VET OPEN GOOD FRIDAY, EASTER SUNDAY & EASTER MONDAY
Animal Accident & Emergency
will be OPEN 24/7 during the Easter Holiday period.
Our Pet Emergency Centres are always open as we never close even on public holidays.
If you need a vet on Good Friday, Easter Sunday or Easter Monday
then please contact one of our 24 hour Pet Emergency Centres in Melbourne:
Essendon Fields: (03) 9379 0700
***Valentines Day Chocolate Toxicity Warning***
Valentine’s Day is a time to spoil our beloveds, woo our secret lovers, and remember to call our mothers which means that Melbourne households will be filling up with chocolate. We are asking all pet owners to be cautious of chocolate around your pets especially this weekend.
Older pets, or animals with pre-existing heart conditions, are more susceptible to the effects of chocolate poisoning and at higher risk of sudden death due to cardiac arrest.
The common clinical signs of chocolate poisoning are:
Why Chocolate is dangerous to pets:
Cooking/baking chocolate and dark chocolate pose the biggest danger, as they contain the largest concentration of theobromine. A 10kg dog would only have to eat 50 grams of milk chocolate to show clinical signs of chocolate toxicity or as little as 30 grams of dark chocolate. Whereas a mere 15 grams of baking chocolate (containing 70% cocoa) could lead to chocolate toxicity. Keep in mind that if the chocolate contains other harmful ingredients such as raisins/sultanas, alcohol or macadamia nuts then it may cause further complications.
It contains the alkaloid theobromine, which has similar effects as caffeine and is poisonous in large amounts. The toxicity level of the chocolate depends on the type and amount that is consumed, as well as the size of the dog. Toxic doses are generally considered to be 100mg of theobromine per kilogram of body weight, with fatal doses often occurring at over 200mg per kilogram.
Ingestion of chocolate in dogs does often lead to significant illness and so should be taken seriously by pet owners and treated as an animal emergency. As with all things, it’s better to be safe than sorry, so if you believe your dog has ingested any amount of chocolate you should immediately consult an emergency veterinarian and bring it in for examination at a 24 hour animal emergency centre.
Essendon Fields: (03) 9379 0700
Point Cook: (03) 8368 7400
24 Hour Vet Care Melbourne
Animal Accident and Emergency (AAE) is a purpose-built animal emergency centre servicing Melbourne. It provides 24-hour animal emergency services. There are two great locations – Essendon and Point Cook. The centres are located to provide direct and easy freeway access. Time is precious in any emergency.
Our Melbourne Vet Emergency Centres provide dedicated emergency care 24/7. We are not just an after hours vet clinic. Our whole focus is emergency and critical care.
If you have a Veterinarian emergency please contact one of our 24 Hour Pet Emergency Centres in Melbourne:
Essendon Fields (03) 9379 0700
Point Cook (03) 8368 7400
**Snake Warning As Weather Warms Up in Melbourne**
With the weather warming up, Snakes are now emerging from hibernation and becoming active.
If you are out walking your pets you should keep an eye on your dog and avoid walking in long grass.
The common signs of Snake bite include pets who suddenly start vomiting, having trouble walking, urinating blood, collapsing.
If you think that your pet may have been bitten, then you need to take them to your local vet or to one of our
24 hour Pet Emergency Centres as they need to be seen as soon as possible!!
Essendon Fields: (03) 9379 0700
Point Cook: (03) 8368 7400
FLUTD is a major emergency as it can cause death. The urethra is tube that connects the bladder and penis. If this becomes blocked, you cannot urinate. In some cases the bladder will burst.
If you cannot urinate, you body starts to build up toxins from the kidneys. These toxins can cause death by affecting the heart and other organs. FLUTD can be a common problem in male cats.
If you notice that your cat is unwell, licking his genital area more than normal and straining to go to the toilet, then they should be checked. Other common signs can include frequently using the litter tray and only urinating a couple of drops. Sometimes you may see blood in the urine.
There are many causes of FLUTD. Sometimes a special diet is required to reduce crystals forming in the urine.
Animal Accident & Emergency have two 24 hour Animal Hospitals in Melbourne, which are ideally located in Essendon and Point Cook and both with easy freeway access and amble parking.
Our emergency vet clinics operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year (including public holidays), and offer all the latest equipment and state of the art technology, as well as a 24 hour intensive care unit. Our dedicated team of emergency vets and nurses provide the highest standards of emergency vet care, critical care medicine and surgery, and are experienced in treating all emergencies from right across Melbourne, Geelong and Ballarat. So when you bring your pet to Animal Accident & Emergency you can rest assured that your pet will receive the best and most advanced vet care available.
If you believe your cat is FLUTD or for any other veterinarian emergency, please contact one of our 24-hour animal emergency centres:
Essendon Fields (03) 9379 0700
Point Cook (03) 8368 7400
Along with being able to deal with any animal emergency, Animal Accident & Emergency also houses a critical care unit. This is complementary to our 24 hour vet – Melbourne pets requiring intensive care have access to experienced care around the clock.
Critically ill patients have access to central venous pressure monitoring, positive pressure ventilation or respirators, enteral feeding and parenteral feeding catheters and more.
Critically ill animals will likely need the assistance of a team of doctors.
Essendon Fields (03) 9379 0700
Animal Accident & Emergency is proud to announce the introduction of I131 Radioactive Iodine Therapy for the treatment of hyperthyroidism in cats.
Our Radioactive Therapy Unit has been designed to ensure safety of our team and patients within our facilities. Our therapy unit is housed within our current facility and allows a comfortable stay in a quiet, temperature controlled environment for patients undergoing therapy.
The AAE I131 Radioactive Iodine Therapy Unit will be run by Dr Linda Abraham who has considerable experience in treating hyperthyroid cats with radio-iodine.
Bookings can be made by contacting our Medicine service at:
Animal Accident & Emergency Point Cook. Ph: 03 8368 7400.
Histories and any management questions are to be emailed to medicine@animalemergency.com.au
For more information on the process please click on the link: I131 Cat Hyperthyroid Treatment Process
Animal Accident & Emergency have a created a page for local lost pets within Melbourne.
What to do when you loose your pet:
For a list of local Animal shelters and Council number click on the attached link:
http://www.animalemergency.com.au/lost-pets.html
OPENING HOURS FOR AUSTRALIA DAY WEEKEND
Animal Accident & Emergency will be OPEN 24/7 over the long Australia Day weekend.
We have two Pet Emergency Centres in Melbourne which will be OPEN 24 hours on Australia Day.
Essendon Fields (03) 9379 0700
Point Cook (03) 8368 7400
Happy Australia Day!
An Australian First – Fidex CT Scanner
Animal Accident & Emergency would like to introduce an Australian first. In December, AAE installed a CT scanner in our Point Cook 24Hr Emergency Centre. The CT unit by Fidex is a major advancement in technology and unique in many ways. Traditional CT units are common place in human and pet medicine. They work by taking several hundred radiographs and then using computer programs to “join” the images together. This allows the Doctor to look at body organs and structures in much more detail.
The new unit now operating at Animal Accident & Emergency uses the latest technology to combine a traditional style CT unit with an X-Ray unit and Fluoroscopy. The combination allows us to combined three different devices into one unit.
At present you would need three different units to perform a CT, an X-Ray or a Fluoroscopic study. The Fidex combines the functionality of the three different machines into one user friendly unit. One of the functions we love is seeing the images in a 3D perspective. It helps the pet owner visualise the problem that their pet has. We can even strip back tissue layers which is great for planning for complex cancer surgeries.
The Fidex unit has some major benefits to patients. It is able top generate X -Ray images using minimal doses of radiation. This means that we can take radiographs or perform a CT and the amount of radiation that the patient experience is far less. It also increases the safety for the Vet Team.
The unit itself is environmentally friendly. Traditional CT units require substantial amounts electricity to operate. They require a specialised air-conditioning plant to prevent them from overheating. Our Fidex uses minimal electricity, runs in any standard air-conditioned building and plugs directly into a normal PowerPoint. This also dramatically reduces the running costs of the unit which means savings for pet owners.
The unit is small, compact but mighty and we were able to install it in a standard sized room.
Our Fidex unit is the first in Australia and is truly a unique installation. The ease of use, lower radiation emission and speed of the unit means that we can provide sick pets with advanced imaging at a cost effective price. It provides more options then currently available at most veterinary centres.
Our specialists and Emergency team are using the Fidex for a variety of sick pet conditions. With trauma and road accidents, we can scan for internal bleeding as well as bone fractures. Our Medicine Specialist Dr Linda Abraham is able to perform cancer scans which help identify forms of cancer within the body.
