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If there is there a saying that makes a dog trainer more cranky I’d like to hear it. This myth is responsible for a world of missed opportunities for our senior pets. Take it from us- the only thing stopping our pets learning through life is our own prejudices.
Continue reading “Myth 10: You can’t teach an old dog new tricks”This is not a rant about the evils of the internet. It is a fantastic resource. But there are also traps and dangers, as I will share.
In our daily work the problems we see cry out to be publicised so we can warn others. The joy of writing these blogs is that these articles sometimes seem to write themselves based on what we are seeing and doing. There is no better example than this week’s. It might almost seem amusing to read these stories, but the results can be severe and lifelong.
Continue reading “Myth 8: My dog knows when to stop”
Update 2018: visit this page for details on the ongoing Senate inquiry into pet food safety.
Perhaps the biggest scandal of pet ownership in Australia is that there is no independent monitoring, testing or licensing of pet food products, and nowhere to turn when they cause harm. And equally shocking to vets is that it is easier to buy flea control products that are neither safe or effective than it is to buy good ones.
Continue reading “Myth 7: If it is sold for pets, it must be safe”Pippin is a bunny who lives with her mate in an outdoor tunnel home they have excavated by themselves.
Pippin came to us last week with a history of an inability to use her hind legs, which seemed to happen overnight.
When we examined her, she was unable to walk, seemed paralysed on her hind legs, and as a consequence was heavily urine-soaked.
Following our killjoy post about Christmas hazards, now we’re going to tell you why your pet doesn’t need treats! And why they are happier without them.
Don’t worry. We’re not going to report you to the RSPCA if you occasionally give in to those pleading brown eyes. We know treat feeding comes from the heart and later I even talk about ways to do it well. But we do hope that after reading this you will feel less like you have to give the treat, and less guilty if you don’t.
Continue reading “Do Dogs Need Treats?”In Adelaide, Rabbits, Chickens, Ducks, Guinea Pigs, Native Mammals and any other small pets commonly live in outside hutches, pens or coops. And without their owners being aware of the risk, they are in great danger. If they are not adequately protected, one night can be all it takes to lose them. Please read on but this story may be upsetting for some.
Continue reading “Myth 5: My backyard is safe at night”
A lot of people make this mistake and it’s easy to see why. Puppy preschool is all about socialising dogs and if there’s a dog at home, surely this is enough. However, if anything, having a dog at home makes pups less social. I’ll explain why this is so.
Continue reading “Myth 4: My second dog doesn’t need puppy preschool classes”I think the popularity of vet television shows might explain why this could be my most common question from dog owners:
For those of us who care about animal welfare, the news, Facebook, and our inbox can be hard to cope with. There seems to be a never-ending series of distressing stories about acts of cruelty towards animals.
Continue reading “Myth 2: Animal Cruelty is Getting Worse”Update: this was one of my first blogs, and still one of the most important. Now you can also visit our pages on treating arthritis or pain in cats or dogs.
My dog will cry if he is in pain or,
My cat will tell me if she has painful joints; and so on….
That is, a pet owner can tell when a pet is in pain.
Continue reading “How To Know If A Cat Is In Pain”Ted and Millie have been seeing us for over six months now. Ted has a joint problem, recently diagnosed and treated, while Millie has mostly just ‘come along for the ride’. A few weeks ago, however, Millie developed itchy skin associated with pinpoint scabs on the head.
Continue reading “A Tale of Two Dogs, One Skin Problem (and a surprisingly simple answer)”One month ago Toby came to us for what he may have thought would be his routine annual check up. “Just an unwelcome poke and a jab and I’ll be back on the lounge where I should be.” He was wrong. His story is a common one and illustrates how owners who are diligent can turn ‘just a vaccination’ into a life-saving moment.
Continue reading “Case study: Toby’s deadly secret”[mapster_wp_map id=”25809″]
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By Andrew Spanner BVSc(Hons) MVetStud, a vet in Adelaide, Australia. Meet his team here.