Does your dog or cat like to hunt wildlife, such as reptiles and amphibians? Frogs, geckos and snakes may carry the Spirometra tapeworm, also known as the zipper tapeworm. This tapeworm infects dogs and cats when they eat these hosts.
Did you know that the Windaroo Veterinary Surgery Animal Hospital has its own Facebook page?
Over the past few weeks we have seen a number of dogs who have been bitten by Eastern Brown Snakes and required extensive treatment to save their lives.
The transfer process of heartworm begins when a mosquito bites and feeds off an infected dog or cat. This mosquito picks up the juvenile stage of the heartworm in the blood, which are then transmitted to a new host when that mosquito bites an uninfected animal. It then takes approximately 6 months for the heartworm to mature in the blood vessels in the heart, where they can then reproduce and contribute to the environmental problem.
Meet Tilly the Border Collie and Koopa the Minature Fox Terrier cross Chihuahua! Whilst their owners were away at work, this troublesome pair somehow found a bag of slug and snail bait and decided to eat some. The active ingredient in many slug and snail baits is metaldehyde, and unfortunately the additives that make the bait attractive to slugs and snails, is also attractive to some dogs who may eat the bait if they find it.
Most people are aware of paralysis ticks and the danger they pose to our pets. The life cycle has multiple stages, including the eggs, larvae, nymphs and adult forms. When a tick attaches to their host, they inject a toxin as they feed which causes paralysis in the host. It generally takes about 4 days of attachment before clinical signs start to show- these signs include difficulty eating and drinking as their ability to swallow is affected, difficulty walking or standing, and changes to their normal breathing rate and pattern.
Most pet owners know that fleas can irritate their pets skin, causing them to scratch, and some pets may even be allergic to flea bites. But do you know the lifecycle of fleas, and how it is important in their control?
Tyson is a 6 year old Jack Russell cross who came to the Windaroo Veterinary Surgery when his owners found he was unable to use his back legs. When Dr Laura examined Tyson, he was unable to move his hind legs at all and appeared to be completely paralysed in his back end. Dr Laura was suspicious that a cartilage disc may have slipped in his back, causing discomfort and the paralysis. X-rays were taken that showed a very subtle narrowing between two parts of his spine. After his sedation and x-rays he gradually deteriorated, becoming even more painful and uncomfortable.
Snowie is a nearly 20 year old female domestic shorthair cat, who has been a longstanding patient at the Windaroo Veterinary Surgery. Dr Laura first saw Snowie in late 2014 when she had started to urinate in inappropriate places, and her owners also noticed she was drinking more water than normal. Tests were performed on a sample of her urine, and from the results we strongly suspected that Snowie had diabetes. Blood tests confirmed our suspicions, and Snowie was started on a medication which help to control her blood glucose levels.
Bracken was a 5 month old Irish Wolfhound puppy who came to the Windaroo Veterinary Surgery Animal Hospital because his owner noticed he was limping on one of his back legs. Dr Lisa Roberts examined him and found he had a very sore back left leg, and he had a high temperature. Blood tests were run to check when was going on systemically, and they found that he had a high white blood cell count which suggested there may be an infection somewhere.
Windaroo Veterinary Surgery Animal Hospital is a family owned business. Providing personalised vet care to the Logan region since 2008. Our hospital was founded by Dr Lisa Roberts and is now owned and managed by Dr Shibly Mustapha.
Our qualified nursing and reception staff have been hand selected to lead our team for their sincere compassion, and animal handling skills, especially under pressure.
