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

Happy New Year

We take this opportunity to thank all of our clients for their loyal support and wish you all a happy, healthy and prosperous 2016.  May all your new year resolutions come true!

Big Kev - the clinic mascot

Meet our new Benalla Veterinary Clinic mascot, Kevin, who can often be spotted cruising around the clinic floor, sneaking into our shop checking out the bags of delicious dog foods or waltzing down the street with Yonnie as she visits an ever-increasing list of Kev-friendly businesses.  He is a 2 year old long-coated Chihuahua, and is sporting his new season fashion coat emblazoned with the Benalla Veterinary Clinic logo   (on cooler days anyway!) .  We are so proud of him!

Software upgrade 

Once again, we would like to thank you for your patience and apologise for any short delays you may experience this month as we transition into the new practice software.  It changed before Christmas and we are very pleased to have such an up to date package which will really help us to deliver an even better service this year.

Yonnie and Kevin (Big Kev) sporting his attractive new uniform.

Jye is a beautiful natured 7 yr old Staghound who lives in Melbourne.  On a visit to a relative’s farm in Benalla, Jye leapt from his owner’s ute to run up a farm track but quickly pulled up very lame after a few meters.  His front right leg was notably swollen above the wrist and Jye would not place it to the ground.

Radiology revealed fractures of his radius and ulna bones, just above his wrist. However there were some subtle indications on the X-rays that the fracture had occurred due to a bone weakness in that area, most likely caused by an aggressive cancer in the radius bone. 

So instead of fixing the fractures with metal plates as would normally be the case, Jye’s owners opted for the recommended treatment for the suspected bone cancer (osteosarcoma).  This meant Jye’s forelimb required full amputation, and then a course of chemotherapy to ‘mop up’ any microscopic cancer cells already within his body.  Luckily Jye was in peak physical condition at the time and recovered very rapidly from this major surgery, quickly relearning balance, how to walk and even run on three limbs. Click here to see a quick video of Jye.

After two weeks the wound had healed and chemotherapy commenced.  Jye came up from Melbourne every three weeks for four treatments of intravenous carboplatin, the chemotherapeutic drug to knock out the cancer cells. This drug produced no clinical side-effects for Jye, and he has now completed the full course. Jye has his normal doggy life back again and we wish him the very best of luck for a cancer–free future.

Having your pet diagnosed with cancer can be a very overwhelming and emotional time.  Our vets understand this and will guide pet owners about chemotherapy options when they are available.  Animal chemotherapy now exists for a range of cancers, and is usually well tolerated by dogs, often without the nasty side effects humans experience in similar situations.  Although often an expensive treatment option, it is often covered in comprehensive pet insurance policies.  Importantly because chemotherapy can maintain quality of life and pet’s lives are extended, and many owners are now choosing these therapy options.  Benalla Veterinary Clinic has the facilities to perform chemotherapy protocols and liaise with oncology specialists, avoiding the need to take pets to Melbourne.

More information on chemotherapy can be found on our website.

Regular clipping of your bunny’s backside will not only help keep them cool over summer, but it will also prevent unwanted smelly urine and faecal staining.  This is very important for older bunnies that may lose all ability to clean and groom themselves appropriately.

Urine and faecal staining can lead to health issues such as skin and urinary infections, as well as the dreaded fly strike.  We have already seen a couple of fly – blown rabbit backsides this season  Using absorbent pet beds and straw combined with regular cage cleaning will also help.  

As an aside, please remember to keep your rabbits well supplied with water and all-day shade over the coming hot months.  Plastic drink bottles full of ice are ideal to leave in the cage so that rabbits can cool off if they feel the need.  Keep in mind rabbits are naturally underground during the heat of the day, and they are in potential danger when temperatures exceed 36 degrees Celsius.

To make an appointment  so your bunny can have a ‘Brazilian’ clip call 57622788. 

Dogs and cats are curious creatures and at this time of year they can sometimes be found harassing a snake.

Different species of snakes possess different types of venom so if your pet is bitten, signs can appear anywhere from 15 minutes to 24 hours after a bite.  

The early signs of snake bite include:

• Enlarged pupils
• Salivation
• Vomiting
• Hind limb weakness
• Rapid breathing

How can you help your pet survive a snake bite?

1. Seek veterinary attention immediately
2. Keep your pet as STILL AS POSSIBLE - this is critical to help reduce movement of the venom around the body
3. Try to keep the bite site below the level of the heart and remove your pet’s collar

Even if you only suspect your pet has been bitten by a snake you should see a vet. It is better that your pet is checked over rather than wait and be sorry.

DO NOT try treatment options such as cold packs, ice, tourniquets, alcohol, bleeding the wound and trying to suck out venom in place of getting your pet to the vet - they are a waste of VERY precious time.

