The best gifts come with four legs, bright eyes and plenty of energy, but they also need a little extra planning over the holiday season.⁠ ⁠ Here’s our checklist to help your new puppy or kitten settle in safely, confidently and calmly this Christmas.⁠ ⁠

From vaccinations and microchipping to sleep needs, separation training and holiday safety, we’ve covered the essentials so you can enjoy every joyful moment.

Arrange Vet Appointments

Early The holiday period comes with public holiday closures, limited appointments and reduced staffing. If you’re welcoming a new pet this Christmas, book your initial check-up, vaccination schedule and parasite prevention ahead of time.

Avoid High-Risk Areas Until Vaccinations Are Complete

If your puppy hasn’t finished their vaccination course, avoid high-traffic environments like beaches, dog parks and play dates with unknown pets. Your vet will let you know when it’s safe to explore the world more freely.

Pet-Proof Your Home

Tinsel, small toys, wrapping paper, ribbons and edible gifts can all pose choking or obstruction risks. Do a quick “pet-level scan” of your living spaces to remove tempting items.

Microchip + Check Your Details

Busy holidays mean open doors, visitors coming and going, and lots of distractions, making it easier for new pets to slip out unnoticed. Ensure your new puppy or kitten is microchipped early, and double-check that the registry has your current contact details.

Many pets come microchipped but not transferred to the new owner, which can delay reunions if they become lost. A quick update now can prevent a lot of stress later. 

Prevent Early Separation Anxiety

If you’re home over Christmas but returning to work soon after, your puppy won’t understand why the family suddenly disappears.

To build healthy independence, schedule short periods of calm “alone time” each day, even while everyone is home. This helps prevent separation-related behaviours forming early.

Protect Their Sleep Needs

Puppies and kittens require significant sleep for proper development. With excited kids on holidays, remind the household that your new pet is still a baby and needs quiet breaks.

Crate training (for puppies) and creating elevated safe spaces or cosy beds (for kittens) help ensure they get quality rest.

Welcoming a new pet this festive season?

Speak with the team at Happy Paws! We cannot wait to meet your new fur baby.

See our Festive Season Trading Hours >>

We are thrilled to welcome two wonderful new team members: Dr Sam, who joined us on 10 November, and CertIV nurse Bobbi.

Prior To Christmas

With Dr Sam joining the veterinary team, we are delighted to be opening up more appointment spots leading into Christmas. 

• Regular trading hours until 25 Dec
• Open every Saturday morning from 8am to 12pm

Clinic Closed For A Short Christmas Break

• The clinic will be closed from Thursday 25 December through to Thursday 1 January 2026

Need a Vet When We’re Closed?

Emergencies

If something urgent arises while we’re away, please contact one of the 24/7 emergency hospitals below:

• Animal Emergency Services Carrara – 104 Eastlake Street, Carrara 4211, Phone (07) 5559 1599
• SASH – Specialist & 24/7 Emergency Vets – 20 Scottsdale Drive, Robina 4226, Phone (07) 5584 7300

Furbaby Tips during the Festive Season

Make a Holiday Activity Plan

Between unwrapping gifts, swimming, eating pavlova and playing board games, it can be hard to give your pet the attention they deserve during Christmas. Make a plan beforehand to ensure they are entertained all day long.

• For kitty-cats, especially indoor kitties, aim for two five-minute play sessions throughout the day using dangly toys, balls, scrunched paper, cardboard boxes, interactive/treat toys, and laser pointers.
• For doggos, make some frozen, stuffed Kong treats with peanut butter or salt-reduced stock as a treat or consider organising a poochy playdate or, if they’re not a fan of noise, keep them in a cool, quiet room with food, water, toys and bedding until the guests head home … or pass out.

Christmas Food and Your Pet

With all the yummy Christmas foods coming out, an important reminder about which Christmas delicacies you can safely share with your pets.

• Dangerous items that must be taken off the menu include; cooked bones, chocolate, raisins, grapes, onions, garlic, highly fatty cuts of meat, and foods sweetened with xylitol.
• Safe seasonal foods include lean cooked meat (e.g. white turkey meat), plainly cooked veggies such as pumpkin, peas and carrots, and small amounts of cut fruit such as melon, mango, bananas or blueberries.

See a list of what to keep off their Christmas menu >>

Summer Heat Hazards

Want tips on how to help you doggo or kitty deal with summer heat hazards.

See our Hot tips to keep your pet cool and safe this Summer >>

We know cats can get anxious when it’s time for the vet. Being placed in carriers and taken out of their familiar home environment can be overwhelming. But we’re here to help make the experience as smooth as possible for your feline friends.⁠

⁠ 4 Tips To Keep Your Kitty Calm

Here are our top tips for keeping your kitty calm before and during their appointment.

