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

NEWSFEED:

This month we focus on various issues relating to elderly pets, including possibly the hardest subject many pet owners have to face - euthanasia (when is the right time?).

Puppy Pre-school - We are now offering Puppy Pre-school classes continually throughout the year.  Your puppy will need to be aged between 8 weeks and 16 weeks old when starting the classes, of which there are 4 per course commencing at 6pm Monday evenings.  Pups will also need evidence of vaccination before starting.

Dates for 2016: 

25th July - 15th August

26th September - 10th October

21st November - 12th December

Winter Pet Pamper Deal - this winter, why not call us and mention this great deal when you book a BATH, BLOWDRY and NAILCLIP for only $33  (normally $51). Take the hassel out of bathing, drying and nail clipping your pets in the cold of winter.  Call today on 57622788 - by appopintment.

Here is our clinic mascot Kevin at home in front of a cosy fire after a long winter's day 'meeting and greeting' at the vet clinic.

Brian is a loveable, gentle, 9 year old English Bull Terrier who has won the hearts of his family.  Back in April this year, poor Brian was struck by a slow moving vehicle which actually ran over his left hind limb, fracturing his tibia and fibula bones and causing some very painful skin trauma in the process.

He was so badly bruised around his groin that he found peeing very difficult for several days. However he is an extremely stoical fellow and never once complained during his wound cleaning and dressing that the vets and nurses at Benalla Vet Clinic performed during his hospital stay. 

The skin over his broken bone was very badly abraded and the lower limb fractures were complex and included a long crack which extended down to his hock (ankle) joint, so bone plate/rod fixation was suggested as the best option for repair.  Dr Stephan Miechel successfully reduced the fracture before securing the spiral butterfly fragment with the help of a lag screw. 

The next step involved carefully fitting a contoured 10 hole stainless steel bone plate to the inner tibial surface using screws. For extra support because Brian is a heavy dog (at over 35 kg), Dr Miechel drilled a bone pin into the central marrow canal of the tibia to add internal bracing to the repair; important because there was extensive skin damage which would have complicated placing a splint directly over the leg after the operation as would normally be the case.

Brian stayed a few more days after his operation until he was comfortable to walk. Luckily the car accident had not damaged his other hind limb or his pelvis, as was initially suspected looking at his skin damage soon after the trauma.

The bone plate, screws and intramedullary bone pin will all stay inside Brian and we can report that he has made a full recovery and is back to his normal routines.  He required on going home wound care for a few weeks until his skin had fully healed, but this was a fairly easy job as Brian is so tolerant and good natured, and allowed his owners to do what was required without question!

Benalla Vet Clinic regularly attend to a variety of serious orthopaedic cases and we thrive on the joy of seeing an animal restored to full health and function as Brian has done so humbly. Good on you Brian!

Intra-operative photograph of the 10-hole bone plate secured to the bone before the soft tissues are sutured over the top.

You might not realise it but dogs and cats are considered senior citizens when they reach 8 years of age. Our furry senior friends require some extra special attention to help keep them happy and healthy.

Here's a few of our top tips for senior care.

1. A regular health check is absolutely essential for your ageing friend. Much can change over a year (equivalent to 6-8 years in human years) and a check up with bloods & urine testing at least once a year will help us pick up on any changes and allow us to initiate a treatment plan, such as pain relief for arthritis.

2. Develop a keen eye for changes such as fluctuations in weight, appetite, thirst and urination. The presence of a cough, a change in sleeping habits, stiff joints and accidents around the house can all be a sign of underlying illness. Don't be tempted to just put these changes down to 'getting old'.

3. Diet: Our ageing pets have changing nutritional requirements. Older animals may be less able to cope with excessive nutrients or particular deficiencies. We recommend you feed your senior a complete and balanced premium food suitable for a mature pet. These help to maintain ideal body condition and will improve longevity. Ask us for a specific diet recommendation.

4. Lumps and bumps: It's a good idea to run your hands over your pet every week and feel for the presence of any lumps or bumps. If you find anything new or unusual, arrange a lump check with us as soon as possible.

