Balmain Village Veterinary Clinic

17/02/2025

The liver is an amazing organ, but it can become damaged, leading to elevated liver enzymes on blood tests. 🩸

While mildly elevated levels might be insignificant, significantly high levels could indicate serious issues. Regular testing is essential for early detection. 🐶

Call us to book your pet’s routine blood test and keep their liver in check.

13/02/2025

Happy Valentine’s Day❤️ With a wag or a purring tone,
A dog or cat means you’re never alone.
Through every joy and every tear,
Their love stays constant, always near.

12/02/2025

Cats are experts at hiding illness, often only showing signs when they’re seriously unwell. Regular blood tests can help detect common conditions like kidney or thyroid issues before symptoms appear. 🧪

If your cat is over 8 years and hasn’t had bloodwork done in the past year, now’s the time. 🐾

Call us to schedule a blood test for your feline friend!

11/02/2025

Meet Gimlet, the coolest corgi puppy on the block! With ears bigger than his body and a personality even bigger, this little dude is stealing hearts one paw at a time. Adorable? Obviously. Unforgettable? Absolutely.

10/02/2025

As pets age, their risk for conditions like heart, kidney, liver, and joint disease increases. 🩺 Dogs between 6–8 years and cats over 8 are considered geriatric.

Regular checkups allow early detection and treatment, keeping your furry friend healthy and happy. 🐕

Book your senior pet’s health check today—early detection makes all the difference! 🌟

07/02/2025

Today, we had Marvin ❤️come in for his K-laser treatment 🐈‍⬛
The K-laser is a drug free option for pain management & tissue healing.
-Increases circulation
-Decreases inflammation
-Reduces pain
- Enhances tissue healing
Please call the clinic to book your appointment ☺️
relief

05/02/2025

Omega 3’s and other essential fatty acids aren’t just good for you; they’re vital for your pet’s health too! 🐾

They support heart, brain, and joint health. While some foods like skin-on salmon contain these nutrients, not all pet diets include high-quality fatty acids. 🐟

Fortunately, supplements are available. Contact our clinic to see if Omega 3 supplements could help your pet thrive! 🐶

03/02/2025

Have you heard of a ‘heart murmur’ before? Normally the heart makes a clear ‘lub dub’ sound, but when blood flow becomes turbulent, it sounds more like a ‘woosh.’ 💓

This could indicate conditions like valve degeneration or an enlarged heart. If your pet has been diagnosed with a heart murmur, it’s important to monitor them closely. 🐱

Call us if you’d like to discuss heart health for your cat!

27/01/2025

Did you know that long-haired and elderly cats usually require some assistance to help prevent fur-soiling or matting? 🐱

To facilitate low-stress grooming, it’s best to aim for “little and often” to prevent significant knotting from developing in the first place. This means brushing and/or combing your pet several times weekly.

You can also trim fur away from any common problem areas, such as around your cat’s tummy, bottom and back legs – ask our team about this if you’re unsure.

If your cat is becoming stressed or cranky with grooming, we’d recommend a check-up to help rule out any medical issues that could be affecting their tolerance. With our team’s help, there’ll be no fluffing around! 🧼

23/01/2025

22/01/2025

If you’re planning to move house soon with your cat, check out these tips from our claw-some team to help reduce everyone’s stress! 🐾

Acclimate your cat to their travel crate in the weeks prior by placing the crate out, lining it with a soft cosy blanket, and intermittently tempting your cat inside with a few treats.

If possible, set up a calming scent hormone diffuser in the new house just prior to moving your cat in. 🏡
Try to keep your cat’s routine as consistent as possible before and after the move.

If your cat is very highly strung, ask our vets about the options for temporary calming medications.

For more advice on keeping your cat calm, consult our chilled-out team.

20/01/2025

The best present for your dog this past holiday season may have been your increased presence at home! 🎁

Unfortunately, some pets get a little too used to the constant company, and may develop symptoms of separation anxiety when it’s time for the family to return to work or study.

Symptoms of separation anxiety can include:
• House soiling
• Trembling or drooling excessively
• Attempts to escape (which can manifest as destruction of doors, walls or furniture) 🏠
• Howling or barking

If you notice any of these symptoms in your dog, we’d advise a behavioural consultation with one of our vets.

15/01/2025

Is your dog scared of nail trims? 😟
Whilst a mild anxiety can usually be managed with calm, gentle handling, a slow approach, and positive distractions (such as Lick-Mats smeared with cream cheese or peanut butter), professional assistance is recommended for more significant phobias.

Moderate to severe nail trim phobias may require one or more of the following aids:
• Pre-emptive calming medications
• Low-stress handling assistance by our experienced team 🏥
• Muzzle training
• Long-term desensitisation and counter-conditioning training
• The administration of stronger sedatives

For more help with your nervous nellie’s nails, consult our anxiety-aware team.

13/01/2025

If you’re planning to introduce a new puppy into your household, check out these useful tips to help ease the “ruff” transition! 🐶

Before bringing a puppy home, set up a small puppy-proof crate, pen or room where the puppy can be safely confined whenever you can’t watch them (to prevent house-soiling or furniture chewing).

Ask our team about the use of calming pheromones and supplements, plus the safest “puppy entertainment” toys and chews to offer. 🧸

Ensure that introductions to older pets happen gradually, under supervision, and in a positive manner, and that older pets are given frequent “puppy-free” rest periods.

For more helpful advice on new pup introductions, consult our canine-competent team!

08/01/2025

Did you know that lower urinary tract disease in cats can have a behavioural component? 🐾

Whilst symptoms such as blood-tinged urine, straining, or house-soiling can be caused by simple urinary tract infections or bladder stones, they also commonly occur secondary to an inflammatory bladder disease known as FIC (feline idiopathic cystitis).

FIC can be triggered in otherwise healthy cats exposed to a stressful event, with naturally “highly-strung” cats being at increased risk of the issue.

If your cat shows any symptoms of urinary tract problems, we’d advise a prompt check-up with our bladder-friendly vets! 💼

06/01/2025

“Why does my dog eat grass?” 🌱

Many dogs who eat grass seem to just enjoy it! The behaviour may “stem” (see what we did there?) from wild dogs consuming the stomach contents of herbivorous prey as part of their natural diet.

However, dogs may also have an increased drive to consume grass if they are suffering from short- or long-term gastrointestinal unwellness or have a nutritional deficiency.

So, if your pet is eating grass AND showing any symptoms of unwellness (such as vomiting, abnormal stools, appetite changes, weight loss, or poor condition), we’d advise a once-over by one of our vets to ensure there’s no concerning root to the issue! 🐕

01/01/2025

Unfortunately, just like in some human share-houses, multiple cats living together under one roof won’t always get along! 😼😾

Whilst overt aggression between cats is easily recognised by owners, it can be difficult to detect more subtle, passive signs of inter-cat tension. These can include resource blocking (e.g. one cat preventing another from accessing bowls, beds or toileting facilities), “stare-offs”, or symptoms of chronic stress in one or more cats (e.g. overgrooming or recurrent urinary issues).

If you have any concerns about your cat’s behaviour or health, please consult our behaviourally-brainy veterinary team! 🐾