Information

  • My veterinary consultations happen in the comfort of the family home where your pet feels the most at ease and secure.

    What can you expect?
    1. Time. I spend the time observing your pet in their home environment, examining them, asking in depth questions about their life and answering your questions.
    2. Relationship. I try to foster a positive relationship with your pet so that they are more at ease with me, my presence, my examination and treatments
    3. Options. My holistic approach allows you options not given in conventional practices. Based on your goals for your pet, lifestyle and time limitations, I develop a customised treatment plan to best address your pet’s health issues whilst minimising unwanted side effects
    4. Comprehensive. I will be thorough in my observations, examinations and approach to treatment and health advice.

    Wellness checks are incredibly important to make sure your pet is healthy. They also help us catch any illnesses before they become severe. They can often be accompanied by vaccinations or titre testing. They may include laboratory tests such as blood tests, heartworm test, urine test, faecal test. I recommend yearly health checks and for the senior pets and those with chronic ongoing issues, 6 monthly health checks.

  • I am a firm believer in vaccination to protect your pet against contagious diseases BUT I am also against over vaccinating. This means I advocate against the practice of:
    1. giving vaccinations too frequently,
    2. giving too many vaccinations at once and
    3. giving unnecessary vaccinations.

    Thanks to vaccines we now see far less of the nasty diseases in pets and thankfully, deaths from Canine Hepatitis, Parvovirus and Distemper are now rare or much less common and the same applies for Feline Panleukopenia, Herpes and Calicivirus. Regular vaccinations is the most significant contributing factor in this reduction in disease and deaths. As vets, we’ll always recommend vaccinating as we’ve seen what these awful diseases can do to pets.

    Vaccines are divided into core vaccines and non-core vaccines
    Core Vaccines: are the ones every pet should receive. They protect against serious, highly contagious diseases with high mortality rates.
    Dogs -
    (DHP or C3) This is a combination vaccine that protects against several different illnesses and can provide long lasting immunity making yearly vaccination unnecessary.
    D = Canine distemper virus. A very serious virus with a death rate close to 50% in untreated dogs. It attacks the respiratory, digestive, and nervous system.
    H = Hepatitis. A serious disease that affects the liver. (This vaccine is sometimes indicated by A2 in the abbreviation, since it protects against canine adenovirus-2 and adenovirus-1.)
    P = Parvovirus. This highly contagious, serious virus has a death rate of close to 90% in untreated dogs, especially puppies. The virus causes severe diarrhoea and vomiting, and affects the digestive and immune systems.
    Cats -
    (FVRCP or F3).     This is a combination vaccine that protects against several different illnesses and can provide long lasting immunity making yearly vaccination unnecessary.
    FVR = Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis is caused by the common feline herpes virus. Symptoms include crusty eyes, sneezing, runny nose, and drooling. It can be fatal if left untreated.
    C = Calicivirus has similar symptoms, and can also cause mouth ulcers. It is more common in kittens or senior cats.
    P = Panleukopenia, commonly known as feline distemper, is very serious and is easily transmitted from cat to cat. It progresses rapidly and can be fatal. Symptoms include fever, vomiting and bloody diarrhoea. It’s more commonly seen in kittens.
    Noncore Vaccines: are given based on a particular pet’s risk of exposure to that illness.
    Dogs -
    Kennel Cough (infectious tracheobronchitis)     is a highly contagious respiratory infection where coughing is one of the major clinical signs. It is easily transmitted through the air or the environment. Several viruses and bacteria can cause kennel cough including adenovirus type-2 (distinct from the adenovirus type-1 that causes infectious hepatitis), parainfluenza virus, canine coronavirus, and the bacterium Bordetella bronchiseptica.
    The vaccine protects against Bordatella and parainfluenza. This dog vaccination is recommended for dogs that are frequently around groups of dogs – at dog parks, boarding kennels, the groomer, etc. It is important to realise that dogs vaccinated with the kennel cough vaccine can still catch kennel cough from other bacteria and viruses not covered by the vaccine.

    Cats -Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) All outdoor cats are susceptible to infection with FIV if bitten by an infected cat unless protected by vaccination against the virus. The initial vaccination is followed up by 2 more vaccinations 2-4 weeks apart and then with annual boosters.
    Feline Leukaemia Virus (FeLV) causes suppression of the immune system, cancer of the white bloods cells and solid tumours. It is an extremely rare disease in Australia seen mainly in colonies. We only suggest vaccination for FeLV for at-risk cats.
    Strictly indoor cats have very low risk for acquiring these infections.

