If your pet has been struggling with itchiness and allergic dermatitis, Cytopoint may just be the solution you are looking for. 

Cytopoint is a safe, effective, long lasting treatment for allergic and atopic dermatitis. After one injection of Cytopoint relief from itch can be seen within 1 day and can continue to control itch for up to 8 weeks. This product is a monoclonal antibody and works like your dog's own immune system to break down the itch cycle. Cytopoint is safe from any age and can be used in combination with other medications or in animals with other concurrent illnesses. 

Nickala's patient Leo presented with an 18 month recurrent cycle of itchiness and his owner Kate is delighted with the change in Leo since commencing Cytopoint. 

"Before Leo had the Cytopoint injection he had regular episodes of uncontrollable scratching. He was pulling hair out from his ears and a patch under his leg, and would end up with his ear bleeding from excessive scratching.

The day he had the Cytopoint injection, relief was evident. His scratching reduced within a few hours and he's rarely scratching a week later.

It's been an amazing transformation!"

If you would like to know whether cytopoint may be suitable for your itchy dog give us a call today to make an appointment - 63618388.

How many pesky mosquitoes have you seen this summer? Here's some food for thought: wherever there are mosquitoes, there is the risk of heartworm disease for your pet!

Heartworm is a dangerous worm, and when an infected mosquito feeds on your pet's blood, the heartworm larvae enter the bloodstream. The scary part is that these larvae mature into worms that can reach up to 30cm in length.

The worms mature in the bloodstream and eventually become lodged in your pet's heart leading to heart failure. It is at this point that the disease can be fatal. Dogs are more commonly affected by heartworm disease but cats may also be at risk.

The prevalence of heartworm in Australia has been mainly in tropical and subtropical coastal regions but in recent decades it has become increasingly prevalent in more southern areas. It is not yet endemic in our cooler Orange climate however we do recommend you speak with your vet for their recommendation in your situation. 

The take-home point is that with changing weather patterns and subsequent alterations in the distribution of mosquito populations, heartworm disease can be unpredictable. This is why prevention is SO important as we just don't know where it might strike next.

Prevention of heartworm is far better than an attempt at a cure but it's important to realise that not all heartworm prevention is the same so it's best to ask us what is the best prevention for your pet.

Most importantly, you need to be aware that many of the intestinal 'all-wormer' tablets do not prevent against heartworm infection.

There are topical treatments, oral treatments and a yearly injection for dogs. Ask us for the most suitable prevention for your pet - we will make sure your pet is suitably protected.

Recent groundbreaking research into canine heart disease is changing the way we treat one of the most common heart conditions.

It is estimated that one dog in ten may suffer from some type of heart disease and there it's a particular type of heart disease called mitral valve disease that can lead to congestive heart failure, reduced quality of life and an overall shortened lifespan.

The EPIC (Evaluation of Pimobendan In dogs with Cardiomegaly) Study was the largest veterinary cardiology study in history. This groundbreaking study set out to answer a key question: Can a particular drug (pimobendan) delay the onset of congestive heart failure (CHF) in dogs with mitral valve disease?

The study, which began in 2010 and ran through to 2015, included investigators at 36 study centres in 11 nations across 4 continents. Investigators were held to rigorous scientific standards, and an independent team compiled and reported the findings.

The results concluded that dogs who received pimobendan experienced a 15-month delay in onset of clinical signs of CHF, cardiac-related death, or euthanasia. Some have described these results as 'epic' (pardon the pun!)

And the best news is that with x-rays and an ultrasound of the heart, along with the guidelines from the results of this study, we are now able to determine which of our patients with mitral valve disease will benefit from medication and which can be placed on a monitoring program. This means we can help your pet live a longer and healthier life.

If you have any questions about the management of heart disease or anything to do with your pet's health, we are always here to help.