The following are some of the used of the unit:
To view the Fidex unit in action click on the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJQE1ZBkzvQ
For more information contact our 24hr Pet Emergency Centre: (03) 8368 7400
Animal Accident & Emergency will be OPEN 24/7 during the New Year period should you need us.
WE NEVER CLOSE
Essendon Fields (03) 9379 0700
Point Cook (03) 8368 7400
Wishing you and your fur babies a very Happy New Year.
Animal Accident & Emergency will be open on Melbourne Cup Day.
You can contact our Pet Emergency Centres 24 hours, 7 days a week as we never close.
Our Animal Hospitals provide 24hr animal emergency at two great locations – Essendon and Point Cook. The centres are located to provide direct and easy freeway access. Time is precious in any emergency.
Our Emergency Centres provide dedicated emergency care. We are not just an after hours vet clinic.
Essendon Fields: (03) 9379 0700
Point Cook: (03) 8368 7400
Von Willebrand’s disease is a genetic bleeding disorder that is found in all breeds of dogs, but more commonly in certain breeds, such as Dobermans, Rottweilers, Scottish Terriers, German Shepherds and German Short Haired pointers. It is caused by a deficiency in a specific blood clotting factor that helps platelets to bind broken blood vessels and start to form a blood clot. Without veterinary treatment, von Willebrand’s disease can be life threatening when the pet’s body needs to deal with any form of internal or external bleeding. When this blood clotting factor deficiency is present (known as the von Willebrand factor), even a small injury can lead to excessive blood loss and potentially anaemia, as the blood is unable to clot normally.
While the specific clinical signs for von Willebrand’s disease aren’t always obvious for pet owners to spot, any sign of excessive bleeding should be treated as an animal emergency and the pet needs to be taken to a 24 hour vet clinic immediately. Also, while pets are born with this disease present in their body, they may not show any effects of the bleeding disorder until later in life when they have a surgery or injury that causes bleeding.
The most common clinical signs that may be seen are:
When veterinarians suspect that pets may have von Willebrand’s disease, the most common diagnostic test performed is the buccal mucosal bleeding time. This tests how well blood clotting platelets are working by by making a small incision in the pet’s gum and timing how long it takes for the bleeding to stop. Blood tests are also used to check how much of the von Willebrand’s factor is present in the blood.
When the disease becomes an emergency situation, 24hr emergency vets will often need to use plasma transfusions to stabilise the pet and return clotting factors to the bloodstream. Blood transfusions may also be required if there has been significant blood loss. After transfusions, animals will generally need to remain in a 24 hour pet hospital for ongoing monitoring and care, as well as potentially more transfusions.
There is unfortunately no cure for von Willebrand’s disease. However, it is still highly important to know if the disease is present in pets, especially Dobermans (as they are particularly prone to the disease), as this is crucial information if pets ever require surgery or if any sudden injuries occur. Owners of pets with von Willebrand’s disease can also help to prevent any excessive bleeding crisis’ from happening by avoiding high levels of stress and particular medications when possible, as these can worsen the effects of the disorder. While von Willebrand’s disease cannot be cured, most pets with this condition can still go on to lead long, happy and completely normal lives with the appropriate veterinary care.
Animal Accident & Emergency have two 24 hour pet emergency centres in Melbourne, which are ideally located in Essendon and Point Cook – both with easy freeway access and ample parking. Our animal hospitals are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year (including public holidays), and offer all the latest equipment and state of the art technology, as well as a 24 hour intensive care unit. Our dedicated team of emergency vets and nurses provide the highest standards of emergency vet care, critical care medicine and surgery, and are experienced in treating every vet emergency from right across Melbourne, Geelong and Ballarat. So when you bring your pet to Animal Accident & Emergency you can rest assured that they will receive the best and most advanced vet care available.
If you believe your pet may be have von Willebrand’s disease, or for any veterinarian emergency, please phone one of our 24 hour animal emergency centres:
Essendon Fields (03) 9379 0700
Point Cook (03) 8368 7400
We’re Always Open, Always Care
Medicine Consults at Essendon Fields with Dr Linda Abraham
From Wednesday 9 July 2014 Dr Linda Abraham will be conducting specialist medicine consultations from our Essendon Fields 24hr Pet Emergency Centre. Dr Abraham will be consulting from Essendon Fields every Wednesday from 9 July 2014. To book a consultation with Dr Abraham please contact our Point Cook Centre on (03) 8368 7400 and specify the appointment is for Essendon.
Appointments are by referral from your veterinarian.
Animal Accident and Emergency (AAE) is a purpose-built animal emergency centre servicing Melbourne. It provides 24hr animal emergency services. There are two great locations – Essendon and Point Cook. The centres are located to provide direct and easy freeway access.
Always Open, We Always CARE
What is hyperthyroidism?
Hyperthyroidism is a common condition of older cats resulting from excessive amounts thyroid hormone in the blood stream. The majority of cats will have a benign thyroid tumour causing this condition but some may have a thyroid cancer. The excessive thyroid hormone in the body speeds up the metabolic rate resulting in the common clinical signs of weight loss, increased appetite and thirst, increased activity and excitability, vomiting and diarrhoea. A large thyroid gland, increased heart rate, presence of a heart murmur and increased blood pressure may be reported from the physical examination. The diagnosis is usually made by means of a blood test although sometimes additional testing is required.
How can it be treated?
There are three methods of treatment in Australia: daily medical treatment at home for life, radio-iodine therapy or surgery. Daily medical treatment will be suitable for some cats but it will not cure the condition and periodic examinations together with blood tests will be required to monitor the cat whilst it is being medicated. Some cats may not be able to tolerate the drugs used to prevent thyroid hormone production due to side effects and other treatment options will be recommended instead. Radio-iodine is a simple, effective (over 95% of cats treated will have normal thyroid function after a single treatment) and usually single treatment. Whilst administration of radio-iodine does require sedation and hospitalisation (at a special licenced facility to allow the radiation to decay), the risk associated with this treatment is low. Hyperthyroidism may alternatively be treated by surgery to remove the affected thyroid gland (thyroidectomy). This will require a general anaesthetic and there can be complications following the surgery.
Each cat treated with radio-iodine (or thyroidectomy) will need to be assessed for the presence of other illnesses before the treatment goes ahead. This is to make sure that there will not be any complications either during the administration of radio-iodine, during surgery or later when the thyroid hormone has decreased to normal. Both radio-iodine therapy and thyroidectomy provide a non-reversible treatment and one consequence of reducing the thyroid hormone to normal in the blood stream is that for some cats kidney disease may become unmasked by this process. Those cats which will suffer kidney disease when their hyperthyroidism is treated cannot be predicted from initial blood and urine tests. This is why many veterinarians will suggest a medical treatment trial (where possible) to reduce the thyroid hormone to normal. When the thyroid hormone has reduced to normal, blood and urine tests are used to assess how well the kidneys are working. If the kidneys are not working properly, recommendations will be made depending on the severity of the decreased function. For some cats this may mean that radio-iodine and surgery are not recommended. Alternatively, it may mean that the radio-iodine treatment or surgery is postponed while the medication is continued and the kidney function is regularly checked.
What will happen to my cat during the treatment?
Typically, our cats will be admitted on a Monday (before 12 noon) for treatment the following day. Food is taken out of the cage later in the evening and water is left for the cats to drink overnight. Sedation is given on the Tuesday to administer the radio-iodine capsule by mouth. Even if your cat is good at taking medications, sedation will be used to reduce the risk of radiation spillage should the cat not swallow the capsule. There are strict laws that govern the handling of radiation in Australia. Administration of the capsule is done in a designated area of our hospital where our patients are then housed during their stay. Their body is scanned by a Geiger counter to ensure that the capsule has been swallowed properly. The radiation needs to reduce (decay) to a certain amount and this will usually take a week. Owners are not able to visit their cats whilst hospitalised due to radiation safety regulations. During this period, the cats are observed frequently and fed twice daily. Whilst we provide high quality cat food, some cats may become fussy eaters away from home and we encourage owners to provide a small supply of their favourite food so that their cat may be tempted to eat if they do not enjoy the food offered. Similarly, we provide bedding but if bedding is provided from home it cannot be returned.
What do I need to do when my cat returns home?
There will be some residual radiation in the cat’s body and prolonged close contact should be avoided for the first week that the cat is home. This means that your cat may not sleep on the bed with anyone at night or on their laps or be held for periods that exceed 30 minutes per day. Any pregnant women or children should not have any contact with the cat for the first week that it is home.