    Puppy and kitten vaccinations need to be repeated to ensure that they have adequate immunity whilst their body’s immune system is maturing and the level of maternal antibodies is dissipating.

    Adult dogs and cats will develop long term immunity from a single vaccination.

    I encourage titre testing. Titre testing evaluates the antibody response to the core vaccination or infection by Canine Parvovirus, Infectious Canine Hepatitis (Canine Adenovirus) and Canine Distemper Virus in dogs. Titre Testing allows us to check your pet’s immunity and make an informed decision on whether revaccination is necessary for your individual pet. Titre testing can be part of your dog’s preventative health program from as early as 16 weeks of age so long as it is at least 4 weeks since their vaccination.

    I can discuss the best protocol for your pet depending on their age, vaccination history and health status.

  • A microchip is a small non-reactive glass-coated electronic chip about the size of a rice grain injected under the skin. When scanned by a compatible reading device it produces a unique number that can be matched to identification details on a separate database.

    Most microchips are inserted over the back, between the shoulder blades. In this position, they are less likely to migrate and are easy to read. Modern microchips are made to an international standard so that all animals can be scanned using the same technology worldwide.

    A microchip ensures permanent identification and improves the chances of a swift reunion if they ever go missing.

  • What is heartworm?

    Heartworm is a parasitic worm that can infect your pet through a mosquito bite. An infected mosquito injects a larval stage of the worm under your pet’s skin. These larvae mature in the pet’s organs for approximately six months, traveling through the body to the heart and blood vessels of the lungs. These adult worms breed to produce microfilaria (baby heartworm) in the bloodstream which are then drawn up by a mosquito when it feeds on the pet, continuing the cycle once again.

    Mosquitoes are hard to keep out of both the yard and house, so even your indoor-only pets can be at risk.

    How common is heartworm?

    The prevalence of heartworm in Australia remains poorly understood. What we know is wherever there are mosquitoes, there is potential for heartworm. There are ongoing studies to help experts find out more about heartworm infection in pets, which will assist in the treatment and prevention of the disease. With the information currently available, it has been concluded that prevention is the best form of heartworm control.

    What are the signs of heartworm?

    Dogs

    Initially, it’s tough to tell that anything is wrong with your pet at all. Heartworm is a slow onset disease, so months or even years may pass before the signs become obvious. When symptoms do appear, your canine companion could have a large heartworm burden. Worms interfere with the movement of the heart valves, creating turbulence in the blood flow, and causing the blood vessels that lead to the lungs to become “blocked” with worms. This puts the heart under immense strain, where it can become enlarged and exhausted.

    Early signs could be shortness of breath, loss of stamina, or a nagging, dry cough. As the disease progresses, breathing becomes more difficult, and in severe cases the abdomen may swell with fluid. Your dog could become lethargic and lose weight and their appetite. These symptoms are often subtle and hard to detect, so prevention is the best option. Treatment for heartworm disease is not without potential risk, may be difficult, and if left untreated, it is nearly always fatal.

    Cats

    Usually, there are few clinical signs of heartworm in cats. Your cat could develop slight lethargy or a cough, but sudden death is more common if your cat’s heartworm has gone undetected and untreated. It only takes one to two adult heartworms infecting your furry feline for the disease to potentially become fatal.

    Heartworm Prevention

    The risk of a dog contracting heartworm infection is directly related to geographical location, meaning if you live in a warm, humid, coastal area, with temperatures over 18C most of the year, and lots of mosquitoes, it is likely that your pet will be exposed to heartworm at some stage in their life. This describes Darwin, Palmerston and surrounds with our climate and mosquito population, this means that our pets are potentially at risk of contracting heartworm.

    Heartworm preventatives are essentially insecticides that circulate in your dog’s blood, preventing any heartworm larvae that are injected by a mosquito from developing into adult worms. The use of pharmaceutical heartworm preventatives is well justified as they are the only proven method of prevention.

