1. Welcome to our new team members

Lamington Terrace Veterinary Surgery welcomes 2 new staff members this month.

Miss Amy Collins is the newest member of our nursing team. Amy is returning to veterinary nursing after a break to have her first child.

Dr Mike Jensen BVSc is a qualified veterinarian with 17 years experience. Mike joins Dr Leisa Denaro BVSc for both consultations and surgical procedures.

Mike's special interests include orthopaedic surgery.

2. A date to remember

Sunday 16th May is the date for this year's RSPCA Million Paws Walk hosted by our clinic in Nambour. The walk starts from Oval 2 at Nambour Showgrounds at 9am. Register online or from 8am on the day.

Million Paws Walk merchandise will be available for sale at the clinic before the event and on the day. There will be a sausage sizzle, great coffee, raffles and entertainment after the walk. Hope to see you all there! www.millionpawswalk.com.au

3. Bridie: the pawfect pupil

We recently received a very special story about a gorgeous Australian shepherd named Bridie.

Bridie, who is pictured here, has been a regular pupil at her owner's school since she was 12 weeks old. Bridie has the important job of teaching children how to behave around dogs. Students at the school even get the opportunity to throw a ball and play with Bridie during lunch breaks.

Bridie spends her day in the classrooms and is the star of many staff photos and a regular feature on the staff notice board. Brenda who is Bridie's owner, says "we love her being at school and she gives all those who come into contact with her a great deal of pleasure."

If you would like to share a special story about your pet, please email us and stay tuned for more stories like this in the months to come.

4. Beware of the Easter Bunny

Don't forget to be extra careful and keep any chocolate eggs safe from your four legged friends this Easter. Dogs are especially good at tracking down this potentially fatal treat even through layers and layers of wrapping.

Chocolate contains theobromine, a chemical similar to caffeine, and can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, hyperactivity and incoordination. In some cases, it can cause death.

Bitter cooking and dark chocolate are the most dangerous as they both contain high levels of theobromine but beware, large amounts of milk chocolate can also be deadly.

As a guide, a 100g block of cooking chocolate can kill a 10kg dog. However it would take nearly 650g of milk chocolate to suffer the same fate. Much smaller amounts will cause the clinical signs described above and can leave your dog feeling very unwell.

If soon enough after ingestion, treatment involves emptying the stomach and supportive therapy. Even if you only suspect your dog has eaten chocolate, it is best to ring us immediately for advice.

As a safe alternative to chocolate we have cute little carob and yoghurt easter eggs in stock now until Easter. At only $2.50 for 3, why not spoil your four legged friends! Get in quick, they're selling fast!

5. Happy traveller

Monty the Standard Poodle loved travelling down to the beach with the family but sadly every trip ended with vomit on the car seat due to motion sickness. Monty's distressed owners were considering leaving him at home these Easter holidays until it was suggested they try a new medication that helps to prevent motion sickness in dogs.

Nearly 20% of all dogs suffer from motion sickness. The movement of the car affects their balance, leading to nausea and vomiting and in some cases, anxiety. This once daily medication helps by blocking the vomiting signals, preventing dogs from getting sick.

The tablet is best given 2 hours before travelling. A meal or fatty treat such as meat or cheese with the medication can affect how the tablet is absorbed so you must avoid feeding your dog 1 hour before giving the medication.

The great news is that the medication does not have sedative effects so dogs such as Monty won't feel tired or drowsy after taking it. Speak to us for further information to ensure like Monty, your dog is a happy traveller.

For more information on the new motion sickness tablet from Pfizer read here

6. How can YOU help your pet live up to 2 years longer?

Feed a controlled diet so your pet carries less body fat. Sounds easy doesn't it? Then why are more than 45% of dogs and 30% of cats overweight?

It is easy to overfeed your pet but consider this the next time you throw them that crust of buttered toast:

One slice of buttered toast for your dog is equivalent to us consuming an entire block of chocolate and a cat that enjoys a 30g morsel of cheese is similar to 3.5 Big Macs!

How to help your pet live a longer and healthier life:

Know the signs of an overweight pet: their ribs are difficult to feel and they have lost the definition of their waist. Ask us for a weight assessment of your pet and follow these great tips:

1. Avoid snacks and excessive treats, they all add up

2. Stick to a feeding guide and weigh the food at the beginning of each day, dividing it into several smaller meals

3. Keep your pet in another room while you prepare your meal to avoid the temptation to feed scraps

4. Being active helps burn calories so take your dog for a walk and spend time playing with your cat

5. Give your pet a cuddle or pat instead of food: they'll love you all the same!

Join Lamington Terrace Veterinary Surgery's free PETFIT program to help track your pet's weight loss as well as get all the help and support you need to get your pet back to his or her correct weight. More info at www.petfit.com.au or ask us at the clinic.

7. This guy needs your help

This little guy is the Northern Hairy Nosed wombat and he needs your help. Sadly, this Wombat is critically endangered with only 115 surviving in the last known wild population in central Queensland.

To add to this, there are no Northern Hairy Nosed Wombats currently in captivity because wombat husbandry is not well understood and, so far, these wombats have not bred reliably in captivity.

Over the years the Northern Hairy Nosed Wombat has slowly lost its habitat to introduced species such as grazing cattle that enjoy eating the same grass and are farmed in the same habitat in Northern Queensland.

With such a small population, there is less genetic diversity and breeding is very limited. The Wombats are therefore very vulnerable to bushfires and disease, and these could potentially wipe out the whole population.

Thankfully there is now a major recovery program to improve reproduction and help save the Northern Hairy Nosed Wombat.

You can help! Read more about the program and assist by donating to the foundation at http://www.wombatfoundation.com.au/