Beautiful Spring is here !

Hello! 

​We hope it brings a smile to your day with our article on dental care. If you and your pet have visited us before, you’ll know that we are very passionate about making smelly breath a thing of the past! We want our pets to keep their pearly whites with them to a ripe old age - that means looking after their dental health daily.

Have you made it a habit to check your pet’s teeth and mouth regularly? We are here to help if you’re unsure how to “flip the lip”. Our happy team of qualified nurses offer FREE dental checks for your pets and are able to create a plan for dental care at home. All you need to do is ring us and make an appointment for your furry friend.

We also have some sensational Spring Specials - don’t miss out - come and see us today! Why not also forward this email to your friends to share the love this Spring?

We are honoured to help you care for your pets so that you can enjoy a long, happy, healthy life together. Thank you for choosing us.

From your caring team at  
Karrinyup Small Animal Hospital xxx  
Halloween on October 31st is thought to have originated over 2,000 years ago as an ancient Celtic festival to mark the start of winter and honour those who have passed away. Historically cats have been linked to witches, have been worshipped as sacred in ancient Egypt and black cats in particular are often considered lucky in many cultures.

Their 9 lives isn’t actually true although as vets we know a few who have had many lucky escapes over the years thanks to modern veterinary medicine! The legend of cats having 9 lives might be due to the thought that they always land on their feet or an old proverb that states: A cat has nine lives. For three
he plays, for three he strays and for the last three he stays.

These days Halloween is a great excuse to dress up, go ‘trick or treating’ with friends or maybe get creative and dress your pets in fancy dress too.

Keep Halloween safe for pets too:
  • Don’t share human treats especially chocolate - it’s toxic to pets
  • Keep any candles, lanterns and decorations out of reach
  • Make sure your pet is microchipped and has an ID tag in case you get separated
  • Keep nervous pets safely inside and away from visitors in fancy dress.
​Some pets may require some extra help to cope with events like Halloween, Australia Day or New Year’s especially when there are fireworks.  Give us a call if your pet gets nervous at these times or during thunderstorms. We can help.

Doggy breath?

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This isn't normal - it's a sign of dental disease​!
We need to keep our pet’s pearly whites in
top condition so they can enjoy the best of
health. Poor dental care can allow bacteria
to get into the blood stream and cause
disease and damage to your pet’s essential
organs. In humans, dental disease has been
linked with inflammation and conditions
such as heart disease, diabetes, dementia and arthritis. Good dental care is very important to the overall health of every animal.

Regular dental check-ups just like you
have at your dentist will help keep your
pet’s teeth in peak condition. As vets
we can perform a thorough teeth cleaning,
looking for disease under the gums so
those licks are a lot more lovable! We do
this under anaesthetic so your pet is
comfortable and we prescribe pain
relief and/or antibiotics when required
just like human dentists do.
Please call us if:
  • Your pet has lost weight, is eating less than usual or they avoid eating any hard foods
  • Your pet rubs their face on any surface or paws at their face
  • Your pet drools
  • You can see broken or missing teeth, swollen or bleeding gums or tartar on teeth.
4 Steps to keep those teeth nice and clean
  1. Daily brushing with pet toothpaste we can show you how.  
  2. Special teeth cleaning food ask us what will be best for your pet. 
  3. Dental treats are dental ‘treat’ment in its yummiest form!
  4. Regular dental check-ups with us.

Keep your cat safe from Feline Leukemia!

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Feline Leukaemia Virus (FeLV) is a virus passed from cat to cat via saliva.  This usually occurs during grooming or by sharing food bowls. Occasionally mothers can pass the infection to their kittens, young cats are particularly susceptible. Many cats can overcome the infection, however if they become persistently infected FeLV may cause cancers, immunosuppression and reproductive problems, amongst other conditions.
 
What are the signs of infection?
The signs of FeLV infection are not directly due to the virus itself, but rather the way it affects the infected cells. Cancers of the bone marrow and immune system are often one of the first signs, as well as immunosuppression (increasing susceptibility to infections), or red blood cell depletion leading to anaemia. Sometimes the signs of infection are non-specific, such as weight loss, lethargy and inappetence. If there are abortions or stillbirths within a breeding cattery, FeLV infection may be the cause.
 
How is Feline Leukaemia Virus diagnosed?
Feline Leukaemia is usually first detected by a blood test. A repeat test in 3 months is required to check if the virus has been eliminated from the body through natural resistance.
Unfortunately there is no treatment that will eliminate the virus once a cat becomes persistently infected, so it is important to be proactive. We recommend that FeLV positive cats be kept indoors to protect them against communicable diseases (ie. cat flu) and to also prevent the Feline Leukaemia virus from spreading. Routine worming, flea control and vaccination are also advised.
 
How to protect your cat
Contact us for advice if you notice your cat is lethargic, has a poor appetite or has lost weight recently. We recommend regular check-ups and an annual vaccination to protect your cat against harmful diseases.  Vaccination visits include a full health check with one of our friendly vets. Call us today if you have any questions about how to keep your cat safe.

Amazing facts about skin!

  • Dogs don’t have sweat glands to regulate their body temperature, they pant and need lots of cool water to drink on hot days
  • A glossy matt free coat is often a sign of good health on the inside If your pet smells a bit off it might be an ear or skin infection - let us check it out for you.
  • Dogs and cats can get sunburnt and can get skin cancers too especially on less hairy spots like ear tips, nose and belly
  • Ringworm isn’t always a ring shape on cats and dogs skin, some pet may show no signs especially longhaired cats
  • Skin can provide a home for parasites such as mites, fleas, fungi and bacteria- all itchy, scratchy and painful for pets
  • ‘Furless’ cats such as the Sphynx actually have a fine layer of fuzz and feel like suede!
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​Keep your pets skin healthy by only using skin products that we recommend and getting in touch if:
  • Your pet licks or chew themselves
  • You can see an area of skin injury, hair loss or rash no matter how small
  • You can see or feel any lump or bump
  • Your dog is greasy or smells within a couple of days of being washed

So what is the best flea control?

There are so many products to choose from that it can be tricky to know where to start! We can help you and you pet fight these pesky parasites safely. 

People often Google for help with fleas especially at this time of year but not all the information on the internet is helpful or safe for pets. Garlic is toxic to pets and yet this frequently gets mentioned as a ‘natural’ flea fighter. Our vets and nurses are constantly learning about new products to provide you and your pet with the very best of care.

Some products available will work on multiple parasites e.g. heartworm, intestinal worms, ticks and fleas and some that are safe for dogs can kill cats. Some products you apply to the pet’s skin as ‘spot ons’ while others they eat like a treat. We know protecting your pet from parasites can be a daunting task the best option is to come and see us for the best advice and products for your individual situation. This is especially important before you travel with your pet as some areas pose significant risks to pets e.g. paralysis ticks.

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​Fleas have a lifecycle that is split into 2:
  1. On the pet as adult fleas and;
  2. Off the pet as immature stages eggs, larvae and pupae. (Flea eggs are often confused with flea ‘dirt’ while flea eggs are small 1-2 mm white pearl shapes, flea dirt consists of reddish brown particles that is your pet’s partially digested blood - yes flea dirt is flea poo!)
By following these 3 simple steps you and your pet will soon enjoy being flea free.

1. Treat every pet in your household all year round. Even if they aren’t scratching, pets can still have fleas.  Never share products between dogs and cats.
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2. Vacuum frequently especially in areas your pet likes to frequent.  3. Regularly washing pet bedding in 60° hot water for 10 minutes will kill any flea eggs and larvae.

Spring Special Offers