Phone us if you have any questions about your senior pet, as we will always be able to give you the best advice.

It is well known that ageing takes a toll on our entire body including our brain - and the same goes for our pets.

Research confirms that our pets can suffer from dementia and the disease that affects dogs (known as Canine Cognitive Dysfunction) has many similarities to Alzheimer's disease in humans.

Common signs of canine dementia may include:

• Disorientation and confusion
• Lack or decreased levels of interaction with family members or other pets
• A disturbance in sleep patterns
• Forgetting toilet training
• Reduced activity levels

While canine dementia has been recognised for some time, there is now increasing evidence that cats may suffer from senility too and signs commonly include vocalising, lack of grooming, agitation and forgetting how to use the litter tray.

The most important point to remember is that there are many other diseases that can lead to any of the signs of dementia so diagnosis involves assessment of your pet and is a process of elimination. 

The best news is that we have have prescription diets and medication available that may help improve brain function. Ask us for more information.

If you are thinking of adding a feline friend to your family you should consider adopting a senior cat. Kittens may be fun and playful but they can be hard work! You'll find there are many hidden joys if you bring a senior 'kitty-zen' into your life. 

Here are our top reasons why you should consider adopting a senior cat:

• A senior cat’s personality has already developed, so you’ll know if he or she is a good fit for your family and other pets
• Senior cats are already toilet trained
• Senior cats are quieter, more mature and make great napping buddies - they are the perfect companion
• Senior cats are some of the hardest to find homes for - when you adopt a senior cat, you’re saving a life and most cats know it and will be grateful for a second chance.

We can point you in the right direction when it comes to adopting a senior pet - ask us for our recommendations.

Euthanasia is a very difficult topic to think about but it's an important one, and something that we as veterinarians deal with every day.

Deciding when is the right time to euthanise a pet can be one of the most difficult decisions you'll ever make. Most of us hope we never have to make the decision and it would be nice if all of our pets passed away peacefully in their sleep at the right time. But the reality is that sometimes we have to make that decision for them.

There is never a 'right' or a 'wrong' decision and you know your pet better than anyone. We are here to support you through the process so please ask us if you have any questions. Sometimes talking about euthanasia can help you be better prepared for it (such as considering whether you will bury or cremate your pet).

People get concerned about euthanising a pet too early in case they perhaps have some 'quality life left' but something to consider is that 'a week too early may be better than an hour too late.' We as humans must be an animal's voice and euthanasia will relieve pain and suffering. In the end, this is the greatest gift we can give our pets.

It is always a good idea to have a vet check your horse annually, but even more important for elderly horses to have regular veterinary examinations because there are many conditions that arise without obvious clinically visible problems.  For example arthritis in horses may not present with lameness, hormonal diseases such as Cushing's may not produce obvious sytmptoms of illness early in the disease, dental problems are naturally tucked away in the oral cavity and may not be recognisable to owners until later when horses stop eating or drop food.  

So this winter, call for an appointment if your horse is overdue for an examination and get some peace of mind for your equine friends. 

Periods of excessively wet weather, such as what much of Australia has been experiencing lately, can cause headaches for horse owners. Rain scald is one of the most common equine skin conditions. It can occur at any time of year but is much more common during and after periods of very wet weather.

Cause: Rain scald is caused by a bacteria Dermatophilus congolensis, which finds moist skin to be a perfect environment to thrive in. This bacteria can be spread between horses by insects, rugs and contact but a damp environment must be present for the disease to develop. Some horses are more prone to the disease in others, and often only one horse in a group will show signs.

Symptoms: The neck, back, loins and around the tail are most commonly affected. Affected areas will show hair loss and skin flaking off. In severe cases the skin can become very painful and ooze pus.

Prevention & treatment: The condition will often resolve once the weather changes but washing your horse in a dilute antiseptic solution or with a medicated shampoo will help. A short course of systemic antibiotics can be prescribed in severe cases if required. Keeping a waterproof rug on susceptible horses during periods of wet weather will help prevent the condition, and be sure to remove sodden rugs.

Keep an eye out for rain scald over the wet winter months, and if you're worried about your horse please give us a call.