Grey hairs aside (and there is an extra couple of dozen every week) she’s taken the leap from battling middle age spread to a senior citizen and I honestly can’t tell you when this change occurred.

We too are seeing the graying of a population. Elderly pets are now accounting for a large part of our veterinary frequent flyers club. With your own pet check on the following list:

• Are they eating more or less?
• Have they lost weight or gained weight recently?
• Are they drinking any more than usual?
• Do they need to go to the toilet more frequently?
• How are their energy levels-used to be a 10/10 and now only a 5/10?
• Are there any changes in behaviour especially around sleeping habits?

Any changes give us subtle clues that it is time to take a closer look. Veterinary medicine used to be about the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff but these days with our ‘Grey Paws’ examination early detection of treatable or at least manageable disease is on offer to all pets.

So, though our park walks are getting shorter and cutting across the field the new norm we still have the water. Watching her swim reminds me of the lovely scene from the movie ‘Cocoon’ where the seniors are floating and laughing in the weight-less carefree existence buoyancy affords. Seeing her revert back to the exuberant youth of a young Labrador is a precious moment for me, her doting owner, to enjoy and etch into my memory.

Thoughts on fertility, the origins of our Easter celebration, lead to fecundity and fecundity to the wonderment of the reproductive cycle. This cycle revolves around the female of every species-those commonly described as ‘Mother’.

Mothers have been a source of inspiration and admiration since the infamous Madonna and child portraits were painted by the Renaissance artists. The fascination continues today with the paparazzi entertaining us with surreptitious photos of besotted celebrities and their kin.

Will Brangelina ever stop breeding? Has poor old Jen left her run too late? Is being a mother so important it would be a crime to pass up on the gift of reproduction? Can being a fur parent take motherhoods place?

I’m always perturbed when I hear ‘I have never felt love like when holding my baby for the first time’. With no biological babies of my own I wonder is this oxytocin-induced love affair brought on by the first milk or will over half the world’s population truly miss out on the natural phenomena of mother-baby love?

For a mother a baby is like the beginning of all things – wonder, hope, possibilities and dreams. The strength of the maternal bond is essential for survival of all species, and let’s face it some of us need to breed or we would never be able to enjoy playing with cute little puppies and kittens.

I know many homosapien mothers also have a very special place in their hearts for their pets. By raising our pets we can call ourselves proud mothers as a mother is said to be someone who can take the place of everyone else, but no one in the world can take her place. This is how my dog, Sydney, feels about me-I am her special person (and I shamelessly call her my furbaby) and she my special dog friend.

So for all the mothers of our pets to honour the less traditionally touted bond between ‘Mother and Furbaby’ our team at The Strand Veterinarian are giving away the ultimate Mother’s Day makeover for you and your precious pet.

Go to www.facebook.com/TheStrandVet for further details on how to enter. Entries close May 8^th 2012.

But in 2012 with ‘superwoman syndrome’ now the new norm for the professional career woman, is choosing a four legged friend as your companion with your already overcrowded day planner really such an ill-fated decision?

Consider the positives-a pet is not going to object to your passion for your work, keep you up all night with their post boys-night-out snore or leave the toilet seat up.

For women who walk the path less trodden the traditional single girl labels such as ‘tragic spinster’ or ‘heavenly sister’ have thankfully evolved into the more delectable ‘sexy singleton’ or ‘sumptuous sparent’ ( those fabulous ‘aunties’ who help out with the kids) .

Embracing self-reliance, emotional security and confidence enables a bypass of Prince Charming and his progeny. Plus it can also offer the more complimentary commitment to a four legged friend, the type that offers relaxing company and the security of never being alone in your own home.

But with work, travel, fitness and social engagements making the logistics of owning a pet increasingly impossible, are we ready to commit to a species that comes with way more responsibility than our struggling indoor plant?

Niggling doubts placed by well-meaning family members and friends can often fuel the self-doubt of a commitment phoebe. However commitment becomes healthiest not when it is without doubt, but in spite of doubt and with the booming pet care industry help is always at hand.

All of us need to share our lives with someone special. Extravagantly stretch out on the couch with your cat after a hard day’s work. Run bare foot on the beach with your dog on weekends to re-energise for the upcoming week. A pet is a wonderful thing to commit to.

But can puppy love last? How do you make the relationship stick when that cute little fur ball is peeing all over the house or turning into a destructive force to be reckoned with?

My regular RadioLive Pet Show opened my eyes to the most common problem faced by New Zealand pet owners. There seems to be a skewed 3 -1 ratio of behavioural versus medical problems owners wish to discuss on air. The behavioural problem often more life threatening than the medical issues ever are.

