Murray Bridge Veterinary Clinic
140 Swanport Road
Murray Bridge, SA, 5253
[email protected]
www.murraybridgevet.com.au
Phone: 08 8532 2333
Merry Christmas furry friends
Our Animal Welfare League Donation Tree is
up!
Let’s spread the Christmas cheer and think of
those less fortunate this year!
You can donate food, bedding or toys or
make a monetary donation and we will send
all the Christmas cheer to the Animal Welfare
League in Adelaide.
All the staff at Murray Bridge Veterinary Clinic
would like to wish our lovely clients and
friends (2 & 4 legged) a very Merry Christmas
and a safe and Happy New Year.
Please note the clinic will be closed on the
public holidays over the festive period:
Sunday 25th Dec
Monday 26th Dec
Tuesday 27th Dec
Sunday 1st Jan
Monday 2nd Jan
There will be a Veterinarian on duty for
emergencies. Call the clinic number 08 8532
December 2016
2333 and follow the instructions should you
need veterinary assistance.
Contents of this newsletter
01 Meet another one of our lovely staff
members - Samantha!
02 Puppy Pre School
03 Senior Pet Club
04 Christmas present inspiration
05 Keep your pet safe this Christmas
06 Watch out, snakes about
07 Itchy and scratchy
08 Feline AIDS - can we prevent it?
01 Meet another one of our lovely staff members - Samantha!
1) What is your favourite animal breed?
I'm definitely a 'cat person' - any breed! I love how unique their
personalities all are, grumpy or not. I love dogs as well and have a
massive soft spot for Border Collies; throughout my childhood
we've always had a Border Collie dog running around.
2) What do you love most about your job?
I love how different each shift is and seeing the different animals
come in and out. There's always something to see and something
to learn. Working at a vet clinic is such a unique job, and never
something I thought that I'd get to experience while I'm still in
school! There's a real team atmosphere among staff members as
well which is great to be a part of.
3) What is your favourite thing/hobby to do after work?
I'm in Year 12 at the moment so sadly I've had to drop a lot of
hobbies to keep up with studying! However, previously I've been
really passionate about gymnastics - I did it for over ten years and
still enjoy watching it! At the moment in my spare time I enjoy
working out at the gym and listening to music. I also really enjoy
working my other job at Baker's Delight.
4) What pets do you have at home?
I have a Border Collie dog called Cooper, two black cats; a 12 year
old cat called Rastas, and my four year old cat named Leisha, two
goldfish and a budgie.
5) What is the naughtiest/cheekiest thing your pet has done?
Our cats have a vendetta for Christmas trees. Leisha likes to
gradually pull all the decorations down so that the whole bottom
half is undecorated by the time Christmas rolls around (we'll find
these decorations throughout the next year), whilst Rastas prefers
to go all out and pull the entire tree down.
02 Puppy Pre School
Congratulations to the following puppies for graduating from the
November Puppy Preschool class at Murray Bridge Veterinary
Clinic
Fergus
Honey
Jasper
Molly
Nala
Ollie
To view the adorable graduation photos please visit our webpage
or Facebook album
03 Senior Pet Club
Happy Birthday to our current Senior Pet Club members who will
be celebrating in December:
Tramp
Neddy
Kelly
Lili
Cleo
Lucy
Chewy
Spencer
Muffy
Do you want to know if your pet is eligible to join our Senior Pet
Club? Contact us
04 Christmas present inspiration
We know you love including your furry friends on your Christmas
gift list so if you're looking for inspiration this year, look no further!
Here's a dog who was given the best present she could hope for: a
life sized version of her favourite toy.
Click here to watch a video of her reaction!
05 Keep your pet safe this Christmas
It's fun to involve your pet in the Christmas and New Year
celebrations so here are our top tips on how to keep them safe.
Paws off the following
Chocolate, grapes, raisins and sultanas are poisonous to dogs.
Always keep your pets away from the Christmas table (Christmas
ham is very attractive) and secure the lids on rubbish bins.
Christmas cake is definitely off limits and please don't leave edible
gifts under the tree! Remember that cats should be kept away from
the sweet-smelling Christmas lilies as these can cause kidney
failure even if just a small amount of the plant is ingested.
