Preparing 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!
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)
An example of a ‘Missing Flyer’ used by one of our staff members who was luckily enough to have been reunited with her missing cat after more than a month!
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).
There are cases of people being reunited with pets that have been missing for more than a year!
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.
Ticks aren’t always immediately visibly, they can be in hidden places such as in between your pet’s toes.
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
A) This is a special low resistance carbon dioxide scrubber, this allows us to run a re-breathing circuit for animals down to 2 kg (previously 10 kg was the lowest we could go). B) This is the attached heating circuit.
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.
Noise phobia is very common among dogs and many other animals. Dog owners suffer a great loss because of this when their pets damage their property in fear. This fear of noise is severe among dogs and can be seen or noticed easily by their activities. Some dogs engage in escape activities when they experience this kind of fear. Escape activities can be like jumping out of the window, digging under the round, chewing doors or any other furniture, climbing fences and many others. To treat your pet dog or even stray dogs for that matter, you need to take them to a good animal hospital like Summer Hill Village Vet.
Dogs possess sensitive hearing; even a low pitched noise can hurt their ears. They hear much louder than us, hence can get scared by noise easily. Noise phobia in dogs can arise by lightning, cracker noise, gunshots, loudspeakers etc. Some of the physical changes that you might notice in your dogs are crying, pace, tremble, or even widely opened eyes. So, if your pet is suffering from noise phobia, take it to a nearby animal hospital and take consultation from a good vet.
Now that you know noise phobia in dogs is common and how your dog responds to it, you should know how to deal with this problem. So, here are the 8 important tips you need to follow to deal with your dog’s fear from noise:
Noise phobia in dogs is something which can’t be ignored. It can become severe if not addressed. We recommend consulting a veterinary clinic like Summerhill Village Vet and get the medication for your pet very soon.
Cats and dogs come in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes what’s normal for one pet may be abnormal for another depending on things like breed, age, lifestyle and etc. For example- the skin and coat needs of a Sphynx cat to that of a Ragdoll’s will vary immensely!
Pets come in all different shapes, sizes and hair styles! As such their health needs are very individualistic.
In order to help you as a pet owner decide what is best for your cat or dog, the team at Summer Hill Village Vet have developed a complimentary 5-point Health Check that covers the basic individual care needs for your pet. These 5-point Health Checks are part of our Embarrassing Bodies- The Pet Edition and will run until the end of November 2018.
Book your cat or dog in for their FREE 5-Point Health Check before the end of November 2018.
Our 5-Point Health Checks aim to cover the following areas of your pet’s health with one of our trained vet nurses:
Simply call our clinic (02 9797 2555) before the end of November 2018 and let us know that you would like to book your pet in for a Free-5-Point-Health-Chek 🙂
Adopting a pet into your family is a big adjustment, even if you’ve had one before. It’s fun to daydream about walks, cuddles and sleeping with your dog on the bed but there are some practicalities you cannot ignore.
Your pets will get sick and need to go to the vet from time to time; their immune systems aren’t invincible, after all. There’s also the issue of desexing, vaccinations, and regular checkups. You can also pay for pet insurance. You will invest a lot of money in your pet during its lifetime, so be prepared. Our vets will give your companion the care it needs.
Dogs need their walks, so if you’re only looking for a pet to keep you company around the house you’re better suited for a cat. Birds need to be let out of their cage and fly around for both their mental and physical health.
Is your house ready for pets? Cats enjoy high places and dogs need grass to play on. Go online or speak to one of our vets about the kind of pet that’s best for your current living situation.
Before you bring the new addition home, go through the house and make sure it’s pet-ready. You might need to install a safety gate if you don’t want the animals upstairs. If you’re getting a bird, invest in a large cage, put it in a warm, sunny spot and stock up on newspapers to line the bottom. If you’re bringing home a cat, get a litter box with a couple of bags of kitty litter, food and water bowls, toys, and a scratching post. Dogs will need toys, a bed, some blankets for the cooler months, and a leash for when it’s walk time.
Kids can get bored easily and will slack off in caring for the pet if you aren’t careful. Playing with the cat or dog isn’t enough; this is a chance to give them important jobs to show them a pet needs to be given love and care, just like a human.
If they’re old enough, involve the younger ones in walks and feeding time. Get them to wash the dog or brush the cat.
Animals are more intelligent than you believe. They pick up on the emotions of their owners and the environment around them. This means if you’re stressed, excited, happy, or sad they will be too.
Adopting a pet is a serious business that needs to be thought through carefully and discussed with the family. Who will be able to give it the love and care it needs? Will a pet positively impact the home or should you wait a few years?
https://summerhillvillagevet.com/older-pets-just-need-a-little-help-from-their-friends/