Is your pet holiday ready?
/in Cat Care, Dog Care, News, Traveling /by sumHillPreparing for the holidays can be stressful- to help make things easier for you Dr Lydia has put together a checklist to ensure you don’t need to have that last minute emergency visit to the vet!
Print a copy of the checklist below and take some time to go through it – if you notice there are some things you aren’t sure about please feel free to call us on 9797 2555 so we can make sure you and your pet have a fun and safe holiday!
What happens when your pet comes in for a dental procedure…
/in News, Uncategorized /by sumHillDentals for your cat or dog is one of the routine procedures our vets do regularly at Summer Hill Village Vet.
It can be a bit daunting booking your pet in for a dental as unlike humans, they require general anaesthetic since we need them to be still to have a proper look in their mouths.
If you have any concerns or questions about what a dental for your cat or dog means, we have put together this short video following one of our well loved patients ‘Trixie’ through her admission all the way through to her discharge.
You can read the following for tips on how to maintain your pet’s dental health:
My cat is missing
/in Cat Care, Dog Care, News /by sumHillWe have put together a guide to help owners with lost cats. Whilst it is not a guaranteed way to find your missing cat, we have found that a lot of these tips have had some success.
A lost cat is one of the most heartbreaking things a pet owner can experience. Unfortunately having an outdoor cat will always carry the risk of kitty not returning home and going missing regardless of what precautions you take (a safety-release collar with your phone number is aways a good idea to have on an outdoor cat).
Having a completely indoor cat does not also guarantee that your cat may never go missing – indoor cats are still prone to running out of an open window or door! For most cases, particularly for indoor cats, the missing cat is hiding somewhere very close to home so it is a good idea to regularly do a scan of your immediate area (look under nooks and crannies and other small places where your cat may have become trapped)
Tips to help find your cat:
These tips are based on real success stories (the sooner you are able to carry out the suggestions the higher your chance of finding your cat).
- Set up a litter tray with some used litter from your cat around the entry points of your home.
- Set up a food bowl with your cat’s favourite treats (preferably ones with a strong scent such as roast chicken or sardines) around your home.
- Rent a humane cat trapper from your local vet or purchase one from Bunnings. Set up the trapper near your home and cover it with your cat’s towel/blanket and bait it your cat’s favourite food (again try to use foods with strong scents). It is important you check the trapper at least twice a day to ensure you don’t accidentally catch someone else’s cat! And also to change the food regularly.
- Print as many Missing flyers as you can and drop them in your neighbours’ mailboxes (try to cover as many houses as possible, a block is a good minimum)
- Put up as many Missing Flyers as you can on telephone poles (again around your block is a good minimum). You may find some people tearing them down, it is important to keep putting them up again to gain as much visible coverage as possible.
- Post about your missing cat on as many Facebook Lost Pet Groups as possible.
- Go out late in the night when it is most quiet with roast chicken and call out for your cat.
- Call your usual vet and notify them of your lost cat, ask them to change your cat’s microchip status from ‘home’ to ‘missing’.
- Call all your local vets to notify them of your lost cat and provide them with a detailed description as well as your contact details.
- Contact your local pounds to notify them of your lost cat in case it has been impounded (which is usually the case if not chipped)
Whilst it is easy to lose hope of ever seeing your cat again it is important to remember to not give up. Our own staff member Beatrice had found her lost cat after more than a month of searching, she followed all of the points we have provided and her eventual success was the result of a letter box drop.
We also post ‘Missing Cat’ posters on our clinic window and on our Facebook page so please feel free to email us your flyers if your cat is missing.
Once you do find your cat make sure you book a visit to your usual vet ASAP for a general heath check.
Tick Season
/in Cat Care, Dog Care, News, Vet Clinic /by sumHillWe had our first paralysis tick patient last week. A little poodle had just returned from a trip to the bush when his owner noticed a paralysis tick on his ear!
His owner was vigilant and kept up to date with his flea and worming treatment however not all flea products protect against ticks. Luckily his mum did the right thing and brought him to us straight away with the tick she managed to pull off for identification.
We have also had a couple of clients report to us that they have seen ticks around their yards! Warmer weather is definitely tick season and if you plan on going to any bush area with your four-legged friend it is important to confirm that the parasite protection you are using includes ticks.
Cats are also susceptible to ticks so be cautious if your feline goes outdoors or in particular has access to overgrown, leafy areas.
