Boarding Recommendations

  

During the holiday season it is common for us all to do just that and "go on holiday!". If you are planning a trip away it is important to think about how your pet will be cared for whilst you are gone whether you own a cat or dog or both! 

There are many options available to you when selecting the right place for your pet to board that will range in price and facility. Despite the cost the most important thing to consider is "how will my pet be treated and cared for?" and "can my pet or both my pets stay at the one facility?".Therefore it is a good idea to go and have a quick look at the place or places you are interested in leaving your pet whilst you are away so that you have a better understanding of where your pet will be held and how much space they have to roam.

  

When boarding it is compulsory that all pets are up to date with vaccination and preventative care such as fleas/ticks and worming prevention; so make sure your pet has been brought up to date with all preventative care. If your pet is on any medications at the time of boarding, then this should also be advised to the boarding facility. At such a busy time of the year, boarding facilities can quickly become booked out so make sure to book well in advance if possible and be aware that sometime deposits may be required to secure your pet's reservation!.  

At CASULA VETERINARY HOSPITAL the spaces for our boarding cattery are running out fast!!! Please remember to book in advance and a non-refundable deposit is required to secure your kitty's spot! If you would like a viewing of our cattery facilities please call our clinic on (02) 9602 9863 and our staff will be more than happy to assist you! 

Swallowing Hazards

  

Every Christmas season the iconic Christmas tree is put up and decorated in a glorious fashion. As such we would like to put some light onto possible hazards that it can pose to pets.

• If a live tree is selected then one must consider watering to keep the lush green colour, this however can be problematic as some dogs and cats like to drink the tree water; the water itself is not poisonous, but some fertilizers can be poisonous to animals causing various signs of sickness.
• Ornaments and lights hung on our trees can often become fun and interesting toys for our pets. They can commonly be chewed and ingested by our dogs and cats. This can become very dangerous especially if the pet becomes electrocuted when playfully biting into the lighting wires or if ornaments are swollowed. Swollowed parts can easily become lodged in the digestive tract and causing obstruction. A lodged foreign body usually requires surgery in most cases to remove it. In addition, glass ornaments and lights commonly leave cuts and lacerations in the mouth if chewed. 
• Holiday decorations like ribbon and tinsel can also cause some problems if ingested by our cat or dog. This is more commonly seen in cats that like to play with string. This type of foreign body may cause the intestine to fold onto itself like an accordion, this in turn causes a lack of circulation to parts of the intestine and may require extensive surgical treatment. Clinical signs of foreign body obstruction include vomiting, lethargy and abdominal pain. If there is any known ingestion of foreign body, the animal should be seen by a veterinarian immediately.

Raisins and Friut Cakes

Christmas pudding (which contains raisins) is poisonous to your pets. Grape and raisin toxicity is well documented in dogs. Although the exact substance that causes the toxic reaction is not well understood, it has been shown that even tiny amounts of grapes or raisins can be fatally toxic for a dog. Dogs of any age, breed or gender can be affected.

One of the most serious complications in grape/raisin toxicity is acute kidney failure. Signs include vomiting, diarrhoea, inappetence, abdominal pain, lethargy and passing only a small amount of urine or even complete cessation of urine.

Christmas Plants

Christmas plants are nice decor to have at home during this happy season. However, they can cause problems and intoxication in pets.  

1. Poinsettia 

• The sap of the poinsettia is an irritant. If any part of the plant is ingested by a dog / cat, the animal may show signs of oral irritation like hypersalivating, shaking his / her head and pawing at the head and mouth. The plant can also cause gastrointestinal sign like vomiting.


2. Mistletoe

• Intoxication can happen when large amount of berries are ingested by pets. Symptoms include hypersalivating, vomiting, diarrhoea, increase heart rate / breathing rate and progress to shock and death in severe cases.

3. Holly

• The red berries on holly plant is poisonous and if ingested, can cause gastrointestinal upset like vomiting and diarrhoea which leads to dehydration and electrolyte imbalance.

Dry skin and the Itchy Pet!

With the warm and often rain filled summer months approaching, it is common for all pets to suffer from a wide variety of skin problems, due to changing weather conditions. Parasites such as fleas and flies also flourish in these conditions.

Often washing our dogs and maintaining optimum skin health (including ears) can be difficult at times and therefore it is important to use reputable "soap free" shampoos and conditioners. These will cleanse and soften the skin wihout removing essential oils needed to maintain optimum skin barriers.  Some simple signs of dry skin may include: self trauma like scratching and chewing, hair loss or dandruff. Often itching around the hind quarters such as tail base or behind the back legs can be associated with flea infestation which can cause dermatitis. Therefore, always ensure your pet is on a suitable and reliable flea prevention product such as"Frontline Plus, Advantage, Advocate, Revolution or Comfortis". 

At Casula Veterinary Hospital and Elizabeth Drive Animal Hospital, we recommend that usingveterinary registered skin care products are always a better choice as they focus primarily on cleansing and moisturising the skin and coat in dogs and cats. Such brands highly recommended include: VIRBAC and DERMCARE who offer a variety of oatmeal based, soap free products that can clean, moisten and protect the skin and coat from nature's harsh weather conditions. These brands also make medicated products that aid those pets who suffer from itchy skin due to specific skin conditions that can be diagnosed by the veterinarian.