Newsletter November 2021

Summer is here!

HAPPY DIWALI

Happy Diwali to our clients of Indian and Sri Lankan heritage. Diwali, which for some also coincides with harvest and new year celebrations, is a festival of new beginnings and the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness.

 

WARNING: Your Pet is in Danger of Deadly Tick Paralysis

The rainy weather has increased the number of paralysis ticks surviving to adulthood and they are out with a vengeance. Our local area is experiencing an unprecedented deadly tick season, with cats and dogs coming in with clinical signs of tick toxicity and some unable to be saved.

Approximately 90% of the cases we see are not on any preventative. To protect your pet, DO NOT DELAY please follow the following recommendations:

DOGS:

• Bravecto chew every 3 months OR Simparica chew every month all year round PLUS a Seresto collar

CATS:

• Bravecto spot-on applied to the skin on the back of the neck every 2 months PLUS a Seresto collar

We are recommending that dogs and cats wear a Seresto tick collar for both dogs and cats to repel ticks in addition to the oral preventatives, as this will hopefully reduce the number of ticks that attach to your pet and therefore save lives. Seresto collars should be replaced every 4 months.

Remember to seek veterinary attention if your pet becomes unwell. The earlier that treatment is instituted, the higher the chance that your pet survives.

 

My dog has skin allergies – what should I do?

Author: Dr. Gretta Howard – Senior Veterinarian

Skin allergies in dogs are really common and can be a source of frustration for both the dog, who is uncomfortable and itchy, and the owner, who has to deal with it.
Dogs with allergic skin disease get itchy skin, which can include some or all of the following clinical signs:

1) Recurrent ear infections (shaking head, discharge)
2) Excessive licking of the paws
3) Itchy tummy
4) Rubbing muzzle along the ground

Click on the link to read the full article on skin allergies in dogs.

 

Ouch! Why is my puppy biting me and how do I stop it?

Author: Katie Bedrossian – Pet Behaviour Consultant

   

Puppy biting and mouthing from 8 weeks to 6 months of age is a very normal phase in development.

While those puppy teeth are sharp and your puppy is persistent, puppy biting is often due to play and excitement. It is used to increase bonding, initiate interactive play and for learning to use their mouth safely in the event of defence (i.e. bite inhibition).

Puppy biting reaches a peak between 12-16 weeks. While it can seem like nothing is working during this time, the below tips will help you survive, come out the other side with a stronger bond and give your puppy the tools to gradually reduce the biting by the time they are 5-6 months.

Click on the link to read the full article on stopping your puppy from biting you.

 

Pet Of The Month: Skadi

Meet the lovely Skadi!

This gorgeous Maine Coon kitten came in to see Dr Olivia for some x-rays as she was limping. During her physical exam she decided to show off her six toes whilst giving all the nurses a cuddle. Skadi is a polydactyl cat which is a genetic condition that causes more than the usual number of toes to grow on a foot. A nickname for polydactyl cats is Hemingway cats, named after Ernest Hemiway, who was a cat lover who had a cat with extra toes.

In Skadi’s case, she has six toes instead of four on her hind limb paws…. How cool! Fortunately for Skadi, it is completely harmless and will only make it easier for her to tap someone on the shoulder for a cuddle… if her purring doesn’t draw them in to begin with!

 

Staff Profile: Dr James Thompson

1) When did you first know that you wanted to be a vet?

In primary school at Pymble Public – I still have one of my stories from that time that proves it!

2) What is one of your most memorable “James Herriot – All Creatures Great and Small” moments as a vet?

Delivering a calf in a “Hansel and Gretel” style barn in England during the snowy winter at 3am. It was the farmer’s favorite cow, and he was so pleased with the outcome that he even gave a ten pound tip!

3) What do you most love about being a vet at Turramurra Veterinary Hospital?

I live locally, so I love seeing pets in our local community, that I have previously helped, back to their healthy and happy selves.

4) What areas of animal welfare and conservation do you personally have a connection with?

I have done two “tours of duty” treating Bali street dogs, it was not only fun but a unique insight into Balinese village culture. I stayed with my cousin Marcus, who had settled in Bali with his Indonesian wife. The program improved animal welfare through treating injuries, implementing parasite control, vaccinating against Rabies and desexing to ensure a stable healthy dog population. An incredible experience.

5) How do you juggle being a veterinary practice owner with your young family?

At times it seems an impossible task, but as for most young growing families, you find a way.

 

Feline Friends: Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP)

Until recently, a diagnosis of Feline Infectious Peritonitis was almost certainly a death sentence in cats, but now a life-saving treatment is available, which has resulted in many cats being cured.

FIP involves a mutation of a common coronavirus that is found in the intestines in many cats. The coronavirus mutation means that the virus can enter cells in the intestinal lining and ‘hitch a ride’ into other parts of the body, leading to devastating consequences. The disease most commonly affects cats between ages 4 months and 2 years old, but can potentially occur in cats of any age. Clinical signs range from fever to fluid-filled body cavities to seizures, depending on where the virus has infected the body.

While the coronavirus is different to the one causing COVID-19 in people, one of the treatments for FIP, remdesivir, was originally developed to treat COVID-19 but was actually found to be effective in cats with FIP. The remdesivir comes in an injectable form, and is similar to another drug called GS-441524, which is available in a tablet form for cats with FIP, via veterinary prescription.

While still fairly experimental, these drugs give cats that are diagnosed with FIP a fighting chance for survival. Read more about FIP.

For further information about FIP and how Turramurra Veterinary Hospital is helping these cats.

 

Innovations: Vetscan Imagyst

Introducing the Vetscan Imagyst pathology machine – and presenting an Australian first.

We were one of the first veterinary practices in Australia to have access to this ground breaking technology, offering cytology and faecal diagnostics in a single platform. This machine functions to detect intestinal parasites in dog and cat stools with incredible accuracy allowing prompt treatment to be provided. This has been particularly vital with the high number of new puppies and kittens that were acquired during lockdown, combined with a very wet spring and summer season in 2021 – the perfect recipe for intestinal parasites!

Now we are the very first vet practice in Australia to be able to scan fine needle aspirates of lumps, lesions and blood smears using the same instrument. These are then identified using a combination of remote expert clinical veterinary pathologists and artificial intelligence with a very fast turn-around-time. Cutting edge technology is helping our pets, which leads to a faster diagnosis and therefore, a better outcome.

Our team is so pleased to be back to face-to-face consultations now that restrictions have eased for fully vaccinated clients. Please send any feedback to our business manager, Elyse Staber, via email to manager@turramurravet.com.au as we always strive to improve our service.

Warm regards, your locally family-owned Turramurra Veterinary Hospital team.