Dogs - Basic health and care

Leaving your pet with someone you don't know can be a daunting and confronting task however for some pet owners it is a matter of necessity. Here are some tips on how to select a facility for your pet and make their stay as comfortable as possible.

Good kennels and catteries fill quickly throughout the year particularly during peak travel periods such as school holidays and festive periods. It is also a good idea to plan your pet's health needs in advance. Most good facilities will ask for a current vaccination certificate and for your pet's to be fully vaccinated at least two to three weeks before boarding.

Bringing a new family member into the home is often a much awaited event for existing members of the family. However, there are many factors that need to be considered to ensure your new pet settles in to the family including introducing existing pets, house and toilet training and healthcare.

Congratulations on the arrival of your new family member. The following information is provided to help you with all the necessary health care your new dog will require, including vaccination, nutrition, dental care, desexing, worming, flea control, heartworm prevention and microchipping.

Castration is a relatively easy procedure to perform, fast and inexpensive, and in the long run has many benefits over vasectomizing pet dogs.

This article provides information on when you should have your pet desexed, what is involved in the procedure and some of the myths of desexing.

It goes without saying, desexing prevents the devastating destruction of unwanted kittens and puppies who end up in shelters and rescue facilities, but there are also important medical and behavioural benefits to consider.

Exercise is as important as feeding a healthy, well balanced diet to your pet. Not only will it provide essential health benefits but it will also provide mental stimulation and important social contact with other canines and people.

Get familiar with your pet's ears, so that you know what they should look like. Look out for changes on a regular basis, note changes and find out what you should do, treat ear problems and learn how to clean your pet's ears

At home eye cleaning and eye checks will keep your pet comfortable and free from eye related problems. Homecare is particularly important for pets that are more susceptible to eye problems such as dogs with flat noses and cats with long hair that can irritate the eyes. White coated pets will also benefit from regular cleaning to prevent tear staining.

There are many reasons why pet's turn their nose at the food bowl, and there is unfortunately no 'trick' to feeding a fussy pet, however here are some tips on how you can encourage eating.

By removing organs that produce hormones your pet's metabolism is likely to slow down. This means less food is required to maintain the same body weight. If your pet has recently been desexed it is very likely you will need to decrease the amount of food your pet is receiving and maintain a healthy exercise regime.

If your dog jumps to the sound of the word 'schmako' or your cat lives for a special treat then it is likely you are one of many pet owners who are tempted to sneak their pet a snack. For most pets,

A dog's dietary requirements change depending on its stage of life, activity level and physiological state. For instance, a growing puppy requires high levels of many nutrients, like protein, to develop strong bones and muscles. Older dogs do not require nearly as much protein, in fact high-protein diets can over-tax body organs such as the kidneys and actually shorten the dog's life.

We are often asked about bones, "Am I supposed to feed my pet bones?", "What sort of bones are best?", "How often should I feed my pet bones?" We answer these questions and give you some handy tips on feeding your pet bones.

The feeding requirements of a puppy vary depending on a number of factors including breed type, sex of your dog, age and their activity level. From birth to about 3-4 weeks of age, a mother's milk should satisfy a puppy's nutritional needs. From 4 weeks onwards a puppy will need solid food supplements.

Fleas are tiny dark brown parasitic insects that infest the coat and skin of pets. Find out how to tell if your pet has fleas, how pets get fleas, prevention and why it is important all year round. The flea lifecycle and the products that can help destroy the flea lifecycle.

Flies carry bacteria and are capable of causing not only damage to the body of your pet, but serious stress and discomfort if not repelled. If flies have access to infected skin, they can lay eggs inside the wound and these eggs are what will hatch to become maggots.

From time to time your dog or cat will require medication such as worming tablets, or antibiotics. Giving tablets to your pet can be tricky business so here's a few tips that can help make medication time less stressful for you and your pet.

