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

News Feed:

We have had a very busy month dealing with snake bite cases, most pets fortunately surviving their ordeals. Generally in the past few years the predominant species biting animals in and around Benalla have been Common Brown snakes. However this year has seen a marked increase in Red-Bellied Black Snake bites, and even after giving antivenom to bite victims, we are seeing a marked increase in severe immune-mediated anaemias several days after the bite. This complicates tretment and can result in an animal requiring a precious blood transfusion.  Luckily our kind staff offer up their own pets as blood donors which has resulted in three life-saving transfusions in January alone.  Good on you blood donors.  If any of you with large breed dogs wish to help the cause, please contact the clinic so we can register your dog as a potential blood donor. 

Talking about blood, this month we are offering our clients who have not yet started their dogs on heartworm prevention, the chance to receive 20% off the cost of a heartworm test performed at our clinic when they have the heartworm injection(Proheart SR12) given after a negative result on the test. It is a great offer to ensure your dog has not had exposure to this deadly mosquito spread disease,  and then protect them against future infection.  The ProheartSR12 injection is given annually therafter. This offer is valid until the end of Februray 2016. 

New Years resolutions - remember it is not too late to get on board with Pet Health Insurance for 2016 and avoid those often unexpected vet bills which can arrive when we least expect.  Pet health insurance is a simple, affordable stratagey to cover your pet for vet costs as a result of accidents and ill health.  Your pet can then receive the best possible treatment as needed, without having to worry about money.  Call us for more information about this important topic, or visit Pet Insurance on our website and organise some peace of mind for your pets.

Heartworm Testing - 20% discount offer Feb 2016

Poor little Ziggy is a very brave little kid.  Several months ago she was grazing on weeds in her yard and unfortunately for her she decided to stand up on a gate to meet and greet her owner’s Siberian Husky.  Although normally a very friendly dog, the temptation of a meal of delicious young goat was too great and Ziggy found herself being pulled through the gate by her foreleg.   Madly bleating in pain, Ziggy quickly alerted all humans within 100m of her impending fate, as her leg continued to be chomped.   The opportunistic dog was ordered to release her and sent to the ‘dog’ house in disgrace.

 She was raced into Benalla Vet Clinic in a terrible state.  Dr Steph Miechel anaesthetised and X-rayed her leg before starting the long process of cleaning and suturing the many dog bite puncture wounds extending from shoulder to hooves.  She had also suffered a fracture of her radius and ulna bones just above her carpus (wrist).  The leg was splint-bandaged and fractures left not repaired until several days afterwards because the skin in the region was so badly traumatised.   Being so young, she healed very fast, and an operation to repair and stabilize the fractures was performed on Day 3.  A steel frame was constructed to hold the limb in the correct position to enable healing, which was expected to occur in the next 3 – 4 weeks. 

Everything went to plan.  Ziggy healed as expected without infection thanks to potent antibiotics, and after passing her  X-ray exam, her implants were removed, her leg re-splinted for a further 10 days to allow a little more time to complete the healing.  She is now enjoying life as a young super friendly goat, able to tear around her yard and even jump up on to her owner’s back with ease.  But her access to the family dog has been seriously curtailed.

Ziggy under general anaesthesia before her frame was removed. Note the rapid wool regrowth (4 weeks).

Why is a Pre-Anaesthetic Blood Test worth doing?

Understanably most caring pet owners worry about the risks associated with anaesthetics when their pet requires a procedure.  Some are so concerned that that they avoid necessary procedures that will alleviate pain and suffering in their pet (like dental treatment) because of a fear of anaesthesia.  The truth is that although there is a very slight risk with every anaesthetic and very infrequently an animal (and humans alike) will die as a result of anaesthesia, the risks are greatly minimised with pre-anaesthetic blood testing and intravenous fluids given during a procedure.

We offer and strongly recommend our accurate in-house pre-anaesthetic blood testing screen (haematology plus biochemistry) for several reasons:

1. Enjoy peace of mind - these tests can reduce medical risk by confirming organs that process and eliminate anaesthetic drugs are in good health.

2. Detect any hidden illness - healthy looking pets may be hiding symptoms of a disease. These tests help detect these illnesses and allow us to avoid anaesthetic problems.

3. Reduce risks of anaesthesia - normal results mean we can proceed with confidence. If blood test results are not normal, then anaesthetic procedures can be altered and precautions taken to safeguard your pet's health.

4. Protect your pet's future health - the test results become a baseline for future reference in your pet's medical record which can be extremely useful.

Did you know that improving your pet's teeth could save his life?

There is now clear evidence that dental disease is linked to heart disease.

Plaque and tartar that accumulate on the teeth lead to infection of the gums. Bacteria from this infection can travel in the blood stream around the body and cause infection in the heart. This commonly occurs in the heart's lining and valves and is known as endocarditis. 

