Emma Somerville BVSc Vets on Wheels - mobile vet. 0404 888 387
Hi
Everyone,
Tick season is well and truly upon us and even though many of you are very
tick savvy already, I thought I'd take this opportunity just to remind
everyone of the dangers of the horrible Paralysis Tick.
This tick is found along most of the east coast of Qld, but your pets are
more at risk than their city cousins because there are so many native
animals out here, and these are what the paralysis ticks usually attach to.
They hitch a ride into your yard, climb up the grass, and wait for something
else to come by- doesn't matter if it's a dog, cat, or you.
When the tick attaches, it injects poison which causes paralysis of the
muscles needed to bark, swallow, walk and breathe.
Signs to look out for are: loss of appetite, coughing, gagging, vomiting,
change in bark or meow, not wanting to get up, wobbly legs, or grunting when
breathing. These can happen in any order.
If you see any of these, call your vet immediately. Pets treated in the
early stages have a much better chance of survival.
There are a few options to help repel the ticks. Using a few strategies at
once is the most effective way, e.g. using a tick collar as well as a
topical 'spot on' treatment every 2 weeks. These help reduce the number of
ticks attaching, but nothing is 100% effective, so always check your pet
thoroughly every day and keep their coat short.
If you've got any questions about ticks, or any other veterinary questions
feel free to give me a call.
Till next time, have a very merry Xmas and a happy new year.
ץץץץץץץץץץץץ
Hi Everyone,
Well, we're powering on into the new year now, and I hope all your pets will
enjoy a bit of relief from the hot weather soon. I've seen a few fantastic
feline and canine hairstyles in Bonogin over the summer, and I can literally
see my long-haired dog smile with relief each time I clip him down from his
usual silky long locks to an army crew cut length over the warmer months.
Speaking of smiling, I'm really impressed with the general health of teeth
among the dogs and cats that I'm seeing for annual health checks. You can
really see a huge difference in the general health, coat condition,
happiness, longevity, and of course breath, of those pets with healthy teeth
and those who have loads of tartar build up and bleeding painful gums.
Feeding dry food or kibble tends to be a lot better for teeth than tinned
food, and raw bones and chews are fantastic and should be given at least few
times a week. However, for the cats and some of the smaller dogs that aren't
into chewing things, tooth brushing is a good option. You can get yummy (?)
gourmet toothpaste (prawn-flavoured anyone?) and little finger brushes that
cats will accept, and for dogs you can use a soft bristled toothbrush or one
designed for pets. The idea is to start slowly, just with the toothpaste for
a few weeks, and to be patient. The benefits are well worth it, and you can
call me if you need some encouragement! Older pets sometimes need a dental
scale at a vet surgery first, to get rid of the tartar that's already built
up over the years, which is like concrete and which doesn't move with
brushing alone. They can also get any broken or rotten teeth removed at the
same time.
So, good luck everyone!
(A good website if you're
interested is the Cornell University site for cat tooth brushing- ) And as
always, if you have any questions or queries about your furry or feathered
friends don't hesitate to call.
Hi Everyone. I thought I'd dedicate this
segment to the Cats of Bonogin this month!
The recent good news for cats is that there is now a Feline Aids Vaccination
available. Feline Aids (which is caused by Feline Immunodeficiency Virus or
FIV) is spread by cats fighting. (A cat can't infect a human.) We don't know
exactly what proportions of cats are affected, but it's estimated that
between 14% and 29% will test positive.
Just like HIV (AIDS) in humans, FIV causes a reduced ability to fight off
infections as the disease progressively disables the immune system. Once
infected, cats may seem healthy and may not develop the disease for up to 10
years. Then, as the disease progresses, they may start to develop recurrent
infections or may show vague signs of illness like loss of appetite,
vomiting, diarrhoea or anemia etc. The disease isn't treatable but is
preventable.
SO WHAT CAN YOU DO TO PROTECT YOUR CAT?
*Keep your cat indoors or in an enclosure so therefore reducing the chance
of your cat getting infected if involved in a cat fight.
* Have your vet test your cat for FIV. If they're negative they can have a
series of three booster vaccinations a few weeks apart, then can continue
protection annually.
As always, feel free to call me for a chat about any pet health queries.
Emma Somerville BVSc
Vets on Wheels - 0404 888 387
