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

NEWSFEED

Kay Smith Retires:  

It was a very sad day at the Benalla Vet Clinic when we bid farewell to our lovely friend and colleague Mrs Kay Smith. Leaving the clinic she has worked at almost continuously since 1987 is no small event, and we wish her all the best on her retirement. Kay has been instrumental in guiding us through the rapids of the change of business ownership over the last 18 months and we thank her again. Also an excellent cook, the staff are most upset at the thought that they will not enjoy Smithy's culinary creations at morning tea breaks! All the very best for the next stage in your life journey Kay. Bon voyage.

Warm welcome - Candice (Cat) Drew:

We would like to welcome Cat Drew to the clinic! Cat is a very experienced veterinary nurse who has worked both overseas and in Australia and brings with her a wealth of new ideas and skills. By the way...she truly adores felines too!  

Worming your pets:

A timely reminder to worm your pets with the forthcoming change of season.  Most 'all-wormer' products treating intestinal worms in dogs and cats are given every three months, so giving as the seasons change is one way to remember!  As an extra service to our clients, when you purchase worming and flea products at the clinic, you will now receive automatic SMS or email reminders when it is close to the time of your pet's next dose. We hope this helps.

Autumn Calving:

Calving season has begun again so click this link for more information about when to call the vet for calving problems.

Thank you for your service Mrs Kay Smith.

Mum and her twins

Cruciate ligament disease is one of the most common causes of hind leg lameness in dogs and cats.  It can occur suddenly or develop slowly over months.  The unstable knee quickly develops arthritis and surgery remains the only successful treatment.

Macey is a beautiful 2 year old Mastiff cross, weighing 30kg. She presented to the clinic with an acutely painful left knee after being hit on the run by another dog.   Anterior cruciate ligament rupture was diagnosed and she had Iso-toggle(Tightrope) surgery several days later.  

Although a young dog, there was significant arthritis within her knee joint, which suggested that Macey had sustained a partial tear to her cruciate ligament months earlier, and the accident with the dog had actually caused a full ligament rupture. Luckily her meniscal cartilages were not damaged.  

Her recovery was typically rapid and her owners captured her progress for us on video at Day 5 after the operation (click here to see the video). Three months on, she now has complete range of motion in her knee with minimal pain.  Her compliant owners have diligently followed our recovery instructions which include walks on a leash and rehabilitation exercises to restore muscle tone.  Full return to normal activity is expected within two to three months after this operation.  

Now into his 7th year offering the Iso-Toggle(Tightrope) cruciate repair surgery to dogs, Dr Stephan Miechel considers this a very successful procedure and is delighted with the rapid recovery possible with this particular surgery.  The operation involves placing a super-strong and resilient braided fibre suture through accurately positioned bone tunnels. These tuunnels are precisely drilled into the femur and tibia bones above and below the knee, so that the material effectively mimics the action of the absent cruciate ligament. Inert polypropylene and/or titanium 'buttons' are used to secure the suture at either end of the tunnels. The implants remain within the animal for life.  

For more information about this surgery, call the clinic on (03) 5762 2788.

Summer holidays with the dogs?  Beware tick paralysis!

We have had a few recent cases of tick paralysis in dogs after they have returned home from holidays in Gippsland and beyond - up the eastern coast of Australia.  Please ensure your dog is protected by applying tick prevention medication and checking your pet daily while away and for at least a week after your return.

Tick paralysis can be a serious and fatal condition requiring immediate veterinary attention. Signs include loss of co-ordination of hind legs, weakness and lethargy, drooling, coughing/retching, loss of appetite and rapid breathing. Click here for more info.

News Flash:   We now stock a new long-acting tick & flea prevention - a chewable tablet called Bravecto, providing

3 months protection from ticks, and 4 months for fleas.

Other tick prevention products available at Benalla Veterinary Clinic include Sentinel, Advantix and Frontline Plus as well as Fido's Flea and Tick Rinse.

 Call in for advice on the best product at the lowest price for your situation.

Please remember to check your pets daily even when a tick control product has been used. 

This is a deadly insidious disease that is always a great risk when visiting paralysis tick regions.  

Many people aren't always aware that the most critical time in your dog's life is during their first four months. Socialisation at this time with other dogs (both big and small) is one of the most important ingredients for a well behaved and sociable dog. Here are some things to consider:

Puppies have brains like sponges
The more they are introduced to during this period, the better. If they learn how to behave around other canines it will help make future outings and park visits much more pleasant!

Puppy school is the first event you should put on your dog's social calendar
Puppies will develop confidence and will learn how to interact with each other. This is a safe environment for socialisation as all puppies must be up to date with their vaccinations.  We recommend starting puppy preschool at approximately 12 weeks of age. Click for more info.