The radiation does not work immediately and you may not notice too much difference in your cat’s health at first when they return home. The radiation continues to works it effect over the next weeks to months and we therefore suggest that a blood sample is collected one month after treatment to assess the response. This may be taken at our clinic or by your referring veterinarian.
If you are concerned regarding your cats health once home, please do not hesitate to contact our clinic.
Essendon Fields (03) 9379 0700
Point Cook (03) 8368 7400
Public Holiday Consult fee is $170
(Effective from 8pm Sunday 8th June 2014)
If you have concerns or you are looking for a vet that is now open, please phone one of our Pet Emergency Centre:
Essendon Fields 9379 0700
Point Cook 8368 7400
Our Vet Clinics are Always Open, We always CARE
Animal Accident & Emergency is seeking applications for a full time veterinarian. We are seeking applicants with experience in emergency and critical care. Animal Accident & Emergency operates 24/7 at two locations. The position will involve shift work at both emergency centres. Our centres are fully equipped and would suit applicants looking to further their career within emergency and critical care. You should be motivated, communicate well and have the ability to teamwork. You must also display a commitment to continuing education and willingness to learn.
We believe in a team approach with a supportive environment. Our Medical Director is a Registered Specialist in Emergency and Critical Care.
The ideal applicant would have Membership in emergency (ANZCVSc) or preparing to sit for membership within the next 12 months. Applicants with less experience will be considered. Employment is shift based, with rotations involving day, night, weekend and public holiday shifts. The average working week is 37.5 hrs.
Please send applications to jobs@animalemergency.com.au Applications will close on the 27th June 2014.
Mischka is a 9 month old poodle cross that was referred to our Essendon 24 Hr Vet Emergency Hospital stabilization after being stung by a bee.
Mischka was examined by Dr Eugene Ong one of our Emergency Vets and found to be displaying signs of a severe anaphylactic reaction (muddy coloured mucous membranes, poor blood pressure, weakness, altered mentation, bloody diarrhea , vomiting and excessively fast heart rate). It was also noticed during examination that Mischka had abnormal bruising under her skin suggesting that she had possibly developed a coagulopathy (bleeding disorder that occurs with life threatening anaphylactic reactions)
Given the severity of her condition, any delay in receiving emergency treatment would compromise her chances of survival. Mischka was admitted to our Pet ICU for intravenous fluid therapy as we attempted to correct her blood pressure and reduce the risk of her developing further organ damage. In addition, comprehensive blood tests were performed in-house to assess for changes in red and white cell levels, blood coagulation times and liver and kidney parameters.
Mischka’s blood results indicated that she had lost a significant amount of blood and protein from diarrhoea and bleeding into the gastrointestinal tract. More importantly however, her blood tests confirmed our earlier suspicions that Mischka had developed a coagulopathy (bleeding disorder) which would be fatal unless treated appropriately.
Fortunately, Mischka responded very well to our initial fluid treatment and we were soon able to restore her blood pressure to normal levels and commence the next stage of treatment for coagulopathy. A plasma transfusion was performed over the course of the next 4 hours to replace the coagulation factors that had been lost as a result of her anaphylactic episode. During this time, a dedicated nurse was on hand with specialized monitoring equipment (ECG, blood pressure monitor, pulse oximetry) to keep a close eye on Mischka for any signs of a transfusion reaction. Post-transfusion, another blood test was repeated and showed that her blood coagulation times had returned to normal.
Over the next 48 hours, Melbourne Animal Hospital kept a round the clock watch on Mischka as we continued to manage her symptoms of vomiting and bloody diarrhoea. Being the plucky little fighter that she was, Mischka bounced back remarkably and soon regained her appetite and zest for life. 48 hours after her near-death experience, Mischka was on her way home with her very relieved mom.
We wish Mischka a speedy recovery!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an anaphylactic Reaction?
https://animalaccidentemergency.wordpress.com/2014/05/19/emergency-vet-treatment-for-anaphylaxis/
An anaphylactic reaction is a hypersensitivity reaction of the body to a foreign material or antigen. Common antigens in animals include insect stings, drugs and vaccines. Once developed, animals tend to show clinical signs within half an hour of the exposure. Clinical signs may vary in severity from mild itch or swelling and progress rapidly to life-threatening situations such as shock as seen with Mischka. As such, anaphylactic reactions should always be treated seriously and we recommend that your animal is seen by a veterinarian as soon as possible to determine if any medical treatment is required.
Repeat episodes and the use of EpiPen®
When an animal suffers a repeat exposure, clinical signs may be more severe than the first exposure and they should be seen urgently by a veterinarian should they develop any clinical signs.
In humans, EpiPen® (Adrenaline [Australia] / Epinephrine [North America] auto-injectors) are commonly carried by people at risk of suffering anaphylaxis so that they may be administered immediately once a reaction develops. Not surprisingly, there has been interest within the veterinary community regarding the benefits of such a practice in veterinary medicine and owners often query if they too should have an EpiPen® on standby so they too may administer it to their pets in the event of a repeat exposure.
At this juncture, we cannot recommend the use of EpiPen® for pets for several reasons. Firstly, adrenaline is used for the treatment of anaphylaxis in humans to stop and reverse bronchospasm (airway spams) and airway swelling due to the risk of death from asphyxiation. This is however an uncommon situation in small animals who instead tend to develop severe gastrointestinal signs and blood volume deficiencies. These effects cannot be corrected by the administration of adrenaline alone and require large volumes of intravenous fluids as given to Mischka when she first presented to us.
Secondly, animal requirements for adrenalin vary markedly from humans therefore attempting to administer an appropriate dose with an EpiPen® is challenging. Administering an inappropriate dose is risky and can be fatal.
Finally, precious treatment time may be wasted when trying to administer adrenaline and may put the person trying to administer it at risk of getting bitten by a highly distressed animal. EpiPen® needles are very short and therefore administration of adrenaline by owners under the skin to an animal with poor peripheral circulation is unlikely to be of any significant benefit.
Based on the above reasons, we cannot recommend the use of EpiPen® in animals at this point in time until there is evidence to justify its use in anaphylactic animals.
Pet Emergencies occur at all times of the day and night. Our Vet Emergency Centres are open 7 days a week and we are a 24 Hour Melbourne Animal Hospital.
Our Pet Emergency Centres are open daily. If you need to see a vet, we always recommend that you contact your family veterinarian. There are times where they may be too far away, booked out or their vets are not available. At Animal Accident & Emergency, we always have vets on shift waiting to see your pet. You do not need to make an appointment for our emergency service. We will have a trained person examine your pet when you arrive.
Our Vet Emergency Centres treat all types of illness in pets, from car accidents, cuts and lacerations, snake bites, diabetes to the diagnosis of Cancer. We are different from your family veterinarian only in that we do not provide routine healthcare such as dental, desexing and vaccination.
For good advice and tips on first aid, you can look at our website www.animalemergency.com.au
Vet Now Open is usually what people google to find us. Knowing that there is always a Vet Open in Melbourne when your pet is ill is important. Our team of of Vets and Nurses really CARE for your pet. We try and make a difference with each patient. Our Centres are open each day. We are 24 hour pet emergency centres. Our two locations means that we can service most Melbourne suburbs including Vet Open Sunday.
Find us at:
ESSENDON (03) 9379 0700
POINT COOK (03) 8368 7400
A Melbourne Animal Hospital providing Advanced Vetcare for pets. No Appointment required. We are a centre for referral and emergency.
For pets that are in need of specialised medicine treatment, Animal Accident & Emergency offers a Medicine Service at our Point Cook Pet Emergency Centre. Our Medicine Service accepts all forms of Internal Medicine consults and we are more than happy to provide advice on a wide range of medical conditions.
The Medicine Service is essential in the diagnosis, management and nonsurgical treatment of complicated and unusual medical diseases in animals. The types of diseases seen by our Medicine Service are wide and varied, including diseases of different organ systems. For example:
We also see diseases that may affect multiple body systems at the same time, such as infectious diseases or cancer. As part of cancer therapy, we now offer a chemotherapy service. Our Medicine Service is also complimented by our Intensive Care Service for seriously ill patients requiring ongoing 24 hour care.
The benefits of seeing an Internal Medicine Specialist in our Medicine Service is that they can offer diagnostic procedures and management of diseases that are often not available in general practice veterinary clinics, which may be due to limitations of equipment or the complexity of the disease. Like all veterinary specialists, Internal Medicine Specialists undergo advanced training in the form of a Residency program and are required to pass Fellowship exams through the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists (ANZCVS) or the overseas equivalent (USA or European boards). This training means that Internal Medicine Specialists develop advanced technical skills that allow them to perform diagnostics and treatment at a specialist level in their area of expertise.