Shampooing your dog for the first time, or not sure how often your pet should be washed, and what about hydrobathing? Check out our tips for shampooing here.

Although the heart, liver, kidneys and general circulation may all be affected, heartworm is primarily a disease of the lungs. A pet's body reacts to the presence of the worms in the blood vessels, resulting in clot formation, bleeding through vessel walls, and inflammation of surrounding lung tissues.

Most breeds have a characteristic list of inherited defects. Some of these defects occur at an unacceptably high frequency. Being aware of specific breed defects can help potential pet owners to make informed decisions when buying puppies.

Microchipping is a permanent form of identification for your pet. Inserting a microchip is like a vaccination, it only takes a few seconds. The procedure is very safe and your pet will feel little

Understandably nail clipping can be a stressful if not frustrating time for dogs and dog owners. However keeping your dog's nails neat and tidy is essential for preventing potential breaks, tears, ingrown nails and soreness as well as other problems related to posture and back care.

Raising an orphaned litter of puppies can be a time consuming exercise but one that is associated with many rewards. Puppies may be orphaned for many reasons such as rejection by their mother,

All about puppy health care including introducing your new puppy, bedding, nutrition, toys, house training, socialisation, microchipping, vaccination, dental care, desexing, heartworm prevention, flea control, worming and grooming

Playing with puppy-friends in a new environment such as the local park or beach is a very exciting time for any puppy. However, there are a number of highly contagious diseases which exist in the

You should expose your puppy to as many of the things he/she is likely to encounter as an adult as possible. Here's how you can have peace of mind for your pet's safety and give them adequate opportunities to socialise.

Irritated skin can be a result of many problems such as skin diseases, allergies, ear problems and other illnesses. However, it is a good idea to rule out fleas as they are extremely irritating and when left to breed and multiply, they can cause other related issues such as a flea allergy.

There’s nothing like coming home to find your favourite pet curled up asleep, cute as anything…on your favourite jacket. As much as we adore them, the same cannot always be said for their stray hairs

The epidermis is the body's environmental shield that works as a barrier against injury, disease, and damage from ultraviolet light and is constantly replaced. Canine epidermis has a turnover rate of 20 days ...

Obtaining a urine sample from your pet can be tricky business. If your veterinarian or veterinary nurse has asked you to collect a urine sample from your pet at home, here are some handy tips on how to go about it.

We are all aware of the importance of vaccination in preventing animals from becoming seriously ill. Fortunately, most pets need no special care following vaccination as they show no obvious response

Vaccinations are vital in protecting our pets from contagious and often fatal diseases. Here is a list of the most commonly discussed dog diseases we vaccinate against and some of the names you will hear used.

This video provides instructions on how to use a spot on treatment such as Activyl, Revolution, Advocate or Advantage. Spot on products generally treat or prevent fleas and a number of other parasites such as heartworm and intestinal worms.

Visit this link for more detailed information - Giving your pet tablets

Is your pet a healthy weight? Use the visual indicators to select a Body Condition Score for your pet.

Do you know what the ideal body weight is for your pet? Use this handy list to find your dog's breed and their ideal weight range. If you think your dog is overweight make sure you see use our body condition score report.

Obesity is the most common nutritional disorder seen in cats and dogs. The most recent figures reported in Australia claim 41% of dogs and 32% of cats are considered to be obese. On average an

What is the reason behind that great big open mouthed grin? Dogs pant for a number of reasons and although it is usually nothing to worry about, sometimes it can be serious. Here are some common

Worms can have a serious health effect on puppies, so intestinal worming should never be overlooked. As a rule, all puppies need to be wormed every two weeks until 12 weeks of age, then every month until 6 months of age. After six months of age an adult dog needs to be wormed every 3 months.

If you have ever lost weight on a diet, only to gain it back again, you will probably be familiar with the term ‘Yo-Yo dieting'. So is it the same for dogs? The answer is yes. Based on a long term