1. Use a Cat Carrier

Place your cat carrier in a common area of your home the night before your appointment.

This will give your kitty an opportunity to explore, smell and get familiar with the carrier ahead of leaving the home the following day.

2. Use Feliway Spray

We’d suggest using Feliway Spray on your carrier and any blankets ahead of your visit.

Feliway Spray helps to soothe your cat during travel and during vet visits. It’s a synthetic version of the feline pheromone naturally left by cats when they rub against objects in their environment. Feliway is available for purchase at Happy Paws. Ask our friendly team ahead of your next visit.

3. Cover the Cat Carrier

Cover the carrier with a towel before leaving the home to minimise stress.

Limiting your kitty’s view during the trip from home to the car can significantly reduce stress and create a calmer experience.

4. Bonus – Choose a Stress-Free, Cat Friendly Vet

Choosing a Vet that promotes a calm, safe and secure environment for cats makes a big difference.

Happy Paws is a Gold-accredited Cat Friendly Clinic and has the facilities and space to ensure your kitty has a stress-free experience.

Stress-Free Cat Vet Visits At Happy Paws

If you have a kitty cat and are planning a visit to our clinic, be sure to use the cat friendly entrance on the left hand side and enjoy the cat friendly Gold Accredited environment.

Unsure of the best cat carrier to use? See our tips for Choosing the Right Carrier To Bring Your Kitty To Happy Paws

Saturday Trading at Happy Paws

September 2024

• Business as usual (open every Saturday 8am to 12midday)

October 2024

• Closed Saturday 12th
• Closed Saturday 19th

November 2024

• Closed Saturday 2nd for standard clinic operations (OPEN FOR SANTA PAWS 🎅🐾)
• Closed Saturday 16th
• Closed Saturday 23rd

December 2024 – onwards

• Closed Saturday 7th
• Closed Saturday 21st
• Regretfully, we will be closed every second Saturday until further notice.

Temporarily reducing our Saturday trade is always a difficult decision and we understand how disappointing this is, particularly for those who have limited availability.

We hope to return to being open every Saturday once we find our new PAWfect team members – be sure to send us PAWSitive vibes! 🐾🌞

If Saturday’s are your preferred day for appointments, please be sure to get in early as they fill up quickly and please be patient with our team in the event we are unable to squeeze you in.

Need a Vet When We’re Closed?

Emergencies

• If your pet needs urgent veterinary care on a Saturday we are closed, please contact Animal Emergency Services Carrara on (07) 5559 1599

🙏Thanks for your patience during this time and as always for your ongoing support and we’ll continue to bring you updates with how we’re getting on.

Pet osteoarthritis is a common degenerative joint disease that affects animals, particularly older pets like dogs and cats. It’s similar to osteoarthritis in humans and involves the progressive deterioration of the cartilage within the joints. Cartilage acts as a cushion between bones, allowing for smooth movement, but when it wears away, bones can rub against each other, causing pain, inflammation, and stiffness.

Also known as arthritis,  osteoarthritis in your kitty or doggo can be tricky to pick in its early stages. Changes in the joint aren’t yet visible and, with four legs, our dogs and cats can shift their weight and posture to cope with pain.

Several factors can contribute to the development of osteoarthritis in pets, including genetics, age, obesity, joint injuries, and certain medical conditions. Common symptoms of pet osteoarthritis include limping, stiffness, difficulty rising or lying down, reluctance to jump or climb stairs, and behavioural changes like irritability or withdrawal.

“Is my woofer just slowing down as he ages?”

Owner’s may think, “he’s just slowing down,” or “he’s just a bit stiff.” Many don’t notice that their pet is not as willing to move around and play as he once was, as the changes within the joint is so gradual. Unfortunately, by the time it becomes obvious, the arthritis is quite advanced and will be causing considerable pain.

Pet Osteoarthritis Symptoms – When to Contact A Vet

It is important to get in touch with us if you notice any of these symptoms:

• Stiffness when getting up after sleeping (yes, just like us humans!)
• Limping or stiffness after a walk or exercise
• Licking or gnawing at joints or paws
• Puffy joints
• Abnormal gait
• Reluctance to walk upstairs or jump
• Reluctance to play and run
• Change in behaviour such as aggression when picked up
• Difficulty grooming
• Postural change or muscle wastage
• Hesitant to jump from heights
• Spending less time playing and more time sleeping

Pet Osteoarthritis Treatments

Let’s start with a consultation to establish a treatment plan. It’s important to note that the pain of arthritis can be treated!

