West Gippsland Vet Care Drouin

12/12/2024

Follow our two tips to become a master of dog walking etiquette! 🐶

Always have effective control over your dog. This means either using a leash or reliable recall. If your dog doesn’t always come when called, they should be on a leash. We recommend solid leashes fixed to a harness or well-fitted collar. 🐕‍🦺

Always carry dog poo bags and pick up after your dog. 🧴 Ensure to dispose of this waste in an appropriate bin.

05/12/2024

As temperatures climb, the surfaces our dogs walk on can become searingly hot. 🥵

While many people know pavement and bitumen can get too hot for our dog’s paws, it’s important to remember sand can also burn delicate paw pads. 🐾

If you visit the beach on a hot day, make sure your dog has plenty of access to shade and consider visiting early in the morning or late in the day to avoid the highest temperatures.

03/12/2024

If you’re planning on going camping with your dog this summer, make sure you prepare ahead of time to ensure a successful trip. 🏕️ Research the area you are travelling to and check where the nearest veterinarian is located, in case your pet becomes unwell. Bring all of their medication, food, and plenty of clean water for the duration of the trip. 🐕 Ensure their parasite control and vaccinations are up to date, particularly tick control and leptospirosis vaccination.

02/12/2024

🐍 Snakebite Awareness for Your Pets 🐾

With warm, sunny days returning, snakes are becoming more active, and it's important to keep your pets safe! 🐍

Snakebite Symptoms to Watch For:
🚨 Collapse followed by apparent recovery.
🚨 Lethargy or sudden weakness/wobbliness (ataxia).
🚨 Muscle tremors, shaking, or reduced eye blinking.
🚨 Dilated pupils.
🚨 Paralysis (partial or complete).
🚨 Inability to control bladder and bowels.
🚨 Irregular bleeding from the nose, bite site, or mouth.
🚨 Discoloured or dark urine, often bloody.

Prevention Tips:
🌿 On hot days, keep your pets away from snake-prone areas like dams, creeks, and tall grass.
🐾 Always supervise them outdoors, especially in areas with known snake activity.

If you even suspect a snakebite:
⚠️ Don’t wait for symptoms to appear—seek veterinary care immediately. Time is critical, and early treatment can save lives.

If you suspect your pet has been bitten by a snake:
1️⃣ Stay calm and keep your pet as still as possible.
2️⃣ Head to your closest vet offering emergency care right away.
3️⃣ Call ahead so the team can prepare for your arrival.
4️⃣ Never attempt to catch or kill the snake—your safety is important too.

🚨 Snakebites are always a veterinary emergency. Early intervention saves lives! 🚨

Let’s work together to keep your pets safe this snake season. Contact us if you have any questions or concerns. 🐾💛

At West Gippsland Vet Care we have over 200 years combined experience and we pride ourselves in providing Excellence in Animal Care.

28/11/2024

If your cat becomes anxious or temperamental in unfamiliar environments, 🐾 you may naturally feel a little concerned about taking them to a boarding facility.

Here are our team’s top tips for easing less easy-going cats into boarding:

Let the boarding facility know about your cat’s behavioural quirks, so they can give them a little extra TLC from the get-go 💼
Consult our vets about safe options for decreasing your cat’s stress 🐱 – depending on your pet, this may involve calming sprays, supplements, or prescribed medications
Ask the boarding facility about how you can help your cat settle in – this may involve supplying familiar bedding, treats or food 🛏️

For more personalised feline behavioural advice, consult our “clawsome” team!

26/11/2024

Can puppies and kittens go into boarding? 🐕🐱 With the right preparation: yes!

We’d recommend that young pets only attend boarding facilities once they have received all their puppy/kitten vaccinations, to ensure that they are protected against common infectious diseases. You should also double-check the specific vaccination policies of your boarding facility to confirm that your pet meets their admission criteria. ✅

Additionally, it’s important to ensure that your pet is up to date with effective parasite prevention and will remain covered for the duration of their stay.

For personalised advice on the safest infection protection for your pet, consult our knowledgeable veterinary team!

21/11/2024

If you’re planning to leave your cat in care whilst you go away on holidays 🏖️, it’s sensible to take a few precautions to ensure they’ll be able to receive prompt veterinary treatment if required.

Have a discussion with the cattery staff (or individual pet sitter/carer) regarding any pre-existing health issues your pet has, and provide the contact details of your regular veterinary clinic. 🐾

It’s also a good idea to clarify your basic wishes for if your cat were to suffer an emergency illness or injury – this may involve a monetary limit that you would automatically consent to for any urgent veterinary diagnostics or treatment.

For more information about emergency care for your feline friend, consult our helpful team.

19/11/2024

With pets and people getting out and about more in the warmer weather ☀️, we’d like to remind dog owners about the importance of consistent parasite prevention for helping to keep your pet safe!

Any dog that goes outdoors should be kept up to date with regular flea and intestinal worm prevention.