Puppyhood is also a good time to introduce your dog to different noises and experiences
Think about the vacuum, traffic, multiple car trips as well as longer stints at home alone. We can recommend some great boredom busters to keep your puppy stimulated while you head out. You want your dog to learn to be happy during 'alone time'.

Of course, good behaviour and training doesn't stop at the age of four months! It is crucial to continue with positive reinforcement and to reward your dog for good behaviour.

When it comes to pet behaviour, always ask us for the best advice.  

Our next Puppy Preschool start on Monday 7th March at 6pm - call 5762 2788 to book a place now.

Easter can be a dangerous time for our pets and there's a few things you need to keep off limits. Take note of the following!

1. Chocolate

Chocolate contains theobromine, a derivative of caffeine that cannot be metabolised by our pets (particularly dogs).

Ingestion can cause an increased heart rate, vomiting, diarrhoea, agitation, tremors, seizures and even death. Cooking and dark chocolate are the most toxic but ingestion of ANY chocolate can cause problems. Find out what amount of chocolate might be toxic to your dog here.

2. Hot Cross Buns

Many people are not aware that sultanas and raisins (and grapes!) can contain a toxin that causes kidney damage in dogs. Keep these off the menu at all times!

3. Easter lilies

These beautiful fragrant flowers if ingested can cause kidney failure in cats. The stems, leaves, flowers and stamen are all dangerous, as is the water the flowers are stored in.

If your pet ingests any of the above over the Easter period call us immediately for advice. Make sure you have emergency numbers on hand if it is out of our normal opening hours.

Like us, dogs love chocolate and they are very good at finding it! Not surprisingly, Easter is one of the busiest times of the year for vets when it comes to chocolate toxicities.

If your dog eats your favourite Lindt bunny (the one you were saving for last), here's what we will do:

We will ask you how much and what type of chocolate your dog ingested. This helps us work out just how dangerous the ingestion might be. Cooking and dark chocolate are the most toxic, followed by milk and then white chocolate.

The toxicity is also proportional to the size of your dog and the amount ingested. We use a calculator similar to this one. It is important to realise that any amount of chocolate can cause a problem so veterinary guidance is always recommended. 

Next we will probably induce emesis (which simply means we make your dog vomit). This is usually done using injection under the skin or application of a medication into the eye. Vomiting tends to occur relatively quickly.

If we don't feel enough chocolate has been vomited or if the symptoms are serious, a charcoal meal or enema may be given to help reduce the toxicity. Some dogs will also need further supportive care including fluid therapy.

Please phone us immediately, even if you only think your dog has ingested chocolate. We will be able to give you the best advice.

Many people put off taking their cat to the vet as they feel it is just too stressful. As a result we don't get to see your feline friend as often as we should and inevitably health problems go unseen. Dental disease, heart disease, kidney disease can sneak up on your cat slowly, often without you noticing.

Thankfully there is a way you can help reduce the stress associated with vet visits. By using a pheromone spray in the cat carrier, your cat will feel more safe and secure. The pheromone spray is the same pheromone cats release when they feel chilled out and happy. We also recommend spraying it on a towel and covering the cat carrier to help your cat feel safe and avoid them making eye contact with patients of the canine variety!

The pheromone is also available as a diffuser and this is useful for cats that are having anxiety issues at home, such as during rehoming or when your are introducing a new pet or even a new baby. The diffuser can also help with toileting problems associated with stress.

Ask us for more information about this product or about the pheromone options available for dogs.

Tetanus is a life threatening disease of horses and ponies which is preventable by vaccination. Tetanus is a neurological disease caused by a toxin, which is produced by a Clostridial bacteria found everywhere in the environment, including the horse’s own digestive tract. This bacteria can infect your horse in many ways including through wounds, the mouth and intestines. Once infection is established the bacteria produce the deadly tetanus toxin which spreads around the body.

Signs of tetanus to watch out for include:

• stiffness of the head and neck
• over-reacting to stimulation
• unsteady movement
• increased breathing
• general pain

Treatment is only occasionally effective and includes tetanus anti-toxin, antibiotics, anti-inflammatories and supportive nursing care. Horses are one of the most 'at risk' animals and often tetanus has fatal consequences.

Vaccination is extremely effective in preventing tetanus. Two initial intramuscular injections are given four weeks apart, followed by a booster 12 months later. Boosters every 4 to 5 years will maintain immunity to the disease. Foals should be first vaccinated at 3 months of age and pregnant mares should be given a booster 4 weeks prior to their expected foaling date. The most commonly available tetanus vaccine is known as a 2 in 1, as it is combined with a strangles vaccine.

Unvaccinated horses, or those with an unknown vaccination history, should be given a short acting tetanus anti-toxin after lacerations or surgeries, such as geldings. The anti-toxin provides temporary protection and does not replace vaccination.

Call us for more info and to ensure your horse is protected against this heartbreaking disease.