We are approaching the end of what has been a very disrupted and unexpectedly different year to the one we may have imagined in January. We'd like to thank you, our clients, for your support and patience as we have adjusted to social distancing, limitations in waiting room numbers and continued vigilance around health and hand hygiene.

The summer holiday season is rapidly approaching and we encourage you to think about preventive pet care now.

A great 1-2-3-4 holiday check list is 1. vaccinations up to date, 2. flea, worm and tick control up to date, 3. microchip check, 4. medications check - see our newsletter articles for more info. 

We are having a lot of fun recording new episodes of our Petcare Podcast - see a link to Episode 3 further in this newsletter.  If you haven't yet listened in or checked it out you can subscribe using your favourite Podcast App and catch up on Episodes 1 & 2.

Before you take your four-legged family member out and about for summer adventures, it’s important to keep them protected from common diseases by ensuring their vaccinations are up-to-date!

In Australia, dogs should be vaccinated as a minimum with the C3 vaccination – this protects against parvovirus, distemper and hepatitis. Most dogs also require protection against kennel cough. Depending on your dog’s particular lifestyle, we may additionally recommend that they are vaccinated against leptospirosis.

Cats are recommended to receive at least the F3 vaccination – this helps protect them against cat flu and feline panleukopaenia. Depending on your kitty’s lifestyle, they may also need to be vaccinated against FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus) and FeLV (feline leukaemia virus).

Sadly, we occasionally see cases of these particular diseases, with the vast majority occurring in unvaccinated pets. Episodes of these illnesses generally require at least a veterinary consultation and treatment to get your pet feeling well again, so to avoid this, just ensure that your pet is always up to date with their vaccinations.

Unfortunately, some of these diseases (such as parvovirus) can require your pet to have intensive care treatment in the vet hospital, and sometimes these diseases can even be fatal, especially in puppies, kittens or older animals.

Every puppy and kitten should receive a primary course of vaccinations (usually three separate vaccines between about four weeks apart), followed by their first adult vaccination one year later.

Thereafter, it’s best for your pet to have a health check annually, where our vets can assess your pet’s general health and discuss which vaccines are required each year to maintain their protection. Dogs or cats that go into daycare or boarding are generally always required to be up-to-date with annual vaccines.

If you are unsure whether your pet is up-to-date with their vaccines, ask our friendly team for advice!

When it comes to animal care there are some areas that are critical in the vet world – dental health and worming. We cover it all in the latest episode of the PetCare Podcast.

Dr Andrew Denman opens up wide on the issue of pet’s teeth, and we meet Dr Genevieve Liebich who recently opened the Orange Vet Hospital pet rehabilitation centre. Rosie also gives some great advice on how to reduce the anxiety in your pet, (and your level of guilt!) when you’re heading off to work.

Click here to catch our latest Episode.

As we all start to spend more time outdoors, it’s especially important to make sure your pet is properly identified with an up-to-date microchip. Sadly, many stray pets with microchips are unable to be safely reunited with their owners due to incorrect or incomplete microchip registration details.

How should I register my new pet?

If you are adopting a cat or dog that has already been microchipped, you should receive a signed ‘Change of Owner/Details’ microchip form (with your new pet’s microchip number on it) from the breeder or previous owner.

You must then use this paperwork to register your pet as soon as possible with your state pet registry – this can be done at your local council, or in some states, online via a state pet registry website.

This will link your contact details with your pet’s microchip number. This way, if your pet is ever picked up as a stray, authorised individuals or organisations can scan your pet to get their microchip number and search it on the state pet database to obtain your contact details.

What if my contact details change?

If you move house or change phone numbers, ensure you update your pet’s microchip contact details on your state pet registry as soon as possible. Animals in new homes can feel disoriented for a while and may be more likely to stray.

For previously registered pets, you can often change registration details online yourself, using your previously created registry profile. Otherwise, contact your local council for assistance in updating your pet’s record.

If you are not sure if your pet is microchipped or whether your details are currently up-to-date, just ask one of our friendly team for assistance.

There are several species of ticks which can be a nuisance to pets, and they predominantly occur in rural, coastal and bush areas, so if your pet lives in or visits an area known for ticks, then it’s useful to be aware of how ticks can affect your pet.

