Professional, personal and reliable veterinary care to protect, promote and enhance the human animal bond. 19 Eclipse Court, Highfields, Qld, 4352 (07) 4698 7309 [email protected]Clinic Hours Monday - Friday 8am-5:30pm Saturday 8:30am -12pm Sunday Closed For after – hours emergencies, please phone the surgery and follow the instructions. Our Vets Dr Antonia Trollope Dr Jillian Lok Our Nurses Anita Mairs Rachel McMullen Sam Davies Jane Sharp Jenny Nickolls – Receptionist In This Issue • Vaccination for your vacation • Travelling with your Dog • Pampering your Pet • Festive Food Foes • Snakes!!!! • Ticks Staff Changes We have recently farewelled Ursula, one of our vets. We do however have a few more new, friendly faces around the surgery taking part in work placements and work experience. Summer Summer Summer Summer 2016 2016 2016 2016 QUEENSLAND SUMMERS Queensland – beautiful one day, perfect the next?? It has often struck me that with beauty and joy there is always potential for pain and suffering. I grew up in Papua New Guinea as you probably know from our last newsletter and have always favoured summer over winter, not that there is a whole lot of difference in the northern reaches of our state. Summer is a time associated with holidays, fun and outdoors activities for everyone including our animal friends but with it comes all those nasties we know so well. Towards the end of winter every year we plan for a change in pace at Eclipse Park Veterinary Surgery. TICKS, TICKS, TICKS, SNAKE, SNAKE, TICKS, TICKS, HEAT STRESS, TICKS, FLY STRIKE (maggots) and then all the routine work in between. Most of our patients make it home but some don’t and this is always very hard as we want to save every pet that comes in our doors. The reality is that snakes and ticks are very poisonous and strike a primal fear in most of us. The fear of being bitten ourselves but more often I suspect, the fear of losing a loved one, human or animal. To be fair, Winter has some problems too such as the cold bringing out arthritic symptoms in some of our senior pets but it pales in comparison to the summer time hazards. At least all those poisonous critters are taking a long nap during the winter months, as if to give us a break for a little while each year. Then all of a sudden they’re awake and we’re off again. We must be constantly vigilant at all times but especially during summer in order to protect our families, including our pets!! So please everyone, respect your environment and the dangers that lurk within it, protect yourselves, your families, your pets and enjoy our wildlife and the great outdoors. Wishing you all a wonderful and trouble free Summer and Festive season. Dr Toni Trollope Principal, Eclipse Park Vet Surgery For more information please visit our website: www.localvet.com.au/eclipsepark Merry Christmas! We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy, Safe New Year! We would like to thank you for your continued support throughout the year and for entrusting us with the care of your beloved pets! From Toni, Paul, Anita, Jane, Rachel, Jillian, Jenny and Sam
Transcript
Professional, personal and reliable veterinary care to protect, promote and enhance the human animal bond.
Queensland – beautiful one day, perfect the next?? It has often struck me that with beauty and joy there is always potential for pain and suffering. I grew up in Papua New Guinea as you probably know from our last newsletter and have always favoured summer over winter, not that there is a whole lot of difference in the northern reaches of our state. Summer is a time associated with holidays, fun and outdoors activities for everyone including our animal friends but with it comes all those nasties we know so well. Towards the end of winter every year we plan for a change in pace at Eclipse Park Veterinary Surgery. TICKS, TICKS, TICKS, SNAKE, SNAKE, TICKS, TICKS, HEAT STRESS, TICKS, FLY STRIKE (maggots) and then all the routine work in between. Most of our patients make it home but some don’t and this is always very hard as we want to save every pet that comes in our doors. The reality is that snakes and ticks are very poisonous and strike a primal fear in most of us. The fear of being bitten ourselves but more often I suspect, the fear of losing a loved one, human or animal. To be fair, Winter has some problems too such as the cold bringing out arthritic symptoms in some of our senior pets but it pales in comparison to the summer time hazards. At least all those poisonous critters are taking a long nap during the winter months, as if to give us a break for a little while each year. Then all of a sudden they’re awake and we’re off again. We must be constantly vigilant at all times but especially during summer in order to protect our families, including our pets!! So please everyone, respect your environment and the dangers that lurk within it, protect yourselves, your families, your pets and enjoy our wildlife and the great outdoors. Wishing you all a wonderful and trouble free Summer and Festive season.
Dr Toni Trollope Principal, Eclipse Park Vet Surgery For more information please visit our website: www.localvet.com.au/eclipsepark
Merry Christmas!
We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and
a Happy, Safe New Year! We would like to thank you for your continued support
throughout the year and for entrusting us with the care of
your beloved pets!
From Toni, Paul, Anita, Jane, Rachel, Jillian, Jenny
and Sam
Ever wonder what foods can harm your pet?
Visit:
www.localvet.com.au/EclipsePark
Toxic & Hazardous Foods
for your Pets
Great Tips for Your Pets This Holiday Season
What’s that Smell!!!!
