Andrew – Walkerville Vet

July 10, 2020July 11, 2020

Help! My Dog Has Degenerative Myelopathy

How can I talk about one of the most hopeless diseases of dogs without sounding hopeless? Like this:

Many cases of degenerative myelopathy are probably misdiagnosed

July 3, 2020July 10, 2020

Toxoplasmosis In Cats, Dogs & Humans

Any disease that can jump from pets to people is famous, and toxoplasmosis is no exception. But that doesn’t mean everyone understands how it works.

Like how many cats get it and how they pass it on. Or how to stay safe, especially if you’re pregnant. And the disease in cats and dogs themselves. We’ll cover all these here.

June 26, 2020June 28, 2020

Fact Check #1 : Do Blue or White Dogs Have More Skin Problems?

I’ve always got my ear on the dog park and recently I heard something intriguing. The owner of a blue French Bulldog told me she’d had several people come up to give her the same unsolicited advice:

“Blue dogs have lots of skin problems”

June 26, 2020June 28, 2020

Fact Check #2: Is Bone Cancer Common In Greyhounds?

The owner of a limping Greyhound surprised me recently by asking about bone cancer. She’d heard it was quite common in the breed.

At the time, I didn’t think that the data showed an increased risk, and said so. How wrong I was. But first, here’s a quick refresher of the problem.

June 19, 2020June 30, 2020

Help! My Dog Has Collapsed

Emergency facts (details below):

When a dog suddenly falls over or can’t use their back legs, it’s usually an emergency. You should travel to a vet.

On the way, take a video if you can. Here are some things to look for:

Is there muscle movement? This is common in seizures or poisonings.
Is the dog unconscious? Look for a lack of response and passing urine or faeces.
Are the eyes moving? Vestibular disease causes nystagmus or eye flicking.
Is the heart rhythm normal? Place your hand on the chest and try to feel it.
How long does it last? Fainting and airway issues usually only last for seconds.
Is recovery quick? After seizures, dogs commonly appear incoordinated for some time.
What was the dog doing beforehand? Cardiac, respiratory and thermal problems are more common after exercise.

Cardiac arrest is an extremely uncommon cause, and therefore it is not recommended to try CPR. You will see that most causes either recover by themselves or require treatment that only a vet can give.

Now let’s dive deeper into each of these causes…

June 19, 2020July 9, 2020

23 Dog Parks In South Australian Towns

If you’re planning a driving holiday in SA, it’s good to know where you can let your dog out for a run. The good news is that most towns, even small ones, now have a fenced off-leash area.

June 13, 2020June 14, 2020

Is It OK To Give A Cat Only Dry Food?

Listen to this rubbish.

If your cat only eats dry food, she is likely to be getting less nutrition than a cat eating wet food. Many low-quality dry foods contain a lot of fillers.
https://www.catster.com/cat-food/wet-cat-food-vs-dry-cat-food 13/6/2020

Throwaway lines like these are typical of the overly simplistic advice you find online about feline nutrition. The truth takes a deeper look. To know whether wet, dry or both are best for your cat, we need to talk about:

nutritional adequacy & completeness
fillers in wet & dry cat food
the risk of obesity
diseases associated with wet & dry foods
other alternative cat diets

Let’s dive in!

June 13, 2020June 17, 2020

Starting A Vet Blog: My Story

Think you could never write a blog? It’s not as hard as it seems. All of us have something worth saying, and these days it’s easier than ever.

Just look at me. When I wrote my first vet story, there was no grand plan, just an instinctive need to communicate that I couldn’t explain. I got home from work, sat down at the kitchen bench, wrote a long-form article and immediately posted a link on Facebook. You can still find it here.

I was blown away by how much people enjoyed it, as faulty as it was. With the encouragement of a growing readership, the blog evolved and improved. I learned to listen better to pet owner needs, and picked up some technical skills along the way. But even now, despite its size, reach, and influence, at its heart the blog is still a cottage industry.

June 11, 2020June 11, 2020

When Do Dogs Need Their Nails Clipped?

There’s a lot of confusion about when dogs need their nails trimmed. On any given day, I will see at least one dog needing clipping that isn’t getting it, and another that I’m asked to clip but shouldn’t.

Here I’m going to help you know when your dog’s nails are too long, and most importantly, when they aren’t. Because it matters.

June 9, 2020June 12, 2020

A Review Of Knose Dog & Cat Insurance

Australian vets have seen a steady rise in pets being insured. However, up to now, that hasn’t been matched by any increase in choice. Now there’s a third entrant.

But you say, what about all these other pet insurance companies?