🐶 If you and your pet live in or visit a region where ticks and heartworm are present in the environment, they should also receive consistent protection against these potentially life-threatening parasites too.

For personalised advice on the safest and most thorough protection for your pet, consult our parasitology-proficient team!

14/11/2024

If you’re planning on booking your feline friend into a cattery, 🏨 you will be required to ensure that their vaccinations are up to date. What does this involve?

Most catteries require adult cats to have received at least an F3 vaccination (against feline herpesvirus, feline calicivirus and feline panleucopaenia) within the last 12 months. Ideally, this should have been administered at least 14 days prior to boarding to ensure maximum protective effect. 🐱

Vaccination requirements for young kittens can vary, so it’s a good idea to check with the cattery as to their individual policies.

For more information on feline vaccination, consult our knowledgeable team!

12/11/2024

Have you heard of CIRDC in dogs?

CIRDC refers to Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease Complex - a newer term for the contagious respiratory illness traditionally known as kennel cough. 😷

This new name alludes to the fact that the disease can be caused by a variety of different viruses and bacteria, and that dogs can contract this respiratory illness even when not attending a boarding facility.

For a personalised assessment on your pet’s risk of contracting CIRDC and how you can help to protect them, consult our cough-conscious veterinary team. 🐾

07/11/2024

Should you book boarding or a pet sitter for your dog when you go away on holidays? 🌞

Staying consistent with a familiar, high-quality holiday care environment will help your pet to settle in more quickly and easily.

If your pet is a social butterfly, 🐕 they will likely enjoy attending a boarding facility where they get to play with other friendly dogs. However, if your pet is on the quieter side or has any significant behavioural or health issues, it may be worthwhile employing a pet sitter (or wheedling favours from a responsible family member or friend!) who can care for them in a calmer home environment. 🏡

For more advice on safe holiday care for pets, consult our caring team.

05/11/2024

Safe and comfortable car travel for cats? We’ve got you covered with our team’s top feline-friendly travel tips:

📋 Line your cat’s carrier with an absorbent “puppy pad” (and bring along a few spares in a plastic bag), in case of toileting accidents 🚗
📋 On the morning of travel, offer your pet only a very light meal to reduce their chance of car sickness
📋 Ensure your cat’s carrier is securely fixed in the car, but situated where it will receive good ventilation
📋 Ask our team about the use of safe calming aids and supplements for cats 🐱

For more advice on low-stress transport for cats, consult our knowledgeable team.

24/10/2024

It’s important to always keep an eye on children whenever they are around dogs. 👶🐕

Even the sweetest dog can be put in an uncomfortable position by an energetic toddler and do something they wouldn’t normally. Teach children to respect animals and treat them gently and never leave dogs and young children alone together. Socialising dogs early can also help increase tolerance of children. With a little care and understanding, children and dogs can grow to be best friends. 🐶💕

22/10/2024

Training, like diet, can be controversial as everyone has their own take on what works best. However, we strongly believe that, based on the research, positive reinforcement training results in the best short- and long-term outcomes in dogs. 🐶🏅

Positive reinforcement training relies on rewarding good behaviour rather than punishing the bad. Punishment can be effective in the short term, but it results in fear and anxiety in pets.

Training pets should be fun! Start your positive reinforcement training today and see the difference in your dog’s behaviour! 🐾

17/10/2024

One of the most common questions we get asked around desexing is whether it will change a pet’s personality. Fortunately, the answer is simple – no it won’t!

Desexing your pet prevents unwanted pregnancies and significantly reduces the risk of reproductive cancers such as ovarian, mammary and testicular cancer. While it can reduce the incidence of certain behaviours, such as wandering, fighting and hu***ng, it won’t change your pet’s underlying personality and they’ll still be the dog you love! 🐕💕

15/10/2024

If your dog can’t stand to be apart from you, they might have separation anxiety. Signs of separation anxiety in dogs include destructive behaviour, excessive barking, and house soiling. 🐾

Don’t let your dog’s separation anxiety get the best of them. If you suspect your dog has separation anxiety, give us a call to arrange a chat with one of our vets who can provide advice and treatment. 📞

11/10/2024

Happy Vet Nurses Day! 🎉🐾

Today we celebrate our incredible team of vet nurses who work tirelessly behind the scenes (and in front!) to care for our beloved animal patients. Their passion, dedication, and kindness make all the difference, not only for our furry friends but for our entire team here at West Gippsland Vet Care.

In the photo, you'll see a few of our amazing nurses being presented with a well-deserved cake in appreciation of everything they do! 🎂💙

Join us in giving a huge shout-out to these amazing nurses who go above and beyond every day! We’re so grateful to have such a compassionate and skilled team caring for our community’s pets. 💙

10/10/2024

If your cat has been diagnosed with anxiety, one of the treatments that might be recommended is medication.

Just like how many people have to take anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medication every day, sometimes our furry friends need help stabilising their mood and feelings. 🐱

There are lots of different medications that treat anxiety, and your vet will work with you to find the best one for your cat so they can live their best life – anxiety-free! 😌