Spring has sprung, and our latest newsletter is here!

This edition explores common springtime issues for pets, including allergies, fleas, ear infections, and bee stings.

We're also happy to share that Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) vaccinations are now available again. If your cat goes outside, they could be at risk since FIV is typically spread through fights with infected cats and has no cure.

Consider adding this important vaccine to their schedule. For any questions, please call the clinic on 9841 5422

If your dog suffers from recurrent ear infections, lend us your ears and rest assured: there’s lots we can offer to help!

Recurrent ear infections are not only painful for the poor pet, but can also become frustrating, expensive and time-consuming for owners to deal with. Here are some of our experienced team’s recommendations for the management of those ear infections that just keep coming back.

Proper treatment, each time:

Each ear infection should be treated promptly, ideally with a microscopic check of your dog’s ear goo to identify what type of bacteria or yeast is involved, so that we can pick the most appropriate medication. We may also recommend for your pet to have a follow-up check to ensure that their infection has resolved.

Effective ear cleaning:

For dogs with ongoing or particularly nasty ear infections, we may recommend a general anaesthetic for a more thorough ear examination and clean. Many pets are just too sore to allow a proper clear-out of all that yucky ear discharge while they are awake. Unfortunately, ear treatments will not work as effectively if your dog’s ear remains full of gunk!

Allergy management:

Many dogs with recurrent ear infections have an underlying allergy that is triggering the issue. For dogs with recurrent ear and/or skin problems, we will often discuss a plan for allergy diagnosis, such as a hypoallergenic dietary trial. Once we work out a pet’s trigger, we can then recommend longer-term management options to help reduce flare-ups.

Specialist referral

In some cases, affected dogs may benefit from referral to a specialist for more advanced treatment, such as surgery on an irreparably damaged ear canal or testing for environmental allergies with a view to starting immunotherapy (a series of injections to gradually reduce these sensitivities).

For more help managing recurrent skin or ear issues in your pet, reach out to our knowledgeable team.

(This fictional story has been created for educational purposes only and does not depict a real pet, owner or clinic.)

One sunny spring morning, Freddy the staffy x labrador was having a happy sniffing session around some bushes in the park, while his owner James waited patiently nearby. Suddenly, Freddy yelped and then started to paw violently at his face.

Within the next few minutes, Freddy had started to drool and vomited once. He continued to paw at his face, which began to look red, blotchy and swollen. Most concerningly, Freddy also appeared a bit weak and wobbly.

Very concerned, James picked up Freddy and ran back to the car, then immediately drove to their local veterinary hospital. On the way, James phoned the veterinary team to let them know they were on their way, so the staff could prepare.

On their arrival at the veterinary hospital, James gave quick verbal permission for Freddy to be whisked away for emergency assessment and treatment.

The vet on duty rapidly assessed Freddy, and found him to be showing signs of anaphylaxis; an unusually severe allergic reaction. She also found what looked like a bee stinger stuck in his lip, which was removed.

Freddy required an intravenous drip for the administration of adrenaline and fluids to restore his blood pressure, and was given injections of steroids and antihistamines. He was also given supplemental oxygen via a facemask until his breathing was deemed stable.

Freddy was monitored closely for the rest of the day and responded well to treatment. Over the next few hours, his facial swelling and hives resolved, and he started to wag his tail and sing loud staffy songs.

Later that evening, Freddy was sent home with several more days of anti-inflammatory medications, and a plan to refer him to a specialist for immunotherapy treatment to help desensitise him to bee stings in the future.

James was relieved that Freddy received such rapid treatment and was able to recover fully from his scary episode. For the time being, he and Freddy will stick to the paths at the park!

Has your dog ever reverse sneezed? While these paroxysmal respiration episodes can look rather alarming if you haven’t seen them before, many dogs will occasionally experience them, and they usually don’t require any treatment. As a result, we’re achoo-sing to answer some common questions about reverse sneezing in pets - what it is, why it happens, and whether it’s anything to worry about in your pet.

What is reverse sneezing?

Reverse sneezing is when a dog suddenly appears to get stuck in a loop of violently sniffing or snorting air inwards through their nose, almost as if they have something caught in there. These episodes usually last a few seconds to a minute, and generally self-resolve.

Why does reverse sneezing happen?

We’re not always sure why reverse sneezing episodes happen, but they do often appear to be triggered by some kind of irritation in the nose or throat.

Narrow-nosed dogs such as greyhounds and whippets seem more prone to these episodes, as do flatter-faced breeds such as pugs and bulldogs who have elongated soft palates (extra tissue in their upper airways and throats). Additionally, irritants in the nose and throat, such as pollen, smoke, grass, or other allergens, can also be triggers.

Should I worry if my pet experiences reverse sneezing?

In most cases, reverse sneezing is nothing to worry about and won’t require any treatment.

However, if your pet’s reverse sneezing episodes are becoming more frequent or severe or are associated with other symptoms (such as nasal discharge, bleeding, coughing or breathing difficulties), then it’s best for us to investigate for any underlying problems in the nose or throat. This may involve:

• Imaging your pet's head and neck with x-rays or a CT scan
• Scoping (visualising the region with a tiny camera) in your pet’s nasal cavities, sinuses and throat
• Treatment trials for allergies
• Blood tests

So, if you notice any unusual breathing in your pet, consult our breathtakingly helpful veterinary team for advice!

With their skin being the largest organ of your pet’s body, our epidermally-experienced team would love to give you the skinny on how to keep your pet’s “outer coating” in tip-top health!

