Vet Articles & News | Pet Care Advice

March 29, 2020February 16, 2021

A Puppy Checklist For The Social Distancing Age

UPDATE 13 May: Limited puppy preschool places are now available at our clinic on Thursday nights. To comply with current regulations, we request that:

only one person comes with each puppy
class members wait outside until the start time

For puppies elsewhere in the world, I’m afraid that the puppies of the next few months won’t grow up the same. I fear that this virus will change how they enjoy the rest of their lives. But I also think you can do something about it.

February 19, 2021February 19, 2021

Help! My Dog’s Has Sores On The Face

I want you to see these pictures of severe facial sores in a dog. Note especially how quickly they both develop and then go away with the right treatment. This is canine eosinophilic furunculosis.

I’ll discuss it and other causes of lesions on the face of dogs afterwards.

February 13, 2021February 17, 2021

Had A Bad Vet Experience? Please Read This

Last week when I wrote about the shortage of Australian veterinarians, I laid the problems of our industry bare. Poor work conditions, inadequate support and low pay are just a few. They’re leading to what some people see as a crisis for the veterinary profession.

There’s something else contributing to the problem that I didn’t mention, because it’s tricky to bring up without blaming innocent people. It’s the deterioration of the relationship between vets and pet owners.

February 11, 2021February 18, 2021

How Well Do Dogs See Colours & Detail?

As a short-sighted person, I don’t take good vision for granted. Therefore, when someone asks me “what exactly do dog see?”, I’m interested in a lot more than just colour vision.

In this article you will find the best evidence we have for:

colour perception,
ability to see detail,
light sensitivity, and
long and short-sightedness

February 10, 2021February 15, 2021

Why Aren’t There Enough Vets In Australia?

You may have heard the sad news that one of Berri’s vets is closing. This comes hot on the heels of YP vets announcing the same thing: the closure of their Port Pirie clinic.

In both cases, a lack of vets has been cited as the main reason. So in the interests of the care for your pets, it’s worth taking a closer look at what’s happening to the vet supply in Australia. Afterwards, I’ll offer some advice for new graduates and recently employed vets.

February 5, 2021February 8, 2021

Buying A Puppy In Adelaide

Are you looking for a puppy in Adelaide? Then no doubt you’ve already seen how hard it is to get one. There’s a massive demand for new puppies, and seemingly a reduced supply since SA’s dog breeding regulations came into effect.

Traditional sources like breeders and shelters have long waiting lists. The only quick and easy way to get a puppy is from a pet shop. If you’ve thought about it I perfectly understand. But before you make the commitment, there are a few things to consider.

January 29, 2021February 3, 2021

The Outbreak Of Ehrlichia In Australian Dogs

Canine ehrlichiosis is cause for considerable alarm for the millions of dog owners around the country.
ABC News 27/1/2021

The arrival of Ehrlichia in Australia has been devastating for some remote dog communities. However, there’s no reason to panic, and it’s easy to prevent.

Here I’m going to help Australian dog owners to understand the risks, and know how to easily prevent it.

January 22, 2021January 30, 2021

Using Evidence To Choose The Best Puppy Name

What do dogs actually hear when we speak to them?

Isn’t this the single most important question of dog ownership? Isn’t getting it wrong the reason why so many dogs end up unhappy or worse?

I’m not going to solve it, because in 2021 that still isn’t possible. What I can do is show you some tantalising recent science that’s starting to give us glimpses of the truth . And what is said is probably also true for how cats hear us.

January 15, 2021January 19, 2021

Fasting Dogs, Cats & Rabbits Before Surgery

If your pet is having surgery, then you already know it’s important to fast them beforehand. What you may not know is why and for how long.

Here’s a quick summary, with details to follow.

How Long To Withhold Food Before Surgery

Dog: 12-18 hours
Cat: 12-18 hours
Rabbit: NO fasting
Guinea pig: NO fasting
Ferret: 4 hours
Rat: 1 hour

January 15, 2021January 24, 2021

Oesophageal Stricture In Dogs & Cats

Oesophageal stricture is a rare but important problem for both dogs and cats. It happens when a narrowing forms in the tube that connects the mouth to the stomach. This creates a partial blockage for food and water.

