they are developing raw, scabby or balding skin patches
• Your pet’s ears or skin smell “yeasty”
• Your pet’s ear openings look red, dirty or oozy
• Your pet seems very irritated, and is regularly gnawing or licking at their skin/paws, scratching at their ears, or shaking their head

With regular home management and experienced veterinary care, your pet will soon love the skin they’re in!

Mast cell tumours (MCTs) are a common type of tumour in dogs and unfortunately can be bad news. Here’s what to monitor your pet for, and how we can help.

What do MCTs look like?
MCTs commonly occur on or just underneath the skin of dogs. These tricky tumours generally can’t be diagnosed by their outward appearance alone, as they can present in a variety of ways and may look similar to other types of tumours.

MCTs may also wax and wane in size due to the intermittent release of inflammatory substances from within the tumour.

Are MCTs a worry for affected pets?
MCTs can vary in their “behaviour”, ranging from more benign, slow-growing lumps to aggressive tumours that can spread locally or invade distant organs such as the spleen and liver and cause severe illness.

How can MCTs be diagnosed?
Ideally, our vets will be able to take a sample from the lump so that the tumour cells can be assessed under the microscope. In cooperative pets with easily accessible tumours, MCTs can usually be diagnosed during a consultation by the process of fine needle aspiration - this involves passing a fine needle into your pet’s lump several times, and then transferring the contents of the needle onto a microscope slide for examination.

However, to definitively confirm the severity of a MCT, affected pets are required to undergo further testing. In most cases, this involves surgically removing the tumour (under a general anaesthetic) and sending it for lab testing. Pets with more advanced or aggressive tumours may also be recommended to have additional scans or lab tests.

The bottom line?
If you notice a new lump on your pet, it’s best to bring them in for a prompt assessment with our experienced vets. Early, proactive treatment gives your pet the best chance of a complete recovery.

Did you know that just like us, cats can suffer from asthma, too? It is estimated that up to 5% of cats may develop feline asthma, also known as feline allergic bronchitis. So, take a deep breath and learn more about the ins and outs of this issue.

What is feline asthma?

Feline asthma is an inflammatory problem affecting the lower airways. Usually, it results from allergies to airborne particles such as dust, cigarette smoke, pollens, fragrances or household chemicals.

What are the symptoms of feline asthma?

Most cats with feline asthma show intermittent coughing (which may be confused with them “bringing up a hairball”), wheezing, and breathing difficulties.

Symptoms may occur year-round or seasonally, depending on the pet’s triggers. Some cats may also suffer sudden, severe “asthma attack” type episodes requiring emergency veterinary treatment.

How can we diagnose feline asthma?

If you ever suspect breathing abnormalities in your cat, we advise a prompt consultation with our feline-friendly vets. As well as a full physical examination, we will generally recommend that your cat undergoes chest x-rays under sedation or anaesthesia (to ensure they are relaxed and breathing calmly), and potentially also general blood tests depending on their age and symptoms.

Can cats with feline asthma be treated?

Treatment involves controlling your cat’s airway inflammation with steroid medication. To reduce the potential for side effects from this treatment, we recommend the use of a prescribed puffer/inhaler long-term, which, surprisingly, many affected cats can be trained to accept! We also recommended reducing obvious triggers for your pet (e.g. by refraining from smoking indoors and not using fragranced products or chemicals around the house).

Cats who appear to be suffering from “asthma attack” type symptoms should be assessed urgently, and will often require additional medication to help open up their airways.

Fortunately, with prompt intervention and consistent, long-term management, cats with asthma can usually live a normal, happy life. So, you and your pet can breathe easy!

If you’ve ever been subjected to the cringeworthy, repetitive, “schlurp… schlurp…” sound of a dog obsessively licking their paws, you’ll know that recurrent paw licking can be an annoying problem for owners as well as pets!

Here, we’ll dig into some common causes of paw irritation in dogs.

