Russell Vale Animal Clinic

20/03/2025

If you have a nervous dog, you probably dread a visit to the vet as much as they do. 😬 However, vet visits don’t have to be filled with anxiety.

First, make sure you bring them in as much as you can! While this might seem counterintuitive, desensitising them by bringing them in just for cuddles and treats 🦴 can help them feel calmer in the future. Don’t let anxiety stop your dog from getting their vaccinations. 🐕

Second, let our vet know your dog is nervous. We can help through behaviour modification, treats, and medication. 💙

🐶 If your dog is anxious about vet visits, chat with us for advice!

19/03/2025

"I'm so happy with the service that Liz and Dirk provided my cat Possum whilst having a dental procedure. They were so informative and caring. This was Possum's first visit to Russell Vale Animal Clinic and she is usually mortified after a vet visit and hides for days under the bed. But within a few hours of Possum arriving home, she was wandering around the house wanting to chat and be affectionate again. I couldn't be.." says Erin on Google

★★★★★ I'm so happy with the service that Liz and Dirk provided my cat Possum whilst having a dental procedure. They were so informative and caring. This was Possum's first visit to Russell Vale Animal Clinic and she is usually mortified after a vet visit and hides for days under the bed. B...

18/03/2025

Modern vaccines are very safe, with only a few known but uncommon side effects. The most common side effects to vaccines in cats are lethargy and a reduced appetite. 🐱💤 For some cats, they can experience rare but serious side effects such as an allergic reaction, vomiting and diarrhoea, or a mass at the injection site.

Keep an eye out for these vaccine side effects in cats. 👀 All side effects are uncommon, however, if your cat hasn’t had a vaccine before, we ask that you wait at the clinic for 10-15 minutes afterwards just in case. 🏥

💬 Have concerns? Give us a call—we’re happy to help!

13/03/2025

Bringing a puppy into your home is an exciting time. 🏡🐶 However, just like babies, puppies need several vaccines over a number of weeks to ensure they are protected against deadly conditions like parvovirus.

Stick to the puppy vaccine schedule to ensure your new pup stays healthy. ✅ Puppies usually start with the core C3 vaccine at 6-8 weeks of age, followed by a C5 vaccine at 10-12 weeks and another C5 at 14-16 weeks. If your dog is at risk of leptospirosis, this vaccination will be on top of the normal schedule. 💉

📅 Make sure your puppy stays on track—book their next vaccination with us now!

11/03/2025

"We love the team at Russell Vale Animal Clinic. Dr Liz is always up to date with the latest treatments and she looks after our dog in a professional and caring manner. Communication with the clinic is excellent and we are provided with friendly and timely reminders of treatments when they are due. All procedures and the costs involved are explained before the event and follow up care is excellent. Would highly recommend this clinic." says Sharon

★★★★★ We love the team at Russell Vale Animal Clinic. Dr Liz is always up to date with the latest treatments and she looks after our dog in a professional and caring manner. Communication with the clinic is excellent and we are provided with friendly and timely reminders of treatments when...

11/03/2025

We get it, life is busy! ⏳ It’s easy to forget dates or miss reminders leading to our pet’s vaccinations becoming overdue. But what does that mean for our pet?

Well, for many vaccines, it means a booster vaccine will be required or even the entire ‘puppy schedule’ of vaccines done again. This is because for some diseases, the protective effects of vaccination wane quickly.

If your pet is overdue for vaccinations, don’t delay—rebook today! 📅 The sooner we restart their vaccines, the better. 🐶💉

10/03/2025

07/03/2025

"Buddy was hit by a motorbike rider on a dog beach. Liz and Dirk called to ask about Buddy and attended to him with care and compassion. I would highly recommend them for the care of your loved pooch." says John on Google

★★★★★ Buddy was hit by a motorbike rider on a dog beach. Liz and Dirk called to ask about Buddy and attended to him with care and compassion. I would highly recommend them for the care of your loved pooch.

06/03/2025

While all pets get a check-up during vaccinations, for young puppies, pre-vaccination checks are even more important.

🐾 As puppies grow, it’s important to keep an eye on their overall health so any issues can be fixed early. For example, sometimes puppies don’t lose their baby teeth as they should, and this needs early detection to avoid permanent dental damage. 🦷 Another example is monitoring bone growth to pick up any deformities or unusual growth rates early.

Health checks are just as important as vaccinations for puppies! 💛📅 Book a pre-vaccination health check for your puppy today!

04/03/2025

As dogs get older, their immune system starts to weaken. 🦴 Just as puppies are vulnerable to disease because their immune system hasn’t finished maturing yet, at the other end of life, our dog’s immune systems start slowing down. That is why it’s really important to continue vaccinating your senior dog.

Don’t forget your senior dog’s vaccines—give them the best chance at a long and healthy life 🐶 and keep their vaccines up to date. 💉

👉 Book your senior dog’s vaccination with us today!

27/02/2025

When it comes to checking your pet’s overall health, urine luck! Urine testing is a simple, non-invasive, and surprisingly informative way of screening your pet for multiple health problems. 🚰

With routine urine tests, we can:
✅ Check your pet’s urine for indications of bladder infection or bladder stones
✅ Screen your pet for kidney disease
✅ Assess your pet’s hydration
✅ See “red flags” for conditions such as diabetes, snake bite toxicity, or liver disease

For more information on urine tests for your pet, consult our knowledgeable team. 🐾

25/02/2025

A common question from owners of pets with tummy problems is: “Does my pet need X-rays or ultrasound, or both?” 🩻

Abdominal X-rays are best for assessing the overall shape and size of abdominal organs (sort of like viewing a landscape), whilst ultrasound is good for a close-up, internal view of organs (almost like using a telescope). 🔍

For more information on assessing your pet’s internal health, consult our image-informed team. 🐕

24/02/2025

"Dr Liz and Dirk are really refreshing and accessible. A good old fashioned family vet, but with all the expertise and tech!" says Julie on Google

★★★★★ Dr Liz and Dirk are really refreshing and accessible. A good old fashioned family vet, but with all the expertise and tech!

21/02/2025

"Lovely family business. Clearly animal lovers which is what we all look for when choosing a vet. I highly recommend this practice." says Lynn

★★★★★ Lovely family business. Clearly animal lovers which is what we all look for when choosing a vet. I highly recommend this practice.

20/02/2025

Life gets busy and sometimes we lose sense of how we’re feeling deep down. Have you checked in with your self today?🌻

20/02/2025

Masses on the spleen are a relatively common abdominal organ issue in dogs.

The good news is that splenic masses aren’t always as scary as they sound. 🐶

If a mass on your dog’s spleen is detected incidentally and hasn’t made your dog unwell by starting to bleed, there is a higher likelihood that it is a benign lump, i.e. unlikely to spread around the body and curable by surgical removal of the spleen. 🙌

Rest assured; when it comes to pet health issues, our experienced team is here to help. 🩺

18/02/2025

It’s not uncommon that we run blood tests on an unwell or elderly cat and find increased kidney values. What does this mean? 🐾

Elevated kidney values can indicate general health issues affecting kidney blood flow (such as dehydration), actual kidney disease, or other urinary tract problems (such as blocked urine flow).

When it comes to your older cat’s health, knowledge is power! 💡 Consult our feline-friendly veterinary team for a personalised health plan.

15/02/2025

Dirk and I have scoped out and given a big thumbs up to the new emergency clinic in Campbelltown. They have their public open day on the 22nd but we had a sneak peak this afternoon. I