December 11, 2020January 6, 2021

A Comparison Of Alfaxalone & Propofol For Pet Anaesthesia

In 2021 there are two drugs your vet may use to anaesthetise dogs and cats: alfaxalone and propofol. You can discover more about each one at the links, but here I will compare them for safety and efficacy.

December 4, 2020January 30, 2021

An Online Test Tool To Predict Cushing’s Disease In Dogs

Cushing’s disease is one of the most common diseases of dogs. The problem can be in getting an accurate diagnosis. Here I’ll share some recent research that helps you know whether it’s likely in your dog.

This is important because no test is every 100% accurate.

November 27, 2020January 30, 2021

What Are The Signs Of Skin Cancer In Dogs?

In places like Australia, we all know how dangerous the sun can be. It can be just as bad for our dogs. Here I’m going to help you decide three things:

Is my dog is at risk of skin cancer?
What do I look out for?
What do I do if it happens?

November 27, 2020January 30, 2021

Is My Dog At Risk Of Leptospirosis?

In the last few years, there’s been a lot of concern among dog owners about leptospirosis. And it’s no surprise. Not only is ‘lepto‘ a horrible disease, but it’s being seen in places where it never used to be.

Here you’ll find the latest information on the risk to Australian dogs and what you can do to reduce it.

November 24, 2020January 30, 2021

Treatment with Remdesivir for FIP in Cats

The nightmare is almost over. Until very recently, a diagnosis of Feline Infectious Peritonitis was a death sentence. Either a slow, lingering decline or a decision to euthanase and spare the suffering. This happened to around 1% of cats, most of them still kittens.

Then it was discovered that certain antiviral drugs could not only improve the symptoms, they could actually bring about a cure. But there was still a hitch.

November 20, 2020January 30, 2021

The Use Of CBD Oil In Australian Dogs

Owners of dogs with chronic pain are increasingly asking me two questions:

Will CBD oil help my dog?
How do I buy genuine CBD oil in Australia?

November 6, 2020January 30, 2021

Why Cancer Is Common In Some Dog Breeds

I saw a beautiful, not old dog recently, and before I even touched him I knew what was wrong.

He was a Bernese Mountain Dog with enlarged lymph nodes, and I knew he had cancer in the same way I know it when:

a Rottweiler limps in a certain way
a German Shepherd suddenly goes pale and weak, or
a Staffie gets a lump on the leg

November 6, 2020November 28, 2020

What Is The Best Food For Senior Cats?

Senior diet and foods for older cats are so well-established that nearly everyone uses them. But do they help?

Here are some of the claims:

Reduced strain on the kidneys
Maintenance of optimum body weight and muscle mass
Additional nutrients important for ageing

Are they correct? Could these diets be harmful instead? Let’s look at the evidence.

October 25, 2020December 4, 2020

Dog Attacks: What To Do, How To Prevent Them

Emergency Info (details to follow):

If Your Dog Is Being Attacked

To separate dogs, try:

Water sprays or buckets
Aerosols and sprays (pepper spray is only legal in WA)
Personal duress alarm (hold buttons on each side of an iPhone down for 5 seconds)
A beach towel thrown over the aggressor’s head
Picking the aggressor up by the back legs (‘wheelbarrowing’ is dangerous and should only done by the dog’s owner)

Do not try to pull the other dog off. That’s up to their owner to do. You will get badly injured. Click here for your closest Adelaide Emergency vet.

Do not blame yourself. Often there’s nothing you can do due to the size and determination of the aggressor. You’ll probably also fail to get the owner’s details in the heat of the moment.

Now dive deeper…

October 16, 2020November 27, 2020

The Best Age To Desex A Dog: New Data For 39 Breeds

I’m going to lead you through the evidence we have for the age to desex a dog. I’m not going to give you the ‘right’ answer, but instead the tools so you can make the best decision for your dog. With the new mandatory 6-month desexing in Adelaide, this is the evidence you may need to ask your vet for a postponement.