Treatment for pet osteoarthritis aims to manage pain, reduce inflammation and improve mobility. We may recommend things such as medications (eg nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs & joint supplements), weight management, physical therapy, exercise modification, and in severe cases, surgery.

Your Friendly Local Vet Can Help

Early detection and intervention can help improve the quality of life for your furry family member with osteoarthritis.

If you’re thinking this could be more than just slowing down with age, please contact you friendly Coombabah Vet team at Happy Paws Vet Clinic.

We always strive to provide you with exceptional service, value for money and to give your furry family the best veterinary care possible.🐾💙

In this article, we’ve got your New Year’s resolution sorted: dental health and hygiene for your pet, plus we say hello to some regular and a first time doggo and kitty visitors (have you seen our ever growing Furry Family Wall of Happy Heroes?). We also provide a reminder of the importance of tick prevention and how best to look after your furbabies during these mighty hot summer months. You may have also noticed the lovely Anna who joined the awesome Vet team around 3 weeks ago for her university placement. And yes, we do offer GapOnly as a payment option. We explain more below.

Enjoy the wrap up and if you would like to chat with us about any pet care matters, we are here to listen, guide and assist.

New Year’s resolution sorted: Pet dental health and hygiene

Dental checks on all our pets is super important, starting from a very young age. Dr Jess, Dr Tiana and Dr Vanessa check to make sure all the deciduous (baby) teeth are coming through correctly during our puppy and kitten health checks. Our team can identify overcrowding, retained deciduous teeth as well as missing and fractured teeth which can be very painful and cause lifelong dental issues.

Our advice to you –  Get your fur kids used to having their mouth examined. Puppies should have 28 teeth and kittens 26. These super sharp needles (aka. deciduous teeth) are replaced by adult teeth, 42 in a dog and 30 in a cat! Btw, can you spot the baby tooth in this pic above?

Pink is in!

Whoever said blondes have more fun, clearly never dyed their hair pink! 😎 We couldn’t resist getting a picture of Nurse Ash and guest in clinic, Porsha.

GapOnly

GapOnly reviews and calculates your pet insurance claim while you wait. We explain GapOnly more here. If you are wanting to utilise GapOnly at your next visit, please be sure to flag this to our team so we can do our best to try and accommodate.

It sure has been hot! Please check your pet’s ears.

Keep an eye on your fur kid’s ears. With all the crazy heat, wet, humidity of late, have you noticed your fur kid is shaking their head or scratching their ears more than usual? It might indicate a problem with their ears. It’s a good idea to check your pet’s ears when you’re giving them a pat or brush. Keep an eye out for the following signs:

• black or waxy discharge in the ear canals
• red scratches on their ears
• a yeasty or strong odour coming from the ear canal
• irritation or pain when you touch their ears

If you notice any of the above or have any concerns, it is always best to bring them in for a check-up.

Hey Ziggy, all is good

“You’re going to put the thermometer where?!” Ziggy. All went well, btw 🙂

Importance of regular paralysis tick prevention

Regular paralysis tick prevention is really important for all our pets! Tick paralysis causes progressive weakness of your pet’s muscles, and can therefore cause symptoms such as breathing difficulties, leg weakness, a different-sounding “meows” and “woofs” and regurgitation. Severe cases can sadly prove fatal, even with treatment.

It’s best to apply veterinary standard tick prevention to your feline friends and precious pooches on a regular basis, and check them for ticks daily during peak tick season. Ask our friendly team of vets for advice on how to best protect your best mate against these dangerous parasites. Also see Protecting your pet with pet vaccinations and flea and tick prevention

Thank You, Anna

Have you noticed a new face around clinic? If you’ve been in to see us in the last couple of weeks, you may have come across Anna. Anna is going into her fourth year of veterinary studies through Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga and currently undertaking her first clinical placement.

Under the mentorship of our veterinary team, Anna has been building practical skills and broadening her knowledge tackling some of varied cases that come through our doors.

Whilst she’s only with us for a short time, already it feels like she is a part of the Happy Paws family and we wish her every success in her studies … and who knows … maybe, we’ll see her again in the future! Continue striving for paws-itive outcomes for all pets and their owner’s Anna!

Rocky, Joey and Steve

We welcome these gorgeous fur kids to the clinic this Jan. And importantly Steve, pounced on the opportunity to have her vaccination and is now protected against some particularly nasty illnesses such as Feline parvovirus and calicivirus. Despite the National feline vaccination shortage, we have been lucky enough to get our paws on some cat/kitten vaccinations.

If you have been holding off on booking in your feline friend, get in touch with us today.

Available with participating pet insurance companies, GapOnly reviews and calculates your pet insurance claim while you wait. The process requires your treating veterinarian to ensure your clinical notes relating to your visit have been finalised, it then takes around 10minutes to be processed and you simply pay the gap (the difference between your invoice and the claim benefit under your policy).

