Welcome to Winter 2021 newsletter!
Welcome to our winter newsletter! The weather is cooling down pretty fast. We are excited to present to you a few topics of interest as we snuggle up indoors with our furry friends. As you come through our doors, you will notice that we have a few new faces greeting you. We will introduce our new Client Relations Officers (Larissa and Kim) to you on our Facebook page in the coming weeks. They are looking forward to greeting you and your pets, making you feel at home.
From your caring team at
Karrinyup Small Animal Hospital xxx
From your caring team at
Karrinyup Small Animal Hospital xxx
Does Your Pet Have Separation Anxiety?
Our pets are emotional creatures, and some deal with watching a person close the front door and leave for the day better than others. When the behaviour that stressed pets exhibit from being left alone is a problem – such as excessive barking, chewing, urinating, howling and other signs of distress, then it is likely they are suffering from separation anxiety. Pets that have separation anxiety may cause self-injury and household destruction, making pet parents anxious to leave their home. The good news is that there are gentle ways to help your pet cope with separation from you. This article will identify some common signs of pet separation anxiety and will give you some tips on helping your pet cope.
Common signs of pet separation anxiety:
What to do if your pet has separation anxiety
1. Desensitise your dog
This is a progressive technique and requires repetition and persistence. Start by pretending to get ready, packing your bag, putting your shoes on and then sit down with your pet and don’t leave. Sit with your pet until they are calm and comfortable. In a few days when they become less distressed, change the routine to walk outside, close the door and then come back inside and sit with your pet until they calm down again. With progression and repetition eventually you should be able to leave without alarming your furry friend.
2. Promote a happy good bye
Every time you leave offer your pet a treat or provide them with a fun toy. Only allow your pet to access it when you’re leaving and on your return. This will associate good-byes with good times and rewards. Leaving Kong toys and other food dispensing toys is a great way to keep your pet busy while you are gone.
3. Wrap them up for comfort
Like us, hugs make pets feel secure and calm. Thundershirts can be placed on your cat or dog to help relive their anxiety. These are also useful in thunderstorms and around fireworks to keep your pet feeling safe.
4. Stage a calming light and sound show
Create a relaxing ambience for your pet, you can leave a TV on for them, a relaxing CD and keep the curtains slightly drawn to help them feel protected.
5. Soothing scents
There are products available at your veterinary clinic that emit pheromones to make your cat or dog feel calm. Feliway for cats and Adaptil for dogs, come in easy to use forms such as collars or wall adaptors.
Pet separation anxiety is not a naughty behaviour and it shouldn’t be punished. It can be managed in your pet through patience and care.
If your pet has a more serious case of separation anxiety it is best to speak to your veterinarian about a behavioural consultation. During this consultation they can carefully tailor a plan to help your pet become more comfortable when being left alone.
Common signs of pet separation anxiety:
- Barking and howling
- Urinating and defaecating
- Escaping
- Chewing, digging and destruction
- Pacing
What to do if your pet has separation anxiety
1. Desensitise your dog
This is a progressive technique and requires repetition and persistence. Start by pretending to get ready, packing your bag, putting your shoes on and then sit down with your pet and don’t leave. Sit with your pet until they are calm and comfortable. In a few days when they become less distressed, change the routine to walk outside, close the door and then come back inside and sit with your pet until they calm down again. With progression and repetition eventually you should be able to leave without alarming your furry friend.
2. Promote a happy good bye
Every time you leave offer your pet a treat or provide them with a fun toy. Only allow your pet to access it when you’re leaving and on your return. This will associate good-byes with good times and rewards. Leaving Kong toys and other food dispensing toys is a great way to keep your pet busy while you are gone.
3. Wrap them up for comfort
Like us, hugs make pets feel secure and calm. Thundershirts can be placed on your cat or dog to help relive their anxiety. These are also useful in thunderstorms and around fireworks to keep your pet feeling safe.
4. Stage a calming light and sound show
Create a relaxing ambience for your pet, you can leave a TV on for them, a relaxing CD and keep the curtains slightly drawn to help them feel protected.
