After the devastating bush fires in South Australia and Victoria earlier this year, we have a feel good story to share with you.  

Following these fires, a call was put out to help sew cotton mittens for our furry koalas. The mittens help to protect the koalas'  burnt paws as they heal.

The message went viral and was sent around the world. Since then, thousands of mittens have been sent from as far as the United Kingdom, America, China and Russia. This phenomenal response just shows the power of the internet and how compassionate people are when it comes to helping our wildlife.

The group who called for the donations, The International Fund for Animal Welfare, has been unable to count all of the mittens, but said they had thousands and did not need any more at this time. They are now calling for people to sew pouches for other wildlife affected by the fires. You can find out more here

Many people struggle when it comes to feeding their pet and one of the most common questions we get is  "How much should I feed my dog or cat?”

The good news is that the right answer for how much to feed most pets can summarised with some simple rules: 

Invest in a nutritionally balanced diet
Stick to something that’s nutritionally balanced - ask us for a recommendation. 

Measure, Measure, Measure and be consistent
This is essential if you want to get your pet's portion just right. Stick to the same brand and formula.

Assess if you're feeding too much or too little
We'll be able to help you decide if your pet has a healthy body condition score and you will need to adjust as necessary. 

Don't Forget That Treats Count
Treats are food too, and they’re usually more dense in calories.

Take in to account exercise levels and age of your pet
Younger and more active pets may have a higher calorie requirement than the quieter and older pet. 

Remember that we are the best place to seek advice when it comes to feeding your pet and always keep in mind that every animal is different...take these two dogs on YouTube for example!

At some point in your pet's life, we may prescribe a therapeutic diet. 

These diets are created specifically to prevent or delay the onset of many medical conditions and may help control existing diseases.

A good example of this is a diet for chronic kidney disease. These diets are balanced with a carefully controlled protein content to help meet the body’s needs while not overburdening the kidneys. They are also low in phosphorous and sodium and this can improve kidney function, help pets feel better and even live longer lives.

Kidney disease isn’t the only health issue that may respond to dietary management. Therapeutic diets can also be helpful in the management of diabetes mellitus, heart disease, food allergy/intolerance, liver disease, skin problems, joint disease, cancer, obesity issues, dental disease, brain changes associated with ageing, lower urinary tract disease, gastrointestinal conditions, or when a pet is recovering from surgery.

Ask us whether a therapeutic diet might be suitable for your pet.