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Did you know that dental disease is the most prevalent disease in adult pets? In fact, 80% of dogs and 70% of cats over age three have some form of dental disease! During Pet Dental Health Month our veterinary hospital will be working hard to change those statistics.
Without proper care, plaque forms on our pets' teeth and causes gingivitis. Eventually the infection gets into the tooth roots and the bones that support the teeth. This is painful, and eventually tooth loss occurs. Bacteria can also enter the bloodstream. But this is all preventable.
As part of Pet Dental Health Month, we'll be offering a
which will include:
There is no consultation fee and no obligation to proceed with any recommended treatment. Appointments are essential. Phone us to take advantage of this great offer.
For more information on dental disease in dogs and cats, visit our Dental Disease page. Another good source of information is www.petdental.com.au
Earlier this year we purchased a new air-driven dental machine complete with ultrasonic scaler, polishing head and high-speed cutting and drilling tool. This helps us to provide a high quality dental service for your pets.
Buy a bag of Prescription Diet t/d or Science Diet Oral Care and receive $10 cash-back from Hill's on any veterinary dental service ($25 cash-back if you buy a large bag). Offer valid until 26/09/03. Prescription Diet t/d helps to clean the teeth as your pet eats and can reduce plaque/tartar build-up by up to 60%.
Pets age much more quickly than we do. The old saying is that one year equals 7 dog years. This is an approximation, and varies with species, breed and age, but it is more or less true for both dogs and cats. So how many years has it been since your pet's last checkup?
Annual Health Checks are strongly recommended for all dogs and cats. Older pets or those with chronic health problems will need to be checked more often. After one calendar year, your pet will be equivalent to 5-10 years older, and a lot of changes can occur in their bodies over this time. Minor problems can often go unnoticed at home, until they become more serious. Most problems can be treated more successfully (and more cheaply) if they are recognised early.
We aim wherever possible to diagnose and treat all health problems before they become serious. Our vets perform health checks routinely as part of your pet's annual vaccination. This usually involves discussing any concerns that you may have, as well as an examination of your pet's major body systems. You'd be surprised how often we discover problems that had gone unnoticed at home. These annual visits really are important to your pet's health.
Recently we've introduced some enhancements to our vaccination and annual health checks. On arrival you'll be given a short questionnaire to fill in. This simply involves ticking a few boxes, and should take only a minute or two. Your answers will help both you and us to focus on any areas of concern with your pet's health.
The examination will target any problems discussed and will also generally cover the following areas:
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Once we're satisfied that your pet is in generally good health, the vaccination will be given.
After the examination, you will now also be given a short written report on your pet's health. The report will highlight any abnormalities found, along with treatment recommendations.
These changes are being provided at no extra charge to your pet's normal vaccination fee. So next time you get a vaccination reminder for your pet (or if you haven't had them vaccinated for 12 months or more) give us a call and make an appointment. There's a lot more in it for you and your pet than just a jab with a needle!
We've recently reviewed the results of a 15-year study that looked at the effects of restricting food intake in dogs to prevent them becoming overweight. There were some very interesting findings. The food-restricted dogs:
This study reinforces the need for weight control in dogs. Is your dog overweight?
Feeding less could significantly improve their health and
longevity. Come in for a free weigh-in and we'll estimate your pet's body condition score
and ideal bodyweight.
Please refer to our Weight Loss Program
brochure for more information.
Hill's and Waltham's have recently introduced more palatable formulations of their feline prescription diets. Research shows that 90% of cats prefer these new foods. Hill's offer a new minced-meat texture for their canned foods. Waltham are replacing their canned foods with flavour-sealed foil pouches. Both companies have varieties available to treat overweight cats, kidney disease and lower urinary tract disease.
These foods should be used only on veterinary advice. But if your cat has been diagnosed with one of these problems and is a fussy eater, then the new formulations might be worth a try. All Hill's Prescription Diets have a 100% money-back guarantee if your pet doesn't eat it.
For more information:
Seasons are very important to the life cycle of the flea. Over winter, many outdoor fleas have been hibernating in their little cocoons. The warmer temperatures in spring, and higher humidity, allow these fleas to emerge. They then seek out a host – which could be your pet.
It's important to use good flea control now, before these fleas develop into a major problem. There are now many excellent flea control products – many of the best ones are available only from veterinarians. We'll advise you on the most appropriate product for your pet.
Buy any Frontline Plus 6-pack for a chance to
win a Dimplex Turbo Tilt home fan
valued at $140. One of our clients must win!
Congratulations to Chris & Tracey Nilsson of Macquarie Fields. They were the winners of a Mistral Heat Zone Home heater (valued at $199) in our Frontline winter promotion.