5. Soothing scents
There are products available at your veterinary clinic that emit pheromones to make your cat or dog feel calm. Feliway for cats and Adaptil for dogs, come in easy to use forms such as collars or wall adaptors.
Pet separation anxiety is not a naughty behaviour and it shouldn’t be punished. It can be managed in your pet through patience and care.
If your pet has a more serious case of separation anxiety it is best to speak to your veterinarian about a behavioural consultation. During this consultation they can carefully tailor a plan to help your pet become more comfortable when being left alone.
How To Keep Your Indoor Cat Happy?
Cats are one of the most popular pets kept as companions in Australia and NZ. They are beautiful, graceful, affectionate, but above all, highly complicated! Many people choose to keep their cats indoor to protect them from fghting, to decrease risk of injury, and to protect them from infectious disease. However, the challenge of keeping a cat indoor is to ensure they receive the environmental stimulation they need to avoid getting bored.
Cats have a need to exhibit hunting behaviour, to play and to explore. They must feel in control of what they are doing and, when necessary, be able to fnd a place where they can retreat and hide. A consistent daily routine is very important, and while it is not difcult to develop a plan to satisfy their behavioural needs, it can be time consuming to commit to a routine.
Here are a few tips and tricks to help you keep your indoor cat stimulated:
Play time:
Cat owners should dedicate two periods of 10 minutes a day to playing with their cat. A variety of toys are needed, with different textures, colours and shapes. Playtime can include throwing your cat’s toys for them or using a cat teaser wand to get them moving. There are a range of fantastic toys that you can purchase, that helps your cat stalk, chase and even kick. Using different toys each time you play can also
help motivate your cat. This is a great way to get your furry friend using their natural instincts in a safe environment!
Climb, hide, play and scratch:
Cat aerobic centres and mazes can be wonderful items to keep your cat active when you are not home. These centres have multiple levels for climbing as well as areas designed for play and hiding. As they come in a range of sizes and shapes, you can fnd the perfect one for your cat and the environment you live in. You can also make your own mazes with card board boxes and tubes. Remember, you will need to
change this regularly!
Who could forget a scratching post? This is a necessity for all cats, especially indoor cats. Scratching is a natural instinct for our furry friends and it is very important that your cat can do this regularly. This also protects your carpets and furniture from any possible damage. You can use catnip spray or powder on these areas to encourage use.
Hunting:
The feline desire to hunt is natural and instinctive. Regardless of how much food you feed them, your cat will always react to sight and sound of prey with a stalk. If something moves rapidly or squeaks with a high pitch noise, this will automatically trigger a reaction. You can purchase toys that imitate real prey through size, texture, colour and sound. This helps to fulfil the social and natural needs that are essential to our
furry family members.
Make food time fun:
While cats do not find any benefit in specific meal times, fun puzzle feeders or feeder toys can be a great way to keep portion sizes in control and maintain a happy furry friend. It is beneficial to make your cat work for their food through these toys or by scattering food bowls around the house for them to find. You can even create your own puzzle feeder by cutting holes in an old plastic bottle. By making the holes a
little bigger than the diameter of their dry food, your cat will enjoy playing with the bottle to make their food come out.
Getting some fresh air:
For the owners who like to offer their cat some time outside, there are the lead and harness options. However, it can be difcult for cats to enjoy or learn to walk on a lead. It is best to introduce this type of walking early on when they are kittens so that they can get used to this approach. You can also purchase outdoor cat enclosures, ideally a pen, that keeps them outdoors and safe. These are only some of the ways you can keep your furry family member active and happy whilst staying indoors. If you notice a change in your cat or they are struggling with the transition from outdoors to being inside, please contact us. We can provide behavioural assistance and advice to help your cat enjoy life
indoors.
Cats have a need to exhibit hunting behaviour, to play and to explore. They must feel in control of what they are doing and, when necessary, be able to fnd a place where they can retreat and hide. A consistent daily routine is very important, and while it is not difcult to develop a plan to satisfy their behavioural needs, it can be time consuming to commit to a routine.