The potentially fatal paralysis tick is only present on the eastern seaboard of Australia, however there are other tick species present in many areas of Australia and New Zealand and whilst these tick species are not potentially fatal, they can cause local irritation to your pet and can also transmit diseases.

Ticks attach to the pet’s skin, burrowing in and become engorged from sucking the pet’s blood. This causes local skin irritation to the pet. Some tick species can also transmit diseases to the pet, and sometimes these diseases may also be a zoonotic risk to people.

It is important to regularly check your pet for ticks, especially after exercising your pet in an area known for ticks. If you find a tick on your pet, you can remove it using a special tick hook tool, or seek veterinary attention for further assistance or if you have any concerns.

If you are in an area known for the presence of paralysis ticks and you’ve found a tick on your pet and your pet displays any unusual behaviour such as weakness or wobbliness in the leg, or any changes to their breathing, vocalisation or facial expression, then it’s important to seek veterinary advice as soon as possible.

If your pet lives in or visits an area where ticks occur, then it’s important to use a tick prevention product to protect your pet. Speak with our team for the best tick prevention advice specific to your pet and geographical location. Even if you are using a tick prevention product on your pet, if your pet is in an area known for ticks, it is still recommended to perform a daily tick check of your pet.

During the scorching summer months, our pets can feel a little hot and bothered too. Unfortunately, in some cases, this unpleasant heat stress can progress to dangerous heat stroke.

Pets that are more at risk of overheating include:

• Snub-nosed (or brachycephalic) animals, including dog breeds such as pugs, bulldogs and cavalier king charles spaniels, and cat breeds such as persians or exotic shorthairs.
• Very overweight animals.
• Animals with very thick fur coats, such as huskies, malamutes or golden retrievers.
• Older pets with pre-existing breathing difficulties.
• Pets who are exercising exuberantly during hot conditions.

However, any pet kept in conditions where they cannot seek shade or have free access to cool water can be at risk.

On hot days, the best ways to protect your pet include:

• Don’t exercise your pet during the heat of the day.
• Ideally, keep them indoors in air-conditioning, or with access to a fan, cool tiles to lie on or at least some generous shade.
• Always ensure your pet has free access to fresh water.
• Give dogs the option of a paddling pool to play in.
• Under supervision, offer your pet large ice cubes to lick or make your pet “ice-lollies” - frozen versions of their favourite treats!
• Never leave your pet in the car.

If you think your pet may be suffering from heat stress, the best first aid is to gently hose or soak your pet in cool (but not cold) water. If they are alert and able to sit up, you can offer them access to water and monitor them closely. If your pet is panting heavily, seems lethargic or unwell, or if you have any other concerns - take your pet to the vet for immediate assistance.

Let’s all stay cool this summer!

Regularly worming your cat or dog probably doesn’t rate first on your list of fun pet care topics but it’s important to stay on top of – for the health of your pet, yourself, and your family!

Common animal intestinal worms such as roundworm, hookworm and whipworm can cause our pets to become unwell with vomiting, diarrhoea, weight loss and weakness, especially in vulnerable puppies and kittens. Severe worm burdens can even be fatal to very young animals.

Some tapeworms, such as Echinococcus granulosus, can also pose a significant health risk to people. Dogs that have access to fresh livestock carcasses can become infected with this tapeworm. People can then be at risk of developing a potentially dangerous tapeworm infection if they inadvertently come into contact with the dog’s faeces.

It is recommended to worm puppies and kittens every two weeks up until they are 12 weeks old, then worming them monthly until the age of six months. Thereafter, it is recommended that your pet is wormed every three months. In rural areas, where pets have access to livestock, we may recommend administering an additional tapeworm treatment every month in addition to the quarterly all-wormer doses.

For routine worming of your dog or cat, it is best to use all-wormer products that include tapeworm prevention. These include products such as Milbemax or Drontal. For specific tapeworm treatment, you can consider the use of products such as Droncit. Speak with the vet or veterinary nurse for worming advice specific to your pet.

To reduce the risk of getting worms from your pets, remember to always wash your hands after handling your pet!

If you have trouble worming your pet, just ask our helpful team for assistance.

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. 

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