Each year thousands of dogs end up in pounds and shelters. Many are euthanased. This is often the result of a lack of proper socialisation and training. We recommend that…
Do you have a mixed breed dog? Have you ever wondered ‘where’ he or she came from? Are you curious about his/her physical and behavioural traits? Almost 50 % of…
Dogs and cats make wonderful companions. A lot of emotion is involved in choosing a pet, but don’t fall into the trap of making an impulse decision. It pays to…
Humans have had companion animals for thousands of years. Having a dog can help people achieve health goals, such as lowered blood pressure and increased fitness, or mental goals, such…
When it comes to budgeting, it is impossible to prepare for accidents or illness and when considering our pets, this usually means vet bills. Without government funded healthcare for our…
It may break your heart to see your beloved pets whiten around the muzzle, struggle to stand, or even not be able to play the way they used to, however…
From the age of 7 your pet’s health can change.Although your pet may still look and behave like a youngster, after their 7th birthday (or 5th birthday for large and…
As our beloved pets get older, the ravages of age seem to creep up on us. The symptoms of old age are often not noticed until ailments are quite advanced,…
There are now more pet cats than dogs in the North America. Improved nutrition, prevention of infectious disease and advances in veterinary medical care have resulted in pets living longer…
Hidden household dangers for your pet. The warmer months bring not only spring flowers and summer barbeques but also hidden household dangers. Many people are unaware of the many toxic…
Knowing some first aid for your pet when they are injured can make a huge difference in helping to make them comfortable before you can get veterinary attention. A common…
Applying topical medications to your pet can sometimes be a challenge. The information provided in this handout may help make treating your pet easier – for both of you. What…
Administering ear medications to your dog can be challenging. Remember that your pet’s ears may be painful and that even a normally gentle and passive dog may respond by struggling,…
Two routine injections that have to be given by owners involve the administration of insulin in the treatment of diabetes mellitus and administering allergenic extract injections to control skin allergies.…
The easiest way to give your dog a liquid medication is to mix it with some canned food. To ensure that the medication is swallowed, it is best to hand…
There is a common adage that owners with obese dogs or cats are “loving their pets to death”. And this can be taken quite literally. The extra treats or the…
Spring marks the start of Tick Season and this is proving to be one of the worst tick seasons on record. The tick season started early this year and we…
Primary vaccination is essential in order to prevent the once common puppyhood and kittenhood diseases that caused high levels of fatality from returning. However, recent research indicates that all vaccines…
The advent of vaccines represents one of the cornerstones of modern medicine. There is no question that vaccines control diseases which produce significant morbidity and mortality in our pets and…
When did you last see a dentist? Many of us will often neglect a regular visit to the dentist while trying to schedule our busy lives, but have you ever…
It is fair to say that the weather this summer has been extreme – excessive heat followed by excessive rain and fierce storms. Despite these changing weather systems, summer is…
In the midst of Winter, the rivers of sneezes herald the flu season. The viruses that cause these ailments in humans are highly contagious to other people but do not…
With the warmer weather and the drier conditions, snake sightings have risen dramatically, as too have the cases of snake bite cats and dogs. In the past month alone, we…
It is that time of the year again. For many of us, winter brings aches and pains, and your companion animals also feel these ailments. Help is close by. You…
Does your dog have trouble getting up in the morning and seem a bit stiff? Unfortunately, arthritis can be a real pain in the neck….. hip, elbow or back. Pains,…
Some readers may have heard the following before but we often find that a reminder never goes astray. Not only does Summer bring good times but it also brings some…
It is estimated that 20% of middle-aged dogs and 90% of older dogs experience the pain of osteoarthritis in at least one joint in their body. This disease can be…
WestVets are accredited for Stem Cell Therapy As most people are aware, arthritis is a painful condition in both people and pets. Traditionally arthritis has been treated with a combination…
This information sheet is provided to you to give you all the information you need to understand what a diagnosis of cruciate ligament disease means for you and your dog.…
As our pets age, the tissues lining the bones and joints may deteriorate and degenerate. Degenerative Joint Disease (DJD) describes chronic arthritis or osteoarthritis which is a gradual deterioration of…
What is pyoderma? Pyoderma is defined as a bacterial skin infection. It comes from the Greek words pyon meaning “pus” and derma meaning “skin”. Pyoderma may also be referred to…
What causes sarcoptic mange? Sarcoptic mange is caused by a parasitic mite that burrows just beneath the surface of the skin, Sarcoptes scabiei. The mite feeds on material in and…
The ear mite Otodectes cynotis is a surface mite that lives on cats, dogs, rabbits and ferrets. It is usually found in the ear canal but it can also live…
What is an allergy? An allergy is a state of over-reactivity or hypersensitivity of the immune system to a particular substance called an allergen. Most allergens are proteins. The allergen…
What is feline herpesviral conjunctivitis? Conjunctivitis is a medical term used to describe inflammation of the tissues surrounding the eye. These tissues include the lining of the lids and the…
What is a corneal ulcer? The cornea is the transparent, shiny membrane which makes up the front of the eyeball. Think of it as a clear window. To understand a…
What is cardiomyopathy? Cardiomyopathy is a term used to describe diseases of the heart muscle. In cats, three classes of cardiomyopathy have been described: hypertrophic, dilated and intermediate or restrictive…
Many of us have some knowledge of diabetes. What you may not know, is that it happens to be one of the most common metabolic conditions affecting dogs and cats.…
Feline immunodeficiency virus or FIV is an all too common and insidious virus affecting our feline companions. FIV is closely related to the human AIDS virus, hence it is commonly…
How common is dental disease in cats? Dental disease is one of the most common conditions seen by veterinarians. Approximately two-thirds of cats over three years of age have some…
What is pancreatitis? The pancreas is a vital organ which lies on the right side of the abdomen. It has two functions: When the pancreas becomes inflamed, the disorder is…
What is constipation? Constipation can be defined as an abnormal accumulation of feces resulting in difficult bowel movements. This may result in reduced frequency or absence of defecation. The feces…
When considering what sort of animal to buy for your next pet, maybe you should consider a ‘pocket pet’. While here in Queensland the type of pocket pets we can…
Keeping a few chickens in the backyard is not only pleasurable but can be beneficial to your kitchen and gardens. One of the most common reasons for keeping pet hens…
