Now, imagine you’re a kitty cat. You see “the box of doom” (also known as the pet carrier), and before you can escape, your owner scoops you up, pushes you into the carrier, and drives you to the vet.

Now you’re probably feeling a little annoyed – especially if you were lying comfortably in the sun at home and were disturbed for this! But don’t worry, there are things that your hooooman owner can do to help streamline your veterinary visit so that you can be in and out of the clinic as quickly as possible.

Our VET Consultation Top Tips

1. Mention all problems at the time of booking

Our veterinarians often work on a tight schedule performing back-to-back consultations (and sometimes squeezing in emergency cases too). A typical appointment slot gives a vet time to take a recent history of your pet, examine them, briefly discuss potential diagnoses and/or treatment options for a problem, and prescribe the relevant treatment.

If your pet is very unwell or has several issues you would like addressed (e.g. vaccination plus skin problems and a behavioural issue), it’s best to mention this at the time of booking, so that we can book an extended consultation if required. Otherwise, we may have to prioritise some issues and book multiple appointments to address others.

2. Nominate the primary caregiver

When the primary caregiver accompanies the pet to appointments, it helps us to obtain the most accurate history of the pet. For example, what parasite prevention they’re on, any past health issues, diet etc. This information helps us to make the most accurate diagnosis and discuss our findings and answer any questions, as well as provide treatment recommendations. Additionally, nominating a primary caregiver is really important for times when we may require rapid decision-making. For example, consenting to a treatment plan during the consultation or if your pet is undergoing a procedure or hospital stay and their condition changes suddenly, we may require urgent permission to alter their treatment plan. If the primary caregiver cannot attend the consultation but can be available over the phone at the time, we are happy to discuss any findings and treatment plan while they are on speaker phone!

3. Bring samples if appropriate

In some cases of unwellness (e.g. diarrhoea or suspected urinary tract infection), it can assist our analysis if you are able to collect and bring along a fresh faeces or urine sample from your pet.

If required, we can then test these samples on-site to help us make a quick, accurate diagnosis and start the most appropriate treatment.

4. Correct handling of nervous pets

We are here to help if your pet is a nervous nelly and even if they are a little aggressive but please be sure to let our team know beforehand so we can take the appropriate measures in handling your pet extra carefully to minimise their stress levels whilst ensuring everyone’s safety.

It’s also important to make our team aware if your dog prefers some space and is not friendly with other dogs. We will do our best to minimize the situation by having you wait outside until the waiting room is clear.

Depending on your pet’s level of anxiety, we may suggest particular methods of gentle restraint or handling, positive distraction techniques, or even pre-emptive calming sedation.

With these simple measures, you can keep your pet’s vet visits as easy and efficient as possible. The end result for your pet? Happier vet visits, optimal healthcare, and more time at home with their favourite person – you!

Know The Happy Paws Difference

We understand that not everyone has had positive veterinary experiences with their previous clinics.

One of our clinic values is, Going Above & Beyond! We aim to exceed expectations in all that we do with you and your pets. We treat your pets like the valued family members they are.

Your pet deserves the highest standard of care and every single member of your Happy Paws team are committed to ensuring this is exactly what you’ll get each and every time you visit.

If you or someone you know has been putting off a vet visit for fear of the unknown, please tell them to reach out to us, we want to make sure everyone is left feeling 🐾PAWESOME🐾!

Please contact our friendly team in our Coombabah vet clinic if you have any questions about effortless vet visits for your furbaby.

Good dental health (with a regular pet dental care plan) throughout your pet’s life will go a long way towards maintaining their overall health, comfort and quality of life.

Puppy and Kitten Dental Care

Whilst dental health might not be the first thing on your mind when you welcome a new furry friend into the household, it’s essential that your freshly-baked pet has their mouth vet-checked early on.

