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Welcome to our Winter 2010 Newsletter
Winter time here in Redcliffe is very pleasant with cool nights and bright sunny days. The nights can chill especially in July. Please be aware older pets
especially dogs can feel the cold and wake up in the mornings rather stiff.
If there are signs of weak hind legs it may be osteo-arthritis so best to get that checked. With some cool mornings already we have seen
several of our
older patients needing medications to keep them comfortable.
Cats can also suffer from arthritis so please keep an eye on them especially if they refuse
to jump up like they use to.
With the cooler weather usually there are less fleas, but once again it is important to keep up monthly flea control. Fleas are still breeding,
waiting for summer. Have you tried the new flea tablet, Comfortis®? Great for dogs that swim regularly.
This issue we talk about stress in cats. This is a common problem we see with our furry felines.
We hope the information is useful to you, if not please pass it onto somebody who may be having trouble with their cat urinating inside.
There are several pictures of our recent activities and awards. Thanks to all who have sent in photos of their pets, I will be able to share some with
you all over the coming issues.
Enjoy your reading.
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Congratulations to Julie & Jane.
Congratulations to Julie Chapman, our Groomer, last month she won the Master Dog Breeders & Associates Dog Owners Choice Award for Best Groomer.
The annual event is hosted in Sydney. Julie flew to Sydney with her family to receive the award. Also pictured is Jane Harper, our former vet nurse,
who won the Best Trainer Award.
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Did you Know?
Dogs' sense of smell is their main form of communication. Human noses have approximately 2 to 6 million olfactory receptors that detect smells but dogs have a
massive 220 million of these receptors! So remember when you are out walking, let your dog sniff as much as he likes so he can communicate with the doggy world!
Dogs have far fewer taste buds than us humans therefore they don't need as much variety in their diet.
The nose pad of a cat is ridged in a unique pattern exactly like a human fingerprint.
The domestic cat is the only cat species able to hold their tail vertically while walking, all the other species hold their tails either horizontally or
between their legs.
A dogs' brain is so good at detecting smell and movement, they even know what part of the house you're in,
what you ate for breakfast and whether you have a
cut on your hand.
A cat will almost never meow at another cat. This sound is reserved for humans.
Egyptians shaved their eyebrows as a sign of mourning when they lost a beloved cat.
Cats will automatically bathe themselves after finishing each meal. The reason for this is that their instinct tells
them to get the food scent off them to avoid being attacked by predators.
Dogs only sweat from the bottom of their feet and the only way they can cool down is by panting.
Dogs can warn epileptics that they are going to have a seizure.
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STRESS IN CATS by Kate (Vet Nurse)
This article has been done before but it is a very common problem with cats especially in multi-cat households.
With the reduction of property sizes and higher density of population, cats have become a favoured companion for humans
however cats are not particularly social creatures.
When cats are forced to interact with other cats they feel threatened.
Once cats feel threatened they can display undesirable behaviour.
Common signs of stress in cats:
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Loss of appetite
- Spraying (even in desexed cats)
- Toileting in inappropriate places
- Pulling out of fur
- Excessive meowing
- Hiding from the world usually under beds
The biggest threat for any cat is a different cat. A new cat in the neighbourhood can change the whole social fabric of that neighbourhood, new smells,
new sounds and new threats.
Sometimes the changes within the neighbourhood can be worked out over time but sometimes that is not the case. Frequent cat fights are not uncommon
but generally the cats that are stressed are not fighting but being bullied and fear going outside. So what can we do to help?
Pharmaceutical Drugs:
These drugs need to be prescribed by the vet. The drugs change the response of your cat to the stressful situation.
There are several drugs the vets can use, each drug has its positive and negative effects. The vet can discuss with you the best option for your cat.
Feliway® Spray/Diffuser: A synthetic analogue of facial friendly pheromones which can be purchased to be sprayed or continuously dispersed in the cat's environment.
It is good for spraying problems or inappropriate urination spots. This product is great to use when travelling with your cat.
Grooming: Good to do on a daily basis to relieve stress and will also help reduce hair balls.
Herbal therapies: Valerian can be used to calm cats, available at chemists or health food shops.
Homeopathic: Best known is probably Rescue Remedy flower essence also good for travel.
A variety of these methods is often the most effective. Cats can vary in their response to some of these methods and therefore it may
be necessary to trial a variety of them to find what works for your cat.
If you have any questions please phone for further advice.
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Millons Paws Walk
Our Vet Nurse, Jennifer & her pug cross Meika walked the Millons Paws Walk with her friend Jill and ex-PAA dog Milly, here in Redcliffe.
Meika dressed in her bubble bee outfit was a runner-up for best dressed.
About 300 dogs joined in the walk along the Redcliffe foreshore on a beautiful Sunday morning.
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Coffee Machine Winner
Congratulations to Julieanne, winner of last month's Eukanuba Saeco Coffee Machine.
It was good to see Disco when Julieanne came in to collect her prize.
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