Diagnostic testing used by our Medicine Service may involve:
Patients seen by our Medicine Service require a referral from their family veterinarian that they see for routine healthcare. We also require the patient’s medical history to be sent in advance of the consultation where possible. We will continue to update the referring veterinarian with summaries of our consultations and aim to work together with them to provide the most appropriate continuing care for your pet. Ongoing management may require periodic visits to our Medicine Service and/or ongoing communication with your veterinarian. As with any veterinary patient, drugs may only be prescribed for those directly under our care, which means that drugs may only be dispensed by our clinic for up to six months following a consultation with us. It is also important to note that our Medicine Service does not provide primary healthcare (such as vaccinations and desexing) as these types of vet care are performed by your family veterinarian.
Since early 2013, the development and management of the Medicine Service has been headed by Dr Linda Abraham, who is an Internal Medicine Specialist with many years of experience in referral/specialist veterinary practice. Prior to attending university, Dr Linda Abraham worked as a veterinary nurse in a mixed practice. In 1983, Linda passed her preliminary veterinary nursing examination and then her final veterinary nursing examination in 1985, for which she was awarded the BSAVA prize for the highest marks in that year.
Linda then went on to graduate from the Royal Veterinary College, London in 1994 with a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine (BVetMed). She has also completed a Bachelor of Science (BSc) and a PhD from the University of London in 1991 and 1998 respectively. Following on from this, Linda then underwent specialist training, completing her Membership in Small Animal Medicine (MANZCVS) in 2000, and then completing her Fellowship in Canine Medicine (FANZCVS) in 2006. She has since acted as an examiner for the ANZCVS both at the Membership and Fellowship levels.
Linda’s residency program (specialist training) at the University of Melbourne was supervised by Dr Steven Holloway and after the program was completed, she continued to work at the University of Melbourne as a registrar initially and then became a member of faculty in 2002. Linda has lectured veterinary undergraduates for many years at the university and is currently involved in teaching veterinary post graduate continuing education programs.
Linda’s areas of interest include endocrine disease and, despite having specialised in canine medicine, she has a particular interest in feline endocrine disease, including feline hyperthyroidism. Linda has previously treated many cases of feline hyperthyroidism successfully with radio-iodine therapy (this treatment will soon be available at our Point Cook Clinic). Linda also has an interest in liver disease and the treatment of cancer.
Dr Linda Abraham is available for specialist medicine consultations during weekdays (excluding public holidays). Please contact our Point Cook Pet Emergency Centre on (03) 8368 7400 to book an appointment.
Appointments are by referral from your family veterinarian or AAE’s emergency veterinarians.
Animal Accident & Emergency will be at LaManna Direct – Essendon Fields this Saturday from 10am to 2pm.
Bring your Pet for a free healthy check by one of our emergency vets.
Sonia Ross will also be there to give “Pet First Aid” tips.
If you believe that your pet is unwell contact us directly at one of our 24 hour Animal Hospitals in Melbourne:
Essendon Fields: (03) 9379 0700
Point Cook: (03) 8368 7400
Always Open, We Always Care
http://www.animalemergency.com.au/
Animal Accident & Emergency is running a 1 hour Introduction to Pet First Aid Courses in Melbourne.
This course is open to the general public and it’s free.
The course will cover common emergencies and first aid:
Bandaging
Toxins around the home
When you need to see a vet
CPR – basics
What is in a first aid kit and how to use it
Animal Accident & Emergency
Essendon Airport – 72 Hargrave Avenue, Essendon Fields
Wednesday 4th June 2014 – Essendon Fields
Wednesday 11th June 2014 – Essendon Fields
Wednesday 18th June 2014 Essendon Fields
Wednesday 25th June 2014 Essendon Fields
Wednesday 2nd July 2014 – Essendon Fields
Animal Accident & Emergency
6 Wallace Avenue , Point Cook
Wednesday 9th July 2014 – Point Cook
Wednesday 16th July 2014 – Point Cook
Wednesday 23rd July 2014 – Point Cook
Enrol online:
http://www.petemergencystore.com.au/pet-first-aid-courses-1.html
Animal Accident & Emergency is running a 3 hour Pet First Aid workshop course.
This course is open to the public and recommended for those who work with pets – foster carers, pet sitters, rescue workers etc
For more information or to enrol, click on the link:
http://www.petemergencystore.com.au/pet-first-aid-3hr-workshop.html
Always Open, We Always Care
Our 24 Hr Pet Emergency Centres often see cases of trauma. As a Melbourne Animal Hospital that is Always Open, we understand what is required in such a pet emergency. If your pet is injured from a significant trauma, ensure you speak to veterinarian to ensure that X-Rays / Radiographs of the chest (Thorax) were taken. Even if your pet looks well after a trauma, you should have them checked.
Dr Jason Arlaud one of our team of emergency vets has summarised the following article for you from “Small Animal Critical Care” by Silverstein and Hopper.
Diaphragmatic hernias occur when there is a “hole” in the diaphragm. The diaphragm is a sheet of tissue that separates the thorax, where the lungs and heart reside from the abdomen where the: bladder, intestine, kidneys, liver, stomach and spleen reside.
Dogs and cats may be born with a diaphragmatic hernia (congenital) which is rare or develop one from an unknown cause (iatrogenic) or as a consequence of trauma.
Blunt trauma due to vehicular accidents, high-rise syndrome (falling from apartments) or dog fights are the most likely causes. Trauma accounts for eighty five percent of diaphragmatic hernias in dogs and cats. In traumatic diaphragmatic hernias usually one or more of the abdominal organs (stomach, liver, intestine etc.) has as a consequence of force, been pushed through the diaphragm into the chest, causing a tear in the diaphragm. Once one or more abdominal organs are in the chest there is the potential to affect the heart and lung’s normal function. This leads to difficulty getting enough oxygen into the body and the animal breathing at a faster rate. Complications may be fatal.
Animals that present to veterinary clinics and are subsequently diagnosed with a diaphragmatic hernias may vary in their breathing pattern from normal to struggling to breath (dyspnoeic). Their breathing may worsen hours after they were injured in some cases. Dyspnoeic animals will have a fast breathing rate, they may have their mouth open and neck stretched to try and get as much oxygen into their lungs as possible.
Organs most likely to be pushed through the diaphragm are: stomach, liver, intestine, omentum and spleen. The liver is the organ most likely to herniate. Most insults occur on the right side of the diaphragm possibly due to the stomach sitting on the left side and being gas filled it may cushion some of the force.
Diaphragmatic hernias are suspected when certain findings are observed on examination including: borborygmus (stomach sounds) over the chest, abnormal heart and lung sounds, displacement of heart, lungs or trachea by abdominal organs, pleural effusion or an incomplete diaphragm on radiograph and signs or history consistent with trauma.
Other associated injuries may include: pleural effusion, pulmonary contusions (bruising), pneumothorax (air in the chest cavity) chest wall disease (broken ribs).
What often kills a pet with such trauma is the damage that occurs to the lungs and lung tissue. Usually if a trauma was severe enough to rupture the diaphragm, it will have caused bruising to the lungs. If the lungs are severely damaged then pets can die, despite all treatment.
Treatment involves stabilisation from shock and eventual surgery. This type of injury is very painful and we do use a significant amount of pain medication. Our main concern in our Melbourne Animal Hospital is ensuring your pet is in the best possible condition for surgery to occur. Our 24Hr Pet Emergency Centres provide some of the most advanced monitoring equipment available. Our Blood Gas unit helps identify problems with their lungs. The tests are run as needed and we have the results available within 1 minute of collection. In the most severe cases we use a ventilator to help improve breathing and lung function. Ventilators are not common at most veterinary clinics and for diaphragmatic hernias they may make the difference between your pet surviving.
If your pet is involved in an accident then we urge you to have them checked by a Vet Now Open. We have two convenient locations for our Melbourne Pet Emergency Centres.
We are Always Open, We always CARE
Essendon Airport – Essendon Fields 9379 0700
Point Cook – 8368 7400
Anaemia is not in itself a specific disease, but rather the result of another underlying disease/injury, which causes pets to have a reduced number of red blood cells. Depending on the severity level, anaemia on its own can be life threatening and may require emergency vet care, but what is usually more concerning for the pet’s health is the underlying disease/injury that is causing it to become anaemic.