Here are a few tips and tricks to help you keep your indoor cat stimulated:
Play time:
Cat owners should dedicate two periods of 10 minutes a day to playing with their cat. A variety of toys are needed, with different textures, colours and shapes. Playtime can include throwing your cat’s toys for them or using a cat teaser wand to get them moving. There are a range of fantastic toys that you can purchase, that helps your cat stalk, chase and even kick. Using different toys each time you play can also
help motivate your cat. This is a great way to get your furry friend using their natural instincts in a safe environment!
Climb, hide, play and scratch:
Cat aerobic centres and mazes can be wonderful items to keep your cat active when you are not home. These centres have multiple levels for climbing as well as areas designed for play and hiding. As they come in a range of sizes and shapes, you can fnd the perfect one for your cat and the environment you live in. You can also make your own mazes with card board boxes and tubes. Remember, you will need to
change this regularly!
Who could forget a scratching post? This is a necessity for all cats, especially indoor cats. Scratching is a natural instinct for our furry friends and it is very important that your cat can do this regularly. This also protects your carpets and furniture from any possible damage. You can use catnip spray or powder on these areas to encourage use.
Hunting:
The feline desire to hunt is natural and instinctive. Regardless of how much food you feed them, your cat will always react to sight and sound of prey with a stalk. If something moves rapidly or squeaks with a high pitch noise, this will automatically trigger a reaction. You can purchase toys that imitate real prey through size, texture, colour and sound. This helps to fulfil the social and natural needs that are essential to our
furry family members.
Make food time fun:
While cats do not find any benefit in specific meal times, fun puzzle feeders or feeder toys can be a great way to keep portion sizes in control and maintain a happy furry friend. It is beneficial to make your cat work for their food through these toys or by scattering food bowls around the house for them to find. You can even create your own puzzle feeder by cutting holes in an old plastic bottle. By making the holes a
little bigger than the diameter of their dry food, your cat will enjoy playing with the bottle to make their food come out.
Getting some fresh air:
For the owners who like to offer their cat some time outside, there are the lead and harness options. However, it can be difcult for cats to enjoy or learn to walk on a lead. It is best to introduce this type of walking early on when they are kittens so that they can get used to this approach. You can also purchase outdoor cat enclosures, ideally a pen, that keeps them outdoors and safe. These are only some of the ways you can keep your furry family member active and happy whilst staying indoors. If you notice a change in your cat or they are struggling with the transition from outdoors to being inside, please contact us. We can provide behavioural assistance and advice to help your cat enjoy life
indoors.
Managing Bad Breath In Pets
Halitosis, also called bad breath, is described as an offensive odour originating from the mouth of our pets. Bad breath is a very common reason pet owners bring their pets in to see us at the vet clinic. Common causes may be related to the mouth or, occasionally, related to other more systemic health problems.
What causes bad breath in pets?
The most common cause of halitosis in our pets is periodontal disease. The unpleasant smell often results from bacteria in the mouth.
Bacteria is attracted to the tooth surface within hours of cleaning the teeth. Within days, the plaque becomes mineralized producing calculus. Calculus is hard and needs to be removed using an ultrasonic dental instrument to remove it from our pet’s teeth.
As plaque progresses, gums can become inflamed (gingivitis) sore and sometimes even bleed. If left unchecked, other undesirable changes can occur such as bone loss from the jaw. The bacteria involved contributes to halitosis.
Other causes of halitosis include:
How do I know if my pet has halitosis?
Halitosis is easily diagnosed by smelling your dog or cat’s breath. If there is a disagreeable odour, halitosis is present. A veterinary examination is necessary to diagnose the specifc cause of bad breath. If the reason is not obvious after looking in the mouth, blood tests will be taken to check for internal disease.
What to do if you pet has bad breath?
Periodontal disease is painful. Some dogs and cats will have problems chewing hard food, others will paw at their mouths. Unfortunately, most will not show any signs. Regular check-ups with your vet are a great way to identify if there are any issues with your pet’s teeth or gums. If your pet has overwhelming bad breath, call our clinic to book an appointment.
How is halitosis treated?
Halitosis treatment depends on the cause. In most cases it is treatable and, as periodontal disease is the prevalent cause, professional teeth cleaning can often solve the problem. Occasionally tooth extraction is required.
Can halitosis be cured?
