Whilst a nail clip is a simple procedure to perform, it is often a very stressful process for the pet.  Even the calmest of pets can dislike their feet being touched.  For most pets this procedure induces fear, stress or anxiety that can lead to escape efforts, aggressive responses or cowering in fear.  IfRead more

What is desexing? The decision to desex is an important decision for every pet owner. The term ‘desexing’ can be misleading as your pet will not lose their gender! Desexing is a sterilisation surgical procedure that involves the removal of reproductive organs. In a female, desexing is referred to as ‘speying’ and involves the completeRead more

As a veterinarian who’s worked with and in many pet boarding facilities, and has managed pounds on behalf of councils, I am well versed in the requirements for appropriate boarding care. Whilst most of these facilities are created with good intentions and run by animal lovers we still, like most service industries, see a greatRead more

I used to be able to nod in recognition when clients told me what food their pet was on but these days I’m hard pressed to know a fraction of the foods mentioned.  It feels like every man and his dog (literally) are having a crack at producing quality pet foods.  Words like “natural” andRead more

As senior veterinarian and hospital director to Thornleigh Vet Hospital and Ku-ring-gai Animal Pound I am privy to the broad array of consequences that result from giving your cat unrestricted outdoor access. At least once a day we are presented with a sick cat that is a direct result of outdoor exposure or a strayRead more

Picture your 70 year old Grandma. She takes a while to get moving in the morning, sometimes loses her train of thought and loves an afternoon nap. You could have just described most 13 year old cats whom would also be considered senior. All cats and dogs over the age of 7 are considered senior.Read more

I’ve often pondered that unleashed dog parks are like pubs; a great place to go to catch up with mates, meet new friends and have some good old fashioned fun. You laugh, you flirt, and you joke around. But then there is the occasional unwanted attention, inadvertent insults or, on a busy Friday night, aRead more

A trip to the dentist is one of those unfortunate items on my “to do” list. I loathe having to spend the rare child-free work-free minutes I have sitting in the dental chair getting asked to “open wide!” My husband avoids it like the plague. But despite all this the whole family visits every 6Read more