VET Talk Radio

There are big changes coming to Fraser Coast’s hugely popular caravan parks – thanks to ‘people power’. In late 2020 the Hervey Bay Council asked locals to take part in an online survey to provide feedback on which of a number of proposed changes should get the green light and there was an unexpectedly large response giving councillors a very clear insight into what people view as priorities. To find out more we caught up with Jade Wellings - Councillor Division 5, Fraser Coast PREFER TO READ? - Full Transcript Here... https://bit.ly/CaravanParkUpdate

Sadly at the Animal Refererral Hospital (ARH) they've seen a huge increase in the number of dogs that have been attacked by other dogs while out walking with their owners. In fact this has been happening in all the ARH locations across the country and as you might imagine is both distressing for owners as it is for their Emergency & Critical Care teams & Surgeons. Knowing that these attacks have occurred due to many people now ‘stuck at home’ due to the various state ‘lock down’ regulations thanks to COVID-19, we thought we’d ask well known Veterinary Behaviourist Specialist Dr Kersti Seksel from the Sydney Animal Behaviour Service for some advice on both Off-Leash parks and walking dogs in general.

It’s hard to believe but Medical teams have been progressively improving anaesthetic products since they were first invented more than 170 years ago. The result being that today’s surgeries being shorter and safer than ever before for both people AND pets. However, there’s been a long-held myth by some pet owners that their aged pets shouldn’t undergo the surgery – even if they’re in pain. Specialist Surgical Vet Dr Sarah Goldsmind from the Animal Referral Hospital is keen to alleviate those fears by explaining how pre-surgery tests enable them to adjust the anaesthesia for that particular pet’s condition enabling the surgery to go ahead.

Right across NSW and other parts of the country, families are being forced by the major drought to make decisions about affected livestock and their own future working on the land. But little has been mentioned about one of the most misunderstood members of the family... The Working Dog - also severely affected due to the lack of food available. But one very clever animal related business, the Erina Heights Veterinary Hospital on the NSW Central Coast has come up with a great initiative we can all get involved in - and on the line to tell us all about it is Vet Nurse Tanya Middleton....

*** FREE TO USE FOR ANY VET PRACTICES AFFECTED BY SMOKE HAZARD! *** We know many vets in the Greater Sydney region are experiencing a surge in smoke related presentations, so if you have an On-Hold service and can update it yourself, please feel free to use this audio at no cost to you. If you use the script on your website or facebook page, we'd appreciate a link such as 'Provided by: www.VetTalkOnHold.com ' SMOKE HAZARDS - December2019 Have you been affected by this horrible smoke from the bush-fires choking the city? What about your pets! We’re seeing greatly increased numbers of dogs and cats with serious breathing problems – particularly brachycephalic flat-faced breeds such as Pugs, ShiTzus, Chihuahuas and cats such as Persians, Himalayans, Scottish Fold and Exotic Short-hair.? Our advice is to keep pets indoors as much as possible and minimize outdoor time and walks at least for the time-being. Of course if you have any concerns about your pet’s health during this air pollution crisis – give us a call ASAP – warning signs can include excessive panting, salivating and pets who seem agitated or whining. Speedy intervention not only saves lives it will help prevent long-term respiratory issues.

Holistic Veterinarians who look at a pet’s tongue can tell a great deal more about their patient’s state of health/disease than say a GP asking a human patient to say ‘ahh’. A rapidly rising number of vets are choosing to learn Eastern techniques to use alongside their existing western scientific training to provide combined treatments for their patients. These might include Acupuncture, TCM (Chinese herbal medicine) and nutritional regimes. Internationally renown Complementary Veterinarian, author and lecturer Dr Barbara Fougere from All Natural Vet believes this trend in bringing the best of East and West together expanding as more pets enjoy its benefits.

Dr Emma Davis is a well known Aussie Veterinarian who has taken a side step in her career to help vets (in her words) "to create fabulous, profitable careers that make this world a better place!" For some being 'just a vet' with the day to day pressures involved in practice often leads to well educated and capable people leaving the profession altogether. But Emma's passion for helping vets find the right work - whether 100% veterinary based or a mix of 'something different' such as a lecturer, community adviser perhaps or even just a change of scenery for a while hopefully means vets will keep their passion for the career's they've spent their lives working for. In this short podcast we recorded outside a local coffee shop in Yass, Emma explains why she started Veterinary Careers.