Once the underlying disease has been treated, halitosis will disappear. If due to periodontal disease, daily tooth brushing will help maintain good oral health and sweet breath.
How to prevent bad breath
Good oral hygiene is the key to healthy teeth and gums, and fresh breath. To prevent this, you can feed your pet a diet that is specially formulated to care for your pet’s dental health, or you could consider a dog or cat toothpaste and brush your pet’s teeth every day. There are also some excellent dental chews available but remember these must be used every day to be effective. Talk to your vet or vet nurse about the best option for your pet.
What causes bad breath in pets?
The most common cause of halitosis in our pets is periodontal disease. The unpleasant smell often results from bacteria in the mouth.
Bacteria is attracted to the tooth surface within hours of cleaning the teeth. Within days, the plaque becomes mineralized producing calculus. Calculus is hard and needs to be removed using an ultrasonic dental instrument to remove it from our pet’s teeth.
As plaque progresses, gums can become inflamed (gingivitis) sore and sometimes even bleed. If left unchecked, other undesirable changes can occur such as bone loss from the jaw. The bacteria involved contributes to halitosis.
Other causes of halitosis include:
- endocrine (hormonal) disease such as diabetes (“sweet” smell to the breath)
- organic disease such as kidney disease
- gastrointestinal disease (some type of cancers, foreign bodies, motility issues);
- skin disease (infections in the lip fold in some breeds of dogs commonly cause halitosis)
- dietary (eating fetid foodstuffs or eating stools - “coprophagia”);
- Oral disease not involving the teeth and gums (cancerous growths);
- Foreign bodies (bones, sticks, fish hooks) or trauma including electric cord injury
How do I know if my pet has halitosis?
Halitosis is easily diagnosed by smelling your dog or cat’s breath. If there is a disagreeable odour, halitosis is present. A veterinary examination is necessary to diagnose the specifc cause of bad breath. If the reason is not obvious after looking in the mouth, blood tests will be taken to check for internal disease.
What to do if you pet has bad breath?
Periodontal disease is painful. Some dogs and cats will have problems chewing hard food, others will paw at their mouths. Unfortunately, most will not show any signs. Regular check-ups with your vet are a great way to identify if there are any issues with your pet’s teeth or gums. If your pet has overwhelming bad breath, call our clinic to book an appointment.
How is halitosis treated?
Halitosis treatment depends on the cause. In most cases it is treatable and, as periodontal disease is the prevalent cause, professional teeth cleaning can often solve the problem. Occasionally tooth extraction is required.
Can halitosis be cured?
Once the underlying disease has been treated, halitosis will disappear. If due to periodontal disease, daily tooth brushing will help maintain good oral health and sweet breath.
How to prevent bad breath
Good oral hygiene is the key to healthy teeth and gums, and fresh breath. To prevent this, you can feed your pet a diet that is specially formulated to care for your pet’s dental health, or you could consider a dog or cat toothpaste and brush your pet’s teeth every day. There are also some excellent dental chews available but remember these must be used every day to be effective. Talk to your vet or vet nurse about the best option for your pet.
Solving Problem Puppy Behaviour
Puppies are at their most impressionable between 8-14 weeks old. The keys to success are supervision, consistency, patience and praise – ideally you’ll be with your puppy so you can have heaps of fun, and recognise and fx problem behaviours early.
Always positively reinforce good behaviour, but never punish your puppy for getting it wrong. If these methods don’t work and you feel frustrated, your vet can recommend a dog trainer.
Toilet training your puppy
Choose a spot for them to do their business and stick to it. After playing, sleeping, eating and drinking, take your puppy out to their designated wee and poo spot and encourage them with a chosen command such as ‘hurry up’ or ‘quick quick’, and reward the desired result.
You’ll soon be able to recognise when they need to go – look for them heading for the door, circling or squatting. Give it at least a month of error-free toileting before you let them go it alone. Never, ever punish your puppy for going inside – clean up and move on. If you punish your pup, they can become scared to go in your presence. Try to be more vigilant and help them get to their spot in time.
Discouraging your puppy from nipping and biting
It’s normal for your pup to nip and bite as they use their mouths to explore. It can become a problem though when they’re older!