Leave leftovers off the menu
Don't be tempted to feed your pet leftovers - most are too fatty for
our pets and can cause upset tummies and nasty episodes of
painful pancreatitis. Never feed cooked bones and watch out for
skewered meat that falls from the BBQ.
O Christmas tree
Secure your Christmas tree so it doesn't tip or fall. Don't let your
pet access tree water and keep any wires and batteries out of
paws' reach. Tinsel and Christmas lights: Kitties love these sparkly
"toys" but if swallowed they can lead to an obstructed digestive
tract.
Fear the fireworks
If you know fireworks are scheduled, plan ahead. Keep your dog
indoors and put him in a room with a television or radio turned up.
If possible have a family member stay with him during the
fireworks. Make sure all windows closed and all exits secure.
Speak to us if you are concerned about your dog's firework
anxiety, as we will be able to offer you some more helpful advice.
06 Watch out, snakes about
There are already plenty of snakes about so we are asking our
clients to be extra vigilant.
Different species of snakes possess different types of venom and
these can cause varying symptoms that appear anywhere from 15
minutes to 24 hours after a bite.
Early signs might include:
Salivation (drooling)
Enlarged pupils
Vomiting
Hind limb weakness
Rapid breathing
Depression
How you can help your pet survive a snake
bite:
Seek veterinary attention immediately, even if you only suspect
your pet has been bitten. It is better that your pet is checked over
rather than wait and be sorry
If your pet has been bitten on the neck remove his collar
Keep your pet quiet and still - this is critical to help reduce
movement of the venom around the body
Do not attempt treatment options such as cold packs, ice,
tourniquets, alcohol, bleeding the wound or trying to suck out
venom in place of getting your pet to the vet - they are a waste of
precious time
NEVER attempt to kill, handle or capture the snake as you risk
being bitten too.
07 Itchy and scratchy
The most simple way to make sure your pet is comfy this summer
is to prevent itchy skin.
Allergies to fleas, grasses, trees, plant pollen, dust mites and
moulds as well as certain foods can all set off an itchy and
scratchy show at your house!
Itchy dogs will bite, lick or scratch with their legs however a cat will
constantly lick at particular areas, causing hair loss. This quickly
leads to self-trauma of the skin which causes secondary infections
that require medication.
Our top skin care tips:
Be vigilant with flea treatment all year round. Fleas are THE major
cause of an itchy pet and regular use of a flea treatment is easier
(and cheaper) than fixing the itch. Ask us for the best flea
treatment available
A premium diet balanced in essential fatty acids is essential in
keeping your pet's skin and coat in top shape. This will provide a
good barrier against allergens - ask us for a recommendation
Always wash your dog in pet approved shampoo and conditioner we have these available all year round
An antihistamine or a medication to help reduce the immune
system's response to the allergen can reduce the itch - we can
provide you with more information so enquire now
If you have an itchy pet at your house it is best arrange an
appointment with us. We will help keep your pet happy and
healthy this summer.
08 Feline AIDS - can we prevent it?
Feline AIDS is caused by the Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)
which affects the immune system of cats.
The virus acts in the same way as the human form of HIV,
destroying the immune system and leaving a cat susceptible to
infections, disease and cancers. Once a cat has been infected,
FIV can then progress to feline acquired immunodeficiency
syndrome, also known as Feline AIDS.
The virus is spread from cat to cat through saliva, often via a cat
bite wound. A mother cat can also pass the virus to her kittens
across the placenta or through her milk. FIV cannot be transferred
to humans.
Close to 30% of cats in Australia are thought to be FIV
positive and the scary thing is, any cat that ventures outside
and has contact with an infected cat is at risk.
Can we prevent the disease?
Cats that are kept inside 100% of the time are generally safe, that
is unless they accidentally escape. This is not uncommon so why
put your cat at risk? Thankfully there is a vaccine available to
help prevent FIV infection. All cats require an initial course of three
vaccinations and then yearly boosters to maintain protection.
Ask us for more information if you are worried about your cat or
would like to commence this vaccination program.
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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