Cooinda Vet Marulan

31/12/2024

From all the staff at Cooinda Vet we want to wish you all a Happy New Year!

We will be closed tomorrow for New Years Day but open again as usual on Thursday. As usual, we are always available for emergencies.

Thank you all for a great year, see you in the new year!

24/12/2024

From all the staff at Cooinda Veterinary Hospital, we wish you all a very happy and safe Christmas. Thank you for your well wishes, cards and gifts. This is Bertie who has been very unwell but is now on the improve.. we thought it apt that Bertie also joins in the well wishes given its Christmas!
As we have posted, there is still an after hours service available over the Christmas public holidays for genuine emergencies.
Kind regards
Liz

20/12/2024

04/12/2024

HEAT STROKE

Now that it's getting hotter, we're going to start seeing more cases of heat stroke. Unfortunately, we have already seen a fair few this year! Heat stroke is a very dangerous condition animals get when- you guessed it- they overheat!

This happens due to a variety of factors:
- hot day
- in a car
- lack of shade or water
- intense exercise
- brachycephalics (squished nose dogs like pugs and frenchies) are more at risk
- older or sick dogs
- overweight dogs

When a dog gets too hot for too long, their body can no longer regulate their temperature. Once this happens, damage to organs and cells starts to occur, causing problems such as blood clotting, inflammation and organ failure. They also get severely dehydrated, and their blood glucose drops to such low levels it can induce seizures.

Dogs will die without treatment. Even if you find them in time to cool them down, damage to organs is likely to have already occurred. If you suspect heat stroke, come to the vet as a matter of urgency - this is an emergency and every minute counts!

Photo courtesy thecaninebehaviourist.co.uk

27/11/2024

First Aid for horse wounds

Horses have a habit of injuring themselves! All injuries that draw blood should be evaluated by a veterinarian, as horses are particularly susceptible to infection of tetanus, as well as other bugs.
What you should do if your horse is injured?

1) Apply pressure to consistently bleeding wounds, with a clean bandage (which you can purchase from us) or other fabric. Do not use tourniquets on wounds.
2) Remove the horse from any dangerous areas if possible, to prevent further harm to you or your horse
3) Call your veterinarian for advice before you give any medications. We are always happy to evaluate photos and videos via our email, [email protected]
4) Keep your horse calm and secured with a halter and a lead until the vet arrives. Where possible, bring a paddock mate close by, to prevent further stress, as horses are herd animals and like to be close to one another
5) Give medications exactly as directed by your vet, particularly antibiotics

Tetanus is a deadly disease that can affect any horse with an open wound. Tetanus can occur whenever soil or dirt comes into contact with a wound- not necessarily rusty material! Your veterinarian can give a tetanus antitoxin, as well as a booster for the tetanus vaccine (2-in-1) to ensure coverage.

As always, please don't hesitate to contact our friendly team for any questions.

20/11/2024

DENTAL DISEASE

Did you know that over 80% of dogs over the age of 3 have active dental disease? (VCA, 2023).
Dogs will continue to eat regardless of pain in their mouth, as hunger will always override the pain.

Signs that your dog may have dental disease and require a check-up include;
- Bad breath
- Excess salivation
- Slow to eat, or eating with one side of the mouth
- Avoiding hard foods and bones
- Drinking excessively
- Brown/yellow plaque on teeth
- Red gums, or a red line on the gums near the tooth

We highly recommend regular checkups from your vet to grade and monitor your dog's oral health. We have attached a photo of the grades of dental disease, from 1 (mild gingivitis) to 4 (advanced disease).
We regularly do dentals at Cooinda Vet, and help many dogs feel much better, by removing diseased teeth, and scaling and polishing the healthy ones- just like what is done by human dentists!

We have attached a photo of the amount of diseased teeth that one of our vets extracted in a single dental! These teeth were very loose, causing significant pain and infection. We never remove healthy, pain-free teeth.

Please call our team if you would like an assessment of your dog's teeth and a quote for a dental.

Infographic courtesy Horsham Vet Hospital, 2021.

13/11/2024

Small Seed, Big Trouble: The Hidden Dangers of Grass Seed for Pets!

