Walking the Dog

 This is the time that many people walk their dog, particularly in the early morning or late evening.  Although many dogs will walk nicely on a normal collar and lead, others may pull and lunge, particularly if they see other people or dogs.  This can make walking more difficult and less enjoyable for their guardian.  Many different types of collars and harnesses are available to assist with the problem of pulling on lead.  Choker chains are generally not recommended as a tool to control the dog.  As well as causing damage to the throat, choker chains have also been associated with spinal arthritis.

More effective anti pulling equipment include front attaching harnesses and haltis.  Unlike choker chains, front attaching harness will physically prevent your dog from pulling by putting pressure on the front of the chest (not the throat).  Haltis work very similarly to a horse’s head collar by giving the handler the ability to control the head, and thus, control the body. 

We have a range of sizes and styles of harnesses and haltis, as well as collars for your dog. 

Please remember to not walk your dog during the heat of the day and, if you take them to the beach, wash of any salt water or sand, as they can irritate the skin.  We have a range of mild, pleasant smelling shampoos for both puppies and dogs that will effectively remove any sand or salt left on the coat or skin.  We also have shampoos available for specific skin problems for dogs that suffer from allergies. 

February is microchipping discount month.  Dogs and cats can have a microchip implanted for just $35.00. 

 Summer Hazards

Summer can be a hazardous time for pets.  As the warmer weather approaches this is the time we see a myriad of injuries, illness and disease.  These do include Parvovirus, foreign bodies in the skin and ears, skin conditions, insect bites and snake bite.  The risk of many of these conditions can be minimised or prevented with good management and forethought.

Parvovirus - this preventable disease causes severe illness and often death in dogs.  Prevention is simple with regular vaccinations.  Puppies are at the greatest risk, however any dog can succumb to this airborne virus.  Dogs that never leave their properties are still at risk (possibly even more so) of contracting this potentially fatal disease.  The virus can be carried on footwear or clothing by the owners or visitors to the home.  Summer sees an increase in this disease as the virus proliferates during the warmer weather.  Vaccination is the only proven preventative of this disease. 

Foreign bodies - the most common foreign body seen during the summer months is grass seeds which can lodge in the ears, eyes, nostrils, paws, vulva or any other area of skin.  They can cause nasty infections and often need surgical removal.  Symptoms to watch out for include consistent sneezing, shaking of the head, discharge and squinting of one of the eyes, discharge and excessive licking of the vulva and, most commonly, an area of irritation on one of the paws.  Any of these symptoms will need veterinary intervention.  The risk of grass seed penetration can be minimised by having a "grass seed clip" where the fur from the inside of the ears, the paws and around the bottom is clipped.  An all over body clip is even better as this will enable you to see the grass seeds before they penetrate the skin.  Daily checks are useful, especially after walks. 

Skin conditions - see the October version of our newsletter which explains in detail the different causes of skin conditions.  The most common of these is flea allergy dermatitis (FAD).  FAD is easily prevented with any of the better quality spot on products.  Phone the surgery for advice on what product would best suit your pet.

Insect bites - spring and summer see an increase in the amount of insects and it is common for dogs to be stung by bees.  See our story about Akaya on our case study page.  The most common symptom of an insect bite is swelling, usually around the face.  Prevention is possible by not having flowering plants in your garden that attract bees and/or keeping your pet inside at times when bees are most active.  Mosquitoes are much more prevalent during the warmer months and these can carry heartworm.  Heartworm is preventable with monthly chews or spot ons or yearly injections.  Please phone the surgery for advice on what product would best suit your pet. 

Snake bite - pets that may have encountered a snake should be taken to the closest veterinary surgery as soon as possible.  Even if you are unsure whether your pet has been bitten, the animal should be hospitalised where staff can monitor any development of symptoms.  Dogs, in particular, do not fair well when bitten by a venomous snake and early treatment is vital.  Cats have a better survival rate but veterinary treatment should be sought as soon as possible.  Symptoms include dilating of the pupils (brown bit in the eyes), paralysis (unable to stand), salivation and lowering of body temperature.  Should you need veterinary assistance, phone your closest surgery first to ensure they have antivenene in stock.

Purchasing Over the Counter Products

Flea, worming and other products are widely available from many different sources. There are reasons why often it is better to purchase these products from professionally trained staff.

At any time you purchase products from the surgery, we document what you have bought. This ensures that should there be a recall on a product for any reason, we can contact you so you are able to obtain a full refund.

Every time you purchase a product, our trained and experienced staff are able to advise you on the most suitable item for your pet, thereby often saving time and money.

The scales in the reception area are available for use at any time so you can be sure you will be purchasing the correct product for your pet’s weight.

If you are unsure or prefer not to give tablets or apply spot on products, our friendly staff are available to do this at no extra cost to you.

Many companies offer incentives for owners to purchase their products at a veterinary surgery rather than pet shop or supermarket. For example, Revolution currently offer a free 3 month packet every 12 months. We keep tabs on when your free packet is due, you don’t need to do anything apart from purchase Revolution from the same surgery.

Staff can ensure that you are not using products that may be unsuitable for your pet as well as ensuring you are not using a combination of products that may prove dangerous.

Our staff regularly update their knowledge on over the counter products. Representatives from companies visit the surgery regularly to train staff on how each product works. You can be assured that surgery staff will give the latest up to date information about the products we keep on our shelves.

Every product that we stock has been proven to be effective. In addition, as all our staff are animal owners, it is very likely they have personally used them.

Staff are never paid to endorse products so you can be assured that they are recommending them because they are effective, rather than because they are receiving incentives.

If the product you require is not in stock or not regularly kept on our shelves, we are happy to order it in. Usually it will arrive the next day and we will phone you when it does.

The surgery has a range of shampoos and conditioners to suit your pet’s skin and age. You can be assured the professional advice you receive will ensure the shampoo and conditioner is suitable for your animal.

The staff can also give professional advice on dietary needs for your pet. We stock a range of premium brand dog and cat foods as well as specialised diets for animals with particular needs. These foods come with a palatability guarantee (if your pet doesn’t like them, you will receive your money back). We can advise on the right food for your pet’s stage of life and energy levels as well as give information on diets for specific health problems. In addition, we have specially trained nurses to help with weight loss for your pet when necessary.

Should you advise us that your pet has had a reaction to any product, we will document this in their file and ensure that your pet is not given any products that have the same active ingredient(s).

Professional assistance is available for fitting harnesses and collars. We also have a range of hard wearing, boredom busting toys for the more active dog.

The next time you visit the surgery and feel you need some professional advice, please speak to one of our trained and friendly staff members.