Please never attempt to kill, handle or capture the snake – you could also end up getting bitten.

Check out our snake bite page on our website for more information.

Leptospirosis is a contagious disease which infects both animals and humans. It is an occupational hazard for all people working with livestock (farmers, vets, abattoir workers etc) and also dogs, which can be infected. When humans are infected, it can cause severe illness.

The bacteria take residence in the kidneys of infected animals, and the reproductive tracts of females. The bacteria are then shed in the urine. This makes dairy workers particularly at risk due to the splashing of urine while milking cows. Like most bugs, they can live in the host's (for example a cow's) kidneys without doing any damage. These apparently healthy carriers are the main source of infection for other cattle as well as humans.

How do you go about managing the risk? 

Under occupational health and safety regulations, it is required that farmers provide a safe environment for their employees. This requires steps be taken to minimise the risk of leptospirosis being contracted by all staff on farm. How is this done?

• The most effective way of protecting humans is to vaccinate cows regularly with 7 in 1 vaccines. Even if cows harbour the bacteria, it reduces shedding of the bacteria dramatically.
• Vaccinate dogs with C7 vaccine to cover Canine Leptospirosis.
• Always wear waterproof gloves, aprons and boots while milking. 
• Be especially careful handling aborted material.
• In dairy sheds, use splash guards, cover drains and move away from urinating animals.
• Keep children away from dairy sheds, or provide them with a safe area where they are not likely to come in contact with urine.
• Always wash thoroughly after handling cattle, before eating, drinking or smoking.
• Drain or fence off low laying, swampy areas.
• Control rodents and feral pigs.

Call us for more info about vaccinating your herd, and about reducing the risk to humans .

Flies are proving to be a real problem this summer. Populations are at an all time high and these annoying insects can really bother you and your pet. Some fly species will actually bite around your pet’s ears and nose causing painful and infected sores.

Here are some things you can do at home to help your pet:

1. Ask us about the very effective topical treatments available to help repel flies and prevent fly bites

2. Clean up your backyard (dog faeces, rubbish) to prevent flies being attracted to the smells

3. Don’t leave pet food or dog bones out - they will attract flies 

4. Make sure your pet has a place to escape the flies such as a kennel or a cool room

5. Remove any dried blood from fly bites as the blood will simply attract more flies.

Phone us for more information on protecting your pet from all pesky parasites this summer. We are the best people to give you advice on the most effective products available for your pet.

Our pets can’t sweat all over their bodies like humans can. They rely on panting to get rid of the hot air and only produce a small amount of sweat through their footpads. This makes them extremely susceptible to heat exhaustion in hot and humid conditions.

Heat exhaustion can be particularly dangerous and even fatal so it’s important to be able to recognise the signs and know what to do.

Watch out for:

• Excessive panting
• Exaggerated and noisy panting
• Lethargy
• Drooling
• Weakness or collapse
• Vomiting

What to do if you suspect heat exhaustion:

• Bring your pet to us immediately (or seek emergency veterinary care)
• On your way here you can cool your pet by applying wet towels to hairless parts of your pet’s body (groins or paws)
• Place your pet in front of the air conditioner or a fan while you are in the car

If you are ever worried about your pet in the heat call us for advice on 5762 2788.

Strangles strikes fear into the hearts of many horse owners and we have seen several cases over the last year. Strangles is an extremely contagious upper respiratory tract infection of horses and ponies caused by type of Streptococcus bacteria. It occurs in horses of any age however young horses, from weaning age to two years, are most severely affected. 

Signs of strangles infection include a thick yellow nasal discharge, swelling of the lymph nodes and abscess formation around the head and neck, fever and loss of appetite. Treatment is often aimed to keeping the horse comfortable while the disease runs its course, and can include anti-inflammatories and antibiotics. Affected horses can take weeks to months to fully recover, and may remain a source of infection for weeks after the disease has seemed to resolved.

Strict hygiene and quarantine practices must be employed when attending an infected horse to ensure the disease is not spread. The bacteria that causes strangles is transmitted from horse to horse usually by direct contact, or contact with contaminated feed, equipment or handlers. After initial infection it takes one to three weeks for a horse to show signs of the disease. 

Horse sales and any situation where large numbers of horses mix are high risk for spreading strangles infections. So please be careful with your newly acquired horse and isolate them for at least three weeks, monitoring for signs of any ill health during this time.

Strangles truly is a case where prevention is better than a cure!

A strangles vaccine is available and minimises the risk to your horses. Strangles is also a notifiable disease in some areas. Call us to discuss an appropriate quarantine protocol and arrange vaccination on your property.