Leeton Veterinary Hospital

24/11/2024

If you’ve recently gotten a puppy, you might have wondered if they can go into boarding kennels when you go away.

Boarding kennels might not be the best option for young puppies. 🐶 All dogs should be appropriately vaccinated prior to going into kennels, so that means puppies under 4 months of age might not be fully vaccinated yet.

Additionally, puppies can have high needs, so might require more hands-on support than is traditionally provided at many kennels. Other options include full-time pet sitters or relatives and friends. 🏡

22/11/2024

Looks like it’s not just the Leeton & Riverina areas that are experiencing a higher incidence rate of parvovirus currently.

Please ensure your canine friends are vaccinated 💉🐶

Due to the rise in cases of parvovirus across Australia, the AVA is reminding owners to make sure their dogs are up-to-date with their vaccinations to protect them from the highly contagious and potentially fatal disease.

All puppies from six weeks of age should be vaccinated against parvovirus and other canine diseases. Follow-up vaccinations are also required, and your local veterinarians can advise on the best type of protection for your area.

If you are unsure of your pet’s vaccination status you should contact your veterinarian for advice.

22/11/2024

Looks like it’s not just Leeton & the Riverina that are experiencing higher rates of parvovirus currently.

Please ensure your canine friends are vaccinated 💉🐶

Due to the rise in cases of parvovirus across Australia, the AVA is reminding owners to make sure their dogs are up-to-date with their vaccinations to protect them from the highly contagious and potentially fatal disease.

All puppies from six weeks of age should be vaccinated against parvovirus and other canine diseases. Follow-up vaccinations are also required, and your local veterinarians can advise on the best type of protection for your area.

If you are unsure of your pet’s vaccination status you should contact your veterinarian for advice.

20/11/2024

If you’re planning to go away this summer, it’s important to plan how your dog will get vet care while you’re away. 🌞

If you’re taking them with you, ensure you have enough medication to last while you’re away and look up your closest veterinary clinic, particularly for after-hours care. 🐕

If they are staying home, ensure their caregiver knows who your vet is (both in-hours and after-hours) and how they will pay for treatment if you cannot be contacted.

17/11/2024

It can be difficult to medicate a cat. 🐾 However, these days, when it comes to anti-parasitic treatments, there are so many options that even the fussiest cat can tolerate.

It’s important your cat has protection against fleas, worms and ticks year-round if they go outside (even on a leash). 🌳 If they’re indoors only, they still require treatment against worms and fleas, however often at a reduced frequency.

Contact the clinic if you aren’t sure what your cat needs.

14/11/2024

We hate Parvo.

We hate Parvo because all it takes to prevent this deadly disease are readily available vaccinations.

We hate Parvo because of how sick it makes your new defenceless little puppy.

We hate Parvo because it is a horrible disease that strips the lining of their intestines causing vomiting and diarrhoea that, even with medications from us, continues to ravage and destroy their little bodies.

We hate Parvo because even with all the love, care & treatment we put into trying to get them well again, some still die without warning.

We hate Parvo because it seems that everyone is aware of this deadly disease and yet, not everyone vaccinates their vulnerable pups against this killer virus.

We hate Parvo because we know that vaccinations could have prevented your worry & heart ache over a sick pup, but now you also have to worry about your pup receiving what may be lengthy treatment with no guarantee that they will survive.

In the past week, we have had a huge increase in Parvo cases. If you have a pup under 18 months of age and you have NOT had them FULLY VACCINATED – they are at an increased risk of contracting Parvo – and they might die.

These are the facts.

PLEASE vaccinate your puppy! And tell your friends and family to do the same.

13/11/2024

It’s no secret, we love seeing new puppies 🥰

Lilly the Husky graced us with her presence this afternoon. She was such a good dog for her vaccination but when it came to trimming those puppy nails, that’s when she decided to start singing for us 🎶 🐶 😆

We look forward to seeing this gorgeous girl grow 💞

13/11/2024

If you’re planning on putting your dog in boarding these holidays, it’s important their annual vaccinations are up to date. 🐕

Most kennels will require proof of a C5 vaccination in the past 12 months to be accepted for boarding. However, if you really want to ensure your dog is protected, they need to have the vaccine booster at least 2 weeks prior to boarding, to ensure maximum immunity.

Contact the clinic today if you need your dog’s vaccines boosted. 🏥

10/11/2024

One of the most common infectious diseases in cats is called ‘cat flu’.