    Reliance on chemical preventatives for parasite control can pose a risk to your animal’s health, however, and this risk is increased if your animal has any chronic disease that interferes with their ability to detoxify chemicals, such as liver or kidney disease, or is battling cancer. If you choose to protect your pet against heartworm disease using chemical preventatives, in our experience Interceptor, Sentinel and MilPro have excellent safety profiles and cause very few adverse reactions. The low dose of ivermectin in Valuheart, which is currently the only available oral product that treats heartworm only, is also a very safe option. Pharmaceutical heartworm preventatives are the most effective form of protection currently available. There are numerous ways you can minimise their use and still effectively protect your dog against heartworm.

    Heartworm testing
    If your dog has not been on heartworm prevention, there is a chance that they could have contracted heartworm. A simple blood test can be performed to determine if there are adult female heartworm and larval microfilaria present. It is important to perform these tests before starting your dog on heartworm prevention as there is a risk that your pet may suffer an anaphylaxis due to a sudden die off of microfilaria in the blood stream. If they are testing positive, then the various options for treatment can be discussed.

  • There are a number of parasites that can potentially colonise your pet’s gastrointestinal tract, and some of them are transmissible to humans too.

    Giardia, Coccidia, Roundworm, Hookworm, Tapeworm and Whipworm are the most common parasites we see in domestic pets and are usually acquired by eating another animal’s poo or by drinking from faecal-contaminated water.

    Diarrhoea is one of the most common symptoms associated with most of these parasites, but other symptoms can include increased appetite, weight loss, poor coat quality and licking/itching of the anal area. Scooting of the bottom can occur with tapeworm infestation, but is more often a sign of anal gland impaction and your dog needs to be checked for this.

    Sometimes diarrhoea will come and go and without testing a faecal sample for parasites the cause will be missed.

    Treating your pet preventatively with worming products year-round may not be fully effective. I recommend testing their stool twice yearly, or anytime your pet develops diarrhoea that persists or becomes recurrent. An in-house faecal float can test for roundworm, hookworm, whipworm, tapeworm and coccidia, but to detect Giardia a different test needs to be run. The regular deworming protocols used for intestinal worms do NOT treat coccidia or giardia.

    Long-standing parasite infections can eventually cause debilitating disease, including life-threatening haemorrhagic diarrhoea, leaky gut syndromes, and food allergies. Biannual testing together with testing anytime your pet has symptoms suggestive of a parasite burden is a much more targeted approach then just giving them a chemical product on a routine basis.

    To perform these tests I require a fresh faecal sample and I can provide a container for this purpose.

    If you have young children in the house who are less aware of hand-washing hygiene practices, I recommend using a regular deworming product to prevent the possibility of transmission of roundworm or hookworm to your kids.

  • Your senior pet may need some extra help to maintain mobility and agility and be pain-free. Senior pets with problems such as incontinence, arthritis, hip dysplasia, cruciate ligament ruptures, muscle pain and weakness, disc problems, nerve damage, balance issues, and even appetite, behavioural changes and chronic disease, respond very well to manual therapies such as massage and acupuncture. Diet, supplements and herbal medicines will also be of benefit

    Many pets may be suffering from some of these conditions silently, showing only subtle changes that can go unnoticed. Cats are especially difficult to recognise when they are in pain.

    Regular examinations with an attentive Veterinarian are essential for your pet’s complete health and well-being. Many things can be detected early before they become an entrenched problem that is more difficult to treat.

    We recommend thorough health checks at least twice yearly for senior pets, alongside regular blood work to detect silent illnesses that may be brewing below the surface.

  • You want your puppy or your kitten to have the best start in life. This involves understanding their nutritional and health needs (including vaccinations and worming), giving them an enriching, safe and secure environment, socialising with other pets, people and the outside world, understanding if, when and why of desexing your pet, how to exercise your pet (age and breed appropriate), what to expect with their physical, behavioural and mental development and getting thorough health checks with your veterinarian.

    As a mobile vet, I provide veterinary care and advice in the comfort of their home with a low stress handling approach so that I can foster positive experiences and relationships with your pet.

  • I can perform all of the basic clinical pathology tests that your pet may need to ensure that they are healthy and that their internal organs are working sufficiently.

    These tests include comprehensive blood tests, urinalysis, faecal testing, cytology of skin and ear disorders/infections and skin lumps & bumps, titre testing, heartworm testing and blood pressure monitoring.