Is a 10 minute Google search on how to tame your canine the answer to the problem? No, not something I would recommend. My best advice for your doggy-dilemma is to enlist some early intervention with the professional help from a qualified animal behaviourist as they are the specialists in this area.

Critical socialisation, firm and clear boundaries and the ability to earn respect from your dog as a calm and assertive leader are essential before the cracks in your relationship appear.

Start as you mean to go on early in the honey moon period of your ‘puppy love’ to allow something more precious and permanent to evolve. With a little pre-purchase preparation many of the problems outlined on air could have been avoided completely.

Puppy socialisation classes are an essential first step to a lasting, affectionate, mutually respectful relationship and deep down that is what we are all searching for.

For relationships that are currently on the rocks you can learn how to bridge the gap between the dog you have now and the dog you always wanted. Your behaviourist can help you to develop your dogs Attention, strengthen your current Relationship and increase your Control (essential for fun times off leash).

As with all lasting relationships communicaton and effort is required for sustainability ……cats, now that’s a completely different story!

3 bee stings
Can cause facial swelling leading to life threatening asphyxiation if left untreated. Carefully remove the stinger and use baking soda in water on the area. Apply ice packs wrapped in a tea towel. Use prednisone or Benadryl if you have on hand and call your vet immediately for help. We always recommend carrying a pet first aid kit in the car if you know your pet is allergic to bee’s.

2 sunburnt ears
In lightly pigmented animals sunburnt ears nose and eyelids can predispose them to skin cancer just like us. Protect ears with a pet-friendly sunblock (like Filtabac) over the summer. Use aloe vera gel on already sunburnt ears and noses and a sun suit on breeds like bull terriers who love to spend a bit of time soaking up the rays.

1 baited fish hook
Can be swallowed in one moment of inattentiveness. Never leave baited hooks around. If your pet swallows a hook never pull on it, this is the most common mistake as the hook may get stuck in the oesophagus which is a much more difficult place to get to than the stomach. Clip the nylon short, feed a meal of soft food mixed with cotton wool to try and trap the hook and seek veterinary advice as soon as possible.

So wishing all your pets a very Merry and Petsafe Christmas and see you in the New Year!

7 common areas where grass seeds can affect your dog’s health are:
• Behind the ears
• Underneath the armpits & groin
• Between the ears
• Between the webbing of every toe on all four feet
Clip these areas short or check daily if you walk them on grass as one grass seed can cost $$$$ of vet bills once they get in under the skin.

6 windy roads can cause anxiety and travel sickness in pets.
As a rule don’t feed your pet and try Rescue remedy directly into the mouth every ½ hour, to calm your pet for the remainder of your drive. If your pet suffers terribly prescription medicine is available to make life easier from your vet.

5 Hot Spots
Can pop up overnight due to your pet being on the wrong diet, insect bites from fleas, ticks and spiders or a bit of rough play with four legged friends. Sticky, crusty foul smelling, bacterial coated spots of matted fur can quickly become painful, inflamed & itchy. To help deter use a chlorhexidine based hand wash or shampoo as soon as you see red or broken skin, gently massage into the area for at least 10-15 minutes & use a fine comb to lift out the crusts. Clip the hair short over the area & use manuka honey or an antibiotic/steroid preparation from your vet on the clipped area for instant relief. Some deep infections will require antibiotics systemically from your vets so seek advice if not on the improve in 24 hours.

12 days before Christmas…
Check vaccinations are up-to-date. Kennels require a kennel cough vaccine and catteries peak protection, as respiratory viruses can be a significant problem, especially in elderly animals. Vaccinations are not magic, they time time to stimulate the immune system and two weeks would be the minimum to peak effect.

11 fleas are jumping…
With fleas at an all time environmental high monthly applications of Advocate/Frontline/
Revolution or Comfortis are recommended. Comfortis is especially important this year if your pet suffers from flea allergy dermatitis-when it only takes 1 flea to make them scratch and pull out fur- as it seems to be working well for this condition.

10 minutes
Is all it takes for a dog to succumb to heatstroke. Dogs can’t sweat like we do and need to pant to try and exchange heat in adverse conditions. The car can quickly become like an oven if left sitting in the sun. Vigorous panting, dark red gums, collapse or loss of consciousness are all serious signs of overheating.
Take immediate action by cooling with a wet cloth and using fans if possible to decrease the core temperature to below 39 degrees, for ongoing monitoring and advice seek a vet immediately as this can lead on to a life threatening situation and damage to internal organs. Be sun smart this summer and don’t cook your dog.

