Barb's Bit

We live in an amazing country, and because we see it every day, we forget just how fantastic it is. Where else could you encounter gorgeous birds swooping and cackling in the trees,  koalas growling in the backyard, kangaroos hopping up footpaths, ring tail possums peeking between the branches, blue tongues sunbaking by the swimming pool, and even the odd echidna wombling up the driveway? We have seen all these things in Aberfoyle Park in just the last 10 years!

Our family had the great privelege of going to Cairns for 5 days last month - we won't talk about my meltdown when I slept through the alarm so we could catch an early flight, and jeopardised the whole trip!! - and we had the chance of seeing the amazing biodiversity of the Great Barrier Reef.  So many different fish, and corals and grasses!

When I received a notice from the energy company, telling me I will save $160 this year because of the scrapping of the carbon price, it felt like 30 pieces of silver for betraying our fragile land. $160? Is that what all the argument was about? I think we will have to donate that $160 to the Climate Council so I can still sleep at night, and hopefully be woken by the kookaburras in the morning!

Vegan diets may be a suitable choice for some people but what about our feline friends? The simple answer is that a vegan diet is a poor choice for your cat. These diets cannot provide all of the nutrients that your cat requires for a healthy life.

Cats are obligate carnivores,  meaning that cats require meat in their diet. They have specific nutrient needs that can only be supplied through the ingestion of animal meat.

For example, taurine is a specific amino acid that is required by all cats. Without sufficient amounts of taurine in the diet, cats can experience heart disease, vision problems, and other health issues. Taurine needs to be provided through the diet and is only available through animal sources. Although there are synthetic supplements available these are not recommended.

Vitamin A and Arachidonic acid also need to be provided in the food your cat is eating and these are primarily available through animal sources. 

As a result of these unique dietary requirements, a cat is unable to safely eat a vegan diet. Even with synthetic supplementation, producing a cat food that is complete and fills all of the nutritional needs of a cat is difficult (and dangerous) without adding meat to the diet.

So if you choose to enjoy a vegan diet, please do not expect your cat to eat the same way!

Last year a kitten was admitted to the Lort Smith Animal Hospital after being fed a vegan diet - you can read more here. 

After a chilly winter, now is a great time to get out in the garden. Your pet may wish to keep you company but don't forget these hidden dangers!

• Snail and Slug Bait: sprinkled on the garden or even stored in the box, these are very attractive to pets. Ingestion of small quantities can be rapidly fatal. Be aware that products that claim they are pet safe have a bitter taste which only acts as a deterrent. Some pets will still eat these highly toxic baits so consider whether these baits are absolutely necessary in your garden
• Fertiliser: Pets love the smell and taste of some fertilisers and if eaten, these can prove rapidly toxic or even fatal
• Compost: The garden compost heap is very tasty to your pet but the contents contain bacteria, moulds and toxins, all of which can make your pet very sick
• Insecticides and weed killers: These are toxic to pets and should be safely stored and locked up
• Avoid poisonous plants such as rhododendrons and azaleas, daffodil bulbs and daphne. Lilies, if ingested, can cause kidney failure in cats so if in doubt - pull them out!
• Oh, and don't forget that rodent baits are very dangerous and unfortunately attractive to pets. Ingestion causes internal bleeding - sometimes two to three weeks later

If your pet ingests any of the above it is best to contact us IMMEDIATELY for advice.

Is your pet is thirstier than usual? Are you filling up their water bowl more often? Have you caught your pet drinking from the shower, the tap or the toilet? An increase in thirst can be one of the first signs of kidney (renal) disease.

The kidneys contain thousands of little factories called nephrons and their job is to work out how much water should be conserved in the body. Once damaged or destroyed, nephrons do not function properly and can't regenerate. As a result, the body doesn't conserve enough water so your pet will urinate more and will drink more to stay hydrated.

Toxins, drugs, diseases or even just old age can harm the nephrons, and your pet may not show any signs until 75% of these nephrons are damaged.

Other than increased thirst and increased urination watch out for:

• weight loss
• vomiting
• lethargy

Measuring your pet's water intake over 24 hours and bringing us a morning urine sample are two things you can do to get the investigation process started. A blood test, urine testing and a measure of your pet's blood pressure may then be necessary. If we detect the kidneys are not working properly, the earlier we initiate treatment with diet modification and medication the better the potential outcome for you and your pet.

If you are worried about your pet's drinking or urination habits you should phone us for advice.

August has been Dental Awareness Month, and our pet hero of the month is actually a pet family. Dental disease causes pain and discomfort, and it also spreads bacteria through the body, damaging the kidneys and heart, so pussy cats Charlie (15), Lucy (8), Fliss (10), Basil and Sybil (both 5) and beautiful 9 yo Maltese Max came to visit us throughout the month of August to get their teeth cleaned and, in a few cases, extracted. Now they have clean teeth, a fresh breath, and a new start in controlling their dental health.  

The real hero in this is their mother, who has been committed to ensuring that her pets' dental health is as good as it can be. It has not been a simple or a cheap exercise for her, but it will undoubtedly be for the better long term health of her beautiful family! Well done, guys!