Murray Bridge Veterinary Clinic
140 Swanport Road
Murray Bridge, SA, 5253
[email protected]
www.murraybridgevet.com.au
Phone: 08 8532 2333
Fancy felines
Contents of this newsletter
01 "Please sir, can I have some more?"
02 Mum's the word
03 Million Paws Walk 2017
04 Puppy Pre School
05 Senior Pet Club
06 Why microchipping is essential
07 Arthritis - what to watch out for
08 How to help an arthritic pet at home
May 2017
01 "Please sir, can I have some more?"
There's a new cat video doing the rounds on the internet which some of you may have seen - click
here to check it out.
We can hear you asking now, "How did these cats get so good at ordering food?"
These cats are a perfect example of how animals learn by positive reinforcement. Their behaviour
is continually strengthened by a reward (in this case, a treat).
They would have initially been rewarded with a treat when they moved their paw towards the bell and
then again when they touched the bell. Eventually the cats would have touched the bell so that it rang
and that's when the treats kept coming!
This is an excellent reminder that the best way to train our pets is to use a positive reward to reinforce
good behaviour.
When it comes to training your pet, we are always here if you need any help.
02 Mum's the word
With Mother's Day this month, we thought now would be a good
time to share a few things about pregnancy in dogs. Here are
some key facts:
Pregnancy (or the gestation period) in bitches normally ranges
from 58 to 65 days with an average of 65 days
During pregnancy your bitch should be on a balanced diet. Ask us
for the best recommendation. It can be dangerous to supplement
her diet with extra calcium or vitamins
A bitch should be dewormed with an all wormer at week 4 and 6 of
pregnancy. This is important to ensure she does not infect her
newborn pups. You should vaccinate your bitch prior to mating to
ensure maximum immunity is passed on to her puppies.
When a dog gives birth to puppies it is known as "whelping", and
the bitch usually rests between the delivery of individual pups. The
rest time can range from fifteen minutes to an hour, but you
should seek veterinary attention if:
Half an hour has passed since the onset of abdominal contractions
and a puppy has not been born or;
Half an hour has passed after the birth of a pup, your bitch is still
having strong contractions and there is no sign of another pup
We will be happy to assist you with any queries you have
regarding your dog's pregnancy and whelping.
Click here to see 16 animal expressions that perfectly capture
what motherhood is all about!
Want to read some more? click here to view MBVC Mothers Day
Blog.
03 Million Paws Walk 2017
Join us on Sunday May 21st for our third annual Million Paws Walk
at Murray Bridge! Starting with a walk along the beautiful Murray
river, the day will then have a village style atmosphere with market
stalls, a barbeque, coffee truck, activities and more! The clinic will
be offereing free dental checks with our Vets & Nurses,
competitions and prizes and a friendly chat!
Register here
Want some tips on loose lead walking?? Click here to read our
blog written by Kirstie Hancock of Positive Paws.
Can't make the walk? Donate here
04 Puppy Pre School
Congratulations to the following puppies for graduating from the
April Puppy Preschool classes at Murray Bridge Veterinary Clinic
Macey
Alfie
Archie
Willow
Jett
Lucy
Bella
Dave
To view the adorable graduation photos please visit our webpage
or Facebook album
05 Senior Pet Club
Happy Birthday to our current Senior Pet Club members who will
be celebrating in May:
Molly
Voss
Toska
Riley
Ella
Jessie Cee
Chino
Do you want to know if your pet is eligible to join our Senior Pet
Club?Contact Us
06 Why microchipping is essential
The recent floods in Queensland and New South Wales have
sadly resulted in hundreds of displaced pets.
Natural disasters are an important reminder as to why it is
essential ALL of your pets are microchipped.
When a lost pet has a microchip, they can be scanned at any vet
clinic or animal shelter and the details attached to the chip found
on a central database.
Unfortunately, for many microchipped pets, the contact phone
number assigned to the chip is incorrect and this makes the chip
useless.
Now is the perfect time to make sure your pet is chipped and
check the contact details attached to your pet's microchip.
If you don't know your pet's microchip number please drop by with
your pet and we can scan it for you. If you already know the
microchip number you can jump online to update any details.
It's also a good idea to have an ID tag with your name and phone
number attached to your pet's collar as this can speed up the lost
and found process.
Ask us for more information about microchipping your pet.
07 Arthritis - what to watch out for
Arthritis is a nasty disease. It sneaks up on our pets and always
seems to rear its ugly head as the weather starts to cool down.
Many people put the signs of arthritis down to "getting old" but
have you ever thought that your pet might actually be in pain?
Remember - your pet doesn't necessarily have to have a limp to
be suffering from arthritis as some of the symptoms are subtle.
Signs of arthritis in cats:
Landing in a heap when jumping down
Hesitant to jump down from your lap or from the furniture
Reluctant to climb fences or trees
Scruffy or matted coat as they are no longer able to groom easily
Signs of arthritis in dogs:
Stiff and sometimes sore when getting up after lying downespecially in the morning
Trouble jumping up onto furniture or into the car
Behaviour changes - growling or grumpy when sore joints are
touched
Muscle loss especially over spine, the hips and around the hind
legs
The good news is we have plenty of tools up our sleeve to help
your arthritic pet become more mobile and pain-free. We will put a
treatment plan in place and slow down the progression of this
disease before your pet's quality of life is affected.
The month of May is a great time to arrange an arthritis check
up with us.
08 How to help an arthritic pet at home
If your pet is diagnosed with arthritis, there are plenty of things you
can do at home to help them feel more comfortable.
We recommend a multi-pronged attack as this helps to reduce the
need for large amounts of medication and will lessen the potential
side effects of any one treatment.
6 tips for an arthritis-friendly home:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Keep your pet lean to help reduce the load on their joints
Consider feeding a diet specifically formulated for arthritis (ask us
for the best recommendation)
Continue to exercise your pet in moderation; gentle daily walks for
dogs help keep the joints moving and muscles toned
Provide a warm and comfortable bed with plenty of padding
Use a portable ramp to help your dog in and out of the car
Provide an additional piece of furniture (like an ottoman) so your
cat doesn't have to jump so high to reach his favourite spot
Ask us for more information on how to make your home
arthritis-friendly.
The Fine Print
This email contains comments of a general nature only and is not
intended to be a substitute for professional veterinary advice. It
should not be relied on as the basis for whether you do or don't do
anything.
View this newsletter online
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