It is reasonably common for puppies (and sometimes kittens) to have abnormally aligned teeth, also known as malocclusions. Malocclusions can occur due to:

• Naturally “crooked” teeth, or crowded teeth due to one or several baby teeth not falling out before the emergence of their corresponding adult tooth
• A mismatch between the length of the upper and lower jaws, so that the lower jaw is either relatively too long or short compared to the upper

Cosmetic or Something More Serious?

Depending on the severity of their particular issue, affected pets might simply have a harmless cosmetic difference or may suffer from chronic dental problems or pain due to abnormal tooth-on-tooth contact or tooth-on-gum contact (where a misplaced tooth is digging into the palate or gum every time the animal closes its mouth – ouch!).

Vet Dental Assessment and Recommendations

Our vets will assess your pet’s mouth for any existing issues (such as malocclusions or broken teeth from naughty chewing shenanigans) at the time of their vaccinations, but may also recommend re-checks later on in case any baby teeth are abnormally retained.

In some cases, we will recommend an anaesthetic for the strategic extraction of problematic teeth, which are causing your fur-babies pain and discomfort, along with some good pain relief to ensure that your baby wakes up comfortably.

Adult Pet Dental Care

By around seven months old, your pet should have all their adult teeth, so it’s important to put in place a regular routine of dental hygiene maintenance and oral health checks. After all, we want to keep those permanent chompers clean, healthy and comfortable for years to come!

How To Maintain Pet Dental Hygiene

We recommend having a chat with us about the best way to maintain your pet’s dental hygiene long-term. Depending on your pet’s temperament, a good routine might involve a combination of:

• Tooth brushing, which many dogs can be gradually trained to accept, provided they have no pre-existing dental discomfort
• Safe dental chews
• Prescription dental diets
• Water or food additives
• Regular dental scale and polish under anaesthetic

Recommended Habits

It’s a good idea to get into the habit of checking your pet’s teeth at home every few weeks, so you can detect any developing dental disease or other oral lesions as early as possible.

Ideally, this should involve:

1. Smelling your pet’s breath – if it smells unpleasant, it often suggests dental disease (or another health issue)
2. Lifting your pet’s lips – gums should appear “salmon pink” (although they may have normal black pigmented areas too) and teeth should be white. If there is any gum redness (gingivitis) or brown-yellow discolouration of teeth (plaque or tartar), your pet will require a dental scale and polish under general anaesthetic. Performing this early may prevent your pet from having any extractions!
3. Opening your pet’s mouth to check their tongue, gums and palate – any thickenings, wounds or lumps should be vet-checked promptly

Arrange Dental Care For Your Fur-baby

If you have any questions or concerns about your pet’s dental health, ask our knowledgeable vet team – we’re happy to give direction on all things dental!

If your pet is carrying some extra baggage, it might be time to take them to boot camp! Read on for our best doggie diet and fitness tips to get your pet feeling their healthiest.

Weight loss target

So, how overweight is your pet? And what is their target weight? We can determine your pet’s current body condition score (BCS) by using this chart, with five being an ideal score. A score of six would mean that your pet is mildly overweight, whereas a score of seven-to-nine means they are moderately-to-severely overweight. If you’re unsure where your pooch lies on the scale, or if they have any pre-existing health issues, then we recommend chatting to our knowledgeable veterinary team for further advice.

Once we establish what condition your pet is in, we can then estimate their target weight. Progress can be monitored by re-weighing them every two weeks (with a weight loss goal of 1-2% of total body weight per week) and re-assessing their body condition score once weekly. This can be done at home, or in our clinic if you would like some extra assistance and encouragement with your pet’s weight loss journey.

Healthy diet

It’s important to be really honest about the amounts and types of food that you’re offering to your pet, as this will allow us to ascertain the most effective dietary changes for them. We promise to offer a judgement free environment – our main focus is to help your pet live their best life.

