Vet News

Diabetes can usually be easily diagnosed via simple blood tests. Some dogs with diabetes also have concurrent diseases such as pancreatitis or urinary tract infections that may need other diagnostic tests such as ultrasound or urinalysis.

Scooting, otherwise known as “rubbing” or “dragging” is a behaviour performed by dogs to relieve irritation around the anus by dragging their bottom on the ground. Here are some reasons why dogs may be irritated in this area.

There are two cruciate ligaments in a dog’s knee joint. These ligaments connect the femur (thigh bone) to the tibia (shin bone) and stabilise the knee joint. The ligament can rupture completely or partially. A ruptured cruciate is a painful injury and can prevent the dog from walking on that limb.

Did you know around 80% of dogs and cats over the age of three suffer from dental disease? Dental disease is an inflammatory disease that affects the teeth’s supporting structures like the gums and bone, due to a build-up of plaque.

“Give a dog a bone” – a common saying worldwide, but in reality, this is a controversial topic for vets as well as owners. While Google searches and social media may advocate for bone consumption (nutritional and dental benefits) and many dogs enjoy bones, there are still a small percentage of dogs that will suffer from serious injuries.

Heartworm is a parasitic worm that resides in the heart chambers and in the arteries of the lungs of dogs and cats. This disease was previously widespread around Sydney. As owners have diligently used heartworm prevention over the years, the disease has been largely reduced in the area. However, some wild dogs and foxes may carry a heartworm burden and as such, pet dogs unprotected by heartworm preventatives are still at risk of the disease.

When pets get sick, they can’t tell us what’s wrong, so we must rely on symptoms and observations to determine a diagnosis. One of the best ways to get a clear picture of your furry companion’s health is through blood tests. They can reveal the health of the internal organs, the immune system, or even the type of injury or disease your cat or dog may have.

Allergic skin disease can be very frustrating for owners, vets and the patients. It is generally not something that can be cured but is something that will need to be managed throughout the pets life. In dogs, the most common symptoms associated with allergies is itching of the skin. Recurrent ear infections can also have allergies as an underlying cause.

Most family dogs live within homes that give them plenty of love and companionship over their lifespan. One of the most important things you can do as a pet owner is to desex your furry friends. Not only does it give them many health benefits, but it also helps our society.

Our dogs aren’t as lucky. While they’ve got four (adorable) paws to walk around on, they rely upon their mouths to do all the things our hands do, plus taking care of eating and self-grooming! This is why dental health and hygiene is of utmost importance when taking care of our dogs. Looking after your dog’s teeth is one of the best things you can do to ensure they live a long, happy and healthy life.