Pet Keyhole Surgery Now Available We're delighted to be one of the first vet practices in Melbourne to offer a laparoscopic surgery option to pet lov
Pet Keyhole Surgery Now Available
We're delighted to be one of the first vet practices in Melbourne to offer a laparoscopic surgery option to pet lovers
Laparoscopy has been widely available to human patients since the 1990s, but it has only recently become accessible for pets (and even then generally only at specialist hospitals)
The advantages of minimally invasive keyhole surgery are numerous:
* Your pet will experience less pain
* Faster recovery from surgery
* Your pet's surgical incision will be smaller
Dr Diana Barker performs a patient's spey surgery via laparoscopic guidance
We consider this the most exciting technological advancement offered to our patients in many years, we've invested in the latest equipment and internationally recogised training for our staff.
Keyhole surgery is perfect for desexing procedures, abdominal exploratory surgery and biopsy as well as joint procedures. To discuss whether your pet can reap the benefits of having their procedure by keyhole, simply call (03)95101335 and speak to one of our team.
AVA Issues Rabbit Health Alert!
Important Changes to Vaccination for Bunnies
The Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) recently issued updated recommendations for the prevention of Calicivirus in rabbits
There are a number of different strains of Calicivirus, or Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV), present in Australia.
In mid-2015 a new strain, known as RHDV2, was detected in Australia. It is believed to have come from Europe and its symptoms are different to those seen with other strains of the virus. It is spread by insects so ALL pet rabbits are potentially at risk!
The current vaccination program for preventing RHDV in pet rabbits is based on an annual vaccination. The AVA has recently updated its recommendations to combat the new strain:
▪ Kittens: 4, 8, 12 weeks of age, then 6 monthly for life ▪ Adults: 2 vaccinations one month apart, then 6 monthly for life
We will now send you a reminder every six months to help ensure your rabbit is kept safe from this disease
IT'S CENSUS TIME FOR CATS
Cat lovers, take part in a national survey measuring the well-being of Aussie cats
Please take a few minutes to help veterinary researchers by completing a survey of your cat's lifestyle.
Anaesthesia-free Tooth Scaling: Not what it's "cracked" up to be
The Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) recently released a policy statement on the concerning increase of so-called anaesthesia-free pet "dentistry"
This is a subject we are passionate about and one that Dr Nicole our dental expert has addressed before now. It concerns us to see an increasing number of pet owners unwittingly compromising their pet's healthcare in the process, lured by the sometimes emotive language and false claims employed by operators advertising anaesthetic-free dental procedures.
Our concern as veterinarians is not only that pets are being exposed to painful and scary procedures by unqualified practitioners; but also that pet lovers gain false confidence from what amounts to an incomplete examination and a cosmetic touch-up, not a real dental assessment.
"At best, anaesthesia-free dentistry is a purely cosmetic activity which delivers no health care benefits and at worst it has the potential to mask underlying dental pathology resulting in delayed treatment of dental disease." (AVA, December 2016)
Did you know our qualified vet nurses offer FREE pet dental checks everyday of the year? Call them now on (03)95101335 to take advantage of expert advice and proven oral healthcare tips that are safe and reliable.
An example of what sets veterinary dentistry apart: Xrays allow visualisation of significant dental disease often missed on visual examination. Here a cat's dental X-ray shows significant tooth resorption and pain associated with the tooth on the right. An unqualified dental treatment without X-ray is likely to overlook this, leaving the cat in pain.