Here are some tips you can try, to discourage this behaviour:
1. Stand still and don’t give them attention until they settle down.
2. Say ‘ouch’ (like you mean it) and ignore them for 15 seconds.
3. Give them a chew toy before they start to nip you.
4. Play the treat game: give your puppy a treat; offer another but in a closed fist; give your puppy the treat when they stop nipping/pawing your fist.
Never hold your puppy’s mouth shut or flick their nose, as it hurts them – this is negative treatment and may encourage them to nip harder.
Preventing separation anxiety in your puppy
Give your puppy time alone during the day so they gain confdence in being on their own. Here’s how:
1. Encourage your puppy to lie down and stay while you go to another room.
2. Ignore them if they follow you around, or whine or paw at you.
3. Gently try again until they stay for a minute or so. Praise them!
4. Slowly build up the time you leave them alone.
If being on their own is a positive experience, they’ll be less likely to become anxious. Stopping your puppy from jumping up All you have to do (and train your family and friends to do it too) is turn your back on your puppy and ignore them until they settle down. They’ll soon stop jumping up, as you’re not paying them attention. Command them to sit, and then reward them with a huge fuss!
Always positively reinforce good behaviour, but never punish your puppy for getting it wrong. If these methods don’t work and you feel frustrated, your vet can recommend a dog trainer.
Toilet training your puppy
Choose a spot for them to do their business and stick to it. After playing, sleeping, eating and drinking, take your puppy out to their designated wee and poo spot and encourage them with a chosen command such as ‘hurry up’ or ‘quick quick’, and reward the desired result.
You’ll soon be able to recognise when they need to go – look for them heading for the door, circling or squatting. Give it at least a month of error-free toileting before you let them go it alone. Never, ever punish your puppy for going inside – clean up and move on. If you punish your pup, they can become scared to go in your presence. Try to be more vigilant and help them get to their spot in time.
Discouraging your puppy from nipping and biting
It’s normal for your pup to nip and bite as they use their mouths to explore. It can become a problem though when they’re older!
Here are some tips you can try, to discourage this behaviour:
1. Stand still and don’t give them attention until they settle down.
2. Say ‘ouch’ (like you mean it) and ignore them for 15 seconds.
3. Give them a chew toy before they start to nip you.
4. Play the treat game: give your puppy a treat; offer another but in a closed fist; give your puppy the treat when they stop nipping/pawing your fist.
Never hold your puppy’s mouth shut or flick their nose, as it hurts them – this is negative treatment and may encourage them to nip harder.
Preventing separation anxiety in your puppy
Give your puppy time alone during the day so they gain confdence in being on their own. Here’s how:
1. Encourage your puppy to lie down and stay while you go to another room.
2. Ignore them if they follow you around, or whine or paw at you.
3. Gently try again until they stay for a minute or so. Praise them!
4. Slowly build up the time you leave them alone.
If being on their own is a positive experience, they’ll be less likely to become anxious. Stopping your puppy from jumping up All you have to do (and train your family and friends to do it too) is turn your back on your puppy and ignore them until they settle down. They’ll soon stop jumping up, as you’re not paying them attention. Command them to sit, and then reward them with a huge fuss!
The Perfect Pet For Families With Young Children
Furbabies and families, oh what a wonderful tail!
What’s that expression known far and wide? Never work with animals and children? Nonsense we say, as nothing is more adorable for parents than seeing the bonds formed between their children and a family pet. Whether your bub’s on the way or you have a bustling brood, a pet may be just what you need to complete the family picture.
If the little humans in your home are desperate for a furry friend, the right one for you comes down to doing you homework before you bring one home. Are you an active bunch who’d love to walk a dog? Are you a quiet clan who’d prefer to cuddle a cat? Are you all a little relaxed content with watching the waves of an aquarium? These are important factors to consider when paddling through the plethora of pet
options available.
Dogs are a wonderful choice for a household pet with most parents having spent childhoods with a trusty canine sidekick in tow. Cutie pie varieties like Maltese, Shi-Tzu or general terriers make great family pets because even if a larger dog breed you like is renowned for their afinity with kids, smaller dogs are better suited to your child’s smaller stature.