There are three main causes of anaemia in cats and dogs – diseases/injuries that cause blood loss; diseases that decrease the production of red blood cells; and diseases that cause haemolysis (which is the destruction or breakdown of red blood cells). Anaemia caused by blood loss is often the result of serious trauma or injuries that sever blood vessels or damage internal organs. It can also be the result of excessive parasite activity on the animals, or tumours in areas of the body such as the intestinal tract, kidneys, urinary bladder or spleen, which cause internal bleeding.
The most common cause of reduced blood cell production is any severe or chronic disease, such as cancer, renal disease or cardiac disease. However, it can also be caused by poor nutrition, autoimmune disease, hypothyroidism, or toxicity. Anaemia caused by haemolysis can also be the result of the same diseases like autoimmune disease, cancer or toxicity, as well as blood parasites.
The first clinical signs of anaemia that pet owners will witness are their cat or dog appearing to have little stamina and seeming lethargic or tired, as well as having pale gums. When these signs are displayed the pet will need to be seen at a 24 hour vet clinic for examination. Unless there is an obvious injury or chronic disease that is found to be causing the anaemia, a range of tests will need to be performed to determine what is causing the disease. These tests include taking a blood sample to measure the red blood cell and haemoglobin count. This blood sample will also be used to test for increased numbers of immature red blood cells (known as reticulocytes) to ensure the pet’s bone marrow is responding correctly to the need for more red blood cells. It often takes at least 3-5 days for the body to realise it is anaemic and start releasing immature red blood cells from the bone marrow.
Tests may also be done by the veterinarian to check for parasite activity or any evidence of abnormal cells that may be caused by leukaemia. In some cases, other tests may include a reticulocyte count, bone marrow biopsy, a biochemical profile or urinalysis, or a faecal exam. These tests will help the emergency vet to determine the overall health of the animal and check whether the animal’s organs are functioning normally.
If the anaemia is severe then it can certainly be life threatening and need emergency vet care, which will often involve a blood transfusion. However, a transfusion is not a cure for anaemia, it is used to stabilise the animal and allow time to conduct the diagnostic tests needed to find the underlying disease causing the anaemia. Treatment for the anaemia and the underlying disease will require intensive care and ongoing monitoring at a 24 hour animal hospital to allow for the best chance of success and recovery.
Animal Accident & Emergency have two 24 hour pet emergency centres in Melbourne, which are ideally located in Essendon and Point Cook and both with easy freeway access and amble parking. Our emergency vet clinics operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year (including public holidays), and offer all the latest equipment and state of the art technology, as well as a 24 hour intensive care unit. Our dedicated team of emergency vets and nurses provide the highest standards of emergency vet care, critical care medicine and surgery, and are experienced in treating all emergencies from right across Melbourne, Geelong and Ballarat. So when you bring your pet to Animal Accident & Emergency you can rest assured that your pet will receive the best and most advanced vet care available.
If you believe your pet may be have anaemia or for any emergency, please phone one of our 24-hour Animal Accident & Emergency Centres:
Essendon Fields (03) 9379 0700
Point Cook (03) 8368 7400
Always Open, We Always Care
Bladder stones are clumps of minerals that form hard pebble-like substances in the bladder, usually either becoming one large stone or a collection of smaller stones within a matter of weeks to a month. As is the case with humans, they are also not uncommon in cats and dogs, and are generally caused by diet, other bladder diseases or the body’s metabolism failing to dissolve the minerals in the urine. Luckily, they can be treated effectively and be prevented from occurring again with the right diet and appropriate vet care.
While bladder stones can cause substantial pain and distress to the affected animal, they are generally not considered life threatening. However, in some cases bladder stones can become so large that they obstruct the bladder, while other stones can be so tiny that they can pass into the urethra and also cause urinary obstruction. When either form of obstruction occurs, this becomes a serious pet emergency with the imminent potential to cause the bladder to rupture, and there is a high risk of death.
Pet owners will often see signs if their cat or dog does develop bladder stones, such as blood in the urine or straining to urinate. Animals will generally also display signs of distress and pain, especially when urinating. While these symptoms are similar to other more common bladder infections that may not be as serious, if pet owners ever see these clinical signs then they should visit a 24 hour vet clinic and consult a veterinarian immediately.
The tests needed to determine if your pet does have bladder stones will depend on the type and severity of the bladder stones present in the animal. In rare cases where the bladder stones are large enough, a 24hr emergency vet will occasionally be able to simply feel them through the abdominal wall. However, this is often not possible and therefore if the emergency vet still believes bladder stones may be the cause of the animal’s symptoms then x-rays or ultrasounds may be required.
In order to treat bladder stones, there are two main options – surgical removal of the stones or medically dissolving the stones. The method chosen by the emergency vet will firstly depend on whether the animal has a bladder obstruction, in which case surgery is usually required, otherwise the type of bladder stones found and the age and other health conditions of the affected pet will be key considerations. Dissolving a bladder stone is often not the preferred method, as it can take upwards of a month to dissolve the stones and requires very strict dietary conditions for pet owners to adhere to. Additionally, if medical treatment is undertaken then there is a risk of further urethral obstruction occurring as the stones become small enough to pass into the urethra.
If your pet does require surgery as part of their treatment, then they will also need to remain in an animal hospital for ongoing 24 hour monitoring while they recover. Once the cause of the bladder stones has been resolved, the veterinarian will be able to determine the best course of action (be that dietary or further medical treatment) to prevent bladder stones from occurring again.
Animal Accident & Emergency have two 24 hour pet emergency centres in Melbourne, which are ideally located in Essendon and Point Cook and both with easy freeway access and amble parking. Our emergency vet clinics operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year (including public holidays), and offer all the latest equipment and state of the art technology, as well as a 24 hour intensive care unit. Our dedicated team of emergency vets and nurses provide the highest standards of emergency vet care, critical care medicine and surgery, and are experienced in treating all emergencies from right across Melbourne, Geelong and Ballarat. So when you bring your pet to Animal Accident & Emergency you can rest assured that your pet will receive the best and most advanced vet care available.
If you believe your pet may have bladder stones or for any emergency, please phone one of our 24-hour Animal Accident & Emergency Centres:
Essendon Fields (03) 9379 0700
Point Cook (03) 8368 7400
Always Open, We Always Care
On Anzac Day our 24 Hr Animal Hospitals will be available to help you at anytime. Our Emergency Vet Hospitals have Veterinarians on shift at all times. Both our centres are located so that they can service Melbourne and surrounding suburbs. Our Point Cook 24Hr Pet Emergency Centre services Geelong and the surf Coast.
If you have concerns or you are looking for a vet that is now open, please phone our Essendon Pet Emergency Centre on 9379 0700 or our Point Cook 24 Hr Emergency Animal Hospital on 8368 7400.
Our Vet Clinics are Always Open, We always CARE
During the Easter break our 24 Hr Animal Hospitals will be available to help you at anytime. Our Emergency Vet Hospitals have Veterinarians on shift at all times. Both our centres are located so that they can service Melbourne and surrounding suburbs. Our Point Cook 24Hr Pet Emergency Centre services Geelong and the surf Coast. If you have concerns or you are looking for a vet that is now open, please phone our Essendon Pet Emergency Centre on 9379 0700 or our Point Cook 24 Hr Emergency Animal Hospital on 8368 7400.
Our Vet Clinics are Always Open, We always CARE
If you need a Vet over the Easter Holidays (Good Friday, Easter Sunday & Easter Monday) Animal Accident & Emergency is OPEN 24/7.
Essendon Fields (03) 9379 0700
Point Cook (03) 8368 7400
We operate 24hrs a day and never close. Our team is ready to deal with all emergencies. Emergency and critical care is our core business and we often treat dogs or cats hit by a car (Trauma), dog or cat poisonings (Toxicities), breathing trouble (respiratory distress), or chronic medical conditions when your vet is not available.
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Our Melbourne Animal Hospitals will be OPEN over the Easter Holidays (Good Friday, Easter Sunday & Easter Monday).
Essendon Fields (03) 9379 0700
Point Cook (03) 8368 7400
We operate 24hrs a day and never close. Our team is ready to deal with all emergencies. Emergency and critical care is our core business and we often treat dogs or cats hit by a car (Trauma), dog or cat poisonings (Toxicities), breathing trouble (respiratory distress), or chronic medical conditions when your vet is not available.
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Easter is just around the corner, which means that Melbourne households will soon be filling up with chocolate. While you should be cautious of chocolate around your pets at all times, Easter does pose an extra threat to dogs due the sheer volume of chocolate that is more readily available for them to snaffle while you’re not looking.
