Benalla Veterinary Clinic
16 Church Street
Benalla, VIC, 3672
admin@benallavetclinic.com.au
www.benallavetclinic.com.au
Phone: 03 5762 2788

NEWSFEED:

Traditionally, vet clinics around Australia focus on dental disease during August labelling it DENTAL MONTH.

At Benalla Veterinary Clinic, the focus on dental disease occurs each and every day when we check animals, however we have aimed this newsletter at dental disease awareness.  We would like to remind our clients that if unsure about a dental issue, use our FREE dental checks service offered Monday to Fridays throughout the year to get some high quality advice from our qualified veterinary nursing team.

As an extra bonus, all FREE dental checkups in August will receive a FREE finger brush when you mention our newsletter offer.  So start flipping lips and book your pet in for dental advice and service this month.  

As this unusually wet winter continues, we thought it wise to mention again that it is peak season for grass tetany until the weather improves and the clover starts to get away.  Unfortunately we have heard of many more cases this year, and recommend feeding hay with Causmag for at least the rest of winter. 

Pictured (from L - R ) are veterinary nurses Peta Kelly and Jo Campbell together with the adorable Kira, the German Short-haired Pointer performing a Free Dental Checkup.

Buffy is a young and inquisitive Boxer cross dog who found herself in a spot of bother when she and her concerned owners presented at our clinic after he had started to vomit intermittently.  She was also observed producing low volume diarrhoea for a few days before vomiting began, and of concern was obvious weight loss that had been occurring over the last week combined with lethargy – unusual for a young Boxer.

Having a fairly normal clinical examination including no observable abdominal pain, Dr Becky Hallett ordered some blood tests which did not reveal any major problems.  Buffy was subsequently discharged from hospital armed with tablets to stop her nausea, and to protect her upper gastrointestinal tract from stomach acids. Over the next week she had made some progress, but re-presented at the clinic one week later with vomiting and diarrhoea again, and further weight loss. 

The next steps to diagnose Buffy’s problem involved abdominal X-rays, an abdominal ultrasound exam and endoscopy to check her stomach and oesophagus.  Most useful was the ultrasound exam which showed evidence of a suspected intestinal foreign body.  An exploratory laparotomy surgery was performed by Dr Stephan Miechel the next morning.  

Buffy’s problem quickly became apparent after gaining entry to her abdomen -  a large, firm, flat, oval-shaped object was partially blocking the jejunum (small intestine).  The surrounding intestine either side of this object was suffering, and it was deemed unwise to keep this bowel.  As a result Buffy had approximately 30cm of small bowel removed, and then underwent delicate intestinal anastomosis to surgically re-unite her healthy bowel.  After leak-testing and surrounding the join in useful abdominal membranous tissue called omentum (which further helps with sealing the join), Buffy was sutured up and recovered uneventfully. She stayed in hospital for several more days on IV fluids until she was happily eating again. The vomiting and diarrhoea had now vanished.

You are all wondering what was that mysterious object causing all the grief – well it was cleaned up and  identified as a mango pip that she had probably scrounged from the chook shed!   So beware, dogs will be dogs and will try and eat all sorts of objects around our homes.  Please call the vet clinic if you encounter similar symptoms in your pooch!

This month we have a video filmed by one of our dedicated clients. It is a remarkable look at home much a cat can enjoy having his teeth cleaned!  He really loves the whole process and must enjoy the taste of Dentipet Toothpaste we recommend and sell at Benalla Veterinary Clinic. The owners use an Oral B brusgh with SOFT heads only.

 To view click  - WATCH VIDEO.

There's no doubt about it, dental disease in our pets really stinks! It is one of the most common problems we see in veterinary practice and not only is it painful for your pet, the increased bacteria in the mouth can be associated with other conditions such as kidney disease, heart disease and liver disease. As many as eight in ten pets have dental disease!

Watch out for:

• Smelly breath
• Drooling or dropping food from the mouth
• A loss of appetite or weight loss

What causes dental disease?

A lack of chewing sinew and muscle (such as pets would develop catching food in the wild) allows plaque and tartar to build up around the teeth. Loads of cheeky bacteria appear and this leads to inflammation and eventual loss of the attachments that hold the teeth in place.

What's the best treatment?

Dogs and cats with dental disease need a general anaesthetic to assess the teeth and clean thoroughly under the gum line. Teeth that are severely diseased and potentially painful are generally removed and this helps to prevent problems in the future.

Prevention is the key

Wet and soft food diets are notorious for allowing plaque and tartar to accumulate. It is vital that your pet is on a premium quality diet that helps to clean their teeth as they chew. Speak to us to find out the most appropriate diet for your pet.

