Figtree Veterinary Clinic

19/12/2024

Summer 2024 has seen a concerning number of tick cases across Sydney Lower North Shore! Emergency hospitals have been treating an extensive number of tick paralysis cases.

We would like to ask all clients to check your pets for ticks daily by running your hands all over their bodies, paying particular attention to the head, ears and feet.

If your pet shows any of the below clinical signs and/or you find a tick, please call us immediately on 94284700 for advice, triage/tick removal, and treatment options:
Lethargy, vomiting, ataxia (wobbly walking), retching, difficulty swallowing, dyspnoea (difficulty breathing), laboured breathing

Out-of-hours contact (Mon-Fri 6pm-8am, weekends & public holidays)
SASH (02)98890289 or North Shore Veterinary Hospital (02)94361213

Stay safe and please keep your tick preventative treatment up to date- even one day overdue can put your pet at serious risk! We stock a variety of preventative treatment options, speak to our wonderful team today for advice on what will work best for you and your family!

Figtree Vet Team

12/12/2024

Tip #12: Have an emergency plan in place for your pet
Its a good idea to have the contact information for your nearest 24 hour emergency hospital save in your phone in the event of an accident, illness, injury, or emergency. We also recommend saving the address to your phone, and even taking a trip there in a non-emergency situation so that you are familiar with the directions, traffic levels, and parking availability before a true emergency arises.
If your pet is on any medications, taking a photo of the instruction label can be helpful in the event of an emergency to let the emergency team know.

From all of us at Figtree Vet Clinic, we wish you a happy and safe holiday!

11/12/2024

Tip #11: Don't give your pet any alcohol ❌
All alcohol is toxic to pets, so make sure everyone is aware to keep their beverage away from pet's reach while celebrating. If your pet does accidentally consume some alcohol please contact your nearest emergency centre asap for further instructions.

11/12/2024

10/12/2024

Tip #10: Don't leave lit candles unattended
Pets may end up knocking over lit candles and hurting themselves, or potentially cause a fire. Ensure any candles are kept in an appropriate holder with a stable base, and the candles are placed on an even and stable surface, out of your pet's reach. Put candles out if you leave the room (even if its only for a short time).🕯

09/12/2024

Tip #9: Keep it cool in the rising temperatures
Temperatures have been soaring lately and as our pets come with built-in fur coats, there are a few extra things we can do to keep them cool. Make sure to have lots of fresh water available for you pet (multiple bowls is usually best), take them for walks in the morning and the evening when the temperature is lower, checking the ground with the back of your hand for 7 seconds to see if it's too hot for your pet to walk on, and providing shady areas for your pet to escape from the hot sun. Things like cooling mats and paddling pools can also help to keep pets cool and avoid heat stress and heatstroke.
Sings of heatstroke can include excessive panting and lethargy in dogs and cats.
If you are worried about your pet call us on 0294284700.

08/12/2024

Tip #8: Pet-proof the Christmas lights
Christmas and the holiday period is such an exciting time for pets, there are often so many things around the house that weren't there before. While fairy lights are creative and fun, take care to secure electrical cords at outlets to prevent them coming loose, and watch out for chewing. Cord protectors and bitter-tasting sprays can help prevent chewing in some pets, but keeping the cords out of their reach will always work best to prevent accidents. 🔌💡🙊

07/12/2024

Tip #7: Keep up to date with your pet's preventative health
As many pets also get to travel during the holidays, either with their families or to a kennel or cattery, we recommend planning ahead with their preventative health. Being up to date with vaccinations, flea and tick prevention, and deworming products are essential for travel during this time. Most pet boarding facilities require up to date preventative health PRIOR to entering the facility, as vaccines especially can take up to 2 weeks for full effect. Book in now at https://www.figtreevet.com.au/book-online/ or call us on 0294284700 to help get your pet ready for their holiday so you can relax on yours! 😎🧳✈️🏖

06/12/2024

Tip #6: Plan for safe holiday travels.
If your pet is travelling during the holidays, either with you or into boarding, make sure they have their essentials packed. Things like their harness or carrier so they stay secure while in transit, their food and water (especially if they are on a specific type of food), and their medications.
It's also a good idea to stock up on their regular food and make sure they have enough medication to last until after the holidays.

05/12/2024

Tip #5: Give your pet some space of it own.
A house full of busy people and visitors can often cause our pets to get a bit overwhelmed and stressed. They may even get overstimulated (like children) and start acting in ways they don't normally, or hide. Giving your pet a quiet space to spend some time alone and away from the hustle and bustle with things like their bed, some water, and their favourite toy can help ease their stress and anxiety in this busy time.

02/12/2024

Tip #2: Leave out the leftovers in your pet's Christmas Dinner.
Most human food is too fatty or can be toxic to pets, so it's best to keep them somewhere your pet can't access. Fatty foods like ham and sausages can cause things like pancreatitis. Onion, garlic, macadamia nuts, chocolate, and grapes are toxic to dogs and cats. Cooked bones are much more likely to splinter when being ingested and can cause tears in the intestinal tract. Pet food is always the safest choice for your pet's Christmas Dinner.

02/12/2024

Tip #1: Pet proof your holiday decorations.
Many pets love to play with tinsel and strings but they can harm your pet's digestive system if they are consumed. Baubles can also break and harm your pet. Make sure to hang your decorations up high, out of your pet's reach for a safe and festive holiday season! 🎄

30/11/2024

FVC's 12 days of pet health tips for the holidays coming soon!👀

26/11/2024

🏆 Congrats to Humphrey! 🏆

With an amazing costume, Humphrey is the Figtree Vet Clinic Howl-o-ween costume competition dog winner! Your creativity and hard work have truly set you apart.

🎉 Well done, ! 🎉

12/11/2024

The Nightmare Before Christmas is over! After much deliberation, we have decided on the winners of our 2024 Howl-o-ween competition: Humphrey the dog (), and Nutella the cat! Congratulations to our winners and thank you to everyone who entered. Give us a call on 02 9428 4700 so we can personalise your goodie bags!

31/10/2024

Happy Halloween! What's spookier than a cat that glows in the dark?

What you see here is called ringworm. This is a fungal infection (NOT a worm as it's name suggests) that is common in young cats and kittens. 🐈 It can cause a rash and hair loss, usually on and around the face and ears, and is contagious to humans!😧🦠 This creepy infection can be diagnosed using a fungal culture, or sometimes by their characteristic green fluorescence under a special veterinary UV light, as seen here. Effective treatment often requires oral antifungal medications, so contact us on 9428 4700 or https://www.figtreevet.com.au/book-online/ if your cat or kitten looks like something straight out of a horror movie! 👻

21/10/2024

👀Entries are now open for Figtree Vet Clinic’s “Howl-O-Ween” costume contest! 🎃 Scare us with a picture of your pet in their most spook-tacular Halloween outfit to enter. Winners will receive a fang-tastic 🦇⚰ Halloween Treat Prize Pack!🎁
How to enter:
1: Trick or treat your pet into their best Howl-o-ween costume. Remember – safety and comfort come first! 👹🥸
2: Tag us in your pet’s best photo or video on Facebook or Instagram using , or email us on [email protected] 👻
3: Entries close on Nov 3rd, with our cat and dog division winners and runners up being announced Nov 8th 🏆🥇👑

Happy Howl-O-Ween!!!!