Each type of dog kennel will have its own unique benefits – you may find that one kennel will be suitable for warmer months and another for cooler months or that one is best for indoors or outdoors.

TIMBER KENNELS – The old-fashioned timber kennels are a durable choice for most outdoor settings.  They come in a variety of colours and designs including side entry, treated or untreated wood, and either tin, timber or plastic roof.

PLASTIC KENNELS – One of the most common available are plastic.  They are easy to assemble and removable roofs make them easy to clean and disinfect. They are well ventilated, solid, comfortable and being water resistant makes them an ideal choice for tropical areas.

Not only do fleas and ticks make your pet’s life a misery, ignoring the problem can have a tragic outcome.

If you are a dog or cat owner, it’s almost guaranteed that you’re going to have to deal with fleas.  While some people consider them an unavoidable part of pet ownership, the infestation should be taken seriously.  At the very least, your pet is going to be uncomfortable, itching and constantly scratching. At the worst they make pick up a bloodborne disease that can lead to a serious illness. 

As far as fleas are concerned some animals and humans are allergic to them. Animals and people can display severe skin reactions if they develop a flea burden.   Ticks are ore dangerous and more of a threat.  The consequence of a tick bite can be tragic, ending in paralysis or death. 

Bee Stings & Insect Bites

Any insect or spider bite can cause problems if they bite or sting your pet.  A bite or sting can cause swelling, redness and itching.  Some animals can have an allergic reaction to a sting or bite that may result in mild hives, facial swelling, vomiting, difficulty breathing or even collapse. 

If the stinger can be found, scrape it out with a credit card or stiff material.  Alternatively, use tweezers by grasping the stinger, which is located below the venom sac.  Studies have shown that speed is of the essence in removing the stinger.  If the only way is to pinch it and remove it, then do so.  You’ll do more good than harm and you’ll get the stinger out faster.  Don’t worry about squeezing more venom into the area – this has been disproven.

In Veterinary clinics we see a massive assortment of cases diagnosed.  Many times, these cases seem to appear in multiples.  Recently, here at the Greensborough Veterinary Hospital we have surgically treated multiple animals for bladder stones, which is known as a cystotomy.

Bladder stones, also known as urolithiasis, are solid mineral deposits that form inside the bladder of dogs and cats.  These crystals form when a combination of events take place such as when the urine PH changes, increased urine concentration and changes in the mineral make up of urine being formed.  Over time the crystals combine and layer to form bladder stones. 

Bladder stones can range from 1-2 stones to hundreds.  Some are small grit-like, others can be up to 2 inches in diameter.

We don’t normally think of human roundworm infection as a problem in the modern world, but it is.  Studies have found that in soil samples from playgrounds approximately 20% of samples were contaminated with roundworm eggs. This would be partially due to animals being exercised in parks and playground areas. Most human roundworm infections occur in people under 20 years with children being at highest risk.

Most people have very mild or no symptoms, but it all depends on how many worm eggs someone is exposed to. These species of roundworms employ a full body migration through their host as part of their development and symptoms in the human host result as part of this migration.

The most common skin allergies in dogs and cats are to things in their environment such as dust mites, pollens and grasses.  These skin allergies manifest as itching and scratching, causing red, inflamed and damaged skin.  This is a condition called atopy or atopic dermatitis. 

The reason some animals suffer from environmental allergies is that they have a defective skin barrier which is an inherited disorder.  Allergens, such as pollens, pass through the skin which cause an allergic reaction.  Moisture can also be lost through this defective barrier, causing the skin to be dry.  This in turn makes the pet feel itchy and then they lick and scratch their skin causing further damage.  An analogy may be a treated/oiled deck vs an undressed deck.

You may already be aware that Hill's range of wet and dry diets are experiencing supply shortages across the country.

 
Despite Hill's best efforts to avoid future disruptions, we were recently advised that several shipments of Hill's products scheduled to arrive in December have been delayed. The delays are due to the continued, severe disruption at shipping ports,

We do have alternatives to some of the Hills lines available and are more than happy to advise you of these.  All of our staff are well trained in prescription diets.

We understand the support that these foods give to those pets whose health is compromised and will do all we can to source these and support our patients.

Our clients are more than welcome to place a special order with us and then when stock is available, you shall be supplied first.
  
We apologise for any inconvenience the ongoing disruption has caused and thank you for your continued support and understanding.

We all know that for some dogs, coming to the vet is not their favourite activity.  There are ways to try and reduce the anxiety level and negative associations with the clinic.

For many dogs the anxiety they feel stems from the negative association they have formed.  This makes sense as most dogs only come to the vet when something is wrong or they are due for a vaccination.  These dogs have come to associate the vet with experiences they view as negative such as nail trims, ear cleanings, vaccinations and taking blood samples.  Over time this experience becomes rooted in their brain and they become anxious even if nothing is being done to them at that visit.  Thankfully we can do things to create a more positive emotional response.  We create positive experiences to have ‘happy visits’ where only good things shall happen. 

AUTUMN CROCUS: Highly Toxic and can cause severe vomiting, gastrointestinal bleeding, liver & kidney damage and respiratory failure.

AZALEAS: Even eating a few leaves can result in vomiting, diarrhea and excessive drooling. Without immediate attention, depending upon consumption and the pet’s bodyweight, the animal could fall into a coma and possibly die.

CYCLAMEN: The roots of this seasonal flowering plant are especially dangerous.  If ingested, they can cause severe vomiting and even death.

Bloody and discolored urine is a common reason cat parents seek Veterinary help.  It’s incredibly upsetting to see drops of blood in a litterbox, on bedding or on the floor.  Sometimes you can’t see the blood until the urine is examined with a microscope or detected on urinalysis.  The two major causes of blood in in cat’s urine are cystitis and feline lower urinary tract disorder or FLUTD. 

Blood in the urine is called haematuria.  Haematuria can be identified by the presence of pink, red, brown or black urine. 

Cystitis is a general term referring to inflammation in the urinary bladder.  In cats, diseases of the lower urinary tract, the bladder and the urethra are often categorized by the term FLUTD.