With summer approaching, we'll be seeing more and more grass seeds popping up. While they may seem insignificant, grass seeds are designed to bury in, and once they get under the skin they can cause massive problems. If left too long, these problems get worse - bones can be dissolved and lungs can be punctured, all from a grass seed. We have done many surgeries to hunt for grass seeds and fix the problems they cause!

During summer, keep an eye on your pets if they're allowed outside, particularly those with long fur. Some signs to look out for include:

- Excessive scratching or pawing at a specific area
- Redness, swelling, or pus around the eyes, ears, paws, or other body parts
- Frequent sneezing, snorting, or coughing
- Limping or favoring a specific leg (check between the toes!)
- Lethargy or signs of pain

If in doubt, please give us a ring! It is always better to get them in for a visit early if you suspect a grass seed has buried in, before it gets to the point surgery is required.

Photo from www.reshareworthy.com

06/11/2024

With Christmas around the corner, a reminder that there's a few things dogs cannot eat! The following list is a good start but is not exhaustive:

- chocolate
- fatty meat such as roast, ham or crackling
- raisins or grapes (no Christmas pudding!)
- corn cobs, cooked bones (we have had many a surgery to remove these from dog intestines!)
- onions
- garlic

These foods can be toxic, cause diseases or blockages, and can be life threatening.

Fatty foods such as pork and ham in particular can cause pancreatitis if enough is ingested. When a dog eats too much fatty food, the pancreas 'overreacts' unlike in humans, releasing digestive enzymes that also start to destroy the pancreas itself! This causes immense pain, shock and can cause death.
If you notice vomiting, lethargy, dehydration or abdominal pain, immediately give us a ring! If in doubt, just ask!

During your festivities, ensure all food is kept locked away from your pets, or at least high up out of reach. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to call!

Photo courtesy of George, Dr Cara's fur-baby :)

30/10/2024

DELICATE CARE UPDATE
Unfortunately due to a fire at the manufacturers, Delicate Care Skin and Stomach food will remain unavailable until very likely early next year. In the meantime, we recommend feeding Delicate Care Gastrointestinal, Royal Canin Hypoallergenic or Prime100 for our food sensitive animals. Alternatively, please feel free to reach out to our friendly staff for individual recommendations.
If you would like your name on a waitlist for us to contact as soon as we have the Delicate Care Skin and Stomach back in stock, please comment on this post!

23/10/2024

CALVING - when to call us?

Coming back into the calving season, we have already had cows, sheep and goats struggling to give birth and requiring our assistance. Most of the time they manage by themselves, but when there's a problem, it's important to call for help earlier rather than later.

When should you call us?
- If parts of the calf or foetal membranes (bag) are visible, and no progress is seen within 1 hour, particularly for heifers (first time calvers)
- If only one limb is visible. A calf should present with both legs and the nose coming together
- If the calf appears to be upside down or 'breech,' with the calf coming tail first and no back legs visible
- If the cow is down and unable to get up - down cows are always an emergency!
- if the uterus comes out after the calf arrives ( looks like a big fleshy bag with bumps on it that can reach the hocks).

It is very important NEVER to try and pull a calf out with any kind of machinery (eg cars or tractors). If a calf requires more force than just manual pulling to be removed (maximum 2 people), veterinary intervention is always required. Using machinery often leads to 'calving paralysis,' where the nerves of the cow are damaged and the cow may not walk again.

The longer you wait, the more likely it is for both the cow and calf to die. Complications such as calving paralysis, a torn uterus or peritonitis ( infection in the abdomen) are more likely to occur the longer the struggle.

If you are worried about a cow calving and would like some advice, please call the clinic.

16/10/2024

We have seen many cases of acidosis in sheep, goats- and sometimes cows- this year!
Did you know that these animals (ruminants) rely on a delicate balance of bacteria in their rumen to digest their food?
Changing a diet rapidly, especially feeding large amounts of carbohydrates (grain, bread or sugar like fruit) causes this balance to become disrupted, killing the good bacteria and causing an extremely acidic stomach, sometimes as low as a pH of 4! This can quickly lead to sepsis and death.
Never give your goats, sheep or cattle a large amount of rich food at once. All diet changes should be small and very gradual, allowing the bacteria to adjust.
You might expect goats in particular to be able to eat everything and anything, but this is not the case.
Signs of acidosis include;
- Quiet or dull behaviour
- Reluctance to move/ lameness
- Bloated, particularly on the left hand side. This is an emergency! See the photo of the cow
- Scouring/ diarrhoea +/- bubbly faeces
It is important for an animal to be treated rapidly by a vet if it has acidosis. It is not recommended to try and treat yourself, as many products can be dangerous if used incorrectly.