Taking your dog travelling can really bring to light some very off putting smells! Dog mouths can produce a smell that can bring you close to tears! In most cases it is due to dental disease but on rare occasions you will find a relatively clean mouth with a nasty smell.
There is now a new product available to make every owner and dog smile (and nose unwrinkle)!
The amazing dual-action approach of Oravet Chews doesn’t just clean teeth and freshen breath, it also creates a barrier to help protect against plaque, calculus, and bad breath. The chewing action works to loosen and dislodge plaque to help it break away from the teeth. The Chews then form a barrier to help protect against the bacteria that leads to plaque and calculus build-up for a cleaner mouth and fresher breath. The special ingredient that does this is Delmopinol which works to form a preventative barrier that blocks bacteria and future build-up of plaque over time.
OraVet Chews are the first and only dental hygiene product for dogs that contain Delmopinol.
It’s no Vacation without Vaccination!
Before you send your pets off to boarding facilities or travel with your pet, make sure that they’re up-to-date with all their vaccinations. Please don’t leave this to the last minute as the establishment of immune protection takes time.
Vaccination is important for your pet’s health Vaccination protects your pet from infections that may be lethal or cause serious disease. Some infectious diseases such as canine cough, canine parvovirus and “cat flu” are common in Australia.
When staying in boarding facilities, dogs and cats are at higher risk of infectious diseases, so vaccination is especially important. Immunity following vaccination may reduce over time and so boosters are required to maintain optimal protection. Most boarding facilities require dogs to be fully vaccinated with a “C5” vaccine, and cats with an “F3 or F4” vaccine.
Your vet may recommend other vaccines in addition to this. Please confirm with your boarding facility what their vaccination policy is prior to boarding.
If you have any questions about vaccination please feel free to contact us.
Pamper your Pet!
During the warmer months and before travelling, why not treat your dog to a pampering! We have a great Pamper Package for dogs or you can purchase a gift voucher for Christmas! During December and January your pet will also receive a free treat bag when your purchase the Pamper Pack! Our Pamper Pack includes:
• Bath
• Nails
• Blow Dry
• Brush
• Bow / Bow Tie
• Free Dental Check!
• And a little Oolala for an amazing smell!
If you have trouble tick searching
your pets due to thick, long coats, a full body clip will make searching
easier for you.
Going on Holidays Soon? When choosing a boarding facility, there are a number of factors to consider, such as:
• How big are individual kennels?
• Will your pet have access to a run during the day?
• Are there signs of overbooking or overcrowding?
• Do they provide food or can you provide your own pet’s specific diet?
• Can they medicate dogs if required?
• Which veterinarian do they use in an emergency?
• And so many more considerations!
For more information on how to choose a great boarding facility please go to our website
www.localvet.com.au/eclipsepark/boarding-advice.
If you have had a fantastic or not so great experience at a boarding facility, we’d love to
hear your feedback!
Comfort and Restraint Making sure your pet is as comfortable as possible in your vehicle is a sure way to make the trip smoother. There are various restraints available ranging from harnesses to carry cages. As it is an offence to have a pet on your lap while you are driving, restraining them is the safest way to go. Take one of your dog’s normal blankets so they have a familiar smell to travel with. Don’t forget to take their normal diet with you. If you have to change their diet while you are away they may experience stomach upsets.
Remember to stop for plenty of toilet breaks during your road trip to avoid toileting accidents in the car. Even the most well-trained dog can become exuberant and unpredictable in a new, exciting environment so keep your dog on a lead when in an unfamiliar environment so that they are secure if they take fright at any unfamiliar sights or sounds.
Cat Tips • Keep your cat in after dark and provide a litter tray. • Reduce the noise impact by drawing the curtains and
playing music with a repetitive beat, although having the TV on should also help.
• Provide your cat with a familiar cosy place to hide. • Use feline pheromones such as Feliway to help calm
your cat. Start using them a few weeks before the night if possible.
Dog Tips • Make sure your dog gets plenty of exercise earlier in the day. • Keep your dogs inside during fireworks, preferably with human
companionship. • Provide a safe place inside for your dogs to retreat. When
scared of sounds they can’t orient, dogs often prefer small enclosed areas. If your dog is comfortable in a crate, that is a good option.
• If possible, keep the windows and curtains closed. Removing visual stimulation can also help calm dogs.
• Make sure all your dogs are wearing ID tags with a properly fitted collar. Dogs have been known to become Houdini when frightened.
• Leave your dog something fun to do – like a frozen Kong filled with his/her favourite treats.
• Sound Therapy – you can train your dog using Frightful Noise Audio CD. (Available from pethealth.com.au)
• Use calming strategies such as massage – concentration on the major muscle groups such as the cheek, forehead, neck and shoulder muscles or use a thunder shirt or wrap your dog in a towel to help the dog feel more secure
• Dog pheromones such as Adaptil can help calm dogs with noise fears with up to 70% effectiveness.