If you've ever had a really, really bad stomach ache - spare a thought for large breed dogs... because they, unfortunately quite commonly suffer from an even more painful and in fact potentially deadly condition known as Bloat. Veterinary specialists still don't know why it occurs in some dogs, and not others, but it appears to be on the rise given a sudden influx of Bloat cases at Sydney’s biggest privately-owned emergency and specialist centre, the Animal Referral Hospital However Bloat needn't be a death sentence as ARH’s veterinary specialist surgeon, Dr Sarah Goldsmid explains.

Is a Poodle healthier than say a Chihuahua?. What about a Cavilier King Charles Spaniel compared to a Beagle or a Boxer? Dogs are not 'dogs' when it comes to health issues. Sometimes it's just genetics -eg; "in the breed" - at other times it could be poor breeding generally or even cross-breeding. So which breeds are generally more expensive to insure? Nadia Crighton from Pet Insurance Australia explains more

For many reasons some people only have one dog or one cat... And we hear a lot of animal behaviourists say that dogs in particular crave company - the old 'pack mentality' But is this true?... we thought we'd ask Dr Jo Sillince from Pets Australia what she thought about 'solo dogs'!

With the recent 'RU-OK' Day here in AU we thought you might also like to hear what well known vet Dr Anne Fawcett has to say about life as a vet!... Meantime - how busy is your day?... Did you actually find time to go to the bathroom, have a cup of tea or take 5 minutes out of your busy day to have a morning or afternoon snack - even lunch!? Most people get to do this pretty well anytime they like during work hours... But not people in the medical field - especially veterinarians and vet nurses. We chatted with the author of a great blog - Dr Anne Fawcett about the need for getting some more 'Me Time' into the lives of veterinary professionals. Dr Anne's original blog on Small Animal Talk can be read here: http://bit.ly/1RTQSKu

If you ever thought the topic of dentistry was boring, wait until you hear ARH Veterinary Dentist Dr Christine Hawke speak! - For instance 'Fangs' is not a word that usually comes to mind when talking about dogs and cats, but Dr Christine throws it around like an old sock in this very informative chat about Dental Braces.... Oh and she also shares a very funny personal story about wearing braces herself as a child and ignoring her own dental specialists' 'warning' about eating lollies!

It's always good to hear who has received the latest award for work done in the small animal veterinary sector but even better news when it just happens to be an Aussie Vet! Well known for his work in the field of veterinary medicine and environmental health, Dr. Guyan Weerasinghe, has been announced by (WSAVA) ... the World Small Animal Veterinary Association and Hill's Pet Nutrition as the winner of the 2018 Next Generation Veterinary Award. We managed to catch up with Guy prior to him receiving the award at this years WSAVA event in Singapore to find out more.

Dogs, cats even birds have dental health problems - And poor dental health can lead to shorter lives and many life-threatening diseases. Did you know you can brush a dog or cat's teeth? - It's true... just ask your vet to show you how. Dr Barbara Fougere from All Natural Vet in Sydney tells us some of the signs to watch for with your pet's teeth.

Vision Australia Seeing Eye Dogs, in association with Royal Canin and Greencross Vets, will be hosting the inaugural Seeing Eye Dogs Veterinary Symposium at its state-of-the-art national training facility in Melbourne 11-12 September 2018. Colleagues from Australia and overseas will be coming together to share knowledge on common and emerging canine health challenges within the service dog, shelter and kennel medicine industry. This event is open to all veterinarians, vet nurses, kennel attendants, shelter managers, breeding program operators, dog trainers and students alike who are invested in service dog health and development, or vet care in kennel and shelter environments. The event is being run in conjunction with the biennial International Guide Dog Federation Conference which is being held in Sydney 14-16 September 2018.

Do you love dogs? Why not become a puppy carer or sponsor a puppy? Seeing Eye Dogs Australia are always looking for loving homes for puppies in your area. If you can't do that how about a small donation? In this short podcasts Seeing Eye Dogs Vision Australia's Dog Care Manager Dr Nicola Cotton explains how their great charity and various programs work.