As always, please don't hesitate to reach out to our team for any questions.

Photo courtesy backyardhomesteadhq.com & onpasture.com

09/10/2024

Blocked cats... IT'S AN EMERGENCY!

If you ever see your cat (especially male cat) straining to urinate, looking "constipated", or with bloody urine, it is very likely they are blocked. This is a life-threatening emergency, as a blocked bladder puts pressure on the kidneys, which disrupts the electrolyte balance and can lead to heart failure. The bladder can also burst, leading to a "uroabdomen". If your cat shows these signs, please call us or bring them straight in. A completely blocked cat can die in as little as 3 days!

A blockage can occur due to a few reasons. There could be something in the urethra blocking it (such as a crystal or stone), or it could be because there's inflammation surrounding it causing it to swell and occlude. Sometimes this is due to a UTI (urinary tract infection), but sometimes the cause is unknown - this is called "Feline Idiopathic Cystitis" and is often related to stress.

The two main types of crystals cats get are struvite and calcium oxalate crystals.
They can be triggered by a UTI with urease producing bacteria, or can be diet related.

Some signs to look out for:
- straining to urinate or looking "constipated"
- frequent trips to the litter box, but little to no urine output
- unusual yowling or vocalising, especially when trying to urinate (it is painful)
- depressed, quiet, vomiting and slow or fast heart rate (often related to electrolyte imbalances)

Treatment involves placing a urinary catheter into the urethra to clear the way for urine to come out, and flushing the bladder. They often need to stay in hospital for a few days, to prevent reoccurrence. Sometimes surgery is required to remove stones from the bladder - an x ray can help determine this. Struvite crystals/stones can sometimes be dissolved (after unblocking!) with a special diet, however calcium oxalate stones usually need surgery.

Prevention is always better than cure - some things that might help include:
- keeping stress levels down (clean litter tray, a quiet place to escape to, Feliway diffusers etc)
- increase their water intake (keep their water clean, try a drinking fountain, include wet food in the diet)
- urinary diet (especially if they've had problems in the past)

Again, if you have any questions or are worried about your cat, please give us a ring!

(Photos from St Bennards Animal Medical Centre 2024, Anicira 2024)

02/10/2024

If you are travelling to the coast, ensure your pet is on tick prevention!

Did you know that Nexgard only protects against paralysis ticks for 28 DAYS? There have been cases of dogs being paralysed by ticks on their 29th day!
If you are taking your pet to the coast of NSW, Vic or Qld, tick prevention IS A MUST. Coastal vets are currently inundated with animals in critical condition from tick paralysis.

Ticks can be picked up from any outdoor area, and can hide down ear canals, in the gums, on the eyelids, and in other nooks and crannies that you might not see.
Tick serum, like snake bite treatment, is very expensive, and the prognosis for a tick bite is often even poorer one paralysis has begun.

What treatments will protect your dog against paralysis ticks and for how long?
- Bravecto chew- lasts 4 months
- Bravecto spot-on- lasts 6 months
- Nexgard or Nexgard spectra chew- lasts 28 days
- Credelio OR simparica (including simparia trio) chews- lasts 28 days
- Advantix OR frontline spot-on- lasts 2 weeks

We also have just stocked a new Bravecto injection that will last against fleas and ticks for A WHOLE YEAR! This is a revolutionary treatment, however is only for dogs. If you are interested in this injection, please let us know. Be mindful, this does not do mites (mange). If you're on a property, there may be better options available.

We have not had any confirmed cases of paralysis ticks being found in the local area, but it is a good idea to ensure your pet is protected just in case.

Signs of paralysis tick effects include;
- Loss or change of voice
- Weak back legs
- Vomiting
- Difficulty breathing
- Unable to stand

As always, please call our friendly team if you have any questions!

25/09/2024

Meet our team!
A newer addition to the Cooinda team, you will often find Caroline at our front desk on Thursdays and Fridays.

