I don’t think he can see right??

One of the joys of having a pet is gazing lovingly into big eyes that gaze back with just as much emotion. Quite a bit of time can be lost in this rather fabulous form of communication. But what if one day you noticed something was a bit off with that loving gaze?

Eyes seem a bit glassy? Squinting? Red? Sore? What if the gaze isn’t quite focused on you or is jumping around a bit? What if your pet starts bumping into things? What if their gaze just looks odd, dilated pupils, constricted pupil or different sized pupils? What’s going on there?!

There are a myriad of possible disease of the eyes ranging from a grass seed wedged into the eye through to loss of retinal function or damage to the nerves and vessels supplying them. These sensitive organs can only respond to illness or injury in a limited number of ways and it can take some investigation to tease out exactly what is going on. It’s really important to work out what is going on with a diseased eye and start treatment early as permanent damage can be avoided with prompt therapy.

So if you notice your pet has an uncomfortable eye or an eye that just looks a bit different to normal then come in and get them checked. Quick intervention can avert serious complications such as pain and blindness!

"Sound of the drums Beating in my heart The thunder of guns Tore me apart You've been Thunderstruck"

Canberra has had some crazy weather this summer, from record breaking heat to quite a few rumbly grumbly and very LOUD thunderstorms.

While some of us quite like watching lightning flash and rain fall for many of our doggy friends this is a terrifying experience. Fear and anxiety swell to blind panic as the sky explodes around them. Terrified dogs will jump fences, chew doors, dash off across the neighbourhood in an attempt to out run their fear or howl and cry in distress. This is horrible to watch, hard to manage and can be downright dangerous for panic stricken dogs out loose.

While we can’t control the weather there is a lot we can do to make this experience easier on our storm phobic pets. For dogs with mild anxiety there are some lovely pheromone options. Environmental changes such as creating a safe storm haven to shelter in can help a lot. Thunder shirts and other sensory interventions can help dogs stay calm.

For dogs with more profound fear and anxiety triggered by storms there are a range of medical options that can work very well. Each dog is an individual and a medical plan needs to be tweaked to suit each pet, but with attention to each dog’s needs thunder doesn’t have to be so terrifying!

If your pet is distressed by thunder storms or any other loud noises such as fire works then please come in and see us. We can help you help your pet.

Kitty's can scratch and claw, and while this is normal and natural it can be quite destructive if it's on the side of your new lounge! More often than not we go out and buy the most desirable looking scratching post only to have our feline friend give it a glance and then vow never to raise a claw to it ever! Well, now there is a new tool in the box of behavior management - Feliscratch.

Feliscratch can be applied to a scratching post and contains a pheromone that mimics the one produced between the toes of the cats paw. This signals to the cats brain that THIS is the place to express that scratching behaviour. A blue marker is another visual clue that THIS is the place to claw and catnip attracts the cat to the desired location. The use of Feliscratch can help you help your cat express this normal and natural behavior in a location you both agree is ok to claw to bits! Happy days!

As always Feliway pheromone spray and diffuser can be an important part of feline behaviour management, signaling to your pet that they are in safe and intimate territory and that it's time to chill.

If your feline friend is scratching in areas you don't condone or is displaying other undesirable behaviou

rs come in and see us. We now have a special feline only consult room to keep cats calm and settled and make trips to the vet more comfortable for everyone.

Welcome to our series on exotic pets and when to worry. Over the next few blogs we will go through some of the signs an exotic pet might have when sick and discuss when to worry and take them in to your vet.

Let's start with rabbits and guinea pigs. These little creatures have a lot in common and most of it's to do with their gut! They are both herbivores and hindgut fermenters (meaning their caecum is a giant fermentation vat of remarkable power) and they are also prey species. These features will heavily influence the signs of sickness they show.

In the wild, if you could be someones dinner it pays to not look sick. A predatory fox or eagle is going to target a sick looking animal over a sprightly healthy one as an easy meal. Thus your pet rabbit or guinea pig is going to hide their illness until they are critically ill. This means subtle signs can be seriously significant. A bit flat? Quieter than normal? A bit withdrawn? Not playing around as much? All these could be signs of a very ill pet and it's best to always get them checked over.

