We're keeping up to date with the latest information and technology
Dr Leisa has just returned from a week at the Pan Pacific Veterinary Conference held in Brisbane. This week is an opportunity to learn about the latest treatments and diagnostics for various conditions, as well as to see the latest technology available.

Dr Leisa attended lectures on cancer treatments in dogs and cats, what's new and on the horizon for treatments and best practice in chemotherapy. She also attended a dentistry workshop and reviews of the best ways to manage dental disease in our pets.

Nurse Helen and Nurse Alyce also attended. Alyce learned about particular problems and management for our senior cats, and both Helen and Alyce attended lectures discussing behaviour problems and management.

Funny caption competition
We are excited to announce we have another great competition for our pet lovers. We want you to send in photos or videos of your pet and add a creative caption. Be as inventive as you can as we have Village Gold Class Cinema passes up for grabs. We'll also publish the pick of the bunch on www.mypetstories.com.au

To spark off your imagination we've given you a few examples including an all time classic image from the web (on the left) and a video taken from the BBC comedy Walk on the Wild Side (below). We think you'll have a laugh or two.

To send us your entry, click here

Pet stories 

Here is another very entertaining story we received for our My Pet Stories competition. Click here to email us your story or visit www.mypetstories.com to view all of our great submissions.

Unstoppable force (feline) meets immovable object (canine)

We once had a VERY bossy cat called Smokey. He never quite forgave us for adding two dogs to the household, rebuffing all friendly overtures from the non-dominant kelpie X, Jordan, and engaging in a never-ending battle of one-upmanship with the definitely dominant shepherd X , De Niro (who admittedly hated him too!).

Their attempts at scoring points against each other were many but there is a particular one that stands out in my memory.

Smokey delighted in sitting in the ironing basket on top of our clothes dryer, which was mounted on top of the front loading washing machine. He rejoiced in glaring down triumphantly as De Niro tried in vain to jump high enough to reach him.

One day both machines were going at once, causing a considerable combined level of vibration. Suddenly, I heard a loud thump from the laundry. I rushed in to find a furious Smokey trapped on the floor inside the upended washing basket with De Niro sniffing all around it for an opening.

Wally's weight loss mystery solved 
Wally, the wise old domestic long hair was losing weight. Strangely, he was ravenous and was constantly in search of a feed. As well as visiting the neighbours and asking for seconds after dinner, Wally's coat was a scruffy mess.

A blood test confirmed that Wally was suffering from Hyperthyroidism, a disease that is not uncommon in cats. The thyroid hormone has a role in nearly every organ in the body. Over production results in an out of control metabolic rate, upsetting the regulation of carbohydrates, fats, and protein as well as the function of the heart.

Signs to watch out for:

• Weight loss despite a normal or increased appetite
• Poor coat quality
• Vomiting and diarrhoea
• Increased thirst and urination

There are different options for the treatment of hyperthyroidism and the treatment will depend on heart and kidney function.

Wally has commenced daily treatment and he no longer feels the need to visit the neighbour's house for a midnight snack. Most importantly, his organs are no longer under the stress of of excess circulating thyroid hormone. He will be monitored closely with regular check ups and blood and urine tests and thankfully will live a longer and happier life.

A silent disease 

 We previously introduced you to Leo who was suffering from a disease that can affect the heart. There are many causes of heart disease but the signs often sneak up on you and your pet.

Signs include:

• Coughing or gagging especially after lying down or in the morning
• Tiring from minimal exercise
• Increased breathing rate (greater than 30 breaths per minute when resting quietly)
• Panting induced easily

When the heart is not pumping properly, blood backs up in the lung and produces a ‘wet' cough. Fluid can also accumulate in the belly leading to a ‘pot belly' appearance. You may notice your pet runs out of energy quickly and this is because the diseased heart is not able to pump enough oxygenated blood to the tissues.

Simply listening to the heart may not be enough to diagnose disease so we will often need to perform a combination of tests. These include blood tests, x-rays, ultrasound and an assessment of the heart's electrical activity.

The good news is that there are a range of treatments available for heart disease so speak to us if you are concerned.

Pet Masterchef 

 Our pets should be fed a balanced and specifically prepared diet that is highly digestible and palatable. It doesn't stop you making up some healthy and safe treats at home. Below is a recipe adapted from Hill's Pet Nutrition.

Just make sure the treat doesn't exceed 5% of your pet's daily intake and remember this will be an additional calorie source so don't over do it!

Method:

1/ Preheat oven to 180 degrees
2/ Open and remove contents of a good quality can of dog food (ask us for some suggestions). If using dry food, add 2 cups of dry food to the blender and grind to a powder, then add about 1 ¼ cups of water and mix until a dough forms
3/ You can mix contents with ¼ cup of grated carrot or pumpkin, a handful of chopped parsley and a teaspoon of bran if you want to add variety but this is not essential
4/ Cut into bite sized pieces using a sharp knife or bone shaped cookie cutter (available from home ware stores)
5/ Bake treats on baking paper in oven for approximately 30 minutes or until crispy
6/ Store treats in the fridge for no more than 5 days (do not freeze treats)

Let your pet enjoy!

If you have a special pet recipe you'd like to share click here