You can support your pet’s general skin health through:

Regular ectoparasite protection

Ectoparasites are those that infest the outside of your pet’s body, such as fleas, ticks and mites. With fleas and mites causing varying degrees of itchiness, inflammation, fur loss and secondary bacterial infections, and ticks causing localised skin irritation, tick paralysis (in the case of paralysis ticks), and potentially spreading infectious diseases, it’s best to keep these critters at bay with regular parasite prevention. Consult our team for recommendations on the safest and most effective parasite prevention for your pet.

Grooming as required

All pets benefit from some form of regular grooming to remove old hair, prevent matting, and maintain their skin health and comfort. Short-haired pets should be brushed twice weekly, whereas double-coated pets will usually require regular combing to detangle their longer topcoat, plus the use of deshedding tools to remove their denser undercoat, particularly in spring and autumn. For dogs with long hair growth phases (such as poodles, schnauzers and maltese), clipping every 6-8 weeks is necessary to prevent fur overgrowth and matting, unless you’re willing to comb them every 1-2 days.

Skin-supporting supplements

As well as offering a high quality complete and balanced diet, you can support your pet’s skin health by adding an omega-3 fatty acid supplement to their daily rations. Ask our team for recommendations on a safe dosage for your pet.

The right shampoo and conditioner

Unless your pet has a diagnosed skin condition necessitating prescription washes, we’d recommend bathing them no more frequently than every 4-6 weeks (unless of course, they’ve rolled in something yucky!). Use a gentle shampoo designed for pets, and if your pet’s skin is on the drier side, add a pet-specific soothing conditioning product, such as one containing moisturising oils or ceramides.

For more advice on keeping your pet’s skin and coat healthy, consult our skin-savvy team!

You noticed your pet scratching, checked their skin and… oh no, they have fleas! Here are our professional tips for getting rid of those pesky parasites, pronto.

Treating all susceptible pets

Fleas can live, feed and breed on dogs and cats in the household, so all pets should be treated with a safe and effective flea control product. Even if pets don’t come into direct contact with each other, they can still become infested from fleas that hatch from eggs dropped around your house or garden.

Managing any skin issues in your pet

Although fleas are uncomfortable for any dog or cat, pets who are allergic to flea saliva can develop significant skin irritation from even just one bite. If your pet is very itchy, we would recommend an assessment with our veterinary team. We can start them on itch-relieving medication and treat any secondary bacterial skin infection that may have developed.

Breaking the flea lifecycle

Unfortunately, adult fleas will lay 25-50 eggs a day that will fall from your pet’s fur and sprinkle around your home and garden. These eggs can lie dormant for months until conditions are warm enough for development and hatching, although they will often hatch year-round in a nice toasty house! This means that even after you kill off the active adult fleas on your pet, fresh fleas can hatch and jump on again.

For this reason, it’s recommended to clean your house for 6-8 weeks with:

• Thorough vacuuming every couple of days, including any furniture your pet lies on, under furniture, and around skirting boards
• Washing your pet’s bedding 1-2 times weekly in 60-degree Celsius water and drying it on a high heat mode
• For severe infestations, consulting a pest control specialist to safely treat your house and garden

Ongoing flea prevention

The best way to prevent flea infestations is to use effective and safe flea control products on your pets year-round. Consult our team if you’re unsure of the best options.

How to tell if your dog is getting the right amount of exercise and attention

Experts weigh in on the ACT's draft Code of Practice recommending dog owners spend a minimum of three hours a day with their pets. As animal behaviourist Jade Currie notes, “dogs are social animals” and the quality of that time often matters more than the exact duration. Associate Professor Susan Hazel adds that meeting your dog’s needs involves more than time - it’s about nutrition, environment, health, behavioural interaction, and mental state. If you focus on all five, “that’s going to be a pretty good life for them.”

Click here for more tips at ABC News

Lost pup takes solo bus ride - becomes local celebrity

Athena, a Staffordshire Terrier in Sydney, surprised commuters when she hopped on a bus at Sans Souci wearing her blue jacket and calmly rode to Kogarah Station. Passengers guided her to safety and she was taken to the Sydney Dogs and Cats Home, where staff have since contacted her owners who are overseas, and a family member is now in touch to help sort things out. For now, Athena is safe, loved, and has become a local favourite online thanks to her little adventure.

Click here to read the full story at Yahoo News

Labrador rescued from mine shaft after four days missing

In Trentham, central Victoria, a Labrador named Ted was lifted to safety from an 8-metre-deep mine shaft after he and his companion Penny went missing for four days. Neighbours found Penny “guarding” the shaft and raised the alarm, while CFA’s specialist Oscar 1 team managed the tricky rescue. As First Lieutenant Karl Shay cautioned, “You’ve got to be extremely careful wandering around the bush,” noting several other shafts nearby; he added Ted was “very happy to see people” once crews arrived. Authorities have since taped off open shafts to prevent further incidents.

Click here to read the full story at ABC News

When a wombat was hit by a car near Wee Jasper in southern NSW, park manager Paul Sheehy and his team called local rescue group Wildcare for help. “They’re a part of us - part of Australia, part of Wee Jasper, the cute little buggers,” he said.

That call began a partnership with Wildcare, which now trains locals to treat sarcoptic mange - a painful and often fatal skin disease that affects wombats, koalas, and other mammals. Since 2024, about 140 volunteers have been trained, growing from just a handful at the start, and they now use simple but clever methods like medicated pole applicators or burrow flaps that treat wombats as they enter or leave their burrows.

“It is a death sentence … if it’s not treated, they will die,” said Associate Professor Julie Old, who hopes more citizen scientists will get involved. By helping wombats, people also help the wider ecosystem, as wombats’ burrows provide shelter for many native animals and improve soil health.

Click here to read the full story at ABC 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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