We mentioned the fabulous and amazing gut that rabbits and guinea pigs have. It's fantastic at turning grass into good nutrition but also fantastic at getting out of control and causing big issues. Rabbits and guinea pigs must eat and poo EVERY DAY. Not eating for 6 hours makes vets nervous, we get very worried at 12 hours and anything more than that we really need to see that pet! If your rabbit or guinea pig is not eating normally, is eating less, is drooling around eating, is leaving food they would normally eat or has any changes to the volume and quality of poo they produce - bring them in and get them checked. A lot can go wrong with the fabulous fermentation gut system and we need to know about that ASAP.

Obviously, bring your pet to the vet if you notice any other signs of disease or problem areas. If you add subtle changes in behavior and changes to eating and pooing to your list of warning signs in your pet rabbit and guinea pig and get them seen soon, a lot of big problems can be sorted out early. These little guys are the kind of animal we would always rather see 'unnecessarily' rather than let things wait and get out of control.

Watch this space for more on exotic pets and when to bring them in!

Image by Megaoesophagus_dog.jpg: Kalumetderivative work: Anka Friedrich (Megaoesophagus_dog.jpg) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons

If you've been following the news recently then you may have heard of the Advance Dermocare Dog food crisis. At this stage there are 74 confirmed cases who have developed megaoesophagus as a result of eating this food. One of these cases includes one of our own Brudine family.

Megaoesophagus is a degenerative condition in which the oesophagus, the tube that takes food from the mouth to the stomach, dilates and becomes 'mega'. Food pools in the oesophagus and is regurgitated or can be subsequently inhaled into the lungs. Regurgitation of food is messy and means the dog is not actually getting to digest and absorb their food. Inhaling the food can cause pneumonia that can be life threatening. These cases of megaoesophagus are permanent. They can be managed but not cured and they represent a lifelong difficulty for the dog and their family.

Mars Pet Care, the company that produces Advance food has been open and upfront and have withdrawn the Dermocare product from the market. They are providing compensation to the families affected. Investigation into the underlying problem with the food is ongoing. It's important to remember that it's only the Dermocare product that is a problem and that other Advance foods are safe to feed.

If you have been feeding Advance Dermocare we recommend you stop and come in for assessment and to discuss your options. If your dog is frequently bringing up food or has trouble swallowing and keeping dinner down, come in for assessment.

We all need to drink. Every day. But what if you notice your pet is drinking a lot? Drinking heaps and heaps, and seems to want more and more... Is this a problem?

It very well could be. There is a point beyond which water consumption is considered excessive and abnormal and this should always be investigated. It's also important to check out an animal that has started to drink more than is typical for them even if this is still within the normal range.

General trends are useful, such as noticing that water bowls are being filled more often but specifics are even more useful. You can measure your pets water intake by putting out a set amount and then measuring what's left at the end of each 24h. Do this over a few days.

What goes in must come out so animals drinking more often urinate more. Keep an eye on your pets toilet trends and see if you think they are passing more urine.

If you are concerned come in and see us. Examination and often blood and urine testing will be very important in establishing if there is a problem. There are a range of common diseases that cause changes in water consumption such as diabetes, kidney disease and Cushing's disease.

These are all very different diseases with different treatments and management plans, but all cause excessive water consumption.

Noticing the problem and getting an early diagnosis gives your pet the best possible chances of a good outcome.

So watch the water bowl and let us know if your pet is drinking excessively.

What do the following animals all have in common? Rabbit, Guinea Pig, Rat, Mouse, Chicken, Parrot, Lizard and Turtle?

If you are the right type of predator, they are all delicious!

And this is why we are very excited to announce that our Exotic Species Only wing is now up and running. When you arrive at our front door have a look to your right and you will find another door. This leads you into the Exotic Species wing for prey species only. These little critters have their own waiting room, consult room and hospital free from the sounds, sights and smells of any animals that might consider them a delectable treat.

Now you may well have a delightful dog or cat or ferret who would never in a million years think about nibbling on a small and squeaky pet, but the smell, sounds and sight of your gentle pet is enough to frighten these little guys and thus they are much less stressed and anxious in their own space. We want everyone to have a happy, stress free and calm trip to the vet and separation of the species is one of the many ways we can go about this.

If you would like to check out this exciting new development to our hospital come in and we would be glad to show you around. This degree of species separation is really quite uncommon and we are really excited to be able to offer this to our clients.

You're sitting on the couch at the end of a long day patting your dog. As you stroke along his belly you feel something different and new. There is a lump there. It's small and it doesn't seem to be bothering him. He seems quite happy and well in himself. But this lump... should you be worried?