Why we can’t offer GapOnly every time you visit?

We make no bones about it … Patient care comes first!

Whilst we will always do our best to accommodate your request to submit for GapOnly, when dealing with emergencies or during peak/busy periods, our resources will be allocated to pets in need.

What happens when we can’t offer GapOnly?

In the event GapOnly is unavailable and you are required to pay your invoice in full, please know, we can still send an electronic pet insurance claim on your behalf (generally within 24hrs of your visit) and any benefit payable under your policy will be paid back to you directly in accordance with your insurer.

Does your insurer offer GapOnly?

Visit this GapOnly Insurance Partners website to find out.

If you are wanting to utilise GapOnly at your next visit, please be sure to flag this to our team so we can do our best to try and accommodate.

Operating As Normal Except for Public Holidays

During the festive season, the clinic will be operating as per normal.

• Monday to Friday from 8am to 5:30pm
• Saturday from 8am to 12midday

Closed Public Holidays

The clinic will be Closed only on the public holidays:

• Mon 25 December 2023 – Christmas Day
• Tue 26 December 2023 – Boxing Day
• Mon 1 January 2024 – New Years Day

Need a Vet When We’re Closed?

Emergencies

• For all emergencies, please contact Animal Emergency Services Carrara on (07) 5559 1599

Furbaby Tips during the Festive Season

Make a Holiday Activity Plan

Between unwrapping gifts, swimming, eating pavlova and playing board games, it can be hard to give your pet the attention they deserve during Christmas. Make a plan beforehand to ensure they are entertained all day long.

For kitty-cats, especially indoor kitties, aim for two five-minute play sessions throughout the day using dangly toys, balls, scrunched paper, cardboard boxes, interactive/treat toys, and laser pointers.

For doggos, make some frozen, stuffed Kong treats with peanut butter or salt-reduced stock as a treat or consider organising a poochy playdate or, if they’re not a fan of noise, keep them in a cool, quiet room with food, water, toys and bedding until the guests head home … or pass out.

Christmas Food and Your Pet

With all the yummy Christmas foods coming out, an important reminder about which Christmas delicacies you can safely share with your pets.

Dangerous items that must be taken off the menu include; cooked bones, chocolate, raisins, grapes, onions, garlic, highly fatty cuts of meat, and foods sweetened with xylitol.

Safe seasonal foods include lean cooked meat (e.g. white turkey meat), plainly cooked veggies such as pumpkin, peas and carrots, and small amounts of cut fruit such as melon, mango, bananas or blueberries.

Summer Heat Hazards

For more tips on how to help you doggo or kitty deal with summer heat hazards , see our Hot tips to keep your pet cool and safe this Summer.

A massive congratulations to our Santa Paws raffle prize winners and a huge thank you to everyone who participated in our raffle this year.

1st Prize Winner (🐶)

Ash & Mitch with Barney, Marley, Mimsy, Charlie & Bambi

2nd Prize Winner (🐶)

Matthew with Pricilla

Prize Winner (🐱)

Jodi with Bentley

Funds raised

We raised a mammoth $300 from our raffle ticket sales which we have donated to Cat Rescue Gold Coast and Boxer Rescue Network Australia.

Congrats again to our winners!!

More Photos

For those who participated in Santa Paws, we’re hoping to have photos posted on our Socials in the second week of December.

Please be advised that due to unforeseen circumstances, Gold Coast Walk In Vet is permanently closed.

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We are thrilled to announce the opening of a brand new after-hours veterinary service called Gold Coast Walk In Vet.

The Gold Coast Walk In Vet offers urgent care, that is illnesses and injuries that need to be seen after hours but aren’t an emergency.

Walk In After Hours Urgent Care For

• UTIs
• Unwell assessments
• Vomiting and diarrhoea
• Itchy skin and ear infections
• Sore eyes
• Minor injuries and lacerations
• Lameness
• Euthanasia
• Gastroenteritis

Is This Part Of Happy Paws Vet Clinic?

The Gold Coast Walk In Vet will be co-located within our very own clinic! However, please note, that Gold Coast Walk In Vet are a completely separate owned and operated business to Happy Paws Veterinary Clinic.

Happy Paws Vet Clinic Hours

Essentially this means, Happy Paws Veterinary Clinic will continue to operate as normal.

• Monday to Friday 8am to 5:30pm
• Saturday 8am to 12midday

Gold Coast Walk In Vet Clinic Hours

Gold Coast Walk In Vet will initially operate

• Thursday to Sunday 6pm to 11:30pm
• (opening 7 nights/week in the new year)