Behind the scenes at the vet's

Ever wondered what happens behind the scenes at a 'real' vet surgery? Come along to our Open Day on Sunday, 16th September 10am - 2pm and have a sticky beak! We are opening our surgery, lab, procedure, hospital and imaging rooms to our clients. Our nurses and vets will be there to answer your questions and show you around. Share cat queries and stories with Dr Kate in the big consult room.
A sausage sizzle and drinks will fuel the humans and Pup Cakes the dogs. Face painting and balloon twisting will entertain the children (and children at heart). The dogs will be kept out of mischief with fancy dress, tail wagging and talent competitions.
Watch the dogs dance and negotiate Rally-O and find out more about our surgery charity AMRRIC (Animal Management in Rural and Remote Indigenous communities)

Cats have allergies too!

An allergy to flea saliva is the most common allergy we see in cats. Cats allergic to fleas groom more than normal and some develop large ulcers on their lips or in their mouths. Some scratch furiously around their head and ears, others develop pimple-like lesions on their rumps and trunks, or red lines on their legs and bellies. Cats are so fastidious with grooming that we frequently find no trace of the fleas.
After a thorough check for other parasites and problems we treat the affected cat, any other pets in the household and the house for fleas before we go on to allergies that are more difficult to treat and diagnose.
As usual cats love to confuse their vets - cats with food or pollen allergies may show all or any of the same signs as flea allergic cats! Food allergies are the least common type of allergy but we prick our ears up if a cat has intermittent vomiting or diarrhoea as well as skin signs. 
We prescribe a special low allergy diet if we suspect food allergy. If the signs go away on the diet then we trial different proteins until we find the one the cat is allergic too.
Atopy, which is the proper name for allergies to pollens, dust mites and other inhaled allergens, is more common than food allergy, but more difficult to diagnose and treat.

Mika well-cared for today

Mika captured the heart of Nurse Kate today while she was in for her desexing surgery. Kate stayed with her until she was fully recovered from her anaesthetic. She then reluctantly left Mika resting in a heated cage with her soft toy whale while she attended the other patients in hospital.

Desexing Max

Here's Max preparing for his big surgery. Although he is only 4 months old Max is a big Siamese and already showing interest in his sister so his carers decided it was time for him to be neutered.
He will have to watch his waistline because his metabolic rate will drop about 30% and unless he reduces his food intake he will soon be a fatty!

Quick recovery

FC has recovered from her desexing surgery at Hall Vet Surgery and is playing with her toy.
Most cats desexed before 6-7 months of age recover very quickly from general anaesthesia and surgery. We have to warn their carers to stop them climbing curtains and trees the day after surgery!

Can Molly come to our Open Day???

Miss Molly wants to know if she can come to our Open Day on Sunday 16th September. Unfortunately, Molly, cats can't come but Dr Kate will be available to discuss health issues and preventative care strategies with concerned carers in this very room.
Dogs (well behaved and on leads) are welcome. A Rally-O course, fancy dress competitions, dog training and Dancing with Dogs displays, and heaps of other fun will keep them busy from 10am - 2pm.
Cats no doubt know it all already, and would be happier keeping the home fires burning I think!

Watching her weight

Beautiful British Blue Tess is looking to the future. She is just entering her more senior years and is trying to get some extra grams off her waist line. She hopes to avoid nasties like diabetes, arthritis and heart disease by getting her weight down.
She still has a fat pad swinging from her belly under that soft thick coat. Another 200gm weight loss should do the trick.
Good luck Tess!