Mostly when people think of pets being aggressive they think of dogs. The reality of the matter is that any pet in the right context can be aggressive. You get individuals who use aggression on a regular basis in all species. Max is a beautiful ginger tom cat. Despite not being desexed he had never […]
Read moreNot long ago I saw a dog whose owner had been forced to stop exercising because of an injury to herself. Unfortunately the result was that her elderly german shepherd X dog was no longer taken for walks either. Very quickly her dog was unable to move around very much and with the onset of […]
Read moreA very common problem for Northern Territory dogs is aural haematomas. This is when the ear flap suddenly swells up like a balloon. This is usually caused by the dog shaking its head. The centripetal force of shaking can cause the bloods vessels that run through the ear flap to burst. The leaking blood fills […]
Read moreIt’s baby bat season at the moment, and we are seeing quite a few of the helpless little creatures being bought into the clinic. These beautiful babies are like monkeys in many ways and are very responsive to people. Sadly barb wire fences are still a major cause of bat deaths, and I personally couldn’t […]
Read moreI could tell by Dan’s breath that I shouldn’t let