Chocolate toxicity is rarely fatal, but ingestion of chocolate in dogs does often lead to significant illness and so should be taken seriously by pet owners and treated as an animal emergency. As with all things, it’s better to be safe than sorry, so if you believe your dog has ingested any amount of chocolate you should immediately consult an emergency veterinarian and bring it in for examination at a 24 hour animal emergency centre.
Chocolate is dangerous to pets as it contains the alkaloid theobromine, which has similar effects as caffeine and is poisonous in large amounts. The toxicity level of the chocolate depends on the type and amount that is consumed, as well as the size of the dog. Toxic doses are generally considered to be 100mg of theobromine per kilogram of body weight, with fatal doses often occurring at over 200mg per kilogram.
Cooking/baking chocolate and dark chocolate pose the biggest danger, as they contain the largest concentration of theobromine. A 10kg dog would only have to eat 50 grams of milk chocolate to show clinical signs of chocolate toxicity or as little as 30 grams of dark chocolate. Whereas a mere 15 grams of baking chocolate (containing 70% cocoa) could lead to chocolate toxicity. Keep in mind that if the chocolate contains other harmful ingredients such as raisins/sultanas, alcohol or macadamia nuts then it may cause further complications.
The common clinical signs of chocolate poisoning are:
Older pets, or animals with pre-existing heart conditions, are more susceptible to the effects of chocolate poisoning and at higher risk of sudden death due to cardiac arrest.
During the Easter holidays, you need to be extra diligent in storing your Easter eggs safely out of reach of your pets. If you have children in the house, you also need to ensure that they don’t eat their chocolate around your pets, just in case they drop any or if you have a dog cheeky enough to swipe it straight from their hands while they’re not looking. You should also be cautious if you take your dog for a walk near a public park or school over the Easter long weekend, just in case an Easter egg hunt has taken place and any tasty surprises were left behind for your dog to find.
If your dog does need to be treated for chocolate toxicity, then the sooner they are brought in for examination, and the sooner the theobromine is removed from the body, then the better the prognosis will be. In some cases, if the dog is brought in early enough then all that may be necessary is using medication to induce vomiting to remove the chocolate from the stomach. For cases where the chocolate was ingested several hours earlier, the use of activated charcoal may be used to prevent the stomach and small intestine from further absorption of theobromine. As theobromine is excreted in urine, it is also common to use supportive treatments such as intravenous fluid theory to help dilute the toxin.
Close monitoring for the first 24 hours after poisoning is essential to check for any signs of irregular heart rhythm, so for the best and most advanced vet care available for your pet it is best to have them seen by our emergency vets in one of our 24 hour Animal Hospital.
In case of a chocolate toxicity or any emergency, please phone one of our 24hr Pet Hospital:
Essendon Fields (03) 9379 0700
Parvo Puppy
Parvo (Parvovirus) is a relatively new disease found in dogs, which is highly contagious and potentially life threatening.
While any unvaccinated dog can contract parvo, it is most commonly found in dogs less than one year old and puppies less than 5 months old are the most severely affected by the disease. Pet owners of unvaccinated dogs, especially of young puppies, need to be aware of the signs of parvovirus and know when their pet may be in need of emergency vet care. More importantly, pet owners need to be aware of what can be done to prevent their dogs from ever contracting parvovirus in the first place.
Parvo is spread through faeces and can be easily transmitted in a number of ways:
Direct contact with an infected dog is not necessary for the disease to be spread, as parvovirus lingers in the environment for anywhere between 5-7 months and is notoriously difficult to kill. Parvo is resistant to the effects of heat, detergents, alcohol and most disinfectants, with the only known way of removing the virus from the environment being a chlorine bleach solution.
When the virus is ingested, either directly from faecal matter or any contaminated object, the disease passes into the dog’s intestine, affecting the intestinal wall and causing inflammation. Dogs affected with parvovirus will begin showing clinical signs and becoming ill within 6 to 10 days of being infected.
The first clinical signs of parvovirus are severe vomiting and diarrhoea, which is often strong smelling and may contain mucus and blood. Dogs may also become lethargic, feverish and lose their appetite, but these additional signs are not always displayed. Luckily, parvo can now be quickly diagnosed by use of a faecal test (SNAP® Parvo Test) in a 24 hour veterinary clinic, meaning treatment can commence immediately. However, it is not something that can be treated at home and will require the dog to remain in an animal hospital for 24 hour intensive care by an emergency vet.
IDEXX – SNAP® Parvo Test
While there is no treatment that can destroy the virus from an infected dog, with the appropriate vet care the virus can be brought under control and return the pet to good health. Parvo damages the dog’s intestinal tract lining resulting in severe dehydration, electrolyte imbalances and bloodstream infection, which results in death if untreated. Therefore, the main treatment for parvovirus includes the use of IV fluids, antinausea medications and antibiotics, with the chance of survival being high providing they are treated early and by an experienced 24 hour emergency vet.
The most important thing for pet owners to know is that parvo is preventable through proper vaccination. All pet owners should have their puppies vaccinated as part of their initial puppy vaccinations, which help to prevent a wide range of debilitating and life threatening illnesses. The parvovirus vaccine is a simple process of regular injections during a puppy’s first few months, followed up with a booster at one year of age and then revaccinations later in life. A veterinarian will be able to determine an appropriate schedule for administering all required vaccines and ensuring your dog is safe and healthy.
Animal Accident & Emergency have two 24 hour pet emergency centres in Melbourne, which are ideally located in Essendon and Point Cook and both with easy freeway access and amble parking. Our emergency vet clinics operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year (including public holidays), and offer all the latest equipment and state of the art technology, as well as a 24 hour intensive care unit. Our dedicated team of emergency vets and nurses provide the highest standards of emergency vet care, critical care medicine and surgery, and are experienced in treating all emergencies from right across Melbourne, Geelong and Ballarat. So when you bring your pet to Animal Accident & Emergency you can rest assured that your pet will receive the best and most advanced vet care available.
If you believe your pet may be have parvo or for any emergency, please phone one of our 24-hour Animal Accident & Emergency Centres.
Essendon Fields (03) 9379 0700
Point Cook (03) 8368 7400
We’re Always Open, We Always Care
Unfortunately, Australian pets don’t benefit from any government funded health care systems, like Medicare, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme or public hospitals, despite Australia having one of the highest levels of pet ownership in the world. This in turn means that medical treatment of animals can quickly become expensive, particularly in the treatment of severe injuries or chronic diseases due to the extensive resources and medical care required.
Fortunately, there are now a wide range of insurance providers supplying Pet Insurance, as well as a variety of plan options available with each to make it even more affordable and suitable to your needs. Cover can include accident only or accident, illness and even routine care, with costs starting from as little as a few dollars per week for dogs and cats. Plus a range of excess options can be chosen to keep the annual insurance fee down.
The primary benefit of getting Pet Insurance is of course peace of mind in knowing that you are always able to provide the best possible care for your pet in times of need. Pet Insurance allows you to visit any vet (whether it be your regular family vet, emergency vet or a specialist) and will generally cover upwards of 80% of the vet bill depending on the treatment required. Most basic covers will also include at least $7,000-$8,000 worth of total cover for the year, with some covering up to $20,000. So for only a few hundred dollars per year, you can be assured that your loved pets will always be able to receive care to keep them healthy and happy. More importantly, if your pet is ever unfortunate enough to require emergency or ongoing specialist treatment, having Pet Insurance takes money-worries out of an already highly stressful situation…leaving you to focus on what is most important, being with your pets and providing the love and support that they need.
Another benefit of Pet Insurance is that a portion of the proceeds generated by some insurance providers go towards helping other animals in need and animal charity organisations, such as the RSPCA and Guide Dogs Australia.
If you would like more information on Pet Insurance, below are website links to some of the most popular Pet Insurance providers:
It started out like any other day. Pierre, a 10-month old beagle, was out for a walk along Merri Creek in Coburg with his owner and friend when the unthinkable happened. Lachlan Scully, Pierre’s owner, was chatting to his friend when he heard a sudden and gut wrenching howl. Having no idea what had caused Pierre to cry out, and due to the almost instant vomiting and diarrhoea, Mr Scully rushed his beloved puppy to the Heritage Veterinary Clinic, where he collapsed upon arrival.
The consulting vet was concerned that Pierre had potentially been bitten by a snake, and therefore administered a vial of antivenom. However, due to his deteriorating condition and the venom causing paralysis of his respiratory muscles, Pierre was unable to breathe on his own and needed a mechanical ventilation machine to breath for him. Pierre was transferred to the 24-hour Animal Accident & Emergency Centre in Essendon, where our team of dedicated emergency vets and nurses were at the ready to continue treating him immediately.