And it's not only the heart that is affected. The kidneys, liver and lungs can all be infected by the bacteria. 

The good news is that many of these problems can be reversed if dental disease is resolved and dental hygiene is improved. 

How to prevent dental disease:

1. Get your pet's mouth checked regularly by us - we will be able to spot problems early.
2. Get your pet eating right. A premium quality dry diet is essential for good oral health - we want our pets to chew their food! There are some excellent dental diets available and they really work so ask us for the best recommendation.
3. Brush your pet's teeth. Yep! This is considered gold standard - just make sure you use a pet approved toothpaste.
4. Lift the lip and have a smell. If you notice any yellowing of the teeth or redness of the gums OR your pet's breath smells a bit 'off', it might be time for a check up.

We recommend a dental check up at least once a year. Regular checks protect your pet's heart and might just be saving his life!

Yes! Heartworm is the most dangerous of all the worms as it can be fatal. 

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 leading to heart failure and sometimes death. Dogs are more commonly affected by heartworm disease but cats may also be at risk.

Treatment of heartworm is difficult and dangerous and prevention is better than the cure. Getting your pet started on the right heartworm medication can be confusing, especially with so many choices on the market. To make things more confusing, most of the intestinal ‘all wormer' medications do not prevent heartworm infection.

There are topical treatments, oral treatments and a once yearly injection for dogs.

Ask us for the most suitable prevention for your pet - we will make sure your pet is protected.

You can see a short video about heartworm prevalence in Australia here.

Ringworm is a common fungal disease of horses affecting the skin, commonly of the head and neck. It is highly contagious between horses, and can occasionally infect humans. The disease is spread by direct contact, or horses sharing grooming equipment or rugs. Young horses and those with weakened immune systems are more commonly infected than older horses. After infection has resolved an immunity to the disease develops which can last years.

Diagnosis: Ringworm is suspected based on the appearance of small, often circular areas of hair loss. It can be confirmed by finding fungal organisms under the microscope after taking a skin scraping, or by laboratory culture.

Treatment: Management of ringworm involves medicated anti-fungal shampoos, and systemic treatments are available for severe infection. Although ringworm will often resolve without treatment in 2-3 months the skin lesions become quite uncomfortable, and infected horses can spread the disease to healthy horses therefore treatment is usually recommended.

Prevention - once again better than a cure! By adhering to usual quarantine protocols such as isolating new horses for 2-3 weeks and practicing good hygiene between horses you can help prevent the spread of ringworm on your farm. Infected horses should be kept isolated, handled using gloves, and equipment should be washed after use.

Ringworm can often be mistaken for rainscald and other skin conditions which are managed differently. Our trained veterinarians are best qualified to advise on the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of ringworm in your horses.

With Valentine's Day just around the corner, there's never been a better time to discuss heart disease.

Heart disease isn't easy to spot. It tends to creep up on our pets slowly over many months to many years.

Being able to recognise some of the early signs of this disease can make a big difference. It means you can seek medical intervention from us and help your pet live a happier and longer life.

Most of the signs are related to a decrease in the function of the heart. The heart has to work harder and harder over time and, without treatment, heart failure occurs.

Signs of heart disease to look out for:

• Coughing, especially at night
• Laboured or fast breathing
• A reluctance to exercise and tiring more easily on walks
• An enlarged abdomen
• Weight loss or poor appetite
• Weakness or fainting associated with exercise

Regular check ups with us allow us to detect any changes early. Sometimes we will hear a murmur (abnormal blood flow) or an arrhythmia (irregular rhythm). These may be reason for us to perform more tests such as xrays, ultrasound and an ECG.

The good news is that there are some excellent medications available to help a pet suffering from heart disease. These can keep the heart condition under control and help your pet live a longer and near normal life.

If you think your pet might have a problem with their heart, call us to arrange a check up today.

Feeling a bit lonely this Valentine's Day? Never fear, that's why our pets are here! They are better than any Valentine's date. 

Ever wondered if your pet really loves you? Here's what you should be looking for:

Cats

• Brings you presents - whether it is a dead mouse or a headless bird, this is a 'gift.'
• Head butts you - he is depositing facial pheromones on you and wants to leave his scent to claim you - it's a sign of affection.
• He flashes his tummy at you - this signifies your cat is happy to lie in a more vulnerable position and feels completely safe around you.
• Your cat kneads you - by massaging you with his paws he leaves his pheromones on you - you are loved!

Dogs

• Brings you his squeaky toys - even if they are covered in slobber, you should accept this as a sign of affection!
• Makes eye contact with you - prolonged eye contact means your dog feels safe and secure with you.
• Licks your face frantically - this one is self explanatory, you are being kissed!
• Yawns when you yawn  - it is thought that when a dog yawns after a human he is showing empathy.

To see a video of a dog who is completely in love with his owner, click here