Why does my dog lick their paws?
Some degree of paw licking is normal in pets, allowing them to clean off substances caught in their fur or between their toes.

However, if your pet is licking frequently at their paws, it may indicate an underlying problem. Signs that your dog is licking at their paws excessively can include:

• Your pet developing pink-brown saliva staining of the fur between their toes
• Your pet developing red skin irritation between their toes or underneath their paws
• Your pet being difficult to distract from the paw licking activity

What are some common causes of problematic paw licking?

• Allergies

This is the most common cause of excessive paw licking in dogs, and can be secondary to atopy (environmental allergies), contact allergies or food allergies. Pets with underlying allergies are also more prone to developing secondary skin infections that can rapidly worsen their problem.

• Claw issues, foreign bodies, or other injuries

If your pet is focusing on a particular area of one paw, it’s a good idea to check the area for any issues such as broken claws, lumps, or wounds that could indicate that something is stuck in their skin (like glass or a grass seed).

• Behavioural

If we rule out other medical issues, we may diagnose behavioural paw licking secondary to issues such as anxiety or an obsessive-compulsive disorder.

If you notice that your pet appears to be licking at their paws a lot, we’d recommend a prompt check-up with our skin-savvy vets. We’ll nail that paw irritation in no time!

In the Adelaide Hills, carrots laced with the poison Pindone, intended to control rabbit populations, are raising concerns among landowners about their impact on native species, particularly the endangered southern brown bandicoot. Ben Koch, president of the Sturt Upper Reaches Landcare Group (SURLG), highlighted that while Pindone is effective against rabbits, it poses a significant threat to marsupials, rodents, and birds. SURLG has been actively working on the Bandicoot Super Highway project to protect and restore habitats for these vulnerable animals, but recent sightings of bandicoots have dramatically decreased.

Landholders have expressed fears that Pindone may be contributing to the decline. Despite precautions, such as placing baits away from dense vegetation, the risk to bandicoots and other native species remains high. "Bandicoots eat anything," noted Tim Robson, a local landholder, emphasising the difficulty of preventing unintended harm. SURLG is calling for better warnings and the cessation of Pindone distribution in key habitats to protect these endangered species.

Click here to read the full story at ABC News.

Rising concern: Overweight cats in Australia and New Zealand

A Royal Canin survey found that 47% of Australian and New Zealand pet owners do not measure their pets' food portions, leading to a rise in overweight cats. Dr. Niquet Reid of Royal Canin ANZ emphasises the importance of maintaining a healthy weight from kittenhood, as extra weight can lead to compromised mobility and health issues. “A little bit of weight can stack up surprisingly quickly,” Dr. Reid noted, advising regular check-ins with veterinarians to manage pet nutrition.

Click here for more tips at Pet Industry News.

How a service dog transformed a veteran’s life

Army veteran Chris Hodder, living with PTSD, found solace in his service dog Bella. "She's changed my life for the better," Hodder said. Bella, trained by Integra Service Dogs Australia, helps veterans like Hodder by recognising symptoms of PTSD and providing comfort. "She's not a pet. She's my mate, my confidant," Hodder shared. Integra, founded in 2015, has paired over 200 dogs with handlers, providing life-changing support for veterans and first responders.

Click here to read the full story at ABC News.

Australia’s favourite dog and cat breeds of 2024

The Cavoodle tops the list as Australia's favourite dog breed, while the Domestic Short Hair is the number one cat. Despite cost-of-living pressures, Australians continue to embrace their pets, with nearly half of households owning a dog and a third having a cat. “Cavoodles fit in with many house settings, from large homes to small city apartments,” said Lachlan Davidson of Bupa Pet Insurance. The survey also noted a trend of pet owners reducing preventive care due to financial constraints.

Click here to see the full list at Pet Industry News.

This email contains comments of a general nature only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional veterinary advice. Please always consult your vet for specific advice on your pet's individual needs.

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