Who looks after the pets in your family? Research shows it’s almost always the Mum in the household – despite all those promises the kids made while begging for a puppy that of course they’d feed the dog and walk it and pick up after it. Now there’s a new push to help make it easier for the kids to make good on those promises and really be a part of caring for the family’s furry members… without accidentally over-feeding them. Vet Talk Online co-host Brian Pickering - tracked down the Purina National Education Manager Michael Zajac at Purina’s Australian HQ in Sydney.

According to the Story Dogs website... "When children read to a dog, the outcomes are amazing! It is a non-judgemental setting, the children's focus improves, their literacy skills increase and their confidence soars. The accepting, loving nature of dogs gives this program its magic and helps children relax, open up, try harder and have fun while reading to a friendly, calm dog." In this 'Podcast With Pictures' we chat with one of the Melbourne (VIC) volunteers Cindy McGregor who explains how it works, why it works and how you can be involved too! Website: www.storydogs.org.au

*** DOUBLE BUBBLE = DOUBLE TROUBLE *** Bloat! - Is there a 'cure'? Can it be stopped?... and what are the signs? GDV or 'gastric dilation and volvulus' aka bloat is a life threatening condition in dogs where the stomach 'bloats' and twists on itself, cutting off major blood vessels and preventing gas from escaping the stomach. Our recent story on two fascinating cases - Kobi & Dallas - that happened at two separate ARH (Animal Referral Hospital) Melbourne locations on the same day prompted us to find out more. In this 'Inside ARH' Podcast from VETtalk ONLINE we chat with Emergency Vet Dr Megan Hemy who explains the condition, what can be done to help potential sufferers and a quick look at the cost differences between emergency & preventative care for this particualr condition. ...and yes we're pretty sure the animal in the photo of Dr Hemy is not a dog... but we liked it anyway :-)

OOOWWWCCCHH!... Poor little Gigi... this gorgeous little 11yr old French Bulldog just put her owners through absolute hell and nobody seems to know how it happened. Basically, Gigi's dad came home and found her blood soaked, standing like a statue totally frozen with what turned out to be an entire hanging basket hook lodged under her tongue. The photo clearly shows the hook poking out of the skin from under her jaw. No doubt it was extremely painful if she moved! Without even wondering how or why, Gigi's dad rushed her to the ARH Emergency Centre at Baulkham Hills. Lucky for Gigi he did! Combined with dad's quick thinking and our overnight ARH Emergency Team Vet Nurses Alex & Jess and of course Emergency Vet Dr Karyn Wesselingh, Gigi seems to have recovered nicely. Hopefully Gigi will stick to playing with tennis balls from now on! :-) Meantime - We finally managed to track down the very busy ARH Emergency Vet Dr Karyn Wesselingh to tell us in person all about this amazing case that confronted her at the start of her overnight shift at Baulkham Hills.

Feeling the chilly weather yet? Well if we're feeling the cold so are our pets! - And most domestic dogs and cats want to do just like us and curl up in front of the fire - whether it's an open one, gas or electric. But there are dangers all pet owners need to be aware of as Nadia Crighton from Pet Insurance Australia explains!

International Author, Speaker, Veterinary Business Coach and mentor Dr Diederik Gelderman (AVBA President 2015/2016), shares the simple, but little known and rarely applied secrets to Veterinary Success and an amazing rewarding life. His probing interviews of these highly successful practitioners reveals the simple and yet profound keys, mindsets, behaviours and strategies that help them achieve their success.

When a member of your family is unwell – it’s not uncommon for the carer to feel overwhelmed by emotions when the doctor or nurse is talking about the health issue and explaining treatment options. It happens in both human hospitals and even more frequently in veterinary hospitals where the cost of medical procedures doesn’t enjoy the same safety net that Medicare provides for human health care. Now – there’s a new campaign to educate pet parents about what vets and vet nurses really have to endure on a daily basis which will hopefully help them think twice before criticising their pet’s care-providers. WEBSITE: http://www.loveyourpetloveyourvet.com.au

What makes a good 'Cat Vet'?... Dr Kim Kendall say's cat lovers AND vets need to think more about what really makes a 'Feline Friendly' practice and offer some practical advice in this podcast.

