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

NEWSFEED:

Happy New Year!  We aim to continue providing you with good old friendly and prompt veterinary service in the forthcoming year and look forward to an expansion of the surgical and diagnostic services on offer. Thank you to our loyal clients for your continued support in 2016. 

As we welcome in the new year it is appropriate to reflect on 2016. The practice said farewell to our long-term receptionists Kay Smith and Helen McCauley and welcomed Jodi Steadman to reception. Dr Kate New-Tolley also started with us later in the year.

Some current Benalla news all dog owners need to be aware of is a recent spate of canine parvovirus cases. A timely reminder to protect your dog with vaccination from 6 weeks of age, as this disease is often fatal even with intensive veterinary treatment.  Any lethargy, loss of appetite, vomiting and watery diarrhoea, especially in puppies would necessitate a consultation.  Please call ahead to book rather than coming straight into the clinic if your pup has these signs so that appropriate steps can be instigated to ensure the clinic environment remains safe to other animals. It is highly contagious to dogs.

In November last year we embarked on our journey into the fascinating world of minimally invasive 'keyhole' surgery (both laparoscopic - in the abdomen & thoracoscopic - in the chest) and very soon we will be able to offer arthroscopic surgery(in the joints).  It has been really encouraging to watch the results and listen to the positive comments from the pet owners regarding the very rapid recovery of dogs from these operations, including laproscopic desexing (spey) where dogs come away with two tiny incisions and minimal trauma internally. It is the future, but it is happening here now. 

In this edition there are two articles to pay special attention because Time Saved = Lives Saved. See our Case of the Month and canine gastric dilatation/torsion (twisted bloated stomach) article - Prophylactic Gastropexy.

Australia Day (Thursday 26th Jan 2017)  - the clinic will be closed, however a vet is always available for emergency work by calling 5762 2788 all hours.

Finally a few images from our Pet Parade 2016 which was held in early December due to the wet conditions in October. Every one enjoyed the time, and we look forward to the show this year for more animal antics.

Above, and right - entrants in the annual Pet Parade

We will all miss Helen's welcoming smile in reception and wish her all the best for the future.

A few weeks ago, a well-known local identity Brian (a middle aged British Bulldog) decided to take it upon himself to defend his backyard from a marauding brown snake.  With the best of British luck (!?!), Brian’s owners were at home at the time and quickly raced out and rescued the brave Brian from further bites from the angry reptile, who was dangling from Brian’s rather large mouth.

He was raced straight to the vet clinic, and within 10 minutes was already showing signs of potentially lethal envenomation. He was given immediate life-saving treatment, including antivenom and aggressive intra-venous fluid therapy, and then hospitalised for a few days following the episode.

Thanks to the power of the antivenom and the prompt treatment Brian has made an uneventful recovery from the bite.  He made sure his owner knew the extent of his gratitude for taking him to our clinic by smothering him with copious licks.

This is a great reminder for us all, that snakes are out and about and can be found in common places such as backyards, or under the house.

Please be very careful with your pets over the summer period, and always if you are concerned please call us. There is a veterinarian on call 24/7 ready to help you.  Even if a snake bite is only suspected it is best to have your pet examined and observed at the clinic.  Blood tests to your vet to determine if a bite has occurred are also available.   Remember, unfortunately the progression of the clinical signs is usually rapid, and waiting at home for signs of envenomation may compromise survival.

Commonly observed early signs of a bite include:

- sudden weakness and collapse

- tremors in muscles and general shaking

- vomiting and excessive drooling of saliva

- hind limb paralysis (dragging hind legs)

For more snake bite knowledge  -  click here

So what is a prophylactic gastropexy?  

This is a preventative surgical procedure which involves suturing a small part of the outer stomach wall to a specific site on the dog's right abdominal wall.  This is a strongly recommended operation for large breed, deep- chested dogs which have been shown to be dogs most susceptible to an awful condition commonly referred to as a twisted, bloated stomach (gastric dilatation and torsion - volvulous). This can now be done laparoscopically at our clinic to greatly minimise the discomfort and healing time for these dogs, and is often performed at the same time as desexing which makes sense.

The large breeds at risk include Great danes, German Shepherds, Rottweilers, Saint Bernards, Gordon Setters, Irish Setters, Irish Wolfhounds, Bull Mastiffs, Airedale Terriers, Akitas, Weimeraners, German Short Haired & Wire Haired Pointers, Standard Poodles, Bassett Hounds.  However occassionaly other larger breeds are involved.

Gastric dilatation involves the rapid accumulation of gas in the dog's stomach, usually a few hours after comsuming a large evening meal.  This is painful and happens quickly, and if you do see a big bloated belly, call for veterinary help immediately. If the condition is left to drag on, the dog's gas-filled stomach can start twisting on itself. The pain is immense and dogs in this state rapidly deteriorate.  Death is all too common without prompt surgical help.  Time is of the essence, but prevention with a gastropexy is best. Gastropexy surgery can be done at any time if it has not been performed at desexing.

Our nurse Jo Campbell recently had a scare when her beloved Oscar, a mature German Short-haired pointer was bloating one evening. Dr Stacey was called and was able to degas him under anaesthetic. Dr Steph then performed a laparoscopic-assisted gastropexy on him a few days afterwards - see attached pictures.