Depending on your pet’s current body condition and their general lifestyle, we will suggest varying combinations of the following dietary changes:

1. Eliminating excessive treats and table scraps from their diet (yes, we know how hard it can be to refuse those big brown eyes), and ensuring any treats offered are healthy (e.g. Hills Metabolic Treats which are made to support healthy weight loss and weight maintenance and healthy vegetables, such as raw carrot. These should be tallied as part of their daily rations)
2. For mildly overweight pets (body condition score 6), reducing total daily food quantities by 10-20%  (starting at the lower end, and restricting further if required later on)
3. For moderately-to-severely overweight pets (body condition score 7-9),  switching to a prescription weight loss diet such as Hills Metabolic which naturally works with your pets unique metabolism and helps them feeling full for longer

Regular exercise

Regular exercise is important for keeping your pet’s metabolism chugging, and for helping to maintain healthy muscles and joints. It’s important that you exercise your dog appropriately for their condition, as overweight pets are at higher risk of becoming puffed and dangerously overheated or sustaining joint injuries. It’s best to pick low-impact activities for your dog whilst they’re regaining fitness and strength, such as walking, short bouts of swimming or wading in shallow water. Aim for a gentle-to-moderate exercise pace every day, provided that it isn’t hot or humid weather. And if your pet is panting a lot, give them a break and offer them some water.

If you need any further advice on how to take your doggo to boot camp, chat with our helpful team. We promise – there will be no pain, and awesome gains!

Additionally, given that some breeds can be predisposed to certain common genetic issues, owners can actually get some peace of mind in knowing what health problems their pet is more likely to develop, so they can be prepared for any potential care requirements.

It’s best to research a breed thoroughly before obtaining your pet. Be realistic about your lifestyle, and the amount of time you have to care for your pet each day (e.g. for exercise, grooming, training, etc) and the type of environment you can provide. There are many “breed selector” tools available online to help guide you towards an animal suited to your lifestyle.

Thorough research prior to selecting your pet will make you aware of any potential genetic issues your breed of choice may be predisposed to. In some cases, there may be preventative measures you can take to help screen or manage your pet for these issues. In other cases, it just helps to be aware so you can monitor your pet for symptoms and seek help from our veterinary team if you have any concerns.

Examples of potential issues in popular pet breeds can include:

• Greater exercise and mental stimulation requirements in high-energy/working dog breeds such as border collies, kelpies, German shepherds and beagles
• Airway/respiratory issues in brachycephalic (short-nosed) breeds such as pugs, French bulldogs, English bulldogs, and Persian cats
• Spinal issues (intervertebral disc disease) in short-legged dog breeds such as dachshunds, corgis, or basset hounds
• Heart disease in cavalier King Charles spaniels, dobermanns, and maine coon cats
• Eyelid issues (entropian) in shar-pei dogs
• Skin or ear allergy issues in poodle crosses, lagottos, French bulldogs and staffies
• Elbow or hip disease (dysplasia) in labradors, German shepherds and golden retrievers
• Increased skin and coat care requirements in sphynx cats, or long-haired cats such as ragdolls or birmans

It’s also a great idea to speak with our veterinary team if you are thinking of purchasing a new purebred pet (or have recently purchased one), as we can discuss any common health issues seen in that breed, and explain the potential management and treatment options available.

Once you’ve made the decision on your chosen breed, ensure you source your pet from a reputable breeder. Our veterinarians will sometimes work with breeders, so feel free to ask us for recommendations. Otherwise, there are trusted resources online such as  rightpaw.com.au and dogzonline.com.au.

Chat to at least a couple of breeders, and make sure to ask about any health testing they perform on their animals. It’s also strongly recommended visiting their premises, to ensure that animals are being kept in good conditions with lots of human contact, and both parents appear to be healthy and friendly.

These measures should help set you and your new companion up for many years of happy, healthy fun and snuggles!

One of the most common orthopedic conditions we see in dogs is cranial cruciate ligament disease, which is actually very similar to the injury seen in humans on the sporting field – rupture of the “ACL”. Cranial cruciate ligament disease is painful, will lead to arthritis and, if not treated correctly, can severely affect your dog’s quality of life.