We stock a couple of products that protect cats and dogs against ticks so if you have any doubts feel free to drop by our clinic or call us for a chat.
If you would like more information on ticks, what symptoms to look out for in particular and what to do you can read on here
New Anaesthetic Machine!
/in Cat Care, Dog Care, News, Uncategorized, Vet Clinic /by sumHillWe can now keep our small patients warmer (& safer) than ever during their anaesthetics.
Meet our new anaesthetic machine: not just a pointless bit of technology!
When our patients are under anaesthetic it’s very important to stop them getting cold which can slow their recovery and healing but the smaller they are the harder it is to avoid them getting cold. Now not only are they lying on a hot water bed, our new anaesthetic machine helps keep them warm.
On a non re-breathing system a patient is getting a constant flow of fresh, COLD oxygen to breath. But on a re-breathing system only a small amount of fresh cold oxygen is included in each breath.
When you add a heating device to warm the air then you make a real difference to their body temperature during an anaesthetic. They recover faster and their anaesthetics are more stable, perfect for the little oldies.
Add to that a hot air blanket that we can cover them with if needed and you’re talking toasty warm cats & dogs.
Stress Free Cat Visits
/in Cat Care, News, Uncategorized, Vet Clinic /by sumHillDo you want your fur-baby to have the most stress free visit at the vet? We definitely do!
A few weeks ago the team here at Summer Hill Village Vet were lucky enough to have Tracy from VetPrac deliver an enlightening training session on cat behaviour. Vets, nurses and receptionists learnt more about how to keep your fur babies as stress-free and relaxed as possible – from the moment they walk in, through to consultation and handling as well as housing for longer stays in our hospital. She taught us some great distraction techniques, so don’t worry if you see one of our vets pull out an ice-cream cone full of anchovy paste during consult!
There are also good anti-anxiety medications that we’ve been trialling for a while now that can really help cats (& dogs) start off on the right paw at their visits.
We also learnt that once a cat has ‘flipped it’s lid’ (lets be real, all cat owners know exactly what this means) there is no going back. Essentially the cat is in fight, flight or freeze mode and once this happens it can take up to 24 hours before they can fully relax again. We certainly don’t want this for any of our patients. This is why you may notice us doing more handling with towels or ‘kitty burritos’ (as some of our nurses like to call it) as well as trying minimal handling, or even taking the top off your carrier to ensure your cat stays as comfy and relaxed as possible.
During consults, our vets and nurses will often try to find out what kind of handling suits your cat best before going ahead with a physical exam. Do they like to be held close? Or would they rather just do their own thing and laze on the consult table?
As a result of this training, the team are now better equipped to make sure you AND your furry friend have an easier time as we aim to minimise the anxiety associated with trips to the vet. Our team gained a lot from this training session, and Tracy will be back soon to give us more helpful tips and tricks for dogs! So stay posted.
About: Hyperthyroid Cats
/in Cat Care, News, Vet Clinic /by sumHillHyperthyroidism is the most common metabolic disorder in middle-aged cats (> 8 years old).
What is Hyperthyroidism and what causes it?
It is the over production of thyroid hormone by the thyroid glands. In most cases it is usually due to a benign overgrowth of the glands. However, malignant tumours have been reported to be the cause.
The exact cause of hyperthyroidism in cats is still unknown but multiple factors that could play a role have been identified, such as genetics, age, and increased utilisation of commercial cat food.
What symptoms should I look out for?
Hyperthyroid cats can present with many signs as thyroid hormone affects various body systems. The classic signs include weight loss, overeating, over drinking or increased thirst, increased vocalisation, agitation/aggression, increased activity, vomiting, diarrhoea and unkempt hair coat.
How is it treated?
A range of treatment options are currently available including radioactive iodine therapy, anti-thyroid medication, surgical removal of thyroid glands and dietary therapy.
If you suspect that your cat may have hyperthyroidism based on the above information, please don’t hesitate to bring your little one to our clinic for a blood test. It is best to identify and treat hyperthyroidism early as it can lead to dysfunction of other body systems.
Help! I found a stray kitten
/in News /by sumHillAlmost everyday we get phone calls from people who have found themselves in possession of a little stray kitten – or sometimes even a litter of stray kittens!
Unfortunately due to the number of stray cat colonies around Sydney there is always an abundance of homeless kittens. Despite the good intentions of the community to Trap-N-Release (TNR), this problem will not disappear anytime soon.