So many 'old wives tales' get muddled up with 21st century science. Maybe you've been told this? "Are you pregnant? Then you MUST get rid of the cat as soon as possible!" It still seems to be a common thought among pregnant women around the world - one which sadly means cats being 'dumped' for no reason whatsoever. So who better to find out more about this controversial topic than the very colourful Dr Jo Sillince from Pets Australia "true or false - having a cat is dangerous for pregnant women? More Reading: http://www.vettalktv.com/audio/cats/Cats_and_Pregnancy-Pets_Australia.pdf

5 Freedoms… Freedoms From Whose Point Of View? Veterinary Professionals are by default often considered society’s arbiters of what really constitutes ‘best care’ for pets and livestock. For years, variants of the RSPCA’s ‘Five Freedoms’ have provided the benchmark for humane animal care… but is a human’s perspective of best care… the RIGHT care? Pets Australia Board Member Dr Jo Sillince suggests it might be time to revisit and perhaps re-think the 5 Freedoms which we have reproduced below.... 1 - Freedom from HUNGER & THIRST: by ready access to fresh water and a diet to maintain full health and vigour. 2 - Freedom from DISCOMFORT: by providing an appropriate environment including shelter and a comfortable resting area. 3 - Freedom from PAIN, INJURY OR DISEASE: by prevention through rapid diagnosis and treatment. 4 - Freedom to EXPRESS NORMAL BEHAVIOUR: by providing sufficient space, proper facilities and company of the animal’s own kind. 5 - Freedom from FEAR & DISTRESS: by ensuring conditions and treatment which avoid mental suffering. Source: http://kb.rspca.org.au/Five-freedoms-for-animals_318.html

You're in a panic! - Your much loved pet has been in an accident and requires immediate surgery. You don't care what it costs.... or do you? There's not much difference between emergency medical care for humans and that for pets... except for the cost. While Medicare ensures people don't have to pay for treatment...there's no similar safety net for pets... To help explain why some things cost so much we turned to Specialist Surgeon Dr Sarah Goldsmid from the Animal Referral Hospital in Sydney for some answers.

Ahh Haaa!... New genetic clue might explain why this breed is more food obsessed than any other... And the reason might actually help humans too! Vets tell us loveable Labradors are always on the 'over-represented' list when it comes to gastrointestinal foreign bodies. And while some dogs - just like we humans - will skip a meal simply because we don't feel all that hungry, when a Lab does it you probably should be a bit concerned! As Dr Anne Fawcett explains in her Small Animal Talk blog (link below) "There may be a genetic basis for this amazing appetite. According to a paper published in CellMetabolism this week, Labs and flat coated retrievers (the latter being a less common breed) have a gene alteration linked to canine obesity." More Reading: http://www.smallanimaltalk.com/2016/05/are-labradors-genetically-prone-to.html

Would you really know if your dog, cat or bird was sick? – Animals are very good at hiding pain or other symptoms of ill health so we thought we’d ask an expert for the tell-tale signs! Remember - even if you THINK something is wrong don't delay - especially if you have a bird. Remember ALWAYS see your vet as soon as possible if you ever suspect anything is wrong with your pet - It may just save their lives and will save you money as Dr Jo Sillince from Pets Australia explains.

Question: Do vets ever diagnose their own pet's ailments? You'd think with all their training - especially specialists & surgeons - that they'd know 'everything' - but it seems that's not always the case... And for good reason when you think about it - Of course they know all the basics all GP vets are required to know as part of being a registered vet but what if you're a specialist veterinary surgeon like Dr Sarah Goldsmid who spends her days literally 'opening animals up to fix them' but has her own cat at home who has a slight cough... What should she do? Ask an internal medicine specialist like Dr Narelle Brown for some advice of course!

Most of us have heard of the two-head turtle Thelma and Louise right... but a two-headed cat??? Dr Jo Sillince from Pets Australia reveals that little gem and more in this week's show.

