Allambie Vet Clinic Articles

	* SENIOR PETS With older pets it often means more regular check ups so that we can detect problems quickly and manage them before they become too troublesome. Ideally, a check up every 6 months is a good place to start. Read more
	* ARTHRITIS - WHAT TO LOOK FOR Osteoarthritis is a chronic and progressive disorder of the joints that results in cartilage damage.  Dogs and cats can both be affected and can show a range of signs such as lameness, stiffness (particularly after rising), behavioural changes (cats especially can become more grumpy due to painful joints) and slowing down during walks. Read more
	* RENAL DISEASE As pet owners, we all remember the excitement of bringing our animal home for the first time. Then our little kitten or puppy grew up, and before we knew it, we had a pet approaching the senior age group. For all pet owners, it’s worthwhile being able to recognize the signs of some common diseases. Today we’ll look at kidney disease, or chronic renal failure (CRF). Read more
	* HEART DISEASE IN CATS Early intervention is important for people with heart disease and it’s just as important for your cats too. Studies have shown that as many as one in six cats have heart disease, even though most appear to be perfectly healthy. Heart disease affects all breeds of cats and is not just a disease of older animals. Some breeds are at a higher risk of developing heart disease. These breeds include Persians, Siamese, Rag Dolls, Main Coon, American shorthair and Sphinx. Read more
	* A CASE STUDY - HUGO Two weeks ago on a Thursday evening, we received a call about an emergency involving the very fluffy, absolutely adorable Hugo. He’s a 12 week-old Golden Retriever puppy who had just been bitten on the head by another dog. His head had instantly swollen, with a lump the size of an orange, and he was bleeding from both his nostrils. Read more
	* ITCHY SKIN The most common cause of itchy skin in dogs and cats is allergy. This can be an allergy to parasites such as fleas (common), allergens in the environment such as grasses, pollens and house dust mites (also common) and food (less common). Read more
	* GRAPE TOXICITY There are many different toxins that can affect our pets. Many of these are toxic to humans and are therefore well known. Others, however are only toxic to animals and owners may be unaware of the risks they pose. Read more
	* RABBITS - A GREAT PET Rabbits are great animals and will make lovely pets. Like any pet, they need access to shelter, exercise and a good diet is essential to keep them healthy. Read more
	* DENTAL CARE The trick with teeth and our pets is that sometimes, even if the teeth look ok, they are hiding a multitude of problems. A simple dental can alert us early to signs there may be a dental dilemma and a full scale and polish with some extractions if required can get our pets back to their chomping best in no time. Read more
	* OBESITY IN OUR PETS Once a pet becomes a little porky, it can be quite tricky to shift the extra weight, especially cats, who can be quite reluctant to go on a walk! Cutting back on treats may not be enough to get your pet slim and trim and simply reducing the amount of their regular diet may mean they are begging for food due to hunger cravings. Read more
	* VET NURSES Veterinary nurses are often underestimated as they work behind the scenes. Not only do nurses have the skills and initiative to help manage critical cases they work tirelessly throughout the day, allowing the clinic to run smoothly. Read more
	* GENETIC FUR LOSS As the weather turns cold, its times like these we wish we had a furry covering like our canine friends! Spare a thought then for the poor dogs of the world afflicted with a rare genetic disease that makes that protective fur coat fall out! Read more
	* WASHING MACHINE CAT Kimba snuggled into the nice warm clothes with the comforting smell of her owner for her afternoon snooze. Suddenly she was woken by the splash of cold water on her face as the world began to spin around her. Read more
	* A CASE STUDY - MAX Legge Perthes disease is seen most commonly in young small breed dogs between 3-12 months of age. It usually presents as slow onset lameness with reduced range of movement and muscle wasting around the hip joint but can suddenly cause severe lameness when the bone collapses. Read more
	* PERMETHRIN TOXICITY IN CATS Some spot on flea products sold at supermarkets, pet stores and veterinary practices contain a chemical called permethrin. While very effective and perfectly safe for dogs, these products can be lethal when used on cats. Small differences in the way a cats liver functions means they are unable to tolerate even small doses of this chemical. Read more
