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Saturday consulting hours remain 9am - 12noon and 3pm - 5pm. Office hours are now 9:00am - 5:00pm on Saturdays, so between 12 and 3pm we will now stay open – for phone calls, enquiries and medication sales.
Note: All of these recommendations are for animals with normal healthy skin. Animals with skin problems need examination and veterinary advice. We may recommend different treatments for animals with dermatitis of any kind.
How often? There is no single answer to this question. Some people advise that a dog should be bathed only when it is dirty or smelly. However, bathing is important for more than just keeping the coat looking clean. Bathing will also remove potential allergens, dead hair and skin and excessive oil from the hair and skin. This reduces scratching and the risk of dermatitis. Shampoos can also help with the control of fleas.
Our advice (based on the opinion of dermatology specialists) is that dogs should generally be bathed every 1-2 weeks in the warmer months and every 2-4 weeks over winter. However, bathing less often is probably OK, so long as your dog has healthy skin.
What about puppies? Puppies can be bathed from any age. But it's important to use warm water on young puppies, dry them well afterwards, and make sure that the shampoo that you use is safe for use on puppies.
What about cats? Cats groom themselves very well and do not necessarily need to be bathed regularly – which is fortunate since most of them don't like it! However, we do recommend that cats be bathed occasionally. And if you get them used to bathing when they're kittens, they won't be so scared of it. Be especially careful with shampoo selection for cats.
What shampoo should I use?
There are hundreds of different soaps and shampoos used to bath dogs and cats. Most of them are totally inappropriate! An animal with a healthy coat needs a shampoo that will clean the hair and skin, without removing the thin layer of normal sebum (oil). Damage to the sebum layer leads to dry skin that is more susceptible to infection. We would recommend one of the following shampoos for regular use:
What about fleas?
Using a shampoo to kill fleas is also an option:
Shampoos are very good at killing fleas, but they usually have no residual action. This means that your dog can start to pick up fleas again as soon as it's dry. With the many excellent flea products now available, using an insecticidal shampoo as well may be unnecessary. A full discussion of flea control is beyond the scope of this article. But flea rinses are an option for short-term flea protection. Good flea rinses include:
What NOT to use. This could potentially be a long list!
How to bath your dog? Always follow the directions on the label. In most cases you should wet the dog all over with cool or warm water (depending on the weather). Apply the shampoo along the back, and lather using either your hands or a soft sponge. Rinse well and dry with a towel. Many people have their dogs bathed by groomers or mobile dog washes. This is fine, but you should check what shampoo they're using, and if it's not appropriate, ask them to use your dog's own shampoo.
Infection or inflammation of the ear canal (otitis) is a common problem. The ears should be checked every time your pet is bathed or groomed. If they are just a bit dirty then they can be cleaned (see below). But if they are very dirty or there are signs of an infection, then a trip to the vet is needed.
What are the signs to look for?
Ear infections can be quite irritating and painful. Your pet may show any or all of the following signs:
What are the causes?
Ear problems can be caused by bacteria, fungi, ear mites, allergies, grass seeds or simply the build-up of excessive wax in the canal.
This has a lot to do with the shape of the ear canal (see picture) which is deep and curved. Dirt, wax and moisture can accumulate - especially where airflow and drainage are restricted. A dirty, poorly ventilated ear canal provides the ideal environment for the growth of bacteria and yeasts/fungi, which may then cause infection and inflammation. Some breeds are more susceptible than others – particularly those with long, floppy ears, or lots of hair inside the ear canal. Dogs with allergies are also at greater risk.
Diagnosis and Treatment:
Before starting treatment we need to know just what type of otitis they have. We do this by examining the ear, which includes looking inside the ear canal with an instrument called an otoscope. Because some cases of otitis can be associated with dermatitis or allergies, we may also want to look at the rest of your dog's skin. In most cases we will also take a swab of the discharge from the ear, and examine it under a microscope.
Otitis is usually treated by putting drops directly into the affected ear. The type of drops used will depend on our examination findings. We will often recommend a cleansing solution to remove excess wax and debris from the ear canal and sometimes also antibiotic tablets.
Cleaning the ear:
Cleaning should be done only with a cleaning solution designed for that purpose. We recommend Epi-Otic. Apply it liberally directly into the ear, until it overflows. Then gently massage the vertical canal (it can be felt as a large solid tube lying just under the skin below the base of the ear). Massage for 10 to 20 seconds, to break up the wax - you may hear a squelching noise as you do.
Let your dog shake its head and shake out some of the dirt and wax from the ear canal. Then, get some cotton wool and wipe away the visible dirt and wax. Repeat this process until the fluid coming out no longer looks dirty. If you are very careful you can use a cotton bud to get into the skin folds around the base of the ear, but never put a cotton bud into the ear canal itself.
Related articles: Otitis Externa (Ear Infections)
Actually there is no such thing! Virtually all of the fleas that infest our pets are the same species, and the adults live only on dogs and cats. Here they feed, breed and lay hundreds of eggs. What happens is that the eggs fall off our pets, into the grass (or bedding, carpet, etc). The eggs hatch into larvae, feed on debris and then form a pupa (cocoon). They emerge as new adult fleas only when there is an animal nearby for them to jump onto.
Of course this still means that your pet can get fleas from the grass. But if you understand where those fleas come from, then you're half way to controlling them. There are a number of excellent flea control products available that will stop the life cycle of fleas on your pets and in your house and yard. Ask us for advice.
It's been a bad flea season and late summer and autumn is probably the worst time. But take heart. If you use products year-round to stop the fleas from breeding, then the battle against fleas can be won.
Karen Spencer has now joined us as our third permanent veterinarian. Karen will be working 3 days a week as well as every 3rd weekend. We now have Mark, Peter and Karen on our veterinary roster as follows:
| Monday: | Karen | & | Mark |
| Tuesday: | Mark | & | Peter |
| Wednesday: | Peter | & | Mark |
| Thursday: | Karen | & | Peter |
| Friday: | Peter | & | Karen |
| Weekends: | Mark or Peter or Karen | ||
This roster is provided as a guide and is subject to change. You are welcome to ask to see a particular vet if you wish, but appointments are essential.
Peter recently attended a radiology (X-rays) symposium at Sydney Uni. Mahala has left and moved interstate. Corinne is in the 4th year of her Veterinary Science degree. Gina gave birth to a healthy girl in January.
| Good Friday 13th April: | Closed |
| Easter Saturday 14th April: | Open 9am - 12 noon |
| Easter Sunday 15th April: | Closed |
| Easter Monday 16th April: | Open 10am - 1pm |
| Anzac Day 25th April: | Open 10am - 1pm |
Phone 9829 1947 at any time for emergencies.
Are you intending to board your pet over the Easter holidays? All reputable boarding kennels should ask for proof that your pet has been fully vaccinated. For dogs going into kennels we recommend vaccination against parvovirus, distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza and bordetella. Cats need vaccination against feline enteritis, rhinotracheitis, calicivirus and leukaemia. And don't leave it too late. It takes at least 7-10 days for your pet's immune system to respond to a vaccine.
Related articles: Holidaying with your pet