Kidney Disease - What to watch out for...

Is your pet is thirstier than usual? Are you filling up their water bowl more often? Have you caught your pet drinking from the shower, the tap or the toilet? An increase in thirst can be one of the first signs of kidney (renal) disease.

The kidneys contain thousands of little factories called nephrons and their job is to work out how much water should be conserved in the body. Once damaged or destroyed, nephrons do not function properly and can't regenerate. As a result, the body doesn't conserve enough water so your pet will urinate more and will drink more to stay hydrated.

We would like to wish you and your pets a safe and happy Christmas & New Year!

We will be open as follows:
Tuesday 23rd December - 8am-7pm
Wednesday 24th December - 8am-6pm
Thurs 25th & Fri 26th December - CLOSED
Saturday 27th December - 8am-4pm
Sunday 28th December - CLOSED
Monday 29th December - 8am-7pm
Tuesday 30th December - 8am-7pm
Wednesday 31st December - 8am-6pm
Thursday 1st January - CLOSED
Friday 2nd January - 8am-7pm

For emergencies outside these times, contact the Animal Emergency Centre on 8362 1722, 102 Magill Road, Norwood

Vegan Diets for Cats?

Vegan diets may be a suitable choice for some people but what about our feline friends? The simple answer is that a vegan diet is a poor choice for your cat. These diets cannot provide all of the nutrients that your cat requires for a healthy life.

Cats are obligate carnivores. This means that cats require meat in their diet. They have specific nutrient needs that can only be supplied through the ingestion of animal meat.

For example, taurine is a specific amino acid that is required by all cats. Without sufficient amounts of taurine in the diet, cats can experience heart disease, vision problems, and other health issues. Taurine needs to be provided through the diet and is only available through animal sources. Although there are synthetic supplements available these are not recommended.

Brittany's BARC Experience...

Helping those less fortunate in Bali

As we mentioned in our previous newsletter, our nurse Brittany was travelling to Bali in November to visit the Bali Dog Adoption and Rehabilitation Centre (BARC).

She had a fantastic time and really enjoyed spending time with the beautiful dogs. Even though many of them had suffered horrible injuries and had not had the best start to their lives, they were some of the happiest dogs Brittany had ever met. Every one was so loving and enjoyed every bit of attention that they were given. BARC is an amazing place that is home (both temporarily and permanently) to a large number of dogs who all get along and live in harmony. BARC’s aim is to spey and neuter as many stray dogs as possibly to reduce the number of street dogs that are in Bali.

Waste Management Review...

We have recently reviewed our waste management here at the clinic and heavily reduced the amount of waste we send to land fill by increasing our organic waste and recycling methods.

We have reduced the number of general waste bins collected each week from 5 to 3 and increased our fortnightly organic and recycling waste.

Did you know that paper based kitty litter along with animal droppings can go in the green organics bin?

Just One Bite from Just One Mozzie...

Just one bite from a mosquito is enough to infect your dog with heartworm, which can lead to heart failure and death.

ALL dogs are at risk, thankfully it takes just one yearly injection to give your dog protection.

How do dogs get heartworm?

Our ageing pets require a little bit of extra attention to help keep them on all four paws for longer.

A check up at least once a year is essential for your ageing friend. Much can change over this time and we aim to pick up on any problems and act quickly.

Some changes may be obvious such as accidents around the house, hearing problems or stiff legs. Beyond the visible changes, there can be much more going on internally, such as a slowing metabolism and changing of nutritional requirements.

Here are a few things you might notice at home:

• Changes in appetite or thirst
• Increasing or decreasing weight
• Loss of house training
• Difficulty climbing stairs or getting into the car
• A cough

Top Tips to help your senior pet!

We have compiled a list of the top things you can do at home to help improve your senior pet's quality of life:

Diet: Older animals may be less able to cope with nutrient excesses or deficiencies, or changes in nutrient intake and quality. A top recommendation is for your senior pet to be fed a complete and balanced premium food suitable for mature pets - we will be able to give you the best advice when it comes to diet.
Exercise: Senior pets must maintain mobility and muscle mass in their later years. Dogs should have consistent levels of daily exercise - slow and steady is the key.
Routine: Our senior pets can become a little rattled if their routine is changed, especially if they are showing signs of dementia. Keep to a routine with exercise and feeding times. Too many changes can lead to anxiety problems.