Growing up in the Southern Highlands, a chance encounter with a Shetland called Pinky at Eling Forest paved the way for a life surrounded by horses. Having previously worked at Danric Lodge, Dollanstown Stud in Ireland, Chapel House Lusitanos and Instone Air horse transport, Caroline came to Cooinda Vet Hospital after leaving her medical reception position at a Bowral specialist.

Caroline moved to Marulan in 2008 and has a treasured Percheron x Irish Sport Horse, Fluffy. In her spare time, Caroline enjoys going camping with her family.

19/09/2024

UPDATE: After going through numbers we have enough room for about 5 more dogs if anyone still wants a spot. 😊

ATTENTION: DOG BREEDERS
We are fortunate to have Dr Niek Beijerink (veterinary cardiologist) visiting us on 15th October. For further information and to book, see below-

18/09/2024

GDV- sudden life-threatening bloat in large breed dogs!

Recently we have seen a few cases of GDV so we thought we would share a bit more about the condition!
GDV (gastric dilatation-volvulus) is an extremely dangerous event that often occurs suddenly and without warning. It occurs when the stomach twists on itself, causing the stomach to fill with gas, getting bigger and bigger and and blood flow to be affected. It appears as a sudden painful enlargement of the belly, often accompanied by panting, excess salivation, attempts to vomit, restlessness and pale gums. The dog will often become very quiet and dull, with cold paws. At this point, chances of survival reduce.
Possible contributing causes for GDV include;
- Exercise directly after eating
- Eating large amounts of food or water quickly
- Anxious or highly strung dogs

Death can be as high as 60%, even with emergency surgery. Breeds most at risk are mainly large deep chested dogs, including Great Danes, St Bernards and German Shepherds.

If you suspect your dog has GDV, it must be brought to a vet as a matter of extreme urgency. This problem CANNOT wait.
There is an emergency surgery that can be performed (which we do at Cooinda!) to untwist the stomach and relieve the bloat, but it is expensive and can be unrewarding, particularly if left a while.

Some good easy preventatives for GDV to do at home include;
- Where possible, giving food in smaller, more frequent amounts rather than one large amount at once
- Exercising your dog, particularly vigorous exercise, BEFORE eating rather than straight afterwards
- Using slow feeder bowls to prevent rapid ingestion of food
- Always be on the lookout for the signs of GDV- no dog breed is 100% safe from this disease

As always, please call our friendly team for any enquiries regarding GDV.

13/09/2024

Today we had a visit from Willis the goat! Willis was all set to move to his new home when he decided to attempt a new Australian high jump record over a gate and missed, catching his back leg and breaking it below the hock. After splinting it while there was a lot of swelling, today we decided to cast it to give more support. With some sedation on board, Willis was none the wiser as we fitted him with his new cast. No more record attempts Willis!

11/09/2024

The snake season is beginning again!
We have already heard of reports of snake bites in dogs recently. This may be due to the uncommonly warm spring we are expecting this year. Be on the lookout for snakes! Every summer we treat many snake bites in dogs, particularly dogs that live on properties.

Treating a snakebite is very expensive given the high cost of snake antivenom. If not given antivenom, a bite from a brown snake is often fatal.
If you suspect your dog or cat has been bitten or been close to a snake, immediately bring it to your vet for observation. Signs of envenomation may take a few hours to develop.
If your dog is exhibiting some of the following signs and they may have been outdoors (even in town!) immediately give us a ring!

Signs to look for:
- Dilated pupils
- Vomiting
- Excessive salivating
- Loss of control of legs, bladder or bowels
- Tremoring
- Sudden collapse and apparent recovery- this is a critical time to bring your dog in to a vet!
- Blood in the urine

Possible ways to reduce the chance of a snakebite include;
- Keeping the grass around your dog's roaming area at a short length to prevent snakes hiding in it
- Enrolling your dog in a snake aversion training course
- Keeping your dog on a leash when walking in bushland
- Don't let your dog dig or stick their head underneath rocks, trees or other places where snakes like to hide
- Controlling rodents around your property to reduce the amount of snake prey
- Installing anti-snake devices- their efficacy is debated but may be helpful

If you have any concerns or questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to our friendly team!