A big SHOUT OUT to you, our great clients, for your patience and understanding during the current health and financial crisis. 

We are striving to provide an uninterrupted service during this uncertain time and everyone has embraced the changes we have instigated in spite of some additional wait times, the car park 'waiting room' and the social distance we are required to enforce.

Whilst we have temporarily reduced Molong Clinic days to Monday and Thursday to manage staff rostering we have extended our Orange Hospital hours on Saturdays - we will be open from 8.00-6.00pm.

We will emerge from this period although it could be some months before life seems somewhat more normal.

Take care of you and your loved ones and know that we are here for your pets...

Meet Zoe, the 10-year-old Standard Poodle. This usually-happy pooch was a bit quieter than usual and looked like she’d lost some weight. She'd also had a few episodes of unexplained vomiting and diarrhoea.

A veterinary examination and some blood and urine tests revealed that Zoe had an endocrine condition known as Addison’s disease, also known as hypoadrenocorticism. This condition tends to sneak up on pets and can sometimes be challenging to diagnose, as it often mimics other conditions.

The disease results in mineralocorticoid secretion from the adrenal glands and a reduction in corticosteroid. A deficiency in both these hormones can produce a wide range of often vague symptoms, including:

• Vomiting and diarrhoea
• Dehydration and weakness
• Lethargy
• Shaking
• Weight loss and lack of appetite

Patients will often present in an acute crisis and need critical care to save their life. Thankfully Zoe was diagnosed before she became very unwell.

After a patient is stabilised, treatment involves daily medication as well as regular blood tests to ensure electrolyte levels are kept in check. Some animals will need additional medication during more stressful times, such as car trips. There is also an injection available that can be given every 25-28 days and many dogs respond well to this.

Addison's disease is a perfect example of why regular check-ups with us are essential. The earlier we can diagnose a disease, the better, as we may be able to prevent your pet from becoming severely unwell.

If you notice any changes in your pet (as subtle as you may think they are), it's always a good idea to discuss them with us. Routine blood tests may be all that is needed to rule out disease and put your mind at ease.

The Coronavirus outbreak is currently affecting many people throughout the world and in some places, changing the way we go about life. There are many questions and myths floating about so we thought we’d help answer, and debunk, a few of them here.

How is Coronavirus spread?

Even though Coronavirus (COVID-19) seems to have emerged from an animal source (the pangolin), the main route of transmission is human-to-human. This person-to-person spread is thought to occur mainly via respiratory droplets produced when a person sneezes, coughs or when coming into contact with infected sputum (hand-to-mouth transmission.)

I’ve heard that dogs and cats can get coronavirus?

There are species-specific coronaviruses that affect dogs and cats but it is important to realise that these are not the same as the COVID-19 strain being transmitted by humans. The strains that affect cats and dogs can cause mild gastrointestinal (enteric) signs and, very rarely, can also cause a much more serious disease in cats called Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP).

There is a vaccine available for the canine enteric form of coronavirus. This vaccine should not be used for prevention of the current COVID-19 strain as the enteric and respiratory viruses are distinctly different

Can I get coronavirus from my pet?

No. There is currently no evidence that COVID-19 can be spread from a pet to a human.

Can pets contract COVID-19 from humans?

A single dog has been confirmed to have been infected with COVID-19. This is thought to have been via human-to-animal transmission. The dog had not shown any signs of disease related to COVID-19 at the time this article was written. According to the World Health Organisation, there is no evidence that pets can be infected with, or transmit, the disease to humans.

What should pet owners do?

The best way to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 is to adopt good hygiene measures and this includes washing your hands before and after handling animals. The US Centre for Disease Control recommends that people who are sick, or who have been diagnosed with COVID-19, should restrict their contact with animals (this unfortunately means avoiding cuddling, kissing or being licked by your pet) until further information about the virus is available.

You should always contact us if you think your pet is unwell, or if you have any questions regarding COVID-19 and your pet.

Lilies are popular flowers and commonly used in arrangements due to their appealing fragrance. Many pet owners are, however, unaware of the danger they pose to cats.

It can be extremely dangerous if a cat eats any part of a lily, or drinks the water from a vase with lilies in it. Once ingested, a toxin can cause severe damage to the kidneys and, in some cases, the kidneys can fail completely and lead to death.

All species of the Lilium and Hemerocallis plants are poisonous to cats. Their common names include the Day lily, Asiatic lily, Madonna lily, Japanese Show lily, Stargazer lily, Oriental lily, Rubrum lily, Western or Wood lily, Tiger lily and Easter lily.

Other plants that have lily in their name such as Lily of the valley (Convallaria majalis), Peace lily (Spathiphyllum species) and Calla or Arum lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica) may still lead to toxic effects if ingested (such as a gastrointestinal upset) but it is specifically Lilium and Hemerocallis that cause kidney failure.

Signs of lily poisoning include:

• Drooling 
• Vomiting
• Refusing food
• Lethargy and depression

Examination may reveal painful and enlarged kidneys, and the confirmation of kidney failure is made via blood and urine tests.

Treatment involves intensive hospitalisation and intravenous fluids, yet this may not always be successful, with some cats succumbing to kidney failure.

Please help us spread the word to help keep cats safe. Tell your local florist that lilies can be lethal and if you are gifted a bunch of lilies this Easter, the lilies are better off in the bin than around your cat!