WHY DOES MY PET LICK THEIR FEET?

Licking and chewing of the paws is a common problem for our pets but it definitely shouldn't be considered normal! Cats tend to pull at their toe nails and dogs like to lick in between their toes.

There can be many causes:
Allergies: This is a common cause of foot chewing. Ingestion of a food, contact with grasses or plants and inhalation of pollens are common causes of itchy skin (especially at this time of the year)

Parasites: mites can burrow into the skin and cause irritation and flea bites can cause generalised itching

TOP TIPS FOR PREVENTING AN ITCHY PET

Itchiness can be excruciatingly annoying for your pet. Itching quickly leads to trauma of the skin and can lead to secondary skin infections that require antibiotic treatment.

Your dog may bite, lick or scratch at themselves with their legs. Cats on the other hand are more likely to lick at particular areas and hair loss is often the first sign of an itchy feline.

Here are our top tips for preventing an itch:

From all of the team we would like to wish you and your pets a safe and Happy Christmas and New Year!

During the holiday period we will be open as follows:
Saturday 23rd December - 8am-4pm
Sunday 24th December - CLOSED
Monday 25th December - CLOSED
Tuesday 26th December - CLOSED
Wednesday 27th December - 8am-7pm
Thursday 28th December - 8am-7pm
Friday 29th December - 8am-7pm
Saturday 30th December - 8am-4pm
Sunday 31st December - CLOSED
Monday 1st January - CLOSED
Tuesday 2nd January - 8am-7pm

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

VACCINATIONS - ASK US FOR THE RIGHT ADVICE

Vaccination is a hot topic in the media at the moment. There's plenty of information and scare tactics floating around on social media and so when it comes to vaccinating your pet, we want you to get the right advice.

The take home message is that vaccination is one of the most important tools we have available to help keep your pet healthy. Vaccinations are safe, have minimal (if any) side effects and the reason we recommend vaccinations is because they work.

These are the top reasons vaccinations are so vital:

• They protect against deadly diseases: many dangerous diseases are completely preventable with the correct vaccinations.
• Vaccinations save money: vaccinations are substantially less expensive than the cost of treatment for the diseases they prevent. 
• You can board your pet with other animals: if you ever plan to board your dog or cat he must be up to date with his vaccinations - what would happen if you had a family emergency and boarding was the only option?
• Visits to the vet hospital: if your pet has to stay in hospital he needs to be vaccinated. If your pet is sick, his immune system may be already be compromised so you want to know he is protected.

There are many diseases we are able to vaccinate against but your pet's health, lifestyle and where you live may affect which vaccinations are deemed necessary - we can help you make an informed decision and are always happy to discuss vaccinations with you.

When it comes to vaccinating your pet, we will give you the right advice.