Pain medications

Pets are often prescribed anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) to help relieve the pain following surgery, dental work or long term for pets with chronic conditions such as arthritis. These products can provide very effective pain relief, but are not advised for pets with kidney, liver, or stomach issues. Only your veterinarian is able to choose the right anti-inflammatory for your pet.

If your pet has been prescribed anti-inflammatories, it is important to monitor your pet closely for any side effects such as:
- vomiting
- diarrhea (with or without blood)
- inappetence
- tense abdomen
- black stools
- drinking a lot
- urinating a lot
- pale gums

Notify your veterinary hospital immediately if you notice any of these signs.

And NEVER use human NSAIDs on your pets!

Prevention of serious NSAID problems
- Monitor for signs
- Visit the veterinarian regularly i.e. every 3-6 months
- Have blood tests done at vet visits to pick up early signs of kidney or liver problems
- Keep to the prescribed dose (Increasing the NSAID dose does not provide more pain relief)
- Notify the veterinarian of all other medications your pet is on. Other drugs such as Corticosteroids (used for allergy relief) and Aspirin can cause serious drug reactions.

Fleas

Fleas are nasty little blood-sucking critters that know how to survive. The adult fleas we see on our pet only represent 5% of the whole population. The rest of the flea population in the form of maggots and eggs live in the environment waiting for meals to walk by.

Unlike what was originally thought, fleas generally don't jump from one blood source to another. So if you are ever accused of your pet giving another pet fleas, you can explain this simply isn't true!

But if you do notice fleas on your pet, make sure you use appropriate treatments regularly on your pet, vacuum every day to get rid of the environment stages and get rid of any pet bedding where fleas love to hide.

DNA Testing

DNA testing is of growing interest to pet owners and breeders. DNA that is found in any cell of the body can be taken from a simple cheek swab (cotton bud rubbed against the inside of a dogs cheek) or through a blood test.

This DNA can tell us a lot about our pets:
1. What breed it is
2. Whether it is carrying genes that can cause disease

Animal organisations such as Animal Welfare groups and Local Councils can also use DNA to help investigate dog attacks.

More information can be found at Animal Network

Benefits of Exercise

Benefits of Exercise
Improves strength, fitness, flexibility and movement
Increases energy levels
Helps decrease stress and can help improve you and your pets mood
Improves sleep
Prevents boredom
Decreases bad behavior
Improves the bond between you and your pet
Prevents obesity

The type and amount of exercise needed can differ greatly with breed, age and energy level. It is important to choose the right type of exercise for your pet with the help of your veterinarian. Low energy dogs like Bulldogs or dogs over seven years of age only need about 30 minutes of exercise a day, and this is usually in the form of slow, short walks or swimming. Medium-energy dogs, like German shepherds or Maltese terriers, need about 2 hours of exercise a day in the form of medium-paced walks or agility. High-energy dogs like Border collies or Dalmatians need about three hours of exercise a day.