As such, we have made a guide to ensure the best outcome for the kittens.
Stray kitten(s) with a mother
If you have encountered stray kittens that are still being attended to by their mother please make sure NOT to separate them! You should contact any reputable rescue group to organise a TNR. This allows the mother cat and her kittens to be taken off the streets for appropriate treatment. For the mother cat that usually means being desexed to prevent future stray litters. Depending on the nature of the cat and her kittens it is most likely the rescue group will attempt to re-home them however if the mother is extremely aggressive and hence unable to rehome then she will most likely be released back to where she is found once she is desexed and treated for any existing medical conditions.
Stray kitten(s) without any signs of a mother
Kittens that are alone are not necessarily without their mother- sometimes they can appear to be abandoned but in reality their mother is out gathering food or in the process of relocating her litter. To avoid making the mistake of separating a kitten from their mum, try to stick around (out of sight to avoid frightening them) and observe for a while to see if the mother does return.
If this is a case of no mother cat being present then you should aim to safely trap the stray kittens and bring them to their nearest vet*, the vet protocol from here on is to scan the kittens in case they have any microchips (if they are chipped then they would most likely have a home and are probably lost).
If the kittens are not microchipped and are clearly not a missing pet then it is up to the vet on what needs to be done next.
Vet clinics are not rescue groups, hence are not always able to hold-onto and rehome stray animals- this is because most smaller clinics only have the capacity and resources for hospital patients. Sometimes however, and this is the case for our clinic- the vet will have the availability to rehome the stray kittens in which case they will take them off your hands and handle all treatment and later adoption.
If the vet advises you that they are unable to keep the kittens you’re next best options are to either:
a) contact reputable rescue groups (there is a list of them and their contact details at the end of this post).
b) foster the kittens yourself and handle the rehoming (if you do decide to foster/keep the kittens you can read our Kitten Care handout for information on owning and caring for kittens) – if you do end up fostering the kittens you can talk to our staff about receiving discount rescue rates for all their treatment (that is only if you are not intending to keep them as your own pet and are definitely adopting them out)
c) contact other nearby vets- just because one vet does not have the space, that does not mean other clinics do not. We have previously taken on stray litters from other clinics who were unable to.
List of Cat Rescue Groups in Sydney:
Leptospirosis: Should I be scared?!
/in Dog Care, News, Vaccinations, Vet Clinic /by sumHillAs you may already be aware, there have been five recent cases reported of Leptospirosis in dogs around the inner-city area of Sydney. We understand that this would cause a lot of concern for all dog owners in the inner west as such we have put together this short summary to shed some light on the chances of your dog coming into contact with the bacteria as well as what symptoms to look out for if you suspect your dog may have it.
What is Leptospirosis?
Leptospirosis is a disease caused by the bacteria Leptospira. Leptospirosis has many different strains (also known as serovars). Each serovar infects different animals including dogs, cattle, pigs and horses. Leptospirosis is very responsive to current antibiotics but organ failure can result in death.
Leptospirosis does NOT affect cats.
It is more common in Queensland where it is humid and warm and generally less of a risk in Sydney. It is spread through the urine of rats (disease hosts) and infected dogs, and the bacteria can live for months to years in soil and water.
Want more information? We’ve put together a printer friendly handout for you to keep handy!
Get In Touch
Phone: 02 9797 2555
Emergency: 02 9758 8666
Email:
contact@summerhillvillagevet.com
Consultations (by appointment):
Monday-Friday: 9am - 11am and 4pm - 7pm
(till 9pm on Mondays)
Saturday: 9am - 2pm
How To Find Us
29 Grosvenor Crescent
Summer Hill NSW 2130
(corner of Sloane St & Grosvenor Cres,
on the Nth side of the line at Summer Hill station)
Our Hours
Mon: 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM
Tue: 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Wed: 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Thu: 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Fri: 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Sat: 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Sun: Closed | Public Hols: Closed
Servicing Surrounding Suburbs
Vet Ashfield | Vet Ashbury
Vet Dulwich Hill | Vet Petersham
Vet Lewisham | Vet Canterbury
Vet Croydon | Vet Croydon Park
Vet Five Dock | Vet Hurlstone Park
Vet Burwood | Vet Lilyfield
Vet Stanmore | Vet Marrickville
Vet Burwood Heights | Vet Rozelle
Vet Campsie | Vet Annandale
Vet Earlwood | Vet Enmore