9 common toxins are looming…
»» Slug pellets are not pet safe-even the pet safe ones can cause stomach cramps and gastroenteritis!
»» Ant bait
»» Rat bait and rabbit bait
»» Possum bait including 1080
»» Cleaning detergents such as wet-n-forget-if you can’t drink it then cats grooming it off their coats can cause terrible oral and gastric ulcerations
»» Human medications (Voltaren in dogs and Panadol in cats)
»» Lilies-all parts are toxic especially to cats
»» Recreational drugs
»» Chocolate and all of the above toxins are each death sentences for pets. If you pet has ingested something you think may be toxic call Poisons Emergency Line on 0800 764 766 for advice.

Double Diabetic Trouble

I’ve unfortunately inherited a genetic flaw which means that I pathologically love to see all my animals well fed. I blame my father’s side of the family, remembering how my grandfather’s black Labrador, Toby, grew decidedly larger as bits of food frequently fell under the table. One can find great pleasure in sharing with friends.

Knowing this fact I try hard to count calories. Despite being on the doggie version of ‘Jenny Craig’, I have always struggled to keep my Sydney lean. Now our adopted feline despot, Ron the Russian, is beginning to look a tad chunky around the waistline too and I’m faced with the reality that I may be contributing to the world’s current globesity crisis, filling the Western world with well fed pets.

November is Pet Diabetes Month which is designed to raise owner awareness of this increasingly common disease. An early diagnosis and intervention leads to better long term results for affected pets. To promote Pet Diabetes Month at The Strand Veterinarian we are offering a complimentary ‘P’ test for your pet, as an early screen for diabetes.

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a treatable metabolic condition where the body either does not produce enough insulin (Type I) or does not respond to the insulin which is produced causing excessively high blood sugar (Type II). This high blood sugar produces the classical symptoms of polyuria (frequent urination), polydipsia (increased thirst) and polyphagia (increased hunger).

The word diabetes comes from the Greek word meaning “a passer through; a siphon” as water literally runs in one end of the body and out the other. The word mellitus comes from classical Latin meaning “honey-sweet” reflecting how the unlucky early medics used urine tasting as the main diagnostic tool in the diagnosis of this disease.

Obesity is a risk factor, especially in indoor and male cats and between 0.25% and 1% of all dogs and cats may be affected by this disease. Type I DM, most commonly seen in dogs, is caused by the autoimmune destruction or permanent loss of functional pancreatic cells. Type II DM, the most common form seen in cats, is due to insulin resistance, pancreatic beta cell dysfunction and increased liver glucose synthesis.

Check out www.petdiabetesmonth.com for more details about whether or not your pet could be at risk, or give us a call on 377 6667 to find out more about our Pet Diabetes Month promotion.

Our First XV Team

Why do we want the weak, the disabled, the quirky and the not so pretty to rise up victorious, become the hero of the story or be chosen to join the family when nature’s law dictates survival of the fittest?
We naturally empathise with the underdog as at some point we have all suffered, been pushed around, been ostracized or made to feel unwanted and small. No matter how popular and successful you are, there was once a time when you weren’t.

Noticing the lame duck, picking the runt of the litter, rescuing the seagull with the broken wing is part of human nature. How will they survive if not for our help? Our empathy with their situation, the capacity to recognize and share what they are going through, leads on to compassion-a wonderful thing to demonstrate and teach to our children as they develop and make it part of their daily lives.

As a veterinarian I now understand that empathy has a scale. We’re not all the same when it comes to our pet care needs. On the far left are the clients I will never see, those in which animal health care is not a consideration. On the far right the animal hoarder, a complex addiction to care for unusually large numbers of animals. Most of us sit somewhere in the middle and enjoy the companionship and mutually beneficial relationship people can have with their pets.

With spring now sprung and love in the air it’s not only the lusty two legged species out enjoying the surge of testosterone the warmer weather brings. The most important decision any type of pet owner can make is to get your pet de-sexed. From our point of view ‘if you’re not going to breed from them then they don’t need them’ and you will have a healthier and happier pet.

Spaniel Carter On Form Again

We are a small country renowned for our enormous national pride. For us, the symbol of our strength is represented not by a huge populace and vast economic wealth but by our national rugby team-The All Blacks-our own warriors fighting for the pride and status of our nation.

Even with such strong mana, with little over 4 million people backing our national team the power of positive thought (the collective mental attitude focusing on a favourable result and success) highlights we are up against the odds if the laws of attraction apply.

However…… as New Zealanders we’ve never walked alone. Over 68% of our homes house New Zealand animal companions making up a nation of pets. As pet owners and as a vet we both know nobody has a more unfathomable positive attitude in life than the cat or dog at our feet.

Our collective positive attitude brings strength, energy and initiative and with it the mana, or magic, to support our team across the finish line-as in 1987-to win this rugby tournament.

Behind every All Black there are 4.2 million New Zealanders, 5 million cats and dogs, 4 million dairy cows and 40 million sheep-the other teams just don’t stand a chance!