After using a Snake Venom Detection Kit, it was confirmed that Pierre had indeed been bitten by a Tiger Snake and had severe envenomation. A second vial of antivenom was quickly given but, due to Pierre’s serious condition, he was still near death for days and the emergency team had a mammoth task ahead of them in order to keep him alive.
As is the case with all snake envenomations, especially with Tiger Snakes, there is usually more than just one problem that emergency vets need to treat simultaneously, making care of the envenomated patient very intensive. Pierre also suffered from bleeding in his gut and bladder, caused by the venom stopping his blood from clotting properly, so a plasma transfusion was needed to replace clotting factors in his blood. Additionally, he developed aspiration pneumonia due to paralysis preventing him from being able to swallow. His continuing respiratory paralysis meant that he had to remain on a life support ventilator for nearly 36 hours. The other conditions that the emergency team needed to treat were Acute Kidney Injury; severe muscle damage requiring strong pain medication; Vasculitis (leakage of fluid from his vessels) causing fluid accumulation in his abdomen and under his skin; anaemia (requiring a further blood transfusion); pancreatitis and liver damage.
Pierre quickly won the hearts of the Animal Accident & Emergency team, who gave their all and often came in on their days off to help care for the courageous beagle during his recovery. After a marathon effort and 11 days in hospital, all of his conditions were improving and he was given the go ahead to return home. Pierre will still require several weeks of rest and further checkups at AAE to ensure a full recovery, but after such a severe snake bite he is incredibly lucky to be alive.
Due to Pierre’s extreme circumstances and the amount of time and resources that were required to treat his life-threatening conditions, the final treatment cost reached just over $20,000. Treatment for snake bites isn’t normally quite so much, but Pierre was one of the worst snake bites that Animal Accident & Emergency have ever seen and required extensive medical care due to his many ailments. However, Mr Scully wasn’t worried about the cost and just wanted to do anything possible to save his much-loved beagle, and he had wisely bought Pet Insurance for Pierre, which thankfully covered over $7,000. Also, with thanks to the overwhelming public support, a fundraiser for Pierre has been organised for Saturday 30th March. More information can be found on the Facebook page created for Pierre.
If you ever suspect that your pet has been bitten by a snake, remember that time is of the essence and it needs to be treated as soon as possible. The longer you wait the more severe the condition will become. Animal Accident & Emergency have two 24 hour emergency centres in Essendon and Point Cook that are fully equipped with state-of-the-art technology to treat all emergencies right across Melbourne. Antivenom is always kept on the premises and our experienced team of emergency vets and nurses are always at the ready to care for your pets.
In case of a snake bite or any emergency, please phone Animal Accident & Emergency:
Essendon Fields (03) 9379 0700
Point Cook (03) 8368 7400
We’re always open, We always CARE
Taking your pet in for a veterinary consult can often be a stressful experience for the animal, causing high levels of anxiety and often leading to frightened or defensive behaviour, especially with cats. This is why at Animal Accident & Emergency we have made some important changes in order to lower stress levels and provide the best possible care and experience for your pets when visiting our state-of-the-art hospitals.
Both of our Essendon and Point Cook 24 hour emergency centres now have separate cat and dog consult rooms, which use species-specific pheromone diffusers to create a stress-free environment to help your pet relax. The pheromone diffusers (known as Feliway® for cats and Adaptil® for dogs), give your pet a sense of familiarity and security, allowing them to better cope with the stress of being in a new environment.
As with humans, pheromones are odourless chemical substances that animals release to convey messages and different information to their own species, such as alarm pheromones, sex pheromones, trail pheromones, etc. By using the Feliway® and Adaptil® pheromone diffusers, synthetic pheromones are circulated through the consult rooms that communicate different messages to cats and dogs, but induce the same end result for both.
Feliway® works by using feline facial pheromones, known as the familiarisation pheromone. This pheromone is common in all cats and originates within cheek glands, which are then spread when cats rub their face against their owners and various surfaces in their environment and territory. These pheromones indicate known places and help to instil a sense of familiarity. Adaptil®, on the other hand, works by using the dog-appeasing pheromone (DAP). This is the same appeasing pheromone that is produced by all female mammals and excreted through the mammary glands, which are used to convey a feeling of calm and reassurance to offspring. Both Feliway® and Adaptil® diffusers used in consult rooms have been proven to help cats and dogs calm and settle, as well as making them easier to handle for vets and nurses, which can be crucial in an emergency situation.
Extended hospitalisation periods can also lead to depression and high levels of stress and anxiety for cats and dogs, even with regular visits by the owner. This is why Feliway® and Adaptil® are also used within the hospital areas of Animal Accident & Emergency in the form of localised sprays. Studies have shown that continued use of Feliway® for the duration of a cats stay in hospital will not only help them to settle, but also to eat more, play more and feel comfortable grooming themselves more quickly. Within dogs, Adaptil® used in the same way has been shown to reduce destructiveness, excessive licking and barking, which all result in a more pleasant stay for your animals.
To experience the difference for yourself and your loved pets, please feel free to visit Animal Accident & Emergency at any time, day or night. Our Essendon and Point Cook clinics operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year (including public holidays), and offer all the latest state-of-the-art equipment, as well as a 24 hour intensive care unit. Our dedicated team of emergency vets and nurses provide the highest standards of emergency and critical care medicine and surgery available, so you can be assured your pet will always receive the best treatment possible. And remember, we’re always open and we always care.
A Maltese terrier named Charlie went on an epic bender to save his life after accidentally licking antifreeze off the floor of his owner’s garage.
ABC UK story regarding Charlie who had received treatment at Animal Accident & Emergency – Essendon Fields:
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2014/03/vodka-saves-life-of-maltese-terrier/
Stings occur most commonly when your pet has been exploring in the park, your backyard, or even within your own home. Stings will occur more commonly on thinly furred areas, such as the face and paws. However, this does not mean that they cannot be affected elsewhere.
Insect bites will usually have both an allergic and toxic (poisoning) component. Symptoms of insect bites are quite variable; sometimes a sting will be inconsequential and you may not even notice that it has occurred while other times there may be a severe inflammatory reactions causing critical disease and even death.
Symptoms that may be attributed to stings can include: irritability, restlessness, itchy skin (especially face, paws and eyes), pain, swelling, redness, heat, wheals, vomiting, defecation, diarrhea, urination, salivation, weakness, collapse, seizures, increased breathe noises and difficulty breathing.
Usually if your pet has reacted badly to a sting in the past then they are likely to react in the same way, if not worse, in the future.
If your pet has any of the above listed symptoms, unexplained inflammation, or inflammation that you suspect may be attributed to insect bites, please seek veterinary advice immediately.
Animal Accident & Emergency is open 24 hours, 7 days a week at Essendon and Point Cook.
Always Open – We Always Care
This has to be one of the most unusual situations, but this weekend we treated Charlie for Ethylene Glycol Poisoning. Ethylene Glycol is a product found commonly in anti – freeze solution. It is very common in radiator and brake fluids. The product is usually a bright green colour and is very sweet. When ingested (even tiny amounts), it causes kidney failure. Death can occur within a day or so of ingestion.
Initially, pets will look a bit “drunk” or may have some vomiting. This occurs within an hour or so of ingestion. The toxin is then broken down in the liver and form a more deadly kidney toxin.
In Australia, the only antidote we have is alcohol. Alcohol alters the chemical reaction and stops the kidney failure from occurring. It is important that we treat these pets as soon as possible after ingestion. For most pets, a couple of licks of anti-freeze is enough to cause problems.
How we treated Charlie: Charlie had a tube placed through his nose to his stomach. Over about 48 hours, he was given successive doses of alcohol. The easiest form of alcohol is vodka. In fact for the whole weekend, Charlie had a huge party with us in the Pet ICU. The vodka sedated Charlie and while undergoing therapy, we needed to monitor Charlie in our Intensive Care Unit. The good news is that Charlie has recovered and is not showing signs of kidney failure. Charlie went home this morning, still nursing a hangover.
We treat 2 or 3 cases of Ethylene Glycol per year in our 24 hr Pet Emergency Centres.
Always Open – Always Care
Jackson presented to the emergency team on Sunday. He had been unwell for a few days. Jackson had been unwell from a snake bite in November and the signs that Jackson were showing were similar.
