We do not recommend Rabbits and Guinea Pigs together – Melbourne Vet advice

Guinea Pigs and Rabbits should not be put together

We do not recommend rabbits and guinea pigs together for the following reasons:

• Rabbits may hog the food
• Rabbits may bully the guinea pigs.
• Guinea pigs can cause severe eye injuries to rabbits.
• Rabbits carry a bacteria Bordetella that is lethal to guinea pigs
• They require different feeding regimes
• Rabbits talk ‘rabbit’ with rabbits and guinea pigs talk ‘pig’ with guinea pigs.

Guinea pigs rarely cohabit well with other species. If you have indoor dogs and cats you need to a secure enclosure.

The Melbourne Rabbit Clinic is the first and only hospital in Australia to treat rabbits and guinea pigs exclusively.

Melbourne Rabbit Clinic have an absolute passion for rabbits and guinea pigs offering high quality veterinary care especially tailored for Rabbits and Guinea Pigs.

Melbourne Rabbit Clinic is consulting at Animal Accident & Emergency our 24 hour Vet Emergency Centres – Essendon Fields & Point Cook

To book an appointment please ring the Melbourne Rabbit Clinic directly on (03) 9758 9879.

For more information please visit our website: www.animalemergency.com.au

Animal Accident & Emergency 24 hr Pet Emergency Centres

 

 

Permethrin toxicity in cats

A common cause of toxicity in cats presented to emergency vet clinics is the application and/or accidental exposure to canine insecticide and flea products containing the active ingredient permethrin.

Permethrin is part of the “pyrethroid“ class of toxins which affect the central nervous system. As a general rule, any product containing pyrethroids should not be used in cats as they are very sensitive to these toxins.

Clinical signs usually occur within hours of exposure and affected cats can exhibit signs of seizures, muscle tremors, shaking, drooling and vomiting. Affected patients require emergency vet care to control and treat seizures and muscle tremors.

If you have any concerns about your cat having come into contact with permethrin or pyrethroid containing products then do not hesitate to contact your local animal emergency hospital.

Essendon Fields: (03) 9379 0700
Point Cook: (03) 8368 7400

 

Leo completed his Radioactive Iodine treatment

 

Leo received Radioactive Iodine treatment

I would like to introduce Leo.  Leo has just completed his treatment with Radioactive  Iodine at Animal Accident & Emergency. 

Leo is a lovely cat that has just completed his treatment for Hyperthyroidism.  Hyperthyroidism occurs in some cats due to an over active thyroid gland.  If left untreated it can lead to some serious health conditions.  Treatment involves using medication or treatment with radioactive iodine.

In July, we commissioned a radioactive iodine therapy unit at our Point Cook 24Hr Pet Emergency Centre.  Radioactive iodine has many advantages over medication.  Medication is often required more than once per day, which is difficult in some cats.  The medication is also lifelong.  In treatment with radioactive iodine, we gave Leo a capsule containing radioactive iodine.  Leo then spent 7 days in our therapy unit so that we could monitor his progress.

Most cats that receive the capsule are oblivious to the effects of the capsule during the week.  It is non painful and successful in greater than 90% of cats treated,  Dr Linda Abraham performs our radioactive iodine therapy and has years of experience in this technique.  Patients are admitted on a Monday and treatment occurs on a Tuesday.

If you think that treatment with radioactive iodine might be an option for your cat, please speak to your vet about referral to Dr Abraham for treatment.

 

Pet First Aid Workshop in Melbourne

Pet First Aid WorkShop

Animal Accident & Emergency is running a 3 hour Pet First Aid workshop course in Melbourne on:

*Sunday 3rd August 2014 from 9am – 12pm
*Sunday 17th August 2014 from 9am – 12pm

This course is open to the public and recommended especially …for those who work with pets – foster carers, pet sitters, rescue workers etc

The course will cover common emergencies and first aid:

– CPR – practice on a dog mannequin

– Rescue breaths

– Bleeding

– Bandaging

– Shock

– Choking

– Bites & stings

– Burns

– Eye injuries

– Ear injuries

– Nose injuries

– Broken bones

– Sprains

– Heat stress

– Seizures

– Poisoning/toxicities

To enroll or for more information please click on the link below: http://www.petemergencystore.com.au/Pet First Aid Course

 

Knowing When Your Pet Needs a Caesarean

A caesarean section is a major surgical procedure used to deliver babies when normal birth isn’t possible. This is done by surgically entering the abdomen to remove the babies directly from the uterus. While caesareans are sometimes needed for cats, they are a lot more common with dogs, especially particular breeds such as bull dogs. However, birth complications are life threatening to all mothers and their offspring when delivery isn’t progressing normally, regardless of species or breed. Therefore, pets experiencing birth complications may be in need of a caesarean and must be taken to a 24 hour vet clinic immediately for emergency surgery.

In most cases, pet owners won’t be aware that their pet is in need of a caesarean until they begin giving birth. When your pet is pregnant and close to giving birth, it is important to keep a close eye on them, especially during the delivery, and be at the ready to take them to a 24hr animal hospital in an emergency.

When your pet is in labour, the most obvious signs that they may be in need of a caesarean are:
• Your pet has been having contractions for more than 2 hours without delivering a puppy/kitten (even after the first delivery)
• Your pet appears too tired to push out the puppy/kitten
• There is a puppy/kitten stuck in the birth canal
• If your pet hasn’t delivered all puppies/kittens (providing you have had x-rays taken to determine the litter size)
• If there is a green discharge from the vulva and no puppies/kittens are produced

A caesarean section will normally take between 1-1.5 hours by an experienced emergency veterinarian and then a further 1-3 hours for recovery in a pet hospital. During the surgery and post-operative care, your pet will be closely monitored and administered anaesthetic, pain relief, IV fluids and antibiotics. Puppies/kittens will also be closely monitored to ensure they are suckling well and kept clean, dry and warm.

Generally within a few hours after surgery, your pet and her new puppies/kittens will be discharged to return home. It is important to allow your pets to have some time alone together to feed and bond, while still keeping an eye on them. Pet owners should also remember to bring their pet in for a veterinary check-up 1-2 days after surgery, and stitches will need to be removed in 10-14 days following surgery. Your vet will be able to instruct you on any additional pet care required and schedule an appropriate time to begin vaccinations and worming treatment (usually between 3-6 weeks after birth).

It is important to closely monitor your pet and her new puppies/kittens and contact a 24 hour veterinary clinic if you have any concerns at all. If you notice any of the following then it may be an animal emergency (such as mastitis, eclampsia or unwell puppies/kittens), which needs to be seen by a 24hr emergency vet urgently:

• The puppies/kittens aren’t feeding regularly or at all (roughly every 3 hours is normal)
• The puppies/kittens are crying excessively (they should be sleeping or feeding 90% of the time)
•  The puppies/kittens are cold (their environment should be kept at roughly 30°c)
•  The caesarean wound is discharging, red or inflamed
•  Mammary glands are swollen, inflamed, hard or painful
•  Mother reluctant to nurse or appears impatient with the puppies/kittens
•  Any signs of fever/high temperature, shaking, tremors, seizures or high heart rate

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 pet may be in need of a caesarean section 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

 

Always Open. We Always CARE

 

http://www.animalemergeny.com.au