Newsletter July 2019

Dog Safety Preschool Talk

Last month, Dr Gretta Howard and Nurse Katie Bedrossian visited Pymble Turramurra Preschool in Handley Avenue to talk about approaching dogs appropriately and safely interacting with dogs at home and at friend’s homes.
The handsome Bearded Collie, Ollie, came along to help out with demonstrations and he was a very relaxed boy, enjoying the attention from the preschool children.

All of us at Turramurra Vet Hospital feel that interacting with dogs safely is important for children to learn as well as enjoying their own pets company in a safe manner.

Hill’s Pet of the Month-Maxi

Sweet little Maxi was brought into Turramurra Vet by a member of the public, as a tiny 5 week-old stray when he was found wedged behind a gym on the Pacific Highway.

After a thorough examination by Dr Gretta, Maxi was given a clean bill of health and all he needed now was someone to give him attention and love. Unable to resist his little face, Nurse Cassie volunteered to take him home and foster him.

After 2 months of love and learning to be a cat from Cassie’s two other cats, Maxie was ready to be rehomed and it wasn’t long before he found his forever home and is now thriving with one of Turramurra Vet Hospital’s lovely clients who were in need of a purring feline friend. Maxi will be receiving a bag of delicious Hill’s kitten food to assist his continued growth with premium nutrition.

My pet is vomiting – should I be worried?

There are many reasons your pet might vomit…

1. Your pet may have contracted a viral or bacterial gastroenteritis.
2. They may have eaten something they shouldn’t have or maybe they raided the pantry or bin!
3. Other diseases such as pancreatitis, liver or kidney disease, or even diabetes can all cause vomiting.

So when should YOU be worried?

Generally if your pet has had only one vomit but otherwise appears happy, bright and alert, you should keep a close eye on them over the next 24 hours. It’s best to withhold food for a few hours and leave out a small amount of water so your pet can stay hydrated.

If your pet vomits more than once in a short period of time or has any other signs of illness such as lethargy, reduced appetite or diarrhea, you should call us for advice and to organise an appointment with one of our highly experienced Veterinarians.
If you ever just feel that something’s not quite right with your pet, you should call us. We are always happy to examine your pet for your peace of mind.

Let’s Make Vet Visits Fun!

Here at Turramurra Vet Hospital, we strive to make vet visits as relaxed and stress free as possible. However, some of our patients are a little nervous. If your pet is one of these nervous ones, there is a lot you can do to help your pet feel more at ease coming into the vet. Some of the tips below will also help those dogs who are overexcited with vet visits.

• At home, get your dog used to a portable, but comfortable mat. Practice any training exercises on the mat, give your dog a treat for going onto the mat and even feed your dog while they are on the mat. This will help them develop a positive association to the mat. The mat can then be taken to the vet hospital and will help your dog feel more comfortable. A mat can also encourage excited dogs to stay on a spot and calm down (provided calming activites have been done on the same mat at home).
• For cats, if you can leave the carry cage out between visits (with the door off or tied open), but somewhere private, your cat will begin to associate the cage with home and comfort (and not just vet visits).
• Adaptil (dogs) and Feliway (cats) are two products that can be used to reduce stress and anxiety. They can be purchased over the counter. For veterinary visits, the spray formulation is the easiest and most effective as it can be sprayed as needed on a mat or blanket in a cage 15 minutes prior to the event.
• For dogs, if you live close to the vet or are passing by the vet with your pet, you are welcome to come into the clinic. Just coming in when your pet is not having an exam and/or medications administered and will be getting treats and pats, can help develop a positive association to the vet.
• When you come to the vet with your pet, be as calm and relaxed as possible. Take some deep breaths, don’t shorten or tighten the lead (unless it is a safety concern) and relax. Your pet will pick up on your relaxed body language and settle more quickly.