Tips for aTips for aTips for aTips for a Calmer Cat Calmer Cat Calmer Cat Calmer Cat & & & & Composed CanineComposed CanineComposed CanineComposed Canine
Travelling with your Dog
With careful planning and the right safety equipment hitting the road with your canine companion can be fun and hassle free! Following some basic tips when taking your dog on holiday will make it safer and less stressful for everyone involved.
Tips: Vaccination and Parasite Prevention Well before the trip, ensure your pet is up to date with vaccinations and parasite protection. This will protect them from picking up nasty parasites such as worms, fleas and ticks as well as any diseases that may be in the area. When you are heading to a new location there is no way of telling what animals have been in that area and what disease or parasite they may be shedding. Prevention prior to a trip is better than an emergency trip to the vet in the middle of your holiday!
Identification If your pet is not already microchipped – get it done! A microchip will never fall off so you are safe in knowing that if you pet goes missing they can be scanned and returned to you. Make sure your details are up to date on the database! ID collars and tags are also a great idea and make reuniting with you much quicker.
Motion Sickness/Stress Most of the time dogs travel quite well with no need for any medication. Some dogs, on the other hand, do experience stress when traveling. If you are aware that your dog stresses or suffers from motion sickness during car travel, talk to your vet to decide on the best course of action for them. A few options available to de-stress your dog include:
o Thundershirts o Pheromone Collars or Sprays o Medications – prescribed by a veterinarian.
Take your dog on a few short trips leading up to your holiday. This will help them get used to travel, can give you the chance to ensure that they are properly secured and if any issues arise you can address them before your big trip.
Always Remember! Never leave your dog unattended in a car. Dogs can die very quickly from heat stress, even in mild weather.
For more tips or if you have any concerns about travel, please feel free to contact us any time to set up the best travel plan for your pet.
Not So Merry Christmas! Not So Merry Christmas! Not So Merry Christmas! Not So Merry Christmas! ---- Paralysis TicksParalysis TicksParalysis TicksParalysis Ticks
The last thing you need to worry about this Christmas is your pet being affected by a nasty Paralysis Tick! If you are not already protecting your pet, we highly recommend Nexgard for dogs and Frontline for cats. Remember no product is 100% guaranteed so daily tick searches are essential. If you do find a tick attached to your pet or crawling, remove it with pincer like tweezers or tick twisters.
Paralysis tick poisoning symptoms may include:
• Weak and wobbly hind legs progressing to the front of the animal
• Voice Changes
• Coughing/Gagging
• Vomiting If there are any symptoms of poisoning or you’re just not sure, please call the surgery to
make an appointment. Early treatment is vital to improve survival rates!
• Christmas is for humans, and I will not ruin the surprises by opening all their presents.
• Christmas light bulbs, Christmas ornaments, Christmas stockings, and tinsel from the Christmas tree are not food.
• I will not demolish the Christmas tree and drag the string of lights out into the backyard through the doggy door.
• I will not dive into the Christmas tree to get the candy canes (which I will eat -- paper and all).
• I will not eat my Christmas doggie treats until after they're out of the stocking!
• I will not even THINK about going underneath the Christmas tree and piddling on the dining room rug.
• I will not get into a fight with the bigger dog next door, making my human have to call the vet's at Christmas.
• I will not get tangled up in the Christmas tree lights and pull the tree down while trying to get at a cat through the window.
• I will not pee on Grandma's Christmas presents that are under her tree as soon as we enter her house.
• I will not pee on the Christmas tree.
• I will not steal the neighbour's Christmas light bulbs.
• The bowl underneath the Christmas tree is not a dog dish. I will not drink from it. It will make me sick.
Crossword Fun! You’ll find all the words throughout this newsletter. Across Down 3. Something to eat 1. A break from work 7. Symptom a tick may cause 2. Long reptiles 8. Going somewhere 4. Christmas Cheer 9. A Very Merry Time! 5. Hot Season 10. Posh Grooming 6. Needle to protect against
disease
Warning!!
Snakes are out in full force! If you haven’t seen a snake in your area yet, it won’t be hard for you to know from all the news reports and articles out that snakes are very active this season. Some of our staff have even had a few close encounters - from an Eastern Brown snake ½ a metre away from their feet passing by while pegging out washing to the less harmful carpet pythons chilling in a roof or a rarer blind snake going for a wriggle in the house! Please keep a close eye on your pets during the warmer months for any symptoms of snake bite including:
• Sudden weakness followed by collapse.
• Shaking or twitching of the muscles.
• Vomiting.
• Dilated pupils not responsive to light.
• Blood in the urine.
• In the later stages paralysis may occur.
If you see your pet with a snake or notice any of the above symptoms contact Eclipse Park straight away!
Early treatment may lead to a better prognosis.
If you do find a snake in your yard or house that may affect your family, pets or your own safety, contact the Toowoomba Snake Catchers on 0400 874 229. You can also visit their website for more information on our local snakes www.toowoombasnakecatcher.com.au
