1. RSPCA Million Paws Walk

Our walk is on again on Sunday 16 May at the Nambour Showgrounds. Registration starts at 8am or you can register online at www.millionpawswalk.com.au and navigate to the Nambour walk. The walk will start at 9am. For those who are keen, we will have a fun 'warm up' aerobics before the walk to get the blood pumping!

As usual, our feature competition will be the 'Best Dressed Dog' and this year we will have another section for 'Dog & Owner Look-a-like' so we encourage you all to get creative.

We have had lots of generous donations from local business for our fundraiser multi-draw raffle - tickets available now at the clinic or on the day. You must be present for the draw which will be around 11am after the walk. Don't forget $5 hydrobaths on the day. It will be a fun morning with lots of 'on the spot' prizes and all money raised goes to RSPCA. Hope to see you there!

2. Arthritis alert

Is it simply old age?

This is 10 year old Sophie. Her owners have noticed she has suddenly slowed down but have assumed this is simply because she is getting older. Sophie can no longer jump up into the family's 4WD and is slow getting out of her bed in the morning. She is also lagging behind on walks.

Sophie is slowing down because she is suffering from osteoarthritis, also known as degenerative joint disease (DJD).

DJD is characterised by the loss of cartilage that covers and protects the end of the bones in a movable joint. When the cartilage wears away, the bone ends are exposed resulting in pain and inflammation. Unfortunately, the condition continues to get worse over time.

DJD is an extremely common condition in dogs and even cats but pets do not need to suffer, as there is much that can be done.

As we approach winter, it is the perfect time to bring your pet to us for an arthritis check. Don't let your pet suffer just because you think he or she is getting old. Once diagnosed, we can devise a treatment program based on the severity of the disease. Read the article below to find out about some of the ways we can attack arthritis and help your pet enjoy a better quality of life.

3. Attacking arthritis

How can you help your arthritic pet at home?

1. Keep their body weight under control: carrying extra kilos are detrimental and are known to speed up the disease process: ask us for help

2. Keep your pet warm: especially at night, the cooler weather exacerbates joint pain. Keep them inside at night and try a padded dog coat when outside

3. Supply a soft a comfy bed that your pet can 'sink' into. A covered foam mattress is perfect

4. Keep up daily exercise but don't allow over exertion as this may flare up an arthritic joint, consistency is the key

How can we as the vet help?

1. Disease modifying agents: Cartrophen is a proven treatment that relieves pain, helps slow cartilage breakdown and increases lubrication in the joint. Weekly injections for 4 weeks are required initially and then regular boosters

2. Diet supplements: Glucosamine, Chondroiton sulfate, essential fatty acids and fish oils can help. We have supplements specifically suitable for your pet including a special joint diet

3. Physiotherapy: helps improve strength and stops muscle wasting due to joint pain, ask us for more information

4. Anti-inflammatory and pain relief medications: if your pet is really struggling, ongoing medication may be necessary to improve your pet's quality of life

Don't let your pet suffer from arthritis. Ask us for help!

4. Pet stories: Lexie the intuitive kelpie

Here is another story we received after our request for your pet stories. We are excited to announce that you can now view all the responses, photos and videos at the website www.mypetstories.com.au

This is Lexie, a beautiful Kelpie cross, who many people think looks like a Dingo. Lexie's owners Ryan and Rochelle, go camping as often as they can and this is one of the interesting stories they have from a recent trip.

We camped just outside Dargo last Cup Day weekend. We visited a camping spot they call "Dog's Grave". It's named this because there is a dog's grave there where an old bushie had buried his ol' mate, (a Kelpie). The bushie and the Kelpie were inseparable. The town's people had set up a tombstone in memory of the dog. The inscription was describing the bond that man and beast can share and how loved the dog was. When we stood in front of the tombstone Lexie started to whine. We thought nothing of it and went on down to the river for a short walk. On our return, as we passed the tombstone she started whining again. She must have sensed who was buried there.

5. Hijacking heartworm

The prevention of heartworm disease is one of the most important things that you must do for your pet. Heartworm is the most dangerous of all the worms, and an intestinal ‘all wormer' tablet does not prevent heartworm infection.

Mosquitoes spread heartworm and wherever there are mosquitoes, there is the risk of heartworm. When the mosquito feeds on your pet's blood, larvae enter the blood stream. These larvae mature into worms that can reach up to an astounding 30 cm in length. The worms eventually become lodged in your pet's heart (see picture) leading to heart failure and death.

This disease is definitely a case of prevention is better than cure. Getting your dog or cat started on the right heartworm medication can be confusing, especially with so many choices on the market.

There are topical treatments, oral treatments and a once a yearly injection for dogs. Ask us for the most suitable prevention for your pet.

6. Are you for cats?

There are hundreds of thousands of unowned cats in Australia but feeding the stray, hungry feline that arrives at your back door is not the answer to this heart breaking problem.

A survey by Monash University found that 22% of people feed a cat that doesn't belong to them because they feel sorry for them. However people don't realise that feeding but not identifying and desexing an unowned cat leads to a bigger problem.

Feeding these cats helps keep them alive and strong enough to reproduce. More and more kittens are bred into a life of disease and neglect. This contributes to the tragic cat overpopulation problem in Australia.

Of the 50,000 cats that are impounded each year in Victoria alone, 35,000 of these have to be euthanased due to poor health or because there are simply not enough people to adopt them.

Feeding unowned cats isn't the answer. If you want to help you must either take ownership of a cat or call your local council and ask for guidance.

Visit www.whosforcats.com.au to read more and find out what to do if you think there is an unowned cat in your neighborhood.