Call us to arrange a dental check for your pet today.

'Dentals' are common procedures performed in veterinary practices and when it comes to what's involved, people often have a few questions. Here are three common questions:

1. Why does my pet need a general anaesthetic?

In order for us to properly assess and treat dental disease, a general anaesthetic is necessary. Unfortunately we can’t ask you pet to ‘open wide’. We'd also like to keep all of our fingers so it is best that your pet is asleep! This enables us to clean every tooth thoroughly and safely remove teeth that are diseased.

2. Why is extraction of a tooth necessary?

When comparing our own dental experiences to that of our pets, extraction may sound drastic, however the options for saving teeth in our pets are limited. A pet with severe dental disease and pain has usually lost a significant amount of bone and soft tissue along the roots of the tooth. Extraction is often the only way we can restore oral health, remove the source of the pain and prevent the disease spreading to neighbouring teeth.  The best way to prevent tooth loss is to have regular check ups and cleaning. 

3. If my pet has to have multiple teeth removed, will he have any left to chew with?

Yes! Adult dogs have 42 teeth and adult cats have 30 so they will still be left with plenty to chew with! Once we remove a tooth however, the dentition of the mouth is changed and this can alter the chewing action and the natural cleaning action of chewing. Opposing teeth may be prone to tartar accumulation so ongoing regular dental checks are essential.

4. Can pets have fillings, root canals, etc. like us?

Yes again!  All manner of advanced dental work including capping chipped teeth, tooth fracture repair when fresh, root canals and orthodontic plates and braces are available thesedays at specialist vet dental clinics. Benalla Veterinary Clinic vets are performing tooth restorations (capping/filling) on damaged teeth and we have successfully made specialised temporary dental plates to persuade problem teeth to move in dogs with jaw/tooth malalignment problems.  

We are always happy to answer any further questions you might have.

Here are our top tips for dental care at home:

Make every mouthful count

Every mouthful your pet takes should be hard work! Try to imagine what your pet would do in the wild. He would be munching on chewy, sinewy food that requires ripping, tearing and crunching. This is the natural and best way to clean the teeth.

We have excellent diets available that are actually designed to clean the tooth as your pet chews. We can also advise you on the best chews and treats available when it comes to dental care. Not every chew on the market is entirely safe for your pet so it’s best to ask us for advice.

Brushing is best

Brushing your pet's teeth is considered gold standard in home care. We have tooth brushes that enable you to get into the hard to reach places.  Keep in mind that it can take a few months for your pet to get used to the idea! Daily brushing is recommended (in an ideal world) however a couple of times a week is better than no brushing at all. If you are using a dental paste make sure it pet friendly (human toothpaste is toxic to pets).

We will show you how best to brush your pet's teeth - just ask us for a demonstration.

It's a common question: can my pet get the flu? The answer is yes but unlike in humans, there isn't typically a flu season for dogs and cats and infection can occur year round.

Dogs can contract canine cough (incorrectly but often referred to as Kennel Cough) and cats can suffer from cat flu (commonly caused by a herpes virus).

Canine cough: is a highly contagious disease that's passed from dog to dog by moisture droplets. If not vaccinated, it's most likely your pet will catch this in the local park from another dog (or at boarding kennels). Vaccination is simple, effective and given annually. Your dog may still contract the infection but will thankfully be protected against the worst strains.

Cat flu: is also highly contagious and can cause severe illness, especially in elderly cats or kittens. Vaccination is highly effective and while it won't always prevent cats from developing flu, it helps reduce the severity of the condition. Flu vaccinations are given annually.

If you're unsure whether your pet is currently protected against these diseases, please call us and we'll be able to help.

Sarcoids are common skin lumps of horses and ponies, and often look similar to warts. They are a type of tumour believed to be caused a virus spread from cattle to horses by flies and are more common in horses living in close proximity to cattle.

Common areas affected include around the genitals, head and lower body. Several different types of sarcoids are recognised including nodular and fibroblastic.

Should I be worried? Most sarcoids are benign and not life threatening. However they can be problematic if they are near the eyes, growing rapidly or unsightly. They are often removed for cosmetic reasons.

A number of different treatment options for sarcoids available and no one treatment is completely effective. Surgery, freezing, ointments and injections are commonly used, often in combination. Occasionally treatment or biopsy may aggravate the tumour causing it to grow rapidly therefore many innocuous sarcoids should be left alone.

Please contact us to discuss any worrying lumps on your horse.