Ponsonby Tails - August 2005

Monday, Aug 15, 2005

In this issue:-

• Introducing: Ponsonby Pets Health Club

• Hairballs

• Special Offers

• In loving memory

Welcome to August's Ponsonby Tails, I hope everyone has had a good winter with it being so mild (be warned the fleas have!!). 

After nearly 3 years of study for the Australian membership examinations they were finally upon me last month. The oral examinations were carried out in Surfer's Paradise and were as nerve racking as I remember (or more accurately had forgotten) from my last examinations 14 years ago. I am very pleased to say that I have become a member of the college by examination in emergency medicine and critical care. In other words I passed.

We have always had a very strong commitment to continued professional development here at Ponsonby Veterinary Centre and that helped Kate achieve her membership by examination in small animal medicine last year. We will continue to strive to attend professional meetings, journal clubs and conferences whenever we can; by doing so it allows us to provide you with the latest knowledge and highest standards of veterinary care and provides us with immense personal satisfaction and the knowledge of when to refer to a specialist.

For the last 3 years Kate has been a fantastic colleague and friend for all of us at PVC. It is with great sadness that she has decided to go and live in the Hawke's Bay with her husband Richard. They have gone to take over the family beef farm and are aiming to start a family in the country air. We all wish them every success with their new adventure.

Dr Michael Hardcastle is joining us in September to take over Kate's position. Michael graduated from Massey Vet School in . Michael knew from graduation that he wished to work with dogs and cats and after working for a few years in Auckland he travelled to the UK for his OE and to gain further experience. Michael returned to Auckland this year and we are very pleased to welcome him to our team. He has excellent knowledge in medicine and surgery and a keen interest in ultrasonography. We are therefore planning to be able to provide ultrasonography here at Ponsonby Veterinary Centre in the future.

Margaret has also joined our team on Saturdays as a receptionist. Margaret is currently studying veterinary nursing with a 2 year part-time course and initially came in to help as a volunteer. After her first day, I knew she was fantastic and I didn't want to lose her so I offered her a position which I am happy to say she accepted. Margaret has 2 pets a SPCA rescued moggie called Mickey and a crossbreed dog called Rubee.  

In September we are installing a new barcode ordering system, this should result in much better stock levels of food, flea products and drugs. The benefit to you will be a much lower chance of us not having your pets favourite. We have always tried to ensure this but we do get caught out. Unfortunately the system won't help if the wholesaler is out of stock!

Wishing your pets the best of health

Dr Oliver Young B.V.M.S., M.A.C.V.Sc (Emergency Medicine and Critical Care)

 

Introducing: Ponsonby Pets Health Club

Did you know that around 50% of dogs and cats are overweight by some degree? Obesity in animls is often not taken seriously, but losing weight will have major health and lifestyle benefits for your pet. Overweight animals are at risk from a whole range of problems such as diabetes, heart disease, skin complaints, breathing difficulties and joint problems.

At PVC we are committed to helping your pets stay in the peak of health and so we are providing the Ponsonby Pets Health Club for those pets who need weight management. One of our friendly nursing staff will provide regular consultations, along with a weight management record card and all the help and support you need to help your pet slim!

For most pets, a weight loss diet will be prescribed which will be much more effective than simply cutting down on your pets normal food. The regular weight checks are free and are important to ensure that the quantities being fed are maintaining weight loss at the desired level, and that weight loss is not occurring too quickly. (it can be dangerous for cats to lose weight too fast).

If your pet is found to be overweight during one of his vet visits, or if you know your pet is overweight and you would like to do something positive to help your pet, we hope you will take advantage of this service.

Courtney Simons V.N. 

Hairballs

We regularly get asked about hairballs being coughed up in our feline friends. So it seemed a good idea to dispell some of the myths around hairballs. The first of these is that cats do not cough up hairballs - they are vomited and have nothing to do with the airways. 

Since cats spend so much time licking and cleaning themselves, they swallow a lot of hair. Hairballs, or 'fur balls' are quantities of hair that accumulate in the cat's stomach or small intestine. Normally, most of the hair that is swallowed is expelled through the cat's digestive system in her stool. Problems occur when hair that does not get excreted gathers in the cat's stomach or intestine and forms a dense ball or mat which cannot be passed. The ball is then vomited.

There is currently a fair amount of debate on whether hairballs are a normal feature or not in cats. Hair should move easily through the bowels of cats. A reduced movement is often due to inflammation of the intestines. A cat who chronically produces hairballs has almost certainly got an underlying medical problem e.g. inflammatory bowl disease, skin disease (results in excessive grooming), referred pain. If you find yourself treating your vomiting cats with hairball remedies for extended periods you are unlikely to find a cure. A cat that is vomiting frequently, is off food or seems otherwise unwell needs a thorough examination and tests to diagnose the cause of their intestinal problems.

If your cat only produces an occasional hairball then this may just be a sign that he needs a good groom. Grooming may require regular brushing with a suitable comb/brush or the use of a wet kitchen paper towel will often remove a lot of shedding hair. A lot of cats will often allow the use of a lint roller - in fact they often seem to like it!  

A number of hairball foods are available and these contain lubricants or fibre to help the hair to move through the intestines. Other hairball remedies are lubricants that are given as a supplement e.g. Catlax, Furlax. Some owners report a marked reduction in the amount of hair vomited by their cats when using these foods and pastes. As long as the foods are complete and balanced cat foods, and the oils are not given in excess, they are unlikely to do any harm. Don't be tempted to make them yourself, as mineral oils can easily be inhaled with serious side effects.  

Dr Oliver Young B.V.M.S., M.A.C.V.Sc (Emergency Medicine and Critical Care)

            ...Special Offers...Special Offers...Special Offers...

FREE Hills Pet Food Storage Containers

Collect a free food storage container with every purchase of Hills cat food, 3.8kg and 4.5kg, while stocks last!

Sale

We have a selection of around 50 leads and collars which have been reduced by 20-50%. This is to make more room for the latest styles from Rogz and Tuff Lock collars and leads. 

New Rogz Podz and Toys

We now have these fantastic playtoys and beds in stock. They are made to exceptional standards and both Oliver's and Jane's dogs and cats are really enjoying their sleep. In fact Oliver's dog is being pushed out by the cats who have taken it for themselves - Jasper is not amused!

If you would like to know more about Rogz have a look at their very cool site at http://www.rogz.com/

 

"Ponsonby Tails" is dedicated to the pets who have touched the lives of all who knew them.

In Loving Memory of:

 

Squeaky Gilbert	Hercules O'Connor	Merlo Gray
Charlotte Lett	Sumo Opai	Tallulah Reynolds
Chuckie Turua	Pom Pom Zwart	Tiger Dixon
Thalia Maire	Nikki Beddek	Ruby Kinmont
Kimba Floyd	Mog Cameron	Morton Goulder
Bunny-Boy Sommer