We are thrilled to introduce our new veterinary associate, Delwyn Bennett, who joined our clinic family in October. Delwyn brings with her an amazing wealth of experience, knowledge and talent in a broad range of areas, which we know will benefit both you and us greatly.

Quite apart from  her professional attributes, Delwyn also has personal attributes and values that make her a great match for our clinic. She has a deep commitment in wanting the best outcomes, both for the family pet and their owners; is extremely honest; and has a great energy for getting results. Delwyn is also a genuinely nice person. She was a volunteer in a veterinary mentoring programme in Mongolia, and continues to be involved in programmes through her local church.

Delwyn has a particular interest in the management and treatment of animal behavioural problems, and will be available for extended behavioural consultations on Thursday afternoons, as well as standard consultations from Wednesday to Friday. So if you haven’t met her already, why not ask to see Delwyn at your next appointment?

Cats are curious creatures but don’t let curiosity kill your cat. Watch out for these  potential dangers in your household:

1. Lilies

Ingestion of even a small part of the lily plant can cause kidney failure in cats. This typically presents as excessive drinking, lethargy, and vomiting.

The flowers, leaves and pollen are all potentially toxic. Cats that lick a tiny amount of pollen from their coat or drink the water that the lilies are stored in can suffer toxicosis.

Potentially dangerous lily species include Easter lilies (Lilium longiflorum), tiger lilies (Lilium tigrinum), rubrum or Japanese showy lilies (Lilium speciosum and Lilium lancifolium), and various day lilies (Hemerocallis species).

2. Panadol

Paracetamol may be a common pain relief medication in humans but it can be fatally toxic to cats! It can cause a life threatening anaemia, liver failure and gastrointestinal damage. Typical signs include lethargy, vomiting, difficulty breathing and facial swelling.

3. String 

String can kill your cat. If ingested, thread, yarn wool, ribbon and string can cause serious gastrointestinal problems. Cats are particularly attracted to string, especially if it has a toy attached.

4. Snakes

Warmer weather brings out snakes, and cats are drawn to their movement. Cats may take up to 24 hours to show signs of snake bite poisoning, which starts as hind limb weakness but progresses to total paralysis. Make your yard unattractive to snakes by keeping it clear of clutter (particularly along the fence line), and keep cats indoors on hot days when snakes are most active.

If you are worried your cat has ingested something it shouldn't have, or if you think it may have been bitten by a snake, call us for advice.

Believe it or not, the summer holidays are just around the corner. If you haven’t done so already, you need to book your pet in for boarding now as these facilities fill up very quickly over Christmas.

If your pet isn’t up to date with their vaccinations they may require two injections a month apart before they are allowed to board. This means you need to get in now! There is nothing fun about being turned away when you are on your way to the airport. 

Cats generally require a minimum of an F3 vaccination and dogs need to be up to date with their C5 vaccination.

Don’t forget to take your pet’s vaccination certificate with you when you admit your pet for boarding. If you lost yours, don't panic! We can print a replacement copy for you, or even fax it to the boarding facility. Worming and flea control must also be up to date prior to admission. We are more than happy to discuss what your pet needs so call us today to prevent any extra Christmas rush stress!

We received some great videos in last month's funny video competition. Visit our My Pet Stories Facebook page to check them out! 

Next month we will be running our annual Christmas Pet Photo competition so get your costumes ready!