We always have a discussion about pet insurance with our clients. It usually happens at our second puppy vaccination, when we have our little young healthy puppies coming in. Pet insurance is a really good idea because pets are part of our families and taking care of their health can be expensive, especially in times of emergencies where critical care is necessary.
Dystocia is an uncommon but very serious condition where a labouring dog is unable to birth her pups. It’s important to know the signs before you rush to the vet.
Has your cat started running around the house at 4am like a mad thing? Zarli Kew explains the reasons for problem behaviours in cats, and how to address them.
A local initiative has potentially saved the lives of many impounded dogs while keeping the rate of parvovirus in the community very low.
Birds can make amazing companions, but with life spans that can often exceed our own, it is important to provide adequate housing, enrichment and the correct nutritional needs to ensure they can live long happy lives in captivity.
Working dogs aren’t as pampered as some of our clients’ pooches. In particular, farm dogs often miss out on regular flea control, which is awfully uncomfortable for them. With this in mind, we have teamed up with Rural Aid to launch a new initiative called ‘Help a Kelpie, Help a Farmer’.
The problem of abandoned kittens is being faced head-on by Zarli Kew, one of Pet Medical’s team members, and the SNIP Kitten program.
There are two different sets of reasons why your cat might not want to use its litterbox. The first ones are emotional reasons. The second set of possibilities are physical reasons. Working out what your cat is thinking is tricky at the best of times.
There are three core cat vaccinations that every single cat should get. We call the core vaccinations the F3. They cover feline herpes virus, feline calicivirus, and a condition called feline panleukopaenia. If you tested every cat to see if they had been exposed to these viruses, it would be around 85 to 90 per cent have seen them at some point in their life. But there’s a catch with vaccinations—not all cats can get them, and they have to be tailored to every individual cat.
Your cat isn’t going to tell you if you live in a cat-friendly home. But if you want your cat to live a long, happy and healthy life (and who doesn’t?), there are a few simple ways to improve your living spaces.
For cat owners, seeing their feline friend suddenly drop weight can be a little worrying. While you may briefly be impressed with your cat’s new, slinky figure, there could be a number of explanations for weight loss in cats. Some of them can lead to serious consequences.
Poisoning in cats is often hard to detect until it’s too late. Cats are predators, and all predators hide disease incredibly well. It's not in their favour. In evolutionary terms, if a predator looks sick, then other predators will turn on them. So cats tend to hide the symptoms of poisoning very well. But if you think keeping the cat inside to protect it, think again. Many of the poisoning dangers faced by cats are found inside the home.
Let’s be honest—cats can be moody. Unlike a dog, who is generally overjoyed to see you in any circumstances, a cat will often refuse to acknowledge its owner exists. But as your beloved pet ages, there can be medical explanations for moodiness. Cat dementia is a serious problem, and one that’s very hard to spot.
Both Burmese and Ragdoll cats are popular options for families looking for a family pet. Both breeds are well-known for liking people. But there are some notable differences between to two—and Gabby Dexter summed them up brilliantly in this post she put on the Burmese Cat Obsession group on Facebook.
It can get pretty lonely once the children grow up and many of us empty nesters rely heavily on our pets for company. But we don’t want to replace the children. The best pets for seniors are easy to care for and good company. And of all of the breeds of dog, the whippet is by far the least time consuming and easiest of the lot.