Related articles:
Our Puppy Preschool has been very popular lately, with Thursday night classes overflowing and a second course being run on Saturday afternoons some months.
Congratulations to the graduates from our recent courses:
Harvey Warland/Copeman, Diesel Minton, Missy Free, Bianca Farrell, Lucy Sharman,
Mischa Kayatz, Max Barlow, Milo Bow, Otis Bow, Cassie Touhill and Coco Whittle.
Puppy Preschool is an early socialisation and basic training program for young puppies and their owners. We strongly recommend it for all pups. Ask us for more information.
is the title of a book by Paul McGreevy that we now have for sale in the hospital. With endorsements from the RSPCA, the Veterinary Science Foundation and Kidsafe, it comes well recommended. The book is designed to help people, especially children, gain some understanding of what animals are "saying" with their body language. It discusses how to approach and how to handle animals. If our children are taught to better understand and care for animals, they can live harmoniously with them, and be less likely to be injured. The book is hardcover, 49 pages and priced at $27.95.
By the time you read our printed quarterly newsletter, we hope it tells you nothing you didn't already know! Our primary source of information for our clients is actually our website.
We invite you to have a look at our website at:
www.ingleburnvet.com.au
We'd also like you to send us your e-mail address so that we can keep you up-to-date. Use the Feedback page on the website or send e-mail to mail@ingleburnvet.com.au
Nicole Stanley has recently started her maternity leave. Her baby is due in October. We'll keep you informed.
Bronwyn Cataldo will be starting to work weekdays (part-time) in September. Some of you will already know Bronwyn. She was our head nurse until a few years ago and has since done some weekend work for us.
Related articles: Staff
Vets Own have just launched 2 new policies including an accident only policy. They now also have higher benefit limits and offer instant cover (no waiting period). Ask us for details or visit our Pet Insurance web page.
Related articles: Pet Health Insurance - an analysis of the 3 major policies
Our homes are the safest place for our pets, but dangers do exist in the home that can cause serious illness or injury. We can't describe all of them, but here are some examples, based on cases that we've seen recently:
are highly toxic to pets with signs including salivating, tremors, convulsions and death. If your pet has eaten snail-bait, then you should seek immediate veterinary help.
Prevention is better than cure. Only lay baits in areas where your pets can't get to them, and store the boxes in a safe place. By all means choose snail baits with bittering agents and pet deterrents, but don't depend on this – many pets still die from these! Baysol is probably safer to use than Defender. It's still potentially fatal, but at least there is an antidote available.
(rat and mouse baits) are also toxic. Most affect the ability of the blood to clot and can lead to death. Signs of disease may not be seen for several days. Antidotes are usually available. As with snail baits, prevention is better than cure.
There are many poisonous plants. Two examples are:
Unfortunately, we often see animals that are ill because of treatments that their owners have given them. We urge all of our clients to never give any medication that has not been prescribed for your pet, and to read all directions carefully. Here are some examples of things that can go wrong:
Supermarket Shampoos are another issue that warrants discussion as these are commonly used by many of our clients. Most of these shampoos contain detergents, which strip the natural oils from the coat, dry the skin and leave the skin surface prone to infections, itching and allergies. If you want a good shampoo, try Dermcare Natural Shampoo - we can give you a free sample to try.
Supermarket medicated shampoos are even worse, often applying unnecessary and inappropriate chemicals to your pet. If your pet has mildly itchy skin then try Aloveen Shampoo, otherwise bring your pet in and have it properly diagnosed.
Tea-tree oils are found in many shampoos and we think this is one of the worst offenders. They can be irritant and dermatologists advise against using these shampoos on pets. Concentrated tea-tree oil can be poisonous, causing weakness, loss of balance and liver disease.
can both be dangerous, especially for dogs, who sometimes have a tendency to eat things that they shouldn't! Spoiled food in garbage can contain bacteria and bacterial toxins, whilst compost can contain fungal toxins. You should restrict your pet's access to any areas containing garbage or compost.
In moderation, our pets can be fed most of the things that we eat. However, large amounts of the following foodstuffs can cause problems:
There is also the potential for toxicity from red kidney beans, preserved meats, spinach, beets and spices.
We advise giving all dogs and cats raw meaty bones to chew several times a week. This is important for clean teeth and healthy gums. But bones sometimes cause problems.
Here's how to avoid most of them:
Previously some of our clients have asked for information on small pets like Guinea pigs and rabbits. Well finally we have some info for you, starting with Guinea pigs! Guinea pigs have always been popular and make great pets, as they are easy to look after and don't get many illnesses. They are a bit shy and nervous, so they need to be handled quietly and allowed to get used to being cuddled. They don't like changes in their environment and become stressed easily.
