Hello everyone! Summer feels like it is here early this year and we are all starting to plan our summer holidays already. Its important to plan for your pet's care early if you're going away on Christmas holidays as boarding kennels and catteries are often booked well in advance. There is also the option of getting a house sitter if your pet is likely to be stressed by boarding, either a family member, friend or a professional pet minding service.

Over the last few weeks we have seen several cases of Canine Cough, otherwise known as kennel cough, in the area.

This is a highly contagious upper respiratory infection caused by viruses and bacteria. It is spread through coughing, sneezing, and sharing food and water bowls. It is not only caught when in kennels as infected dogs can contaminate the environment when out walking and can also shed the virus for up to 2 weeks after signs resolve. Your dog doesn't have to come in direct contact with a coughing dog to get it but may pick it up at the park, beach or just walking down the street. Vaccination will protect most dogs, though some dogs can still develop a mild form of the disease as we can only vaccinate against one of the viruses and one of the bacteria involved. Call us to make sure your dog's vaccination is up to date.

With summer just around the corner, now's the best time to start getting your pet ready for the warmer months. Proper preparation will help keep your pet healthy and safe.  

Here are our top tips:

Get up to date with vaccinations 

If your pet is boarding over the summer holidays appropriate vaccinations must be up to date. Boarding facilities might turn your pet away if they are not. Ask us to check if your pet is due for any vaccinations. Its also important to make sure you have enough medications or prescription diets to last whilst you are going to be away.

If you are leaving your pets with a carer we recommend making a list of contacts including our number and that of the local afterhours emergency clinics (Waves and Murdoch Pet Emergency). If you are not going to be contactable at all times, we also advise leaving the carer a detailed list of instructions on what to do in the case of a serious or life threatening emergency that will require complicated or expensive treatment. This is especially important with older or sick pets. It is definitely better to be prepared for any problem so that then you can lie back and enjoy your holiday!

Prevent parasites 

The warmer months bring about pesky parasites. Fleas, mosquitoes (that can carry deadly Heartworm), and biting flies love the warmer weather. Now's the time to get your prevention regime sorted. Prevention is easier (and always cheaper) than treatment. Check out the latest flea products we have in stock including Bravecto, a chewable flea tablet that kills fleas for 3 months!

Get a haircut

Dog groomers book out quickly over the warmer months so you should arrange grooming appointments now. Keeping your dog's coat shorter over summer will help keep your dog cooler and more comfortable and help reduce grass seed problems. 

We are always the best place to start when it comes to looking after your pet. We can provide you with the most accurate and up to date information so phone us or drop in if you have any questions. 

Vaccination is a vital tool we have available to help keep your pet healthy.

Even if your pet doesn’t have contact with other pets, he should be vaccinated. Many people aren't aware that there are diseases that can be transmitted in water droplets through the air or in contaminated faeces.

Other reasons vaccinations are so vital

They protect against deadly diseases: many dangerous diseases are completely preventable with the correct vaccinations. Why would you put your pet at risk?

Vaccinations save money: vaccinations are substantially less expensive than the cost of treatment for the diseases they prevent. We think this is a no brainer!

You can board your pet with other animals: if you ever plan to board your dog or cat he must be up to date with his vaccinations - what would happen if you had a family emergency and boarding was the only option?

Visits to the vet hospital: if your pet has to stay in hospital he needs to be vaccinated. If your pet is sick, his immune system may be already be compromised so you want to know he is protected.

There are many diseases we are able to vaccinate against but your pet's health, lifestyle and where you live may affect which vaccinations are deemed necessary - we can help you make an informed decision and are always happy to discuss vaccinations with you.

Who doesn't love a summer BBQ? With the warmer weather and longer daylight hours we are all keen to get our snags cooking - and your pets probably are too!

How do you best keep your pet safe around the BBQ? Follow these four safety tips so your pets can enjoy the BBQ as much as you do. 

1. Keep pets away from the BBQ

The smells coming from the BBQ are irresistible to our pets. Keep your pet away from the hot BBQ at all times to prevent burns. Keep the lid closed when you are not around, especially after cooking, to prevent your cat jumping up on the hot plate to hunt out any leftovers or meat juices. 

2. Use a drip tray

Some pets will eat anything that meat juices may have dripped on to - including sticks and rocks! These can be ingested and cause intestinal injury and obstruction.

3. Clean up

After your BBQ throw away all drip trays, foil, left overs, bones and meat skewers. Dogs in particular love to scavenge and ingest things they shouldn't! We don't want to have to perform intestinal surgery to remove them. 

4. Don't feed leftovers

Ask your guests not to feed your pet any leftovers or tidbits from the table as this can lead to gastric upsets and pancreatitis. Don't forget onions are toxic to pets and can cause serious illness. Have a bag of pet safe treats on hand instead - we have great options in stock so ask us for a recommendation.