Newsletter October 2021

Is your dog ready for your return to work?

The Turramurra Veterinary Hospital team are excited to welcome back face-to-face consultations from November 1st for vaccinated clients. Simply show your Digital COVID-19 vaccination certificate to our customer care team and check in with our QR code using Service NSW App.

This re-opening date has ensured that all our staff have had 3 weeks since their 2nd vaccination, to ensure we have done everything we can to keep our staff and local community safe.

Itchy skin? Now that spring has sprung, if your pet is experiencing itchy skin, we are here to help combat those allergies and keep your pet comfortable. Ask our vets about a Cytopoint injection which can help reduce your dog’s scratching for up to 6 weeks .

Is your dog ready for your return to work? Check out our top tips to prepare your dog for being home alone.

5 Top Tips to Prepare your Dog for Being Home Alone

Author: Katie Bedrossian – Pet Behaviour Consultant 

Your doggy companions have probably loved having you home more often during lockdown or you may have welcomed a puppy into your home over this period, who has never had the opportunity to be home alone.

How can you prepare them for when your routine gets back to normal?

Read on for my top 5 tips to help them stay relaxed whether you are at home or not:

1. Positive, gradual separations at your dog’s pace. If you have some time before you have to head back to work, gradually increase the time your dog spends home alone. For new dogs in your household start with just the ‘calm transition to departure’ below and head out the front door and then come straight back inside.  Build up 5 minutes at a time to 30 minutes before making bigger time jumps. Practice this at least twice daily.
2. Calm transition to departure. 5-10 minutes prior to leaving, give your dog a chew or treat toy (using it to lead your dog into their home alone space if needed). Stay where your dog can physically reach you, but don’t directly interact. After 5-10 minutes calmly leave.
3. Calm arrival home. On arrival home, scatter treats on the ground to reduce jumping up and calmly acknowledge your dog (massage, stroking, slow talking). No excitable voices or play for the first 5 minutes.

Click on the link to read the full article on preparing your dog on being home alone.

‘Hay there! What’s up Doc?’ Importance of Diet in Rabbits

Author: Dr Tee Brown – Small Animal and Exotics Veterinarian

Anyone with a rabbit can tell you that they each have unique personalities and quirks, and involve just as much care as a cat or a dog! Arguably, their nutrition requires even closer attention, as poor diet is responsible for some of the most frequent diseases we see: dental problems and gastro-intestinal problems.

Rabbits’ incisors and back teeth grow continuously throughout life and require lots of fibre to wear them down. If their teeth grow too long, they can develop sharp spurs that can cut the tongue or cheek, the teeth can begin to twist or grow at strange angles which can impede eating, and more severe problems can emerge such as abscesses. If rabbits develop dental disease, it can be painful, often requiring lifelong treatment with regular dental procedures.

Click on the link to read the full article on the importance of diets in rabbits.

Staff Profile: Dr Noni Marceau

1) What part of being a vet do you enjoy the most?

So many parts! It’s hard to pick one thing (cute puppy and kitten cuddles, seeing ‘older fury friends’ that I have gotten to know so well over the years, chatting with our amazing clients, working alongside the most wonderful team of talented, dedicated, fun and caring individuals who all make Turramurra Vet Hospital great) but more than anything it’s seeing everyday in every consultation the important position that a family pet takes in a household, and being in the special position to be able to provide care and relief to those pets so that they can live their best quality life.

2) When did you first know you wanted to work with animals and become a vet?

I was 4 years old when I made that decision. I’ve always been drawn to animals, feeling so deeply about their welfare and wishing them no harm. This in part culminated in my decision early in my teens to transition to a vegetarian diet which continues to this day, but also the wish to study veterinary science to be able to care for those animals in need. There was never going to be another career choice for me – this was it!

My first experience of the special bond that comes with pet ownership was when my brother and I (aged 2) got to choose a tiny grey kitten to join our household. Later named ‘Puddy Hero Marceau’, Puddy became an integral family member and was my sidekick right through my childhood until the time that I headed off to university. I could not have imagined an upbringing without him in it.

Click on the link to read the full profile.

Feline Friends: Cats get painful teeth too!

What is a resorptive lesion? 

A resorptive lesion occurs when there is an immune-mediated destruction of the tooth, leaving nerves exposed and severe oral pain. This means that the body’s own cells start attacking and destroying teeth. Once the process starts, the tooth usually needs to be extracted due to the aggressive painful process. Despite being painful, cats still manage to eat around these lesions or chew on the other side of the mouth, so that they do not go hungry.

There is nothing you can do to prevent the process, as it’s part of a cat’s genetic make up.

Dental x-rays can detect these lesions both above and below the gum line, so as part of your cat’s annual veterinary health check, your vet will examine your cat’s oral cavity to look for signs of disease.

Innovations: Oxyfresh – A mouthwash you can add to your pet’s water bowl

If you’re a pet owner who cares about your pet’s oral hygiene, Oxyfresh is a water additive that helps clean teeth and promote healthy gums as well as improving your pet’s breath. Brushing your pet’s teeth is the gold standard for maintaining healthy teeth and gums, but the majority of our clients find that either their pet does not tolerate it or they simply do not have the time.

Oxyfresh Mouthwash is available over the counter at Turramurra Veterinary Hospital and is a great option for pets who have inflamed gums or to maintain their teeth after a dental scale and polish procedure to keep their teeth healthy for longer.

We really appreciate your cooperation as we transition to face-to-face consultations to ensure that NSW Health guidelines are adhered to. We welcome 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 local family-owned Turramurra Veterinary Hospital team.