Just like the flu in humans, cat flu can be caused by several different viruses, including calicivirus and herpesvirus. 🤒 While often self-limiting, it can cause severe disease in some cats. If your cat develops a persistent cough, heavy nasal discharge, ulcers of the mouth or nose, inappetence or has difficulty breathing, they should see a vet. Treatments are available to reduce symptoms. 🐾

06/11/2024

When going away on holidays, it can be difficult to know what’s the best option for your cat. Should you book a pet sitter, or should you take them to a cattery? 🐱

When trying to decide, take into account your individual cat’s needs and personality. If they have medical conditions or are elderly, they might require additional care. 💼 Never leave your cats unattended for extended periods of time.

If you’re unsure what’s best for your cat, our team would be happy to guide you.

03/11/2024

Whether your dog loves going for a drive or not, it’s important to always prioritise safety. 🐕‍🦺

Dogs should be secured in the rear of the car, using either a car harness and tether or a travel crate. This is because in an accident, dogs could become airborne and risk serious injury to themselves and others in the car. 🚗

If travelling in a ute, ensure dogs are tethered appropriately to the middle of the tray so they cannot fall off the sides. Never leave a dog in a hot car.

01/11/2024

These two siblings came to see us this week. Little Miss Molly was here to be desexed and her big sister Miss Roxy needed to have her teeth cleaned & polished. 🥰 After they had both recovered from their anaesthetics, we reunited them so they could snuggle together until they went home. 🏡 ❤️

27/10/2024

When young children and cats need to share the same space, we recommend a few safety measures to help ensure the enjoyment and comfort of both parties.

Firstly, children below seven years of age should be supervised with cats, as they cannot always reliably read feline body language to know when the cat’s had enough!

Secondly, we advise that every cat living with children has at least one child-free retreat zone (such as an elevated bed or a room cordoned off by a baby-gate) where they can hide if they are feeling overwhelmed.

With the right prep, cats and children can become purr-fect friends! 😻🧒

23/10/2024

Whilst choke chains and prong collars are occasionally still used for helping to control strong or excitable dogs, we strongly advise against their use. ⚠️

These types of collars can potentially cause permanent damage to the windpipe or the soft tissues around the neck, not to mention being painful for the dog.

Instead, we recommend training your pet with gentle walking aids, such as humane headcollars. For recommendations on humane walking devices and positive method trainers who can help guide you and your dog to calmer walks, please contact our knowledgeable team. 🐕

20/10/2024

Whilst desexing your cat has numerous health and behavioural benefits, it’s good to be aware that this procedure will also usually slow your pet’s metabolism slightly in the long-term.

To prevent your cat gaining unhealthy weight at maturity, we’d recommend the following:
Switching adult cats to a complete and balanced diet designed to control their weight – ask our team for recommendations if you’re unsure
Encouraging your cat to exercise daily through outdoors exploration time or indoor play with toys 🎾

For more advice on assessing and supporting your cat’s body condition, consult our health-happy vets! 🐾

16/10/2024

*Whispering* Does your pet get very anxious with loud noises such as fireworks, thunderstorms or unexpected yelling? 🎇🌪️

Unfortunately, if not treated correctly, noise phobias can worsen over time and may result in your pet developing destructive or self-endangering behaviours in their panicked attempts to escape.

If you suspect that your pet has a noise phobia, we’d recommend a prompt consultation with our soothing vets. Depending on your pet’s particular issue, we can make recommendations on behavioural modification and/or calming medications to help quieten their fear. 🌿

14/10/2024

Merlin is a very lucky kitty.

His family saw him get bitten by a brown snake on Saturday. They immediately called us before they brought him in for treatment. This allowed our team the time to prepare for his arrival.

Once Merlin arrived, he was promptly placed on intravenous fluids and given antivenin. He was also placed in an oxygen tent to help with his breathing while the treatment was being given.

Merlin had recovered well enough to go home the next day.

We have already treated a lot of snake bites this season. Be aware when you are out & about with your pets and if you suspect they may have been bitten, get them to the vets ASAP for their best chance of survival!

13/10/2024

Feeling a little concerned that your dog has been recommended to trial an anti-anxiety medication?

Rest assured that fluoxetine, one of the most common anti-anxiety medications recommended for dogs, is well tolerated by most pets in the long term and usually has good success in helping them to feel a lot calmer too! 🐩

In the first few days of therapy, some pets may feel a little nauseous, but this can be managed with anti-nausea medications if required, and generally passes quickly.

So, when it comes to anti-anxiety medications in pets, don’t stress!