Dogs are best introduced when your child is physically independent and is not only old enough to help care for them, but old enough to understand language and physical cues. While dog bites and attacks are prevalent in the media, you can avoid the potential risk of these by teaching your child the signs that a dog is eating, territorial, requires space or is too playful to be near.
If you are a cat person, chances are your children are too, and a fluffy hot water bottle may be just what your kids are after. Perfect for families who don’t have the space for a dog, cats are low-maintenance, selfsufficient and highly adaptable. Consider the amount of time you have to maintain your moggy’s fur when choosing the right variety for your household and that purebred cats tend to live shorter lives than non purebred felines.
Start with a kitten so your littlies can bond with their new furry friend, however ensure your children are old enough to understand that a cat’s moody temperament and the odd cheeky scratch may not be a sign of unrequited love!
Rabbits and guinea pigs are another great option for families because not only are they social animals, thriving in the company of humans, they make brilliant indoor pets adapting to litter boxes almost instantly. A better pet choice for older children however, rabbits and guinea pigs are delicate creatures and require fnesse when handling so as not to develop nasty habits including biting and kicking.
If you’d prefer a caged pet or your kids are into quirky, budgerigars, mice and fsh may be the perfect pet for you. Offering endless hours of amusement from afar as they swing on their trapeze, run on their wheel or dash around a tank, ensure you’re happy with the level of commitment you need to invest in their maintenance as cleaning their indoor homes is a task too advanced for younger children.
Whichever pet you decide is right for your family, the lessons a pet can teach your child of love, respect and care will stay with them their entire lives and stand them in good stead for relationships with all creatures, great and small.
What’s that expression known far and wide? Never work with animals and children? Nonsense we say, as nothing is more adorable for parents than seeing the bonds formed between their children and a family pet. Whether your bub’s on the way or you have a bustling brood, a pet may be just what you need to complete the family picture.
If the little humans in your home are desperate for a furry friend, the right one for you comes down to doing you homework before you bring one home. Are you an active bunch who’d love to walk a dog? Are you a quiet clan who’d prefer to cuddle a cat? Are you all a little relaxed content with watching the waves of an aquarium? These are important factors to consider when paddling through the plethora of pet
options available.
Dogs are a wonderful choice for a household pet with most parents having spent childhoods with a trusty canine sidekick in tow. Cutie pie varieties like Maltese, Shi-Tzu or general terriers make great family pets because even if a larger dog breed you like is renowned for their afinity with kids, smaller dogs are better suited to your child’s smaller stature.
Dogs are best introduced when your child is physically independent and is not only old enough to help care for them, but old enough to understand language and physical cues. While dog bites and attacks are prevalent in the media, you can avoid the potential risk of these by teaching your child the signs that a dog is eating, territorial, requires space or is too playful to be near.
If you are a cat person, chances are your children are too, and a fluffy hot water bottle may be just what your kids are after. Perfect for families who don’t have the space for a dog, cats are low-maintenance, selfsufficient and highly adaptable. Consider the amount of time you have to maintain your moggy’s fur when choosing the right variety for your household and that purebred cats tend to live shorter lives than non purebred felines.
Start with a kitten so your littlies can bond with their new furry friend, however ensure your children are old enough to understand that a cat’s moody temperament and the odd cheeky scratch may not be a sign of unrequited love!
Rabbits and guinea pigs are another great option for families because not only are they social animals, thriving in the company of humans, they make brilliant indoor pets adapting to litter boxes almost instantly. A better pet choice for older children however, rabbits and guinea pigs are delicate creatures and require fnesse when handling so as not to develop nasty habits including biting and kicking.
If you’d prefer a caged pet or your kids are into quirky, budgerigars, mice and fsh may be the perfect pet for you. Offering endless hours of amusement from afar as they swing on their trapeze, run on their wheel or dash around a tank, ensure you’re happy with the level of commitment you need to invest in their maintenance as cleaning their indoor homes is a task too advanced for younger children.
Whichever pet you decide is right for your family, the lessons a pet can teach your child of love, respect and care will stay with them their entire lives and stand them in good stead for relationships with all creatures, great and small.