Giving blood is something we humans are asked to do every year - in fact about 17,000 of us do it every week of the year! But what about our animals? Many need blood transfusions or other blood by-products. So where does this blood come from? Vet Nurse Rebecca (Bec) Charteris recognised the problem and has spent the past few years setting up the Australian Animal Blood Bank - one of only two commercial blood banks in the country. She needs more donors and explains in this podcast how easy it is (it's also free!!) and the benefits for both donors and recipients.

Have you ever noticed how animals are VERY good at hiding pain or showing they are unwell. This is a highly evolved 'protective mechanism' of course - no single animal wants to be the sick one in the pack/herd/flock etc... But how can we as pet lovers tell? Are they hot, cold, off their food? Are their gums red, yellow, white or pink? How are they standing? Is there a cough? How do you know if they have a heart problem? What is their fur like? Leading industry body 'Pets Australia' spokesperson Dr Jo Sillince explains some specific symptoms to look for in cats. For instance do you know what 'kidney coat' is? As always please see your vet for ANY signs of poor health in your pets.

These days our pets have just about as big a choice of food as we do! But what about medicines? The way we look after our pets is changing every year. Conventional veterinary science continues to allow us to treat all kinds of ailments in our pets from skin conditions, dodgy tummies, anxiety and more. But did you know many of the things prescribed by both human doctors and veterinarians actually originated from plants? Take Aspirin for example… apparently the ancient Egyptians used willow bark as a remedy for aches and pains yet we take that medication for granted. Dr Barbara Fougere from All Natural Vet explains how she uses both holistic and conventional methods for treating animals in her practice at www.naturalvet.com.au

Ok let's get technical here... Do you know what 'Eye Boogas' are? It seems that all of us at some time have had crusty eyes that we often call 'boogas' and think very little of it... For animals and humans as it happens - dry eye can also be a serious health issue that really needs to be "looked" at (sorry about the pun!) as soon as possible. Dogs, cats rabbits and yes even birds can all have 'dry eye boogas' as Internationally renown Complementary Veterinarian, author and lecturer Dr Barbara Fougere from All Natural Vet explains in this lighthearted chat we had with her.

Paralysis ticks… In Australaia they're more deadly than sharks or crocodiles but with the help of Surgery Nurse Kasey Findlay and Emergency Nurse James Perez-Christie from Sydney's Animal Referral Hospital, we’ll show you how searching for them can also be fun! Listen to this podcast of watch the video! http://bit.ly/ParalysisTicks

As a vet, how many cases of animal abuse do you think you've seen that were presented as (say) 'hit by car'? or 'fell off the verandah?' - Perhaps a better question might be - how many have you missed? And was the client really telling the whole story? - after all they may well have been the other 'victim' of what is increasingly becoming more common here in Australia. Violence against animals at home almost always has a link to domestic violence in those same human/animal relationships. Well known blogger from Small Animal Talk Dr Anne Fawcett recently attended the AVA's annual conference in Adelaide and in particular 2 sessions on Animal Abuse. This is an important story and we hope you get to share it with your colleagues and other team members.

Being a veterinarian or vet nurse can be pretty challenging at times. With so many different animals to deal with every day - all of which they might never have seen before - can be 'challenging' to say the least. Bites, scratches and often upset pet owners means a less than perfect 'consult'. But a new program aimed at improving the animal handling techniques of vets and nurses is underway here in Australia - Veterinary Specialist Behaviourist Dr Kersti Seksel from Sydney Animal Behaviour Services - www.sabs.com.au - explains.

It's well known by vets that for some reason cats seem to be the 'forgotten' pet. Dogs and even horses are being seen by vets more than the average cat. Is it because dogs are like kids and considered 'part of the family' and tend to say they need help (like kids!) whereas cats are lovely creatures but will often hide from view if anything is wrong?

Put a young kid and a cat together and it makes a pretty cute photo right? Maybe… unless you’re the cat! Young kids, especially toddlers and especially boys can a cat’s worst nightmare. This story is very close to home... Not too long ago our daughter needed help to solve a problem with her much loved 9 yr old cat Smokey and her then almost 3 yr old son Tyler. Smokey would disappear for the best part of the day then come out after young Tyler had gone to bed only to be all over mum and wanting 100% attention. So we thought we'd check in with Dr Kim Kendall – the Cat Vet from the Chatswood Cat Palace to help put some perspective on the problem.

