Clinton Street Veterinary Clinic Autumn Newsletter 2022
2022 will likely go down as one of the wettest years on record. This is creating a few unique animal health problems, mainly with large animals getting foot problems. Additionally, we continue to see lots of cats, dogs, rabbits and birds coming through the front door and keeping all of our vets very busy.
Welcome Dr Maddie!
We are very pleased to welcome Dr Maddie to the Clinton Street Veterinary Clinic team. She graduated from Sydney University at the end of 2021. Maddie initially worked in a small animal clinic in Sydney but she has always wanted to work with cattle and horses and so moved to Goulbun in April. She has a strong interest in small and large animal surgery. She’s excited to be working with the team in the clinic and out on farm.
Continued Education
This month, both Dr Peter and Dr Nikita have gone to Brisbane to participate in continuing education courses. Peter expanded upon his knowledge of hip and hindlimb surgery, including that of femoral head excisions and toggles for hip luxation in addition to plating techniques for hock fractures. Nikita developed surgical skills for the repair of cruciate ligament tears and patella luxations in small dogs. Our team at Clinton Street Veterinary Clinic are able to do a range of modern orthopaedic procedures in house
The dangers of grain free pet food
We have been noticing that grain free pet food has become increasingly popular in supermarkets. However, recent scientific research has begun documenting potential associations between grain free food and heart disease in dogs and cats. The Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association determined that grain free diets are a marketing fad that is ‘unsupported by nutritional evidence’. Therefore it is not recommended to feed an animal grain free food at any age.
Worms in livestock
With the region being unseasonably wet, there has been an increase in sheep and goat worm burdens as the weather hasn’t been hot or dry enough to kill the worms on pasture. To quantify worm burdens and manage drenching regimes, producers should do regular faecal egg worm counts. Our trained staff do the counts in house and further provide advice as to when animals should be drenched and with what products.
Vegemite
Welcome to the family Vegemite! Our new clinic cat has been keeping his big brother Herbert very entertained.
Caring for your new puppy
Getting a new puppy is a hugely exciting time for a new pet owner. It can also be a very confussing time and so we have written about some of the most common things that we will discuss when you book in for a puppy vaccination. We encourage new owners to ask as many questions as possible during the health check as we want to get everyone off to the best start.
Vaccination
What kinds of vaccinations does my puppy need?
The standard vaccine used is the “C3” and “C2i.” C3 protects against Distemper, Parvovirus, and Adenovirus. C2i protects against Leptospirosis and Canine Coronavirus.
Additionally we can vaccinate against “Canine or Kennel Cough” using either a vaccine that goes under the skin or is dribbled into the nose. These vaccines protect against Parainfluenza and Bordetella. We will recommend Canine Cough vaccination for dogs that will be going into boarding kennels or will be visiting places where there are lots of other dogs, such as dog parks.
How often does my puppy need to be vaccinated?
6 to 8 weeks, 10 to 12 weeks, and then 14 to 16 weeks. We then recommend your dog get their first adult vaccine 12 months after their final puppy vaccine. We will send out reminders so that you don’t forget. We believe the annual vaccine is a great opportunity to examine your pet to find any health problems early, to allow you to ask any questions to an animal health expert and to ensure your dog has the highest level of protection against fatal diseases.
When can I take my new puppy for a walk?
We do not recommend you take your puppy out of the house until it has had its final and third vaccination. However your puppy can go and have a “puppy play date” to another person’s house if their dog is fully vaccinated.
Worming
What should I use to worm my puppy?
We use either Milpro or Fenpral tablets for intestinal worms if they are over 6 weeks. The dosing will depend on the weight of your puppy. However it is fine to use a worming tablet bought at a super market of pet store if it says that it is an “all wormer”.
How often should I worm my puppy?
Begin at 2 weeks old, then every 2 weeks until 12 weeks, then every month until 6 months, then every 3 months
Diet
What should I feed my puppy?
We recommend that all puppies are fed a high quality dry food diet specifically designed for puppies. These diets will contain the correct amounts of calcium, protein and fat that is required for optimal growth. It is very hard to meet a puppy’s nutritional requirements from a home cooked diet.