Random Act of Kindness - Nominated for a Website Makeover

Thanks to my cat, Pusski, I was awake really early yesterday morning (21st October).  He was doing the usual scratching at whatever papers are in my room, to alert me that it was his breakfast time.

And, I am sure I am like many of you, I checked my email at the same time.

What I surprise .... a random act of kindness occurred to me.   I am not usually the recipient of kindness, as a veterinarian, we are usually the ones who give, not receive.

There was a kind hearted person called "Anonymous" who felt that my website needed a "makeover", and nominated us as a "Local Legend".

Oh, wow!

Thank you Anonymous, for your Random Act of Kindness.

It is appreciated. It is an opportunity to win an amazing prize, and yes,  my website can do with a "makeover". 

I agreed to the terms and conditions, gulped when I saw that there was going to be publicity involved, but agreed nonetheless.

To be nominated was very humbling, but to get to the next stage, is going to require your help.

We need to get ourselves from the "nomination" list to the "short list".  I don't know what Anonymous wrote about us (as this is one of the determinants), the website review is another determinant (so do I make it look good or leave it as it is?).

The most important thing we need is for all of you to vote for us, and to share it amongst your friends, so they can also vote for us.

Please go here.... 
or if link doesn't work

http://www.rescuemysite.com.au/nomination/animalclinic-com-au/

or you can click on the photo below.

We thank each and everyone of you for supporting my little vet hospital at Russell Vale.

The tally as at 22nd October (after one day only) is 113, but it would be awesome if it was much much higher.


Yours
The Mad Vet, Dr Liz

Pusski, my "fat cat" hard at work!

The Common Poisons We see in Wollongong Pets

The Common Poisonings seen in General Veterinary Practice

Only horrible people would deliberately go out of their way to poison an animal.  Most of the poisonings we see are actually accidental, but unfortunately, some are avoidable or preventable.

Often, pet owners have seen their pets eat these poisons, ring up for advice, and then usually say "I will  just wait and see what happens".

Please do not wait and see what happens, as many times, it can be too late. 

For example, if your pet has just eaten something, and it is possible to induce vomiting, then this is the best treatment. 

Many times, I hear the line  " I never thought he would..... climb the shelf/move the lounge/ reach that spot   "

With respect to marijuana, I have had owners say to me that they didn't think the pet would inhale it, and others didn't think they would eat the hash cookies off the compost heap. 

Well, yes, our pets do both!

Marijuana

Signs: drowsiness or abnormal excitable behaviour, swaying in the breeze (sway from side to side), easily startled, increased appetite (the munchies), star-gazing, lack of coordination

How soon: Within minutes

Rat Bait:

Signs: Depending on the type - either bleeding tendencies (will not show for days) or neurological signs (seizures, coma, tremors, altered behaviour) which occurs within hours.

How soon: Hours (if neurological type) or days (if bleeding type)

Snail Bait:

Signs: restlessness, seizures, vomiting, diarrhoea, death.

How soon: within 1-2 hours depending on how quickly it goes through the stomach

Aspirin

Signs: vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach or intestinal ulcers, kidney failure,

How soon:  Hours to days to weeks.

Paracetamol - TOXIC FOR CATS

Signs: Liver failure, abdominal pain, breathing problems, damages red blood cells so get muddy coloured gums, coma and death.

How soon:  Hours

Topical Flea Products

Do not ever use a dog product on cats (unless it is cleared by your vet).

Signs: Salivation, muscle tremors, seizures and death

How soon:  Hours

Cockroach Baits:

Signs: depending on type, but usually salivation, drooling, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain.

How soon: Within hours

For more information on these and other poisons visit
http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control

Refer to our First Aid app on what to do in the event of an emergency, and of course, call us on 42845988

If you don't have the First Aid app on your phone, click here to access the iTunes and google play links to  download the app.

 Don't forget that you have to select Russell Vale Animal Clinic as your preferred vet to access all of the handy information on this app.

 I am Dr Liz, and we are here to help you keep your family safe and sound.  We are for happy, healthy pets always.

Meet Cicero - our newest family member

Sharing some exciting news with all of you - we are now owned by a rascally rabbit, called Cicero.