Are you the best sales-person for your business? Veterinarian's are more often than not into 'fixit' mode rather sales. And pet retailers, groomers etc get into a pet related business because they like the idea of working with animals. But that doesn't necessarily make you the best one to fund the 'passion' now does it? In this short podcast Steve Jensen from Impact Training provides some great ideas to get your business back on track with less involvement from you or just an attitude adjustment from you.

Whether we like it or not, we all make mistakes. So as a vet - what do you do? Dr Jo Sillince from Pets Australia has some advice you may have heard before but worthwhile hearing again to be reminded of what to do and how to do it.

***BULLIES *** ! They're all around us. Online, at work, at home sometimes - even school. But what should you do? Linda Campbell is a neurolinguistic programming practitioner and clinical hypnotherapist and has a few options in this short podcast.

You don't have to be a vet or vet nurse to experience stress! We all experience stress of one kind or another on a daily basis - work, family, money problems?... but how do you deal with it? Linda Campbell is a Sydney based hypnotherapist and counsellor and we thought we should have a chat about an issue that affects most of us. Linda has a range of personal services available via her website here: http://www.yourmindmastery.com/

Hard-hearted or a soft-touch? How do Veterinarians make life or death decisions for animals who can’t speak for themselves? It’s not a topic you’re likely to come across in main-stream media… but issues such as ‘consent’ and ‘wildlife’ loom large in this week’s VETtalk ONLINE exclusive conversation with Dr Anne Fawcett, co-author of the brand new must-read ‘Veterinary Ethics – Navigating Tough Cases’. There are also some funny bits!

There's a brand new book co-authored by well-known Aussie vet, lecturer and journalist Dr Anne Fawcett and the Uk’s well-known Dr Siobhan Mullan... It’s called ‘Veterinary Ethics – Navigating Tough Cases’ and it approaches ethical issues in a very different way. Anne very kindly agreed to give us the very first interview about the book given our long association with her and the wider veterinary profession and I think your followers will find the resulting chat absolutely riveting.

There's plenty of 'keep fit' electronic devices nowadays to 'motivate you' to get up and moving… But if you’re one of those people who aren’t right in to all that ‘technology’. What’s the best way to keep our pets – and us - moving over winter? Former DOGSLife magazine editor Nadia Crighton has a plan - that works for her - and just might make all the difference for you and your pets to keep active this winter!

Hendra Virus Can Affect Domestic Animals & People Too! Recently the AVA (Australian Veterinary Assoc) put out a media release regarding a new outbreak of the Hendra virus in QLD. Normally this is something horse owners are more concerned about but it can also be deadly to dogs cats and people. We spoke with Dr Maurine Thomson, Registered Specialist in Small Animal Surgery and Surgical Oncology with the soon to be opened Animal Referral Hospital Brisbane - Dr Thomson was in fact part of the Vet surgeons board investigation into the Hendra outbreak of 2008. You'll also hear the latest on the soon to be opened ARH Brisbane Specialist Referral and Emergency Centre ...

No money for marketing? What about a referral? So many times we hear vets and others say "I'm not going to waste money on marketing - it doesn't work" Really? - We'd agree that quite often it's harder to measure ROI on marketing efforts but did you know you really don't have to spend a lot to make an impact? Steve Jensen from Impact Training has a few ideas that might just get you thinking about ways to market your business without breaking the bank!

Older dogs are often the last to be adopted and end up being 'just another statistic' in our already overcrowded pounds and shelters. But one lucky 11yr old boxer caught the eye of long time ARH team member Sue Thompson who chose to take the 'old girl' on. But Sue also has a 'gripe' about her experience she wants us all to think about. Also in this story you'll hear Mel Isaacs Founder of Team Dog, a registered charity passionate about changing how people recover impounded animals.

Being a veterinary surgeon sounds like a lot of fun... but is it? We asked Co-owner of the Animal Referral Hospital Canberra Dr Jacob Michelsen for the best case/worst case scenario...