Cats Get Arthritis Too

Because cats are relatively small and very agile they are even better than dogs at hiding or covering up mobility difficulties caused by arthritis. We generally don't take cats for a walk around the block so it is hard to see a limp or change in gait. Pain commonly goes unnoticed in our feline friends so watch out for these subtle signs:

Mobility

• Your cat may hesitate when jumping up or down from your lap or from the furniture
• She may not land very gracefully when jumping down
• Will be reluctant to climb the fence or climb trees
• Will be unwilling to move freely in and out of cat flap
• She may no longer use the litter box, especially if it has high sides

Rescue Pets are Great!

Recently our Nurse Brittany visited the Animal Welfare League at Wingfield on her day off to deliver some spare blankets to them.

While there she visited some of the wonderful dogs eagerly awaiting adoption. (more cute photos below)

If you're thinking about a new pet, why not check out what pets are available through a reputable animal rescue organisation such as Animal Welfare League?

Even if you are not in a position to adopt another pet, you can still visit the shelter and give the lonely pets some love and attention they are needing...

Other Great Animal Rescue Organisations Include:

Australian Working Dog Rescue Inc.

RSPCA SA

Greyhound Adoption Program SA

SA Dog Rescue

More cute photos from Brittany's AWL visit...

Could Your Dog Be In Pain?

Dogs are very good at hiding pain. It is a matter of survival, as in the wild, a weak or sick animal is easy prey. Add to this your dog's desire to please you all the time and it is not uncommon for pain to go unnoticed.

One of the most painful conditions in dogs is arthritis and as the weather is getting cooler we will start to see many more painful arthritis cases raise their ugly heads.
Your dog MAY be trying to tell you he has arthritic pain and you need learn to look out for some of the warning signs:

5 Ways to Exercise Your Cat

So your indoor kitty has put on some kilos and you know he needs to get some exercise. Unfortunately you can’t exactly put him on a treadmill! How exactly, do you get your indoor cat exercising?

1. Use fun toys instead of food as a treat - focus on items that will really get your cat moving, like a stringed feather on a pole that your cat will never get tired of swatting at
2. Use vertical spaces in your home for your cat to jump on. This could be a window sill, set of empty shelves or a cat tree. Even when you're not home to play with your kitty, he still has an opportunity to burn some energy by jumping

Keep an eye out for Email Reminders...

If we have your email address, then more than likely we have started to email out your pets vaccination and healthcare reminders.

Please check your junk/spam mail folders regularly in case they end up there.

If you do not wish to receive reminders via email and prefer to continue receiving posted reminders, please let us know and we can adjust the settings on your file.

If you are still receiving posted reminders and would like to receive them by email, please contact us with your email address!

Please Welcome Dr Gregory Wright!

Dr Gregory Wright has joined our team due to Dr Philippa Hall going on maternity leave soon!

Gregory spent his childhood in Yorkshire, England and moved to Adelaide in 1997. He has wanted to be a vet ever since he was seven. He completed Animal Science at Adelaide University in 2006 and then went on to study the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and graduate in 2013.

Gregory has an interest in internal medicine, wildlife medicine and exotics. He has a Labrador, three Ragdoll cats and a budgerigar. Outside of work Gregory enjoys going to the gym, hiking, reading and playing strategy games.

Twiggy the Italian Greyhound!

Twiggy the Italian Greyhound was rushed into our clinic one evening after badly breaking her toes on one of her back legs.

Due to changes in her current owner’s circumstances, she was due to be re-homed that week to a lovely new owner in Canberra.

We quickly assessed her condition and administered some pain relief. She was admitted into our hospital to stay the night and prepare for surgery to repair her broken bones the following day.

Twiggy had a great recovery from her procedure and we decided to keep her at the clinic until she was well enough to fly to Canberra and start her new life. So began the routine of daily bandage changes and morning and evening medications, much to Twiggy’s dismay. She was a wonderful patient and never once complained about anything.

Importance of Urine Tests for Dogs & Cats

Why do we ask you to bring in a urine sample or allow us to obtain a sample for testing annually at vaccination and/or health check appointments?

Urinalysis can provide us with information on the health of the kidneys, bladder, liver, pancreas and other organs. Determining what is a “healthy” or baseline urine sample for your pet can assist to detect changes or abnormal results down the track.

Urine testing is also used to monitor a patient’s response to treatment and sometimes needs to be interpreted along with other tests and procedures.

Dogs are born to work for a living.  Most are bred for a particular purpose such as hunting, herding livestock or providing protection.

Our companion dogs are mostly Couch Potatoes! They get their food for free in a bowl and are often confined and inactive for most of the day, contributing to behaviour problems and weight gain.

Many pet owners assume that if a dog has access to a yard, he’s getting enough exercise. WRONG! Dogs don’t run laps by themselves -  it’s the interaction with you that counts!

The amount of exercise your dog needs depends on his breed, size, age and the condition of his health. Arthritis, heart and respiratory conditions can all be exacerbated by incorrect levels of exercise.