The cranial cruciate ligament plays a vital role in stabilising the knee (stifle) joint. It connects the tibia (shin bone) to the femur (thigh bone) and is intricately associated with a ‘cartilage-like’ structure known as the meniscus. This meniscus plays a critical role in shock absorption in the stifle and is frequently damaged when the cranial cruciate ligament is injured.

Occasionally dogs will ‘snap’ the ligament due to overextension of the stifle joint. An example of this may be when a dog jumps from a height or turns quickly. The dog will present their injured hind leg, bearing no weight on it. Cranial cruciate ligament disease is more commonly a progressive and degenerative condition, resulting from stretching and partial tears of the ligament over time. As the disease progresses, there is a thickening of the joint and the development of osteoarthritis. The changes in the joint commonly lead to a complete rupture of the cranial cruciate ligament and damage to the meniscus. These dogs typically have a history of intermittent lameness, thickening of the joint and wasting of the thigh muscles.

Cranial cruciate disease can occur in any breed of dog but is seen most commonly in large breeds such as Labradors, Golden Retrievers, Boxers and Rottweilers. Alarmingly, approximately 50-70% of patients will eventually end up with cranial cruciate ligament disease in both stifle joints.

Examination of a dog under sedation or general anaesthetic will help diagnose the condition. If the ligament is damaged, we will be able to detect instability in the stifle. Radiographs will also reveal swelling within the stifle joint as well as signs of osteoarthritis.

If there is instability within the stifle joint, surgery is usually the best option for treatment. Some small dogs may respond to conservative treatment, such as rest and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication but may still develop severe arthritis in the future.

There are different surgical techniques for cranial cruciate ligament repair – the most common methods are a TPLO (tibial plateau levelling osteotomy) or extracapsular stabilisation procedure. If your dog ruptures their cruciate ligament, we will be able to give you more information on the most suitable type of surgery based on your dog’s medical history, size and the health of their other joints.

If you are ever worried about your pet please call us for advice. We are always here to help. 

Put simply, what you may perceive as your pet’s “bad behaviour” is, in most cases, a normal response to a situation. The problem is, it’s just not desirable behaviour from your point of view! For some pets, “bad behaviour” may even be a symptom of something else such as a medical problem or pain.

When it comes to dealing with your pet’s behaviour, we are always the best people to talk to. We will arrange a behavioural consultation with you and your pet to help exclude any medical issues. We will be able to put together a plan for your pet and make recommendations to help deal with inappropriate behaviour.

Here are just a couple of the more common behavioural problems we discuss with our clients on a daily basis:

Dogs and barking

It’s important to understand that barking is the normal way dogs communicate. A barking dog can be helpful and comforting especially when it comes to alerting you about possible intruders. Unfortunately, excessive barking can also be frustrating and disruptive to you and your neighbours.

Common reasons for barking include:

• Warning or alert
• Excitement
• Playfulness
• Attention-seeking
• Anxiety
• Boredom
• Responding to other dogs or people

In some cases, it may be necessary to change your dog’s environment. For example, if your dog always barks at people walking past the front gate, you might need to restrict your dog’s access to the front of the house.

Teaching your dog to bark on command can also help. You can also teach your dog to be quiet on command during this process. Ask us for more information and instructions on how best to do this. Dedication and persistence will be required!

Cats and urine spraying

Urine spraying is a unique activity where a cat stands with their tail in the air and delivers a squirt of urine against a vertical surface.

Why do cats spray urine?

Urine spraying is a normal cat behaviour and is considered a form of scent-marking. The urine spray holds information about sex, age, hormones and general health. Both male and female cats will spray and those who are not desexed may spray more often.

Cats will also spray when they are upset or feel threatened by another cat to deter the other cats from coming into their territory, giving them a greater sense of security.

Cats are fastidious creatures and sometimes simple changes to their routine may also leave them feeling frustrated, unsettled and more likely to spray.

Thankfully, we have tools available to help reduce your cat’s anxiety and urine spraying, such as medication and the use of a pheromone diffuser. Ask us for more information and advice, as we are always here to help.

If you have a question about your pet’s behaviour, we are the best people to ask!