Bowral Vet hospital continues to

grow!

Winter Newsletter June 2018

Bowral Veterinary Hospital

Winter Newsletter 2018

Bowral Veterinary

Hospital

78 Station Street Bowral NSW

2576

Phone: 4861 1444

Email:

info@bowralvethospital.com.au

Opening Hours:

Monday—Friday 8:30am - 5:30pm

Saturday: 9am - 1pm

Sunday: 10am - 11am

After hours service:

Veterinary assistance is available 24/7. To

contact the on call veterinarian simply

phone the clinic and a message will provide

you with the on call veterinarians mobile

number.

Our Vets:

Dr Grant Poolman BVSc, MVSc

Dr Angus Hayes BVSC, MVSc

Dr Kay Weller BVSc (Hons)

MANCVS

Dr Kate Eppleston BVSc (Hons 1)

Dr Lucy Parker BVSc (merit)

Dr Samantha Ellis BVSc, BSc

(hons), PhD

Dr Eliza D’Arcy-Moskwa BVSc, B

Equine Sc

Our Support staff:

Practice manager—Angela

Ireland

Reception—Emma D'Arcy

Nurses—Renee Masters-Gilroy,

Shanay Toth, Madison Porter,

Teresa Harvey

Top tips for your pet over winter

Bowral Vets is expanding and we

have another new veterinarian that

has joined our team! Dr Eliza D'Arcy-

Moskwa has 2 years of veterinary

experience and has been in the

Highlands for the past 4 years. She

has a special interest in wildlife and

pocket pets, in particular guinea pigs

and rabbits. She has been a

wonderful addition to our team. If you

see her friendly face around the clinic

make sure to say hi!

1. Use coats and give access to

appropriate shelter if outside

for long periods of time.

2. Increase times between baths,

and make sure your pet is dried

thoroughly afterwards.

3. Continue to exercise.

4. Take special care of our older

furry friends.

5. Most importantly, make sure

you keep them warm!

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Bowral Veterinary Hospital Winter Newsletter 2018

The truth about fleas...

Why are fleas a problem?

There are many reasons why fleas should be eradicated. In some patients, fleas can cause an allergic

reaction which can result in a more severe form of itching that will require medication to resolve. Fleas

also carry tapeworms, which can lead to further irritation and itching. In cases of severe flea burden pets

can become anaemic.

Do I need to give flea prevention over winter?

One of the common misconceptions people have is that they do not need to prevent fleas in the colder

months. Whilst the outside temperature may be cold, the inside of your home becomes a nesting ground

for these little creatures. If you don’t keep up with flea prevention, this could potentially lead to a flea

infestation inside the home.

Can I give dog flea treatment to my cat?

You need to be very careful when giving your cat canine flea prevention. Chemicals such as pyrethrins/

pyrethroids and organophosphates are toxic to cats.

Citrus extracts also have a toxic effect. It is always

best to use products that are specifically for use in

cats. If you are ever in doubt, please ask your vet.

My pet still has fleas, does that mean the preventative

is not working.

Most flea prevention works by killing the flea when it

bites the animal. This means that while your pet is on

flea prevention, you may still see fleas, particularly if

you still have them in the environment. The fleas

however, are killed before they have a chance to lay

more eggs, so over time you will see a reduction in

the flea burden.

Do no fleas on my pet mean no fleas in the home?

As the picture suggests, fleas are the tip of the iceberg. For every flea you see there are 50 eggs in the

environment, so it is important that you de-flea your home as well as your pet to prevent re-infestation.

Page 3

Bowral Veterinary Hospital Winter Newsletter 2018

Options for the arthritic patient Animals of all ages and size can develop arthritis which can be a burden, particularly as

they get older. The good news is there are a number of ways in which this condition can

be managed so that the lives of our four-legged friends can be as comfortable as possible. These include;

Appropriate bedding: warm bedding in the colder months, preferably raised off the floor. The less your

pet has to lift itself the better

Weight loss: excess weight can add to the load on the joints which can speed up the progression of

arthritis.

Diet: there are commercially available foods that have been designed to improve some of the effects of

arthritis as well as help with weight control.

Exercise: should be gentle and controlled. Regular exercise keeps the muscles strong to support the

joints.

Massage the joint: this stimulates blood flow to the area as well as relieving any muscle stiffness.

Cartrophen injections: this can build up cartilage in the joints, thus reducing some pain.

Swimming: this is an exercise that is gentle on the joints, effective at loosening them up and assists in

weight loss.

Acupuncture: ancient Chinese remedy, works by releasing muscle spasms and ‘switching off’ pain

nerves.

Natural remedies/supplements: products such as green lip muscle (incl Antinol®), fish oil, chondroitin,

and glucosamine all work on the cartilage that make up the joints to improve strength and reduce damage.

Pain medication: this should be a last resort, however is a valuable tool for reducing pain.

If you ever have any concerns or would like to know more about these option, we are always happy to help.

Buster’s story is one of triumph in the battle

of the bulge.

Having been diagnosed with degenerative

joint disease and weighing 48kg, it was

important that Buster get the weight off to

reduce the pressure on his joints.

Something as simple as cutting his food back

from 3 cups to 2 cups a day, has meant that

Buster has lost 7kg in as many months. He is

looking happier, walking normally and is

even getting into a bit of a run now and then.

His owner has done a fantastic job, and

Buster is better for his efforts. It has also

meant he has reduced the dose of anti-

inflammatories he needs.

This is just one example of how

something as simple as a diet change and

weight loss can lead to a better quality of

life for our four-legged friends.

Well done Buster!

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Email: info@bowralvethospital.com.au

We’re on the web!! www.bowralvethospital.com.au

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