Well, yes. Until tested that lump could be anything from nothing very much through to something quite scary. Until proven to not be a problem it's very reasonable to be concerned. A lump could be as innocent as a skin tag or wart or benign growth. Or it could be a tumor that requires surgical removal and possibly follow up treatment.

The best thing you can do for your pet is get that lump identified.

Come in and see us and we can help you work out what tests are best for you, your pet and the lump in question. In some cases a sample can be taken right away, with a needle and syringe. The cells collected can be examined under the microscope and in some cases identified in just moments. Sometimes the sample is sent away for further examination. In other cases a biopsy, or chunk of tissue is needed. This can be collected under local anaesthesia in some cases or more commonly under general anaesthesia. This sample will then be sent away.

Once identified a treatment plan can be put together. This can be a simple as 'love him with his lump' through to surgery and follow up medical treatment. Prompt identification and treatment is key when it come to lumps so if you find a change on your pet, come in and see us ASAP.

Canberra has a delightful array of beautiful native wild life living in harmony with us. From birds to lizards, water rats to possums, kangaroos and wallabies. Most of these animals are harmless and lovely. But some are a little more dangerous. Snakes are a part of the Canberra region but these are best admired from a distance. Unfortunately, dogs and cats don't always grasp this important fact and snake bites are a common occurrence.

Brown, black and tiger snakes can all be found in the ACT and all are very toxic. Any snake bite must be treated as a medical emergency and veterinary help sought ASAP.

If you see your pet gets bitten, drop what you are doing and get to a vet now!

Signs that might indicate a snake bite include:

Sudden weakness followed by collapse.Shaking or twitching of the muscles and difficulty blinking.Vomiting.Loss of bladder and bowel control.Dilated pupils.Paralysis.Blood in urine.

Snake bite is always serious. In dogs, left untreated, it is almost always fatal. With prompt treatment the prognosis can be good although some dogs will sadly still succumb. Cats are somewhat more resistant to the toxins in the poison and often have a better prognosis but still require urgent treatment and supportive care.

Avoidance is the best possible course of action but if a bite does occur, remember don't delay and get your pet to the vet! Let's get your pet treated.

Rats make totally adorable and lovely pets.

Once you meet a rat and get to know them you will never feel the same way about them again! They are affectionate, clean, gentle and very quick to learn. In many ways they make an ideal pet. Their one downfall is their short life span.

Three years old is considered quite ancient for a rat. These lovely little creatures leave us all too soon.

Females in particular are very, very prone to developing mammary tumors and sadly these can show up as early as 18 months. This makes a short lifespan far, far too short.

These lumps are normally benign, meaning they don't spread around the body but are isolated to just the one spot. However, they can grow to such a humongous size that they are just impossible to live with. Walking, grooming, feeding all become just too difficult and euthanasia becomes a necessity. Small tumors can be removed surgically if caught early but all too often another one will develop.

These mammary tumors are among the most common cause of death in female rats. Dr Louise Grey, one of our own vets, has had seven female rats over the years and SIX of these required euthanasia due to large, benign mammary tumors.

But now, thanks to a new hormone implant, these mammary tumors are preventable. That's right - one of the most common causes of death for a female rat is PREVENTABLE!

Suprelorin is a long acting hormone implant placed under the skin that can be used to shut down the reproductive system. It was developed for use in dogs but has subsequently been used in a wide variety of pets. In female rats one implant is sufficient for life. By turning off the reproductive system from the brain down we can dramatically reduce the incidence of mammary tumors by around 95-98%! This is major, significant, exciting, marvelous - you get the idea!

This simple, quick and non invasive implant can really make a huge difference to the longevity of your pet rat. She is much more likely to live a full, rich, tumor free happy ratty life and make that third birthday with a Suprelorin implant.

If you have a female rat and would like to discuss this wonderful option with us, please make an appointment ASAP. Dr Louise & Dr Ari would be glad to go through the whole process with you!

Summer is the season for seeds!

Pointy, spiky, prickly grass seeds that can worm their way into feet and ears and eyes and under skin and be oh so ouchy ouchy.

Our furry friends all too often pick up seeds when frolicking around in the great outdoors. These grass seeds are very well designed to only move forwards. Tiny, sharp and very irritant barbs on the seeds prevent backwards motion. They are also designed to creep forwards in response to friction and movement surrounding them. This video very nicely demonstrates just how effectively a grass seed can wriggle into a swab.