Health

With many friends and families preparing to get together over the festive season, here's my top tips for keeping pets safe at Christmas. With some people finding this time stressful, which our pets pick up, along with more people gathering in the home, noisy events, thunderstorms and extreme heat, the festive season really can be a time that we see frustration and even aggression emerge...

Thunderstorm anxiety is common in many dogs, causing them to be come extremely stressed and fearful long before us humans can even hear a rumble thunder. Dogs have much an acute sense of sound and can hear far better than we do. They hear nearly twice as many frequencies than we do, so they can hear sounds much farther away and higher than we do....

Accidents can happen in the blink of an eye, and when our pets are involved, the emotional and financial toll can be overwhelming. Being aware of the most common pet accidents, their potential costs, and how to respond can make all the difference in protecting your dog or cat. How Common Are Accident-Related Claims? According to Dr Amelia Bunker, who assesses many of the Knose...

Every year thousands of dogs across Australia require lifesaving blood to treat a variety of diseases and trauma, yet very few owners are aware of the need for pet blood donations. Just as human blood banks play a vital role in saving human lives, dogs and cats also rely on blood donations for their survival in times of need. From emergency blood transfusions to assist...

Keeping dogs safe in the heat is the responsibility of all pet owners. The risk of heatstroke Heatstroke is a major threat to our pets when hot weather hits and can lead to multiple organ dysfunction. Unlike us humans, dogs can't sweat to cool themselves so they can heat up very quickly if left inside a car in warm weather, taken out on long walks...

Taking our dogs for a walk is great for their mental and physical wellbeing, but you might not realise how much dogs can collect and absorb through the pads of their feet, so cleaning dog paws after walks is important for their health. After a trip to the park, or even walking along the streets they may be carrying pollen, dust mites, or even harmful...

The deadly Paralysis Tick is found along the East Coast of Australia and can kill a dog if left untreated.  However, many dog owners are still unaware of the threat this deadly parasite poses. Vets are urging pet owners to be compliant with tick prevention after a recent study published in the International Journal for Parasitology found paralysis tick cases are seen all year-round (including...

As with humans, the rates of cancer in dogs and cats is on the rise. Around one in four dogs will develop cancer during their lifetime — and for dogs over ten, that risk jumps to one in two.  In cats, cancer is a little less common, but it can often be more aggressive. According to the Pet Health Monitor 2024, the most common cancer...

As our dogs age, there are some dietary and lifestyle modifications we should be making to help provide them with the extra support they need as they enter their senior years. Veterinarian, Dr Nicole Rous, provides her tips for caring for senior dogs. Dietary changes Not dissimilar to humans, gut function and organ function can deteriorate so it’s important when caring for senior dogs to...

As a dog owner chances are you’ve caught your pooch dragging their bottom across the carpet or grass from time to time. This classy little move is known as scooting. There are many reasons why dogs do this, but the most common is to relieve the discomfort of irritated anal glands. Role of anal glands The dog has two anal glands either side of their...