The heat is on and as we battle our way through summer, spare a though for your pet.

Our pets are super susceptible to heatstroke. They can't sweat all over like humans do and they only produce a tiny amount of sweat through their footpads. The only way they can attempt to cool themselves down is through panting.

Heatstroke (also known as heat exhaustion) can be very dangerous and even fatal. It doesn't necessarily need to be really hot or humid for heat exhaustion to occur so it’s important to be able to recognise the signs and know what to do.

Keep an eye out for:

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

If you are worried about your pet, bring your pet to us immediately (or seek emergency veterinary care). It's best to place your pet in front of the air conditioner or a fan while you are in the car. You can also place wet towels on hairless parts of the body (footpads and groins). 

Tips to help prevent heatstroke:

• Don't leave your pet in the car - the internal temperature of a car can become like an oven in minutes (even on a mild day)
• Avoid exercising your pet in the heat of the day
• Consider clipping your pet's coat to help them stay cool 

This is a very real danger  - only last month we learnt of 2 young hounds in Benalla that were belting around a paddock for 25 mins before finally collapsing and dying within minutes of each other on a hot day....tragic.

If you are ever concerned about your pet in the heat you can always call us on 57622788 for advice.

We are often asked: why is it necessary to vaccinate against kennel cough even though my dog isn't boarding?

Here are the facts. Kennel cough's correct name is canine cough. It is commonly spread via water droplets through the air and can be transmitted between ANY dogs. It is often incorrectly referred to as 'kennel cough' and this is simply because the boarding kennels are a common place for it to be transmitted (given the high numbers of dogs in one area).

But ANY dog can contract canine cough; at the park, at the groomer, doggy day care and even walking down the street! As it can be spread through water droplets, a communal water doggy bowl at your local cafe may even be a potential source.

Vaccination is the key as it protects your dog against the worst strains of the disease (the ones that can typically cause nasty pneumonia). It's important to realise that dogs can still contract a cough even if they are vaccinated but it's never as bad as if they aren't vaccinated.

If you have any questions about vaccination and your pet, we are the best people to ask for advice!

Calf scours are nearly all caused by a handful of infectious agents, namely:

1. Rotavirus
2. Coronavirus
3. E. coli
4. Salmonella
5. Cryptosporidium 

In years gone by, it has been difficult to prevent these diseases. However, with progress in vaccinations, we are now able to prevent the first four very effectively!

Calves are born with no immunity. All immunity they have in the first six weeks of life comes from their colostrum intake after birth. These ‘colostrum vaccines’ supercharge the dam's colostrum with specific antibodies against the bugs mentioned.

Vaccines around dry off need careful consideration. We recommend no more than two at a time, and the timing of vaccination relative to calving is important. We are happy to help design a vaccination program for you.

If your herd has not previously been vaccinated, and you are calving cows at the start of March, you must be doing the first dose now. If you have already implemented the vaccine on your farm, then it’s just an annual dose at dry off.

As the grass starts to dry off you need to keep your eyes peeled for the dreaded grass seed... who knew that something so small and innocent could cause so many problems!?

Certain types of grass seeds are shaped like a pointy arrow with a needle-like tip and once they are caught in your pet’s fur they can start to burrow aggressively into your pet’s skin with no way of escaping.

If the seed does not exit, a painful abscess can form and this may lead to the need for surgery to remove the seed or remnants.

Keep an eye out for a lump or swelling (particularly between the toes), excessive licking, pain or pus and bloody discharge from a small wound.

Occasionally a grass seed will end up in your dog’s ear canal leading to intense irritation. If you notice your dog is shaking his head or appears itchy around the ears, a check up with us is essential. Watch a close up of a seed being removed from a dog's ear in our video.

We recommend that you check your pet for grass seeds daily and after every walk - concentrate under the paws, between the toes, around the ears and in the armpit region. You'll be amazed how many seeds can become hidden in your pet's coat - and they are just waiting to cause trouble!

A keen eye will prevent grass seeds becoming a problem so be vigilant and don’t let these little nuisances take hold.

Shearing the Rams is an iconic painting by Tom Roberts. He finished the artwork in 1890 and today it is regarded as an archetypal vision of Australian pastoral life. It depicts the tough days of hand shearing prior to the development of the instruments we use today. In those times, injuries were frequent and many good shearers ended their careers before they were due. One of the modern tools we use to make this job easier, faster and safer for all concerned is sedation.

The drug we use, ‘ace’ (acepromazine), is reliable and relatively safe. It provides around 2-4 hours of sedation and makes the job much easier, with less risk of injury. There are a few things which you need to know, however, before you request it.

•  It is a Schedule 4 drug, and this means we need to satisfy a few requirements before we are legally allowed to sell it. In all States and Territories, a bona fide veterinarian/client relationship must be in place to legitimise any supply of Schedule 4 drugs.
•  This means that we must sell the sedation to the owners of the sheep, and not contractors.
•  It is our duty to make sure that you are able use the product appropriately. This often means visiting your farm initially if we have not been to your property and providing also training you for administration of the drug safely which is usually done at the vet clinic.
•  It is also really important that you do not sell on any sedation we dispense.

We want to keep you all safe, and we also need to meet our regulatory requirements. Please be understanding - it's not like buying over the counter products.

Detailed and relevant information is available from NSW Ag Dept here.