Mast Cell Tumors - the great pretenders...

A small lump had appeared on Poppy the Boxer’s chest. Thankfully her owners brought her straight in for a check up.

A sample of cells was taken using a needle (a fine needle aspirate). This sample was placed on a slide, had special stains applied and was examined under a microscope. A large number of mast cells were present.

Mast cells normally respond to inflammation and allergies. Sometimes there are a cancerous proliferation of these cells and the formation of a tumour. Some of these tumours can be very aggressive and spread elsewhere in the body.

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.