1. Claudie’s Column
2. The secret to a well behaved dog
3. Charlie's story
4. Diggity dog facts
5. Children and pets
6. Does my pet need urgent veterinary care?

1. Claudie’s Column
Hi everybody Sir Claude here, resident overseer of anything and everything that goes on at the Lamington Terrace Veterinary Surgery. Well its official I am fit as a fiddle!! Last week Dr Leisa and Nurse Alyce performed my bi-annual Senior Wellness Exam and I passed with flying colours!!

I was perfectly behaved (as I always am!) while Dr Leisa took my blood sample and was very compliant for Nurse Alyce and gave her a urine sample straight away to be tested! It was a tense time while we waited for the results (for me anyway) as I have been feeling a little under the weather lately and I would never admit it but I am starting to feel my age a bit more...

My blood test came back with great results. My Haematology levels (red blood cells, white blood cells, number of platelets) were all within the normal levels and my Biochemistry (liver and kidney function mainly) are doing great as well. My urine was also tested to make sure my liver and kidneys were doing their job and I am in tiptop shape!! I am very relieved and I know my people were all very happy to receive such great results!! I am starting on a multivitamin supplement as of this month and am starting to feel much better already.

In other news Dr Leisa will be on holidays for two weeks from the 16 May so we will have Dr Mike filling in for her each day while she is away. And you know what they say... While the boss is away the cat gets to sleep in her extra comfy office chair and sunbake on her desk every day!! As long as I remove any evidence of my presence (which is difficult with my long coat) before Dr Leisa gets back she will never know I was there. Mwahahahaha.

Well thats all from me this month. I hope everyone had as lovely and relaxing an Easter break as I did and you are all feeling as well rested as I am.

So until next month yours in feline furriness... Sir Claude

2. The secret to a well behaved dog
Recent research indicates that the key to a happy and well behaved dog is socialisation. Socialisation along with basic training can even save dogs’ lives, reducing the likelihood of a dog ending up in a rescue shelter or being euthanased due to behavioural problems. 

Leading animal behaviouralist, Dr Kersti Seksel says that “the vast majority of dogs entering rescue are happy, healthy pets and the most common behaviour issue found in rescue dogs is simply a lack of basic training”. 

The most common age for a dog to be surrendered for rehoming is around six months to two years of age, which is when they have moved past the cute puppy stage and into the troublesome teen years. Proper socialisation reduces the likelihood of behavioural problems and is necessary for all dogs, no matter how sweet natured they are as puppies. 

Socialisation involves taking part in activities that introduce a dog to a variety of experiences. This needs to take place in a positive and safe environment so dogs learn how to be a confident and friendly, well behaved member of society. You can read Dr Seksel’s ten priorities for a well socialised dog here.

Click here to see a video of the best behaved dog we’ve ever seen!

3. Charlie's story
Charlie the eight-year-old tabby lives a purrfect life. He spends much of his time basking in the sun and giving the canines of the neighbourhood the evil eye. A routine health check revealed Charlie had lost 600g over the past year. This may not sound like much but for a 6kg cat it is the same as an 80kg human losing 8kg! 

A blood test revealed Charlie was infected with Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV). This infection is spread by a cat bite, commonly sustained during a cat fight; something Charlie had been involved in regularly. Click here to view a simple questionnaire to see if your cat is at risk. 

Cats infected with FIV may appear normal for years however the infection can eventually lead to a failure of the cat’s immune system. This makes them more susceptible to bacterial, viral and fungal infections and they are also at greater risk of developing certain cancers. Other signs may be a recurrent fever, slow and progressive weight loss and poor coat condition. It is important that other diseases are ruled out before assuming clinical signs are due to infection with FIV.

Charlie’s disease will need to be managed with a good diet and supportive care and an outdoor enclosure is being built for Charlie to make sure he doesn’t infect other cats. The good news is that there is a vaccine available to help protect your cat against FIV and you can view the facts here. Ask us about vaccinating your cat against FIV today. 

4. Diggity dog facts
We all love talking about our pets so here are some fun dog facts to impress your friends.

The most popular name for a dog is Max, other popular names include Sam, Molly and Jessie

A dog's brain is specialised for identifying scents. The percentage of the dog's brain that is devoted to analysing smells is actually 40 times larger than that of a human! It's been estimated that dogs can identify smells somewhere between 1,000 to 10,000 times better than humans can 

When it comes to what dogs see, we know that dogs see in colour, but not the same way that we do. Dogs can see bluish and greenish shades but not reddish ones. To a dog, a bright orange ball on a grassy lawn appears as a light greenish ball in greenish grass  

Dogs sweat through the pads of their feet 

The oldest dog, verified by Guinness World Record is Bluey who lived (7 June 1910 – 14 November 1939). He was an Australian cattle dog owned by Les and Esma Hall of Rochester, Victoria, Australia, which, according to an anecdotal report, lived 29 years, 6 months and 12 days      

Next month: cool cats facts!

5. Children and pets
The benefits of owning a pet are endless especially for children. Pets teach children responsibility, aid in development, teach lessons about life and above all, provide long lasting friendship. 

The key to a safe relationship between your pet and your child is active supervision. There is not always an understanding between pets and children of how they should behave around one another. Children may inappropriately interact with your pet and grab hair, pull ears, tails and poke at eyes. If your pet feels threatened or is hurt, it is natural instinct for your pet to react and your child may be bitten or scratched. 

Children aged under the age of four years are most at risk of being bitten by a dog and it is known that most dog attacks occur in the home or at a friend’s home involving a dog known to the child.

Cats usually run away if they feel threatened but may scratch or even bite if they feel trapped. 

Teach your child to leave your pet alone when your pet is:

Eating or chewing a bone 
Sleeping or in their bed/kennel
Playing with toys 
Unwell 
Toileting 
You can read more at www.wearefamilysa.com.au or ask one of our friendly staff for advice.

6. Does my pet need urgent veterinary care?
It isn’t always easy to determine whether your pet needs to be seen by a vet immediately or not. You should always call us for advice. Most of the time, we will be able to give you an idea of the urgency of the problem over the phone and direct you appropriately. 

Signs that your pet needs to be seen urgently may include (but are definitely not limited to): 
1. Ingestion or suspected swallowing of rat bait, human medications, harmful chemicals or pesticides, chocolate, sultanas or grapes (in dogs)
2. Trouble breathing
3. Bleeding that won't stop (apply pressure to the wound until you get to the vet)
4. Collapse 
5. Seizures, lack of balance
6. Trauma such as a fall or being hit by a car
7. Trouble passing urine (especially male cats)
8. Swollen, distended or painful stomach (especially dogs) 
9. Signs of extreme pain; shaking, whining, not wanting to move 
10. Suspected broken bone/s 
11. Persistent vomiting and/or diarrhoea 
12. Trouble delivering puppies or kittens 

Keep our phone number in an obvious and easy to find place (such as on the fridge) and trust your instincts when deciding whether your pet needs urgent care.