caulfield south veterinary clinic the caring clinic · good luck! pet food lines return flea’s...

With ageing dogs, we often notice changes in energy levels and be-

havior, recognized as reduced alertness, increased tiredness, disori-

entation and a reduced willingness to exercise. We often refer to it

as ageing and proceed to do nothing to alleviate it. The cause is circu-

latory changes and reduced tissue oxygenation because of declining

blood circulation.

Vivitonin is a prescription medicine which combats the effects of

age related oxidative stress through dilation of airways and improved

blood circulation thereby increasing tissue oxygen levels. The resul-

tant effects on multiple organ in the body is a significantly improved

quality of life of the ageing dog.

Vivitonin particularly improves the function of the lungs, heart, brain and muscles. Beneficial effects can often

be seen within days of starting a treatment course, but if not it should be admin-

istered for a minimum of 4 weeks before clinically assessing its effects.

Clinical indications for the prescription of Vivitonin include:

Chronic, age-related circulatory problems

Senility and behavioral changes

Arrhythmia due to myocardial ischemia

Syncope

Bronchial constriction

Impaired circulation and tissue oxygenation, especially in the heart, brain and

skeletal muscles

Vivitonin is used at our clinic and we would highly recommend it, be consid-

ered for a dog showing signs of old age such as a loss of toilet training, changes in behaviour etc. It is an S4 drugs

and require prescribing after veterinary examination. If you have any questions about Vivitonin please contact the

clinic on 9528 2525.

May 2011 Volume 5. of 4

Email Newsletter 2011 Series

The Caring Clinic Caulfield South Veterinary Clinic

Should you no longer wish to receive email communication from Caulfield South Veterinary Clinic, please contact us.

CONTACT US: (03) 9528 2525

[email protected] After Hours: (03) 9528 4755

IN THIS ISSUE

• Vivitonin

• Clinic News

• Fleas are on the March

• Pet Food Lines Return

• Possums

• Pet Registration & Local Laws

• Grooming

• Clinic Development Update

VIVITONIN HELPS DOGS ENJOY OLD AGE

CLINIC NEWS

We would like to welcome back our Vet-

erinary Nurse April Davie who has been

traveling over South America for the past 5

months. April has been informing us of

her adventures via email and Facebook and

are exceptionally excited she is back!

We would like to thank Danielle Enright

who has been with us since December as a

fill-in while April has been away. Danielle

is returning to her academic career and

while with us has picked up a lot of skills

and experience involving Veterinary Nurs-

ing which we are sure will be of value to

her in the future. Thank you Danielle and

good luck!

PET FOOD LINES RETURN

FLEA’S ARE ON THE MARCH

Fleas have been an emerging health issue at the

moment with the hot and wet summer that we had.

Please maintain your flea control programs and

contact us if you are having any skin or flea

problem with your pet.

Many lines of the Hills Science

Diet and Eukanuba pet foods

have returned to stock. Full

range is estimated to be back in

stock by mid June. Please con-

tact the clinic 9528 2525 for any

enquiries.

Brushtail and Ringtail possums have both adapted well to living in urban envi-

ronments, and like us, many have decided that the Glen Eira area is the ideal place

to set up home! Ringtails are more social and tend to live in family groups,

whereas, Brushtails are larger, more territorial and mainly live a solitary life. Both

types will, at times, set up residence in roofs, which can be a nuisance to the human

inhabitants.

Possums are protected native animals under the Wildlife Act 1975. They must not be harmed in any way. A

Governor in Council Order was made in 2003 that permits the trapping of Brushtail possums that are living in

roofs and releasing them on the same day of capture, on the same property, within 50 meters of the capture site.

Relocation of possums is illegal and inhumane. Studies have shown that the overwhelming majority of relo-

cated, translocated possums die within a few weeks, most often from predation. The area from where possums

were removed is left uninhabited, ready for another possum to take control and the problem will most likely start

again. The Ringtail possum remains fully protected and can not be trapped at all.

The best approach to sort a troublesome possum in the roof is to provide an alternative shelter

option, such as a nesting box. A small amount of fruit can be left inside or near the box to

encourage the possum to explore the area. The next step is to undertake a thorough search of

the house to locate how / where the possum is getting into the roof. You can lookout around

dusk for the possum’s point of emerging or you can look for holes, often around the eaves,

and signs of scratches and possum hair around the entry site. All holes need to be plugged and

this can be done when you are sure the possum is out or by installing a one-way flap so the

possum can get out but not back in. If no entry and exit point can be found it may be that the

possum is lifting roof tiles and a roofing specialist may need to be called in.

With a little bit of effort people and possums can live together in harmony. For more information and some great

advice visit the plants and animals section of the Department of Sustainability and Environment website

(www.dse.vic.gov.au).

Just a friendly reminder that new dogs and cats over the age of 3 months were to be registered

by the 10th of April. Existing registration should also have been renewed. The registration is a

permanent record of your pet that links it to you. When registering your pets they must be micro-

chipped. Microchipping is a fantastic way to reunite lost pets with their owners. The microchip

is a small silicone chip that is inserted underneath your pet’s skin. When scanned, the chip dis-

plays a unique barcode number. This number is linked to your details in the database so make

sure you keep them updated!

The council has other dog and cat related laws that should be followed for the safety of your

pet and the comfort of the community. For example, strictly observing off lead and on lead

areas in the park is important for the safety of your pet as well as everyone else using the

park and public space. Keeping cats in at night is fundamental in protecting the native wild-

life. It also helps reduce the incidence of catfights and associated diseases such as Feline Im-

munodeficiency Virus (FIV) and catfight abscesses. We at Caulfield South Veterinary Clinic

have experienced huge improvement in the health and wellbeing of both cats and dogs due to

the existence of these laws.




CONTACT US: (03) 9528 2525



PET REGISTRATION & LOCAL LAWS—BENEFITING ALL CONCERNED

HELP. THERE IS A POSSUM IN MY ROOF!




CONTACT US: (03) 9528 2525



GROOMING

Going to the hairdresser is a fun and exciting outing. You go in looking

a certain way and come out looking and feeling fabulous! You are al-

most a new person!

We bet your pets feel the same way!

Some of the animals we see come in with long hair, often obscuring their

vision and dirt and grass imbedded in their coat. They leave a lot lighter,

smelling fresh and feeling young!

When animals are admitted for a wash the nurses give them a good bath

in an appropriate shampoo and conditioner for their skin and lifestyle.

We clip the nails, check the ears and give a mighty good brush.

When animals are admitted for a hair cut we clip them as instructed by

you, the owner followed by a wash, dry and a brush. We clip them a second time to ensure an even groom and we

also clip the nails and check the ears.

During this time, if we detect anything unusual such as lumps or infections we will contact the owner and discuss

it, often having a veterinarian examine and treat.

In addition to this, we now have a grooming loyalty program for clips and washes. This program is in the form

of a special loyalty card where after 3 grooms you get the 4th at 50% off!

Please ask our nurses (03 95282525) about it when you book in for your pet’s next groom!

Our nurse Ricci with Mr Darcy before his groom Mr Darcy after his groom (isn’t he smiling?)




CONTACT US: (03) 9528 2525



CLINIC DEVELOPMENT UPDATE

Further progress—inside and out.

We are on the last stretch home, and are hoping to be there in

July 2011!

caulfield south veterinary clinic the caring clinic · good luck! pet food lines return flea’s...

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