October 9, 2020November 28, 2020

Lipomas, Fatty Tumours & Lumps Under Dogs Skin

It’s no accident that one of our most visited pages is a guide to the skin lumps of dogs. Tumours and masses cause a lot of concern to dog owners. However, with some basic knowledge, and the right action, there’s nothing to fear.

October 2, 2020January 30, 2021

The Cause Of Sneezing & Watery Eyes In Kittens

There’s a very good reason why so many kittens come with sneezes, runny eyes or coughs. This is true whether it’s a young kitten with continuous symptoms, or an older cat where the problem seems to get better and then come back.

Once you know it, a lot of other common cat illnesses start to make sense.

To understand what’s special about cat diseases, you need to look at how they began. So stick with me! What I’m about to discuss could be the most important health issue of cats.

September 25, 2020November 28, 2020

The Most Common & Serious Poisons Of Dogs

In 2020, the American Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) published its data on poisonings in dogs. It’s the best information we have on household dangers to our canine friends.

From a dog-owner’s perspective, it contains two important lists: the top 5 reported poisonings and the top 20 fatalities. As you’ll see, these are quite different.

September 25, 2020November 28, 2020

The Most Common & Serious Poisons Of Cats

In 2020, the American Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) published its data on poisonings in cats. It’s the best information we have on household dangers to our feline friends.

From a cat-owner’s perspective, it contain two important lists: the top 5 reported poisonings and the top 20 fatalities. As you’ll see, these are quite different.

September 18, 2020November 28, 2020

3 Ways Humans Are Better Than Dogs

It must seem strange for a vet to compare humans and dogs and find humans better. Well let me tell you, that’s not normally the case. Just read ‘Why Dogs Are Better Than Humans‘ and you’ll agree.

However, our inferiority tends to mask the fact that there are a few special areas in which we do better. And because we don’t recognise them, we tend to make bad assumptions and harm our dogs. So here they are…

September 11, 2020February 10, 2021

How To Stop Dogs Scratching In 8 Steps

If you’ve got an itchy dog, it gets very frustrating very quickly. Nothing seems to help for long, and everyone tells you something different. Is it the food, is it grass, is it mites?

I’ve been seeing itchy dogs for nearly 30 years and I’ve yet to see one who can’t be helped. Here I’m going to boil down all the conflicting advice into a simple step by step approach.

September 4, 2020November 28, 2020

Help! My Dog’s Head Is Tilted To One Side

Some dogs you never forget. They’re the ones you know you failed. Like Holly.

She came to me late one night for vestibular disease. And she certainly had all the classic signs:

a head tilted to one side
loss of balance and inability to walk
rapid eye flicking called nystagmus
even nausea and vomiting

It had been happening for two years, on and off, and she needed more of her medication. Except she really needed a whole lot more than that.

September 1, 2020November 28, 2020

Dog Baiting In Adelaide: What To Know

In 2020, Adelaide has been awash with stories of dog baits being found in parks. Just this month we’ve had:

green pellets found in a Thebarton park
meat with pellets at Shepherds Hill
kidneys stuffed with bait on the Torrens linear park
and yesterday suspicious mince found in Bennett Reserve on North East Road (pictured)

Leaving aside the twisted motives of why anyone would do this, it’s important to understand the risks and what you can do if it happens.

August 21, 2020December 9, 2020

Help! My Cat Attacks Me Without Warning

It would be hilarious if it wasn’t so serious. Look for answers on why your cat bites or scratches you and you’ll find people telling you it’s all about a competition for dominance.

As any genuine cat lover knows, our cats always dominate us. Most of us have enough humility to love them for it.

It’s stopping them biting and scratching that we’re after. That’s a whole other story with a wholly different explanation. One where aggression is just a symptom of a problem in the cat-human relationship.

August 17, 2020November 28, 2020

What Is The Best Age To Neuter A Cavoodle

Whether you call it neuter, spay, castrate or desex, there’s been a lot of debate about the right time to get it done in dogs. That’s because it varies from breed to breed. Recently, a study was published on the best age for neutering small dog breeds like Cavoodles.

August 17, 2020November 28, 2020

August 10, 2020November 28, 2020