	* A CASE STUDY - FELIX ‘Felix’ had a pretty rough end to 2009. We saw ‘Felix’ on New Years Eve. When he came in to see us he was in quite a state. He was quiet, grumpy, and sore all over. When we checked him over it was clear that he had either been hit by a car or been beaten up by a bigger, tougher opponent. Read more
	* CALICIVIRUS - BUNNIES BEWARE! Recently we’ve been told that the National Parks and Wildlife Service will be releasing rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (calicivirus) in Lane Cove, Ku-ring-gai Chase and Garigal national parks next week. Other Northern Sydney locations will be considered for release of the virus in the future. This is an extremely contagious and often fatal disease of rabbits with the mortality rate being as high as 90% of those affected. Read more
	* FLY STRIKE Flies are annoying – buzzing around our homes and gardens, landing on food and on us – it all gets very irritating. However, for our pets flies can be more than just an annoyance. Read more
	* MOVING HOUSE One of the most stressful events people can experience is moving house. Things can be made a little less stressful however for both you and your pets if you have your beloved furry, finned and feathered ones organized and out of trouble. Read more
	* LUMPS AND BUMPS Lumps and ­bumps, unfortunately go together with getting old. It happens to people, and it also happens to our furry and feathered friends. The challenge, is to determine which lumps are a normal part of ageing and which ones are abnormal, and could cause serious problems. Read more
	* SNAIL BAIT POISONING Unfortunately there is no specific antidote for metaldehyde toxicity and recovery depends on controlling signs of toxicity. Read more
	* SUN SENSE Most of us are pretty sun savvy – we know to cover up, wear sunscreen, drink plenty of fluids and stay out of the sun during the hottest part of the day. Even with these precautions we often need a dip or a cold shower to keep our temperatures under control! But what about our four-legged friends? They also feel the heat and with many of them having their own ‘fur coat’ they often suffer more than us! Read more
	* DOGZHEIMERS Canine cognitive dysfunction (CCD) is a loosely defined syndrome that affects older dogs and has been compared to the early stages of Alzheimer's disease in people. The cause of the CCD is not really known but affected animals have shown a deposition amyloid (a protein) in their brains in patterns very similar to the amyloid plaques found in the brains of human Alzheimer’s patients. Read more
	* TOXOPLASMOSIS Toxoplasmosis is a protozoal infection that cats are susceptible to. Interpretation of the result can be a little complicated because a single positive blood test doesn’t differentiate between an infection some time ago (with possible immunity) and a current infection. Read more
	* MITES A recent trip to the clinic for little “Teddy” revealed that there’s more to this playful pug than meets the eye! “Teddy” is a bright and happy normal 6-month-old pup, but he had small patches of fur missing under his neck. Free of itch, redness or irritation, there was no obvious cause for these hairless spots. Read more
	* A CASE STUDY - PICI We recently treated an 11-year-old Hungarian Puli (yes, the dog breed which looks like a mop). He came on a Monday a few weeks ago with a number of problems: a number of his lymph nodes were enlarged; he was coughing; and he had a very high temperature. He was extremely unwell. Read more
	* MICROCHIPPING When someone acquires a new puppy or kitten they are often inundated with information from various sources. The breeder or pet shop has their information to give, the vet has their information, and then neighbours, friends and people that you meet in the street are also often keen to pass on their views. One thing that can easily get overlooked is ensuring that your pet’s microchipping and registration are completed. This is a three-step process. Read more
	* CATARACTS A cataract is a change in the lens that renders it completely opaque and if involving the entire lens will result in blindness. A pet may be born with a cataract (congenital) or it may develop with age due to a genetic predisposition or other causes which include diabetes, inflammation, trauma, dietary deficiencies, electric shock or toxin. Read more
	* KITTEN KINDY Why should puppies get all the fun? Most kittens love to socialise too! The critical socialisation period for kittens is between 6 and 14 weeks of age. Beyond 16 weeks of age, many of these apparently harmless bundles of fur tend to become a little more hostile towards their new ‘fur friends’. That’s why it’s important to socialise new kittens when they are still young. Read more
	* A CASE STUDY - MISSY We saw a 3-month-old female Staffordshire Terrier called Missy a few months ago. She had been vomiting for three days, was quiet and not at all interested in food. If a 3-month-old Staffy doesn’t want to eat, you certainly know it is unwell. Read more