Talking about the stuff you don't want to know about!

Vomiting and diarrhoea. Most people don't want to mention these words, let alone clean it off their carpet! The truth is, most dogs and cats suffer from either (or both) of these at some point in their life.

Better Behaviour is in the Air...

Puppy wearing Adaptil Collar

Pheromones are used in the animal kingdom to communicate. They are released between members of the same species in different situations.

There are now products available both for dogs and cats that contain a synthetic version of the pheromones used to reduce stress and produce a feeling of security. 

We are able to provide you with these products - Feliway for cats and Adaptil for dogs. 

Indications for use in cats include: inappropriate urine marking, scratching the furniture, reduced desire to interact or play, moving house with your cat, introduction of a new family member (pet or baby), or traveling with your cat. 

Courteous Cats!

People who think you can't train a cat haven't tried hard enough! Whether it’s a new kitten or an older cat that you’re introducing into your household, training should begin as soon as you bring your feline friend home.

Here are our top tips:

1. Be patient - cats are intelligent and trainable animals - keep training sessions to less than 2–3 minutes and use rewards such as praise and food such as cooked chicken or small amounts of butter or vegemite on your finger or a spoon. Train your cat to come when he's called or sit for a treat

2. Cats like company - they are social creatures and need companionship. Pick your kitten up from early on to help him understand that he is safe in your arms. Cats also need to feel comfortable with other cats, so the earlier you can begin socialising your cat with others the better. Kittens often like a playmate and two kittens together are usually good for each other

Starting off on the right foot...

If you are planning on adding a new furry member to your family you will want a well behaved one! 

Good behaviour starts from before you choose your new friend and here are some tips for getting started on the right track. 

• Choose a breed appropriate to your lifestyle. Problem behaviour is not uncommon in pets kept in the wrong environment. Be honest with yourself - for example how much exercise will you be able to give a dog? 
• Check out their relatives. Try to meet mum and dad. Are they well behaved? Can you recognise any anxiety or behaviour issues in the family?
• Spend as much time as possible with a litter before you make a choice. You might feel sorry for the smallest and quietest puppy or kitten in the corner but it is best to choose a friendly and confident animal who will make a good family pet. 

Natural Foods - What's all the fuss about?

When it comes to pet food, we realise that there are plenty of brands on the market and things can get pretty confusing with the myriad of choices out there. Many companies are promoting that their food contains all natural ingredients and is a more holistic approach to nutrition.

So what is the best food for your pet? The answer to that question is simple - a diet recommended by us. When it comes to nutrition, we are able to give you educated information and are able to recommend the most suitable diet for your pet - at every stage of their life.

New Adelaide Koala & Wildlife Hospital

Phone 8297 2455

A specific Koala & Wildlife Hospital has opened in Adelaide at 282 Anzac Highway, Plympton.

If you find sick or injured wild life, this is the best place to take them. Of course if it is not practical for you to get them there, contact the Hospital and they may be able to collect it. We also accept wild life here at Stephen Terrace Veterinary Clinic, but getting them to the specialised hospital is their best chance.

Visit their website: www.akawhospital.org.au

Benefits of Pet Insurance

We highly recommend pet insurance for a number of reasons and here are just a few:

• puppies/kittens can be insured from 8 weeks of age, most offer "first 4 weeks free" while you consider your options
• most cover for just accident and illnesses that can end up costing thousands of dollars
• insuring them at an early age will ensure maximum coverage for life, i.e. if they have shown signs of a particular disease or illness before taking out the insurance, then that could be excluded for a period of time or possibly life
• peace of mind knowing you don’t need to let a cost factor prevent your pet receiving the best treatment available

Illy's Snake Bite Story

Illy was staying with her grandparents in the Adelaide Hills at the beginning of this year. On the morning that her Mum returned from holidays and went to collect her, Illy's back end had collapsed and she was unable to walk. Illy was brought straight to the clinic initially thinking she had injured her back.

Illy just before discharge

Upon examination it was confirmed that her back end was very week and her pupils were dilated. Due to the fact she had been out in the garden this morning in the hills and summer time, it was suspected she had actually been bitten by a snake, most likely the deadly brown snake.

Illy's mum was keen to have her treated as necessary so she was admitted to hospital where she was placed on intravenous fluids and administered anti-venom, anti-histamine and cortisone.

Flea Prevention - What is Best?

Not all flea prevention & treatment products are the same...

Some inexpensive supermarket products might not be as effective and may require you to treat more often. When you choose a flea treatment it is important to check that it not only kills adult fleas but all other life stages including eggs and larvae.