Hume and Melrose Vetnews - Winter 2006

Arthritis and the Cold Weather

Arthritis gradually builds up as the joints age. This leads to stiffness of the capsule that holds the fluid in the joint, a decrease in the amount of fluid around the bones of the joint and a roughening of the bone surfaces inside the joint.

As the cold sets in, we have a few of our oldies succumb and find it impossible to get up at times. If this is the case, don't put off getting attention. Dogs suffer pain as much as we do. Limping simply means they are sore.

A few simple precautions can help at home:

Warmth (either by putting our friend on a mattress, letting him stay in the garage, laundry or lounge room overnight) definitely does help.
Regular exercise and even a little massage of the joints loosens the joints up.
Watching their weight so the joints are not overloaded

The use of Sachas Blend once stiffness settles in will result in 80% of dogs being better.

Veterinary treatment can consist of anti-inflammatories, (injections or tablets), naturopathic preparations including Sachas Blend, a series of injections to help lubricate the joint (cartrophen) or accupuncture.

With the cold weather worsening, tablets or injections (especially cartrophen) can make Fido's life a lot more enjoyable. Please ask at the desk or ring and we are only too happy to supply you with the relevant information.

Winter Diarrhoea

As veterinarians, we see a large number of cases of diarrhoea in cats and especially dogs in the cooler months of the year.

This is often caused by animals chewing on moldy pine bark or moist old bones left out where the bacteria can multiply in the relatively warm days and so will colonise the bowel and cause a gastric upset.

Treatment can be as simple as with-holding food for 24hours and then using a bland diet of boiled rice and chicken with a little natural yoghurt added to replace the normal healthy bacteria in the bowel. Several doses of Kaomagma will also give a binding on the sensitive lining of the bowel.

Sometimes these bacteria are not simply thrown off. Should the condition continue or worsen, it is best to see us to obtain a diagnosis and treatment.

Dental Month Coming Up

This time every year, veterinary practices have a "teeth awareness" time where we remind owners that they have a responsibility to make sure their cats, dogs, rabbits teeth are healthy and well maintained so that our furry mates don't develope unhealthy lifestyles. Teeth in animals are basically the same structure as human teeth. Bad breath can indicate gum infection (gingivitis) and tooth root abscesses. If left, these can lead to infection in the blood affecting the liver, heart and especially the kidneys.

To prevent this, animals need to chew and so clean their teeth. This needs to start when they are very young, when they can be taught to chew hard food and bones. "Chewie" dry foods such as T/D tooth food and Oral Care Dry Food (available from us) are not as easy to chew and so, like bones, they clean the teeth and stimulate teh gums. Even big chunks of meat, pig's ears and rawhide chewies are good and available from our hospital.

Heaters and Winter Problems

The cold weather has dug in and so the heater is on regularly. This results in three distinct problems as far as animals are concerned.

Firstly some cats have a tendency to curl up very close to the fire and can start to smoulder simply by being too close to the heat. First indication of this is the smell of singed hair or the sight of smoke literally rising from the coat. Next day a singed area of fur can be seen. Obviously we need to watch that this does not happen.
"Putting the cat or dog out" last thing as everyone goes to bed results in a drastic change from the warmth to the cold night and can lead to chest problems especially colds and pneumonia. To overcome thisit is best to make sure Fred goes into an enclosed area (such as a kennel), is put out earlier or is stopped "sitting on the heater". A draft free area in the laundry or simply staying inside is common.
Flea eggs can feel the warmth and decide that it is time to hatch because the message is that it is summer! If any flea activity is noted, then squeezing some Advantage onto the skin of cats and dogs is the way to stop fleas without having to wash the animal in a rinse. This also takes care of the fleas hatching in the carpet.

With minimum of fuss, winter inside can be a great time for all the family including animals.

Hume and Melrose Vetnews - Autumn 2006

April is Senior Animal Month

We are offering a 20% discount on routine senior checkups during the month of April

The Autumn Years

It has long been known that our pets age more rapidly than we do. A 10 year old dog or cat is like a person in their 60's and therefore has special needs and concerns.

If your pet is a Senior here are some important considerations.

Have a regular yearly checkup, and after 10 years make it twice yearly.
Change the food. Lower calories, higher fibre and less protein are important factors for the digestive system of the older pet. We have geriatric diets available.
Add a daily vitamin supplement.
Have a blood test done annually. Many problems, especially involving the liver and kidney can be corrected if detected early, before your mate shows signs of illness.
Keep teeth well maintained. Heavy tartar on the teeth and mouth infection weakens the aging pet's entire system and shortens its life. We have "oral care" and tooth diet dry food to keep teeth clean.
Keep vaccinations current. Older pets have weaker immune systems and vaccinations are very essential as older animals are more prone to diseases as they age.

Cat Boredom

Does your cat sleep all the time?

Maybe he or she is just bored. Most cats enjoy climbing and exploring and will be attracted to a cat tree, kitty gym or cat perch - they will play like a kitten again and get the stimulation they need.
Is your cat on heavy side? A kitty gym will encourage your cat to get teh exercise he or she needs, and will improve the health of your kitty. A cat's natural curiosity is all it takes for your cat to start exploring and discovering.
Does your cat scratch up your furniture? A scratching post will fulfil that need to sharpen its claws and will rescue your furniture! You can order scratching poles through our hospitals and this will save the household.

Understanding your Dog

One of the reasons dogs make such great pets is due to the remarkable way they can communicate with people. Your mate sees you as his own canine family and is quick to imterpret your moods and intentions. In fact understanding how youur dog communicates can make living with one a lot easier, especially when it comes to training.

Body language

A dog that is feeling confident or aggressive will try to convey the impression of being a larger more powerful animal. He will do this by standing tall with his tail and ears errect. He may thrust his chest forwards and raise the hairs on his neck and back (his hackles). He may also wave his tail slowly and growl.

A submissive dog will try to appear smaller and more puppy like (because adult dogs will only chastise puppies - not attack them). They approach slowly and more from the side, crouching low with the tail held low and wagging enthusiastically, some may even roll on their back.

Watch the Tail

The most common behavioural characteristic in dogs is tail wagging. Most people recognise that a loose, free wagging tail is a sign of pleasure and general friendliness. However the tail is also an indicator for other emotions. A tail waved slowly and stiffly in line with the back expresses anger; a tail clamped low over the hindquarters is a sign the dog is afraid or anxious, and a nervous dog may stiffly wag.

Its all in the Look

The facial expressions of your dog will also tell you a lot about his mood, whether he is anxious, excited, frightened, or playful. The ears are pricked when he is alert or listening intently, but are held back or flattened on the head when expressing pleasure, submission or fear. To read his modd correctly, watch his eyes. Your dog's eyes will be wide open if it is angry but half closed when showing pleasure or submission.

Eye signals are an important part of communication with your dog and allow you to assert your authority. In the wild the pack leader can maintain control simply by staring at a subordinate dog. In most cases the two animals will stare at each other until one challenges teh other or until one lowers its head and turns away.

Stern eye contact can be a good way of disciplining your dog and and reminding him who is the boss. However aggressive or nervous tendencies can be unpredictable in these situations so it is best to avoid a staring "showdown". On the other hand regular gentle eye contact between you and your dog is reassuring and will go a long way towards reinforcing your relationship.

Mind Games Dogs Play with Humans

Let the humans teach you a brand new trick. Learn it perfectly.
When the humans try to demonstrate it to someone else, stare blankly back at the humans.
Pretend you have no idea what they're talking about.