Jackson’s main reason for presentation was weakness and generally being unwell. On his physical exam he had neurological changes that we see with Tiger snake bite (Lower Motor Neuron weakness). The suspicion of snake bite was confirmed by a blood test that looked at muscle damage (CK).
For Jackson, there was a significant time period between being bitten and presentation to the Emergency Room. Jackson was tested for active venom using a Snake Venom Detection Kit. The kits look for free or active venom in blood or urine. We give anti-venom only to pets that have active or free venom.
Jackson did not require anti-venom, but he will need several days of hospital care to recover. He is resting well on an IV drip and receiving some nice pain relief medication. Jackson will remain in our 24 Hr pet Emergency Centre until he is ready for discharge, or if stable he will return to his family vet, the Diamond Creek Vet Clinic for continued care.
He is making progress, resting and soaking up all the love from our emergency nurses.
Always Open – We Always Care
Animal Accident & Emergency is open 24 hours per day 7 days a week at two great locations: Essendon Fields and Point Cook.
Our centres CARE for injured or sick pets anytime of the day. An emergency veterinary clinic is not the same as most vet clinics. Our aim is to work with your personal Vet to provide the best possible CARE for your pet.
Being an animal emergency centre, our vets and nurses are expertly trained to deal with all animal accidents and emergencies such as hit by car, dog attacks, snake bite, poisonings, acute vomiting and general illness. A large number of our vets have completed postgraduate training in the field. Our team includes Specialists in Internal Medicine and Emergency and Critical Care.
Our Emergency Centres are fully staffed to see any animal accident and emergency patients 24 hours per day 7 days a week, including weekends and public holidays, and no appointment is needed.
Always Open – We Always CARE
Animal Accident & Emergency is a full service Pet Emergency and Critical Care Centre. We are open 24/7 and often receive patients from Carlton. As a Melbourne Animal Hospital we will care for your pet if they are sick or injured.
Our team includes Specialists in Internal Medicine and Emergency and Critical Care. There is easy Access from the freeway and plenty of safe parking. We are not just open after hours, we are a 24 hour vet hospital that specialised in Emergency and Critical Care. Two great locations: Essendon Fields and Point Cook.
Always Open – We always care
Always Open, We always CARE
Animal Accident & Emergency, is an emergency veterinary clinic located in 2 convenient locations – Essendon and Point Cook. Our centres CARE for injured or sick pets anytime of the day. An emergency veterinary clinic is not the same as most vet clinics. Our aim is to work with your personal Vet to provide the best possible CARE for your pet.
We operate 24hrs a day and never close. Our team is ready to deal with all emergencies. Emergency and critical care is our core business and we often treat dogs or cats hit by a car (Trauma), dog or cat poisonings (Toxicities), breathing trouble (respiratory distress), or chronic medical conditions when your vet is not available.
Our emergency veterinary clinic is open 24-hours per day to attend to urgent conditions. We are always open including – vet open Sunday in Melbourne, we are open weekends, including all public holidays. If you need help, then please phone. One of our team, will be sure to assist you.
24 hour Pet Emergency Centre:
Essendon – 72 Hargrave Ave. Essendon Fields (inside the Essendon Airport Precinct) (03) 9379 0700
Point Cook – 6 Wallace Ave (Across from Oz Ten Bowling) (03) 8368 7400
Rat poisons not only kill rats and mice but will kill family pets as well.
On Sunday this week, Billy a lovely 18month old bulldog was transferred to our 24hr animal hospital from his family vet. Billy had developed classic signs of internal bleeding (common with rat poisons).
On presentation to our emergency centre, Billy had severe bleeding into both his chest and abdomen. He was at the point where the amount of blood he was losing was life threatening. Dr Yenni our senior veterinary resident needed to provide Billy with an emergency blood transfusion. In this case, the blood transfusion was critical and needed to be completed within minutes to save Billy’s life The degree of blood loss was severe enough that we now need to monitor for any damage to body organs including his heart.
By late Sunday afternoon, Billy remained in our purpose built intensive care cage where he was able to receive oxygen and we could monitor his heart (ECG). He is now stable and feeling much better. He will remain with our ICU team for the next 24 hours.
When Billy is ok to go home, he will receive an antidote for the rodenticide for at least 6 weeks.
Please be careful with Rat Poisons – Billy’s owner was very diligent, but Billy still found a way to snack on the rate poison.
“Towns soar past 40C as heatwave hits Victoria”
Dr Scott Hall, of Animal Accident & Emergency in Essendon, said owners should relax exercise routines and make sure animals had water and shade.
“And if there is not enough shade in the backyard it is even worse – unfortunately people will come home to find their dog deceased,” he said.
Dr Hall said owners said pugs, bulldogs and other breeds with short noses were most at risk and he said long-haired dogs should be hosed down regularly.
If there is inadequate shade, Dr Hall recommended doggie day care over the heatwave.
For more information:
Animal Accident & Emergency is a full service Pet Emergency and Critical Care Centre. We are open 24/7 and often receive patients from Albert Park. As a Melbourne Animal Hospital we will care for your pet if they are sick or injured. Our team includes Specialists in Internal Medicine and Emergency and Critical Care.
There is easy Access from the freeway and plenty of safe parking. We are not just open after hours, we are a 24 hour vet hospital that specialised in Emergency and Critical Care.
Two great locations: Essendon Fields and Point Cook.
The weather bureau has predicted heatwave conditions for at least the next 4 days. The chance of heat stress for your pets will be very high during this period.
Just like with people, our elderly pets or those with chronic diseases are at a very high risk. If your pet has a chronic illness, then you need to take extra care. The heat wave may affect your pet if they have the following chronic illnesses:
• Diabetes
• Chronic Heart Disease – especially if your pet takes diuretics (frusemide)
• Chronic airway disease
• Cushings or Addisons
• Chronic Renal Failure
• Receiving “steroids” for immune diseases
• Pets that have vomiting or diarrhoea – they will dehydrate very quickly
If your pet is classed as a “brachycephalic” (short squashed nose, for example a pug) then you need to take particular care.
These pets have trouble regulating their body temperature.
What to do:
• Any sign of illness – do not wait. Have your pet checked early rather than waiting
• Avoid exercising during the next few days
• Ensure there is plenty of drinking water – that cannot be knocked over
• If you have minimal shade at home – consider a doggy daycare or kennel your pet
• Ensure there is some form of cooling available – fans etc
Our 24Hr Pet Emergency Centres are available for advice or treatment at any time. Essendon 9379 0700; Point Cook 8368 7400;
Animal Accident & Emergency Point Cook is seeking a Medicine Patient Coordinator (MPC). The MPC is a new position at our Point Cook 24Hr Pet Emergency Centre. This is a nursing based position working directly with our medicine specialist, Dr Linda Abraham. The position is designed to provide direct nursing support for medicine cases, assist in procedures, coordinate client appointments and follow up on the progress of our medicine patients.
Position Requirements
Applications will close on the 30th of January 2014 unless a suitable applicant is found prior to this date. A CV with 3 current referees should be forwarded to jobs@animalemergency.com.au.
For further information, please contact Ms Sonia Ross on 8368 7400 or Sonia.ross@animalemergency.com.au
Animal Accident & Emergency is a full service Pet Emergency and Critical Care Centre. We are open 24/7 and often receive patients from Balaclava. As a Melbourne Animal Hospital we will care for your pet if they are sick or injured. Our team includes Specialists in Internal Medicine and Emergency and Critical Care.
There is easy Access from the freeway and plenty of safe parking. We are not just open after hours, we are a 24 hour vet hospital that specialised in Emergency and Critical Care.
Two great locations: Essendon Fields and Point Cook.
Animal Accident & Emergency is a full service Pet Emergency and Critical Care Centre. We are open 24/7 and often receive patients from City of Port Phillip. As a Melbourne Animal Hospital we will care for your pet if they are sick or injured. Our team includes Specialists in Internal Medicine and Emergency and Critical Care.
There is easy Access from the freeway and plenty of safe parking. We are not just open after hours, we are a 24 hour vet hospital that specialised in Emergency and Critical Care.
Two great locations: Essendon Fields and Point Cook.
Animal Accident & Emergency is a full service Pet Emergency and Critical Care Centre. We are open 24/7 and often receive patients from Coode Island. As a Melbourne Animal Hospital we will care for your pet if they are sick or injured. Our team includes Specialists in Internal Medicine and Emergency and Critical Care.
There is easy Access from the freeway and plenty of safe parking. We are not just open after hours, we are a 24 hour vet hospital that specialised in Emergency and Critical Care.
Two great locations: Essendon Fields and Point Cook.
Animal Accident & Emergency 