  • Acupuncture isn’t magic. It can’t reverse the aging process or cure all diseases. But what it can do is reduce inflammation, reduce pain, and improve the function of the immune system and other organs. So it can help reduce symptoms and improve performance, function, mobility, and Quality of Life. It is especially effective for nerve / spinal injuries. Of course there are times where acupuncture isn’t going to be the best option for a patient.

    What is Acupuncture and how does it work?
    Acupuncture     is the insertion of needles and manipulation of fine, sterile needles into specific points on the body for therapeutic effect. It is a Chinese medical technique based on the principles of Yin and Yang, which has been practiced for over 3000 years in humans and animals.
    Scientific research has demonstrated that it can provide great relief from pain and clinical disease by providing pain relief, stimulation of the immune and nervous systems, increase in the microcirculation, and a decrease in inflammation.
    Veterinary Acupuncture is drug free, very safe and manifests no risk of liver or kidney damage as can often occur with conventional medicines such as anti-inflammatories.

    What conditions can be treated with Acupuncture?
    Virtually any injury or illness will benefit from Acupuncture.     Musculoskeletal problems such as arthritis, lameness, spinal disease and muscular pain are especially responsive.
    Other commonly treated conditions include diseases of the gastrointestinal, cardiac, respiratory, reproductive, urinary, nervous, skin and immune systems as well as behavioural conditions.

    What does Acupuncture treatment involve?
    Sessions are typically with the owner present. In general, animals tolerate needling - the insertion of acupuncture needles is virtually painless. The needles are extremely fine and have a blunt end to enable them to pass between tissue fibres rather than cut through them. Occasionally they may experience unpleasant sensation but this usually passes very quickly. There should be no further pain once all of the needles have been placed. Most animals become very relaxed and may even become sleepy.
    Needles usually stay in for 10-20 minutes. The first treatment session may take a while as it includes a detailed history taking, tongue and pulse diagnosis as well as physical examination. Subsequent sessionals last 20-30 minutes and usually occur at weekly intervals.
    Some animals will improve rapidly after a treatment, others may get a little worse for a day or so before improving and others will need a number of treatments before any improvement is noticed. As the patient responds, treatments may not be as frequent. Many conditions can resolve completely. Chronic conditions such as arthritis usually benefiting from ongoing acupuncture to manage comfort and mobility. The number of treatments required varies with the patient and the issues of concern.

    Is Acupuncture The Same As Dry Needing?
    No. Acupuncture involves the insertion of needles into specific points on one of the 12 standard meridians. Distant points may be used to treat areas that lie on that same meridian. For example, an eye condition may be treated by placing a needle in a back foot! Dry needling generally involves insertion of needles into a muscle knot to relieve tension and acts in the specific area it is placed. Many physiotherapists will employ dry needling. The needles are physically the same but the method in which they are used differs.

    What Is Electroacupuncture?
    Electroacupuncture involves gentle electrical stimulation of specific needles by connecting small electrodes to the needles. It is particularly good for conditions where there is a need for nerve or muscle stimulation such as intervertebral disc disease. It is not a painful procedure and is generally very well tolerated by the patients.

  • CBD = Cannabidiol
    CBD works on the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS is a widely distributed signalling system that plays a critical role in maintaining homeostasis across the entire body systems. Through this system, CBD oil can have an affect on appetite regulation, sleep, pain perception, immunity, inflammation, fertility, memory, cognition, mood and much more

    CBD is a naturally occurring compound that can be found abundantly throughout nature. It occurs in the highest concentrations within the marijuana plant. Marijuana also contains other cannabinoids such as THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol). THC is psychoactive whereas CBD is not

    Unlike humans, dogs are extremely sensitive to the effects of THC and can easily suffer from THC intoxication resulting in changes in balance, gait, heart rhythm or vomiting. THC is therefore not prescribed to pets in Australia and it is recommended that you do not administer CBD oil meant for humans to your pet as it may contain undesirable levels of THC.

    In Australia, CBD oil is only legally available for your pet through a veterinary prescription. If your pet is on CBD oil, it is extremely important to inform your veterinarian as there are some medications that can have negative interactions with CBD oil.

    If given correctly, under the guidance of your veterinarian, CBD oil can be especially helpful for conditions such as arthritis, allergies, seizure management and anxiety.

  • For as long as I can remember, dogs and cats have been desexed at around 6 months old. Rescue shelters often perform desexing on pets as young as 6 weeks old. In recent times, the appropriate age for desexing has become a contentious issue. The WSAVA (World Small Animal Veterinary Association) has created a committee to look into this further and create guidelines for these spay-neuter issues

    What is the research showing about the effects of desexing or not?

    • Desexing is a very effective population control. It prevents lots of unwanted breeding and the issues associated with that.

    • Data reveals that desexed dogs and cats live longer than intact dogs and cats (applies to both sexes)

    • Desexing prevents mammary cancers, pyometra (uterine infections), cancers of the reproductive organs in females; benign prostate hypertrophy, testicular cancer in male dogs and reduces the risk of perianal fistulas in both sexes.

    • Intact dogs are more likely to die of infections and trauma

    • Sterilised dogs (especially large and giant breed dogs) have higher incidence of orthopaedic disorders such as Cruciate ligament disease, Hip dysplasia, Elbow dysplasia and poor conformation and joint disease.

    • Sterilisation increases the incidence of urinary incontinence.

    • Sterilisation is associated with increased incidence of behavioural issues such as fears and phobias

    • Sterilisation increases the tendency for obesity

    • Sterilisation is associated with increased incidence of certain cancers in certain breeds such as Bone cancer (Osteosarcoma) in large and giant breed dogs, Mast cell tumours in Hungarian Vizslas and Golden Retrievers, Haemangiosarcomas and Lymphosarcoma, prostate neoplasia, transitional cell carcinoma

    • Sterilisation may have an association with increased incidence of hormonal diseases such as Cushing’s, Atypical Cushing’s, thyroid disease and diabetes mellitus

    • Sterilisation has been shown to increase risk for Adverse Vaccine Reactions

    • Sterilised dogs may have higher incidence of immune diseases

    • Sterilised dogs may have increased incidence of Geriatric Cognitive Impairment

    • Some of these problems have strong links to desexing such as orthopaedic disorders (esp cruciate disease, urinary incontinence, obesity and behavioural issues). Other issues require further robust research to clarify the risks

    In My Opinion

    The brain and body goes through significant changes in adolescence and hormones play a large role in these changes. Puberty is a time of neuroendocrinological development. Desexing dogs during this time is going to suddenly remove these hormonal effects on their musculoskeletal and brain development. Allowing dogs to reach sexual maturity before desexing will ensure they have gone through the normal stages of growth behaviourally and physically. They will have fully functional urethral sphincters, their growth plates in their long bones will have closed, their metabolism and their neural pathways will have had the full effects of their sex hormones during growth.

    Desexing of dogs once they have reached physical maturity means different ages for different breeds. Smaller breeds such as the Chihuahua are fully mature earlier (by 10 months old) whereas giant breeds such as the Great Dane are fully mature a lot later (by 18 -24 months old).

    In saying this, there is no single directive. The ultimate decision regarding desexing of dogs depends on a number of factors including
    * breed,
    * sex,
    * home environment,
    * lifestyle,
    * capacity to ensure no unwanted breeding of females whilst they undergo their initial heat cycles before desexing,
    * the increased cost and risks of desexing surgery performed (it is a more costly and technically more difficult procedure on a fully grown dog) and
    * their role in your life.

    Cats mature a lot faster than dogs and reach sexual maturity between 4 and 10 months of age. This is breed dependent. Oriental breeds develop earlier. Studies have shown that desexing cats when 5-6 months old reduces risks of mammary carcinoma, eliminates reproductive emergencies such as pyometra and dystocia, prevents unwanted pregnancies and potentially decreases behavioural problems linked with cat surrenders. There is no other data available that would suggest that desexing later in cats is more beneficial for the cats overall wellbeing. Further research in this field needs to be done.

  • There is no one size fits all approach to feeding your pets. I am a raw food feeder and advocate of raw food feeding.

    If your are feeding your pet a raw food diet please read this statement: RFVS Raw Food Feeding Position Statement.

    Please also read the following articles:

    How to Feed Your Dog Raw Meaty Bones

    and

    Risks of bone feeding.

    For tips on hygeinic handling and feeding raw food please read this article Tips on Raw Food Preparation

    Please be aware that raw food feeding is not suitable for every dog. Alternatives can be lightly cooking the food or if a kibble diet is desired then a freeze dried variety balanced with fruit and veg is adequate.