He has an interesting history, but we have no idea what it was before he was brought into us at Russell Vale Animal Clinic as a "lost bunny".  He came in on the day of our Open Day, 13th September 2014.

He was with us for a few days and was posted on a few Facebook Lost and Found pages, including our own.  As no one came forward to claim him, he went to the local RSPCA, as we knew that this was going to be his best chance to be reunited with his original family.

 I know that he must've been  loved, as he was already desexed, and is a very tame man.

The RSPCA staff at Unanderra kept us informed the entire time about his welfare, and for this we are forever grateful.  And sadly, no one came forward to claim him as their own, or to choose him as the newest member of their own family.

Now we are back to building our menagerie again.  He is now with us, has joined our family, and we have called him Cicero.

Check out his new digs!

Cicero showing off his new house to our cat, Pusski.
 

Choosing his accommodation is important - he needed shelter and ample area to move and run.  If he felt threatened, he needed an area where he could go to keep himself safe. ]

It is a split level home, like ours. A big area on the bottom with shade and open - ness.


Since the photos were taken, we have since added mosquito netting to protect him from myxomatosis (spread by biting flies and mosquitoes).  He is already vaccinate against Calicivirus (having had that done at the RSPCA).  He will get this vaccination every year, with his annual dental check and blood work. 

Outside activity

We have bought him a rabbit harness, as we don't want him running away (there are dogs on either side of our property, and as we back onto the RTA land, there are foxes in there.

We want him to have fun with us outside too, but know that he is safe. 

What about food?

In all that I know, have read, or have had lectured to me about rabbit health, there was one point that always stood out.  What food a rabbit eats is the single most important part of a healthy rabbit.

Ensuring an appropriate diet can prevent many diseases, such as those involving teeth, their gut and their skin.

The problem with many commercial rabbit foods, is their fibre content.

A rabbit food needs 18 to 20% fibre, and their digestive system is designed to eat grass for 6-8 hours a day.

To keep it simple for us, we have a formulated a menu for Cicero

He eats a "keep it simple" diet - this is the best thing for him.

Oxbow Timothy Hay - the reason why I choose this, is that it is lower in protein and calcium than other hays, but equally higher in fibre.  This will help keep  his digestive tract as healthy as it can, as well as prevent urine crystal or bladder sludge (a common problem in house rabbits). This type of hay will encourage a lot of chewing, which is what rabbits need for their continuously growing teeth.

To my surprise, we had a lot of trouble sourcing this through the local pet shops, but we know that this is the number one food recommended by vets who specialise in exotic pets, like Cicero. 

Vegies - access to plenty of fresh grass.  He gets this daily.
He gets 1 packed cup of mixed veges - we include - carrot tops, brussell sprouts (see there is a use for them), spinach leaves, bok choy.

Rabbit pellets - the problem with many commercial rabbit pellets is that they contain insuffient fibre, so we make sure that when we went shopping, we looked for a high fibre, low calcium pellet. We couldn't find one locally, so we are using a normal commercial one for the time being, but we will be ordering it online, as well as stocking it for our fellow bunnies.

Herbs - he gets a tablespoon or more of mixed herbs - dandelion (we have lots growing naturally), parsley, basil, dill or mint.

And who doesn't love a treat or two. 

We give him chopped up banana or apple (but no more than tablespoon) each few days.

Because we want our  (and your rabbit) to have the very best, we will be stocking a range of Rabbit and Guinea Pig food from Oxbow.

How did Piper react?

The usual barking and carrying on initially, but she has now adjusted to the idea.  She alerted Dirk on the first day (Cicero escaped from the old rabbit hutch we had).  Cicero was sitting there, with Piper barking at him. Neither one moved. 

If Cicero had run, then Piper would have too. As Cicero did not move, neither did Piper.  Phew!

Just as well.  A rabbit running from a kelpie would not have been a fun situation for Cicero at all, and certainly not we would have intended for him on his first day.

Our cat Pusski is bemused by it all (he is the boss at home), and Dash? don't know yet.  Dash and Piper are besties, so I suspect she would not be a problem

So, we welcome Cicero to the mad household of Dr Liz and her animal mad family. 

I am Dr Liz, the mad vet of Bellambi. Welcome to my family.