Preparing For Surgery

Preparing Your Pet For Surgery

Vets on Balwyn provides the highest quality of care for your pet. As your pet has been booked in for surgery or anaesthesia we would like to inform you of the extra-care options available.

Intravenous fluid therapy

General anaesthesia or heavy sedation causes a pronounced drop in blood pressure. Coupled with surgery this can have serious consequences. Intravenous fluid therapy maintains your pet’s blood pressure during anaesthesia, helps protect your pet’s kidneys, reduces recovery time and provides an immediate way to administer drugs in the case of an emergency.

Intravenous fluids will be started a few hours before surgery at the same time your pet’s pre-medication is given. The intravenous fluids will be tailored to your pet’s needs, continued throughout the procedure and tapered off before your pet is discharged.

The cost for surgical intravenous fluid therapy for your pet is $92.40

Pre-anaesthetic Blood Tests

The more information we have about your pet’s health the better we are able to look after them. It is for this reason we recommend a blood test before any anaesthetic or surgical procedure. Pre-anaesthetic blood tests investigate the function of your pet’s major organs such as the kidneys and liver. Even in apparently healthy cats and dogs, pre-anaesthetic blood testing can pick up underlying medical conditions prompting modifications to their anaesthesia.

Vets on Balwyn has a sophisticated in-house blood analyser which enables us to process your pet’s blood and receive the results the morning of their procedure.

The cost for a pre-anaesthetic blood profile for your pet is $90.70.

Do not feed your pet from 10pm the night before the planned procedure and remove water first thing in the morning. Please keep your pet indoors the night before admission.

Questions? – We have the answers

Now you can get answers to all your pet questions, quickly and conveniently. Simply contact us and ask your question!

Dental Care for Cats & Dogs

Protect the health of your cat or dog with expert dental care from Vets on Balwyn pet dentist services More than 80% of dogs and cats in Australia are silently suffering from painful dental disease. Tartar and calculus build up on our pet’s teeth occurs due to lack of chewing and tooth overcrowding. This leads to tooth decay, tooth loss and pain. Over time, the heavy bacterial burden within the oral cavity can adversely affect other important organs such as the heart and kidneys.

Signs of dental disease include:

  • Inflamed gums (gingivitis)
  • Bad breath
  • Discoloured teeth
  • Loose teeth
  • Excessive drooling
  • Reluctant to eat hard food or chew
  • Facial swelling
  • Changes in behaviour (aggression, disrupted sleep patterns)

How can I keep my pet’s teeth free from dental disease?

Free dental check at Vets on Balwyn

In addition to your pet’s regular health assessments, Vets on Balwyn offers free dental checks and advice provided by our trained Veterinary Nurses. Please contact Vets on Balwyn if you would like to book a Dental Care Consultation with one of our trained Veterinary nurses.

Encourage regular (ideally daily) chewing

  • Raw meaty bones (chicken wings or necks, lamb necks)
  • Manufactured products (dental chews, Greenies)
  • Dried pigs ears

NEVER FEED YOUR PETS COOKED BONES. THESE MAY SPLINTER AND CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY.

Dental Diets – Hills Science Diet T/D

This is the gold standard in dental care.

Each piece is substantially larger than standard dry kibble and has properties to reduce tartar and calculus build up. It is ideally used daily as part of your pet’s complete diet.

Tooth brushing and anti-bacterial mouth rinses

Some pets will allow you to brush their teeth. This is most successful when started early (i.e. when your pet is a puppy or kitten). Soft small toothbrushes and specifically designed toothpastes are available from Vets on Balwyn. Human toothpaste is not suitable for dogs and cats.

Vets on Balwyn also recommends the use of an anti-bacterial mouth rinse. When used daily this rinse kills the bacteria which contribute to bad breath and periodontal disease.

Veterinary dental care

As part of your pet’s regular health assessments provided at Vets on Balwyn, your vet may recommended a professional dental scale and polish to:

  • Prevent the onset of irreversible dental disease and tooth loss; and
  • To extract infected and damaged teeth

Vets on Balwyn utilises sophisticated ultrasonic cleaning equipment and other facilities to provide the best dental care for your pet. After an ultrasonic clean has been performed, the dental care team at Vets on Balwyn will formulate a dental care plan tailored to your pet’s needs.

For the best dental services in Templestowe, Eltham, Bulleen, Doncaster, East Doncaster & beyond contact Vets on Balwyn today.

Microchipping & Registration

Microchipping

It is highly recommended that you microchip your pet. Microchips provide a permanent form of identification for your pet that cannot be changed or removed. This identification lasts for the life of your pet. In Victoria, microchipping is compulsory for cats and dogs. If your pet has been stolen and then later recovered, ownership of your pet can be challenged. Microchipping is the only way you can prove ownership of your pet.

Most pets will have been microchipped by the breeder. However, if they haven’t, microchipping can be done in a consultation with your vet. The microchip is the size of a grain of rice and is implanted through a needle, as an injection, beneath the skin between the shoulder blades. This can be done safely without anaesthetic.

At Vets on Balwyn, your pet’s microchip will be listed with the Australasian Animal Registry. It is your responsibility to notify the Registry to update your contact details. You can find the contact details of the Australasian Animal Registry and other microchip registers below. If you are not sure who your pet is registered with, you can find out through Pet Address.

Australasian Animal Registry – 02 9704 1450 or 1800 025 461

Central Animal Records – 1800 333 202

Petsafe – 02 8850 6800

 

Registrations

Council registrations are in addition to microchipping. Once microchipped, you can register your pet with your council. This can usually be done online. Council registration is mandatory for all cats and dogs over three months of age.

For more information, see:

– City of Boroondara

https://www.boroondara.vic.gov.au/community/pets/pet-registration/register-your-pet

– City of Manningham

https://www.manningham.vic.gov.au/pets-and-animals/pet-registrations-and-permits/register-your-pet

Rabbits, Guinea Pigs & Mice

Rabbits are great pets! They are a great alternative to cats and dogs and with time and commitment they can be a great addition to your family. Rabbits can live outside in a run or a superb indoor companion that can even sit with you on the sofa. Rabbits can even be trained to use a litter tray! Rabbits thrive on companionship so if you are not around much they would love another rabbit to hang out with!

Guinea pigs can make a great addition to the family. They have different noises for every occasion – they whistle, squeak and purr! Do you have a young family? Guinea pigs make excellent pets for children as they are small and don’t kick and rarely bite.

Senior Pets

We love to see senior pets! Dogs and cats age seven times faster than humans, so it is vitally important that your senior pet has an annual or twice annual health check.

Health checks in senior pets often identify health problems that owners simply aren’t aware of. For example, we often see untreated dental disease. Owners are often mistaken by their pet’s ability to still eat well. Usually, the pet has just learnt to tolerate this painful situation.

Annual blood testing for pets over ten years old is also an excellent way of detecting disease. Animals with diabetes, kidney disease, liver disease and even tumours often do not show signs of the disease until they are very sick. So screenings for diabetes, kidney disease and liver problems are important. Blood can be taken without sedation and test results received very quickly.

We also often see arthritis in senior cats and dogs. This is a painful disease. Arthritis can be easily managed with medication. If your pet has symptoms of slowing down on walks, stiffness after getting up or reduced activity levels, ask your vet about arthritis.

Suffering from high blood pressure? – your cat could be too!! High blood pressure is very common in cats and can be associated with elevated thyroid hormones, kidney disease and even blindness. Just like in humans it is easy to measure and can unearth an otherwise silent killer.

Guidelines For New Kitten Owners

The first few months of a kitten’s life are very important for both you and your kitten. As well as learning proper behaviour and being socialised, there are some important health needs to attend to.

1. Vaccinations

Your kitten should receive a number of vaccinations depending on the age of your kitten and the type of vaccine used. Typically, vaccination programs start at 6-8 weeks of age for feline flu and enteritis. Boosters are given at approximately 4 to 6 week intervals until the kitten is 18 to 20 weeks of age. Annual vaccination is recommended to keep antibody levels high throughout life.

Vaccinating your kitten against Feline AIDS is also recommended if your cat is going to spend any time outdoors. Feline AIDS is unfortunately far too prevalent in Melbourne and there is no cure.

2. Intestinal worming

Many kittens are born with worms. Since roundworm can cause illness in humans, especially children, kittens need to be wormed every 2 weeks from 2 to 12 weeks of age, then monthly to 6 months, then at 3 monthly intervals afterwards.

3. Heartworm

Heartworm prevention is not 100% necessary for cats in Melbourne.

4. Fleas

Flea control is important from a young age, as a few fleas can end in plague-proportions in a couple of weeks! Fleas also carry tapeworm eggs, which infect puppies as they chew at and swallow the fleas. There are many different flea control preparations, not all of which are suitable for young kittens.

5. Nutrition

Good nutrition is vital at this age when bones are quickly growing. A kitten diet is required as it contains the right balance of nutrients, significantly calcium, and a good quality diet means it is readily digestible (undigested food results in soft, smelly faeces, and also flatulence). There are many different brands of premium pet foods.

Did you know that 80% of cats at three years of age have irreversible gum disease. You can prevent this, by making sure your kitten is chewing regularly from an early age.

Guidelines For New Puppy Owners

The first few months of a puppy’s life are very important for both you and your puppy. As well as learning proper behaviour and being socialised, there are some important health needs to attend to.

1. Vaccinations

Your puppy should receive a number of vaccinations depending on the age of your puppy and the type of vaccine used. Typically, vaccination programs start at 6-8 weeks of age, and boosters are given at approximately 4 to 6 week intervals until the puppy is 18 to 20 weeks of age. Annual vaccination is recommended to keep antibody levels high throughout life.

2. Intestinal worming

Many puppies are born with worms. Since roundworm can cause illness in humans, especially children, puppies need to be wormed every 2 weeks from 2 to 12 weeks of age, then monthly to 6 months, then at 3 monthly intervals afterwards.

3. Heartworm

Heartworm prevention usually starts at 3 months of age and is available as a daily or monthly tablet or chewable, or as a monthly ‘topspot’ application (a small amount of liquid applied between the shoulder blades).
There is now a once-a-year heartworm preventative available from your veterinarian that gives your dog 12 months protection from heartworm disease in one dose. The new Once-A-Year injection is administered by your vet and can be used in all dogs from 3 months of age.

4. Fleas

Flea control is important from a young age, as a few fleas can end in plague-proportions in a couple of weeks! Fleas also carry tapeworm eggs, which infect puppies as they chew at and swallow the fleas. There are many different flea control preparations, not all of which are suitable for young puppies.

5. Nutrition

Good nutrition is vital at this age when bones are quickly growing. A puppy diet is required as it contains the right balance of nutrients, significantly calcium, and a good quality diet means it is readily digestible (undigested food results in soft, smelly faeces, and also flatulence). There are many different brands of premium pet foods. Large breeds of dogs have specific nutritional requirements during the rapid growth phase, so large breed puppy diets are recommended for these dogs.