Not displaying properly? Click here to read online.
Aberfoyle Hub Veterinary Clinic
Hub Professional Centre
Aberfoyle Park, SA, 5159
reception@hubvet.com.au
www.hubvet.com.au
Phone: 08 8270 5155

Barb’s Bit

It thrills me to tell you that our nurse Erin (Ezzy) and her husband Steve are now the proud parents of a beautiful baby boy, Lincoln Robbie Harris. And now Millie and Pippa both have a bonnie baby brother! Babies bring so much in the way of joy, wonder, stress and complexity into our lives, don’t they? How do we live with them? How do we live without them?

It’s no different with our animals, is it? We recently removed 6 lumps from our Labrador,Sandy, and then had the thrill of enduring 2 weeks of her wearing an Elizabethan collar. My legs are still bruised from where she would use the collar to bulldoze through me to grab a morsel of food that had dropped to the floor! For all the pain and nuisance it caused, though, I don’t even want to think of the time when we no longer have to worry about securing the kitchen!

 lincoln Robbie
Contents of this newsletter

01  Easter and Anzac Closure Times

02  Death by chocolate

03  When vomiting gets serious

04  Being a responsible cat owner

05  Top ten things you need as a pet owner

06  Pet of the Month

07  Going crazy for a laugh
01 Easter and Anzac Closure Times

With the Easter break upon us, and Anzac Day not far away, we wish to remind you that we will be closed from 6pm Thursday 28th March until 8am Tuesday April 2nd. We will also be closed from 6pm Wednesday 24th April until 8am Friday 26th April.

If your pet requires emergency care during this period, please contact the Adelaide Animal Emergency Centre on  8371 0333. They will be open 24 hours a day over this period.
02 Death by chocolate
iStock000005429962XSmall
iStock000016794925XSmall

Don't leave chocolate in your pet's reach!

The Easter Bunny is on his way and about to make his deliveries and so we are delivering you an early warning message - keep ALL chocolate out of paw's reach.

You should be aware that pets of the canine variety are designed to seek out any morsel of chocolate!

There is a derivative of caffeine in chocolate (called theobromine) that your dog can't digest. Ingestion can lead to:

  • hyperactivity 
  • tremors, panting, racing heart
  • vomiting, diarrhoea
  • seizures and even death
As a general rule, the darker the chocolate, the more toxic it is. Check out this handy calculator to give you an idea of the amounts that may be toxic in your dog. 

Remember to call us immediately if your dog has ingested chocolate and if you end up eating too much chocolate this Easter - take a lesson from these smart kitties and get active!
 
03 When vomiting gets serious
iStock000018963647XSmall
iStock000007611466XSmall

'Dietary indiscretion' is a common cause of vomiting in our pets

There are many causes of vomiting. The most common is 'dietary indiscretion' which is just our way of saying your pet ate something he shouldn't!

After witholding food for a few hours (gastric rest), fluids for rehydration and medications such as those that help with nausea, your pet will most likely recover over a couple of days. 

More worrying causes include an obstruction from a bone or a piece of string (especially in cats), liver or kidney disease, or endocrine diseases such as diabetes. 

What to do if your pet vomits:

  • Don't panic but do watch for any further vomits
  • Withhold food for a few hours to allow for gastric rest
  • Think of possible causes - any access to a toxins? 
Call us if your pet:
  • Vomits more than once 
  • Seems lethargic or is off his food
  • Has large amounts of diarrhoea or isn't producing faeces
  • Has been losing weight recently
  • Ingested something he shouldn't - check out some of the crazy things pets have eaten here.
If you have a question or are worried about your furry friend always call us for advice. 
04 Being a responsible cat owner
iStock000006882217XSmall
iStock000006765949XSmall

Keep your cat in from dusk to dawn to protect our wildlife

Cats are beautiful and intelligent creatures and as a cat owner, you have a responsibility to your cat, their community and the environment.

Responsibly cared for cats are happy and safe, make good neighbours and don’t threaten wildlife. 

Top tips for being a responsible cat owner:

  1. Cats must be microchipped and registered with your local council. Keep all details up to date
  2. Use a collar with an identification tag - people will know your cat is owned
  3. Unless you are a registered breeder, desex your cat
  4. Keep your cat healthy by feeding a complete and balanced diet, giving parasite prevention, regular vaccination and at least yearly vet visits with us!
  5. Curfew your cat from dusk to dawn. This is the time wildlife is most at risk, and cats are most at risk from injury from cars and cat fights. A curfew is law in some councils and with good reason - according to the Australian Wildlife Conservancy, an estimated 75 million native animals are killed DAILY by feral cats.  Click here for more information 
05 Top ten things you need as a pet owner
iStock000019625312XSmall
iStock000020997400XSmall 1

A safe carrier is an essential item for cat owners

What are the top things you need to keep at home to ensure your pet is happy and well cared for?

  1. A premium quality diet suitable for your pet's age and stage - ask us for advice
  2. Parasite control to prevent fleas, ticks, mites, intestinal worms and heartworm - we can help you here
  3. Sturdy food and water bowls that are kept clean 
  4. Clean and comfortable bedding that is away from drafts and lifted off cold concrete
  5. Safe and indestructible toys - visit www.kongcompany.com.au
  6. A correctly fitting collar with an up to date identification tag
  7. Grooming products - a pet safe shampoo, correct grooming tools such as brushes, nail clippers
  8. If you own a cat, a carrier is essential for safe car trips - your cat will feel more secure in a carrier will be MUCH safer 
  9. A good quality and secure lead and a harness for car trips (or a carrier for smaller dogs)
  10. Our phone number located in an easily accessible place (on the fridge, stored in your phone) - so you can call us in an emergency
06 Pet of the Month
fritzhowlett POTM winner feb

Last month’s Pet of the Month winner was Fritz, a 5 year old schnauzer who came in for his annual health check, vaccinations and heartworm injection. That’s all it took to win a nutritional consultation and a bag of premium pet food!

Fritz has had some problems in the past with his nails, and the owner is currently supplementing his food with megaderm. From the nutritional consultation, Lauren determined that Fritz would benefit from the supplements found in the Royal Canin medium adult neutered range, which are specifically designed for maximum skin health.

Tuck in, Fritz!
07 Going crazy for a laugh
meme4
meme6
18d2dd09254f33dcf3f6732ab7ed84f8

You may have noticed the internet craze of the 'meme' gaining momentum recently. These funny photos have clever words attached and are guaranteed to give pet owners a laugh. We'd love you to share any memes that give you a laugh on the My Pet Stories Page.... 

Here are a few of our favourites...
The Fine Print
This email contains comments of a general nature only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional veterinary advice. It should not be relied on as the basis for whether you do or don't do anything.

View this newsletter online 		All content © Pet Pack 2013
You received this email because you're subscribed to our newsletter or are a client of Aberfoyle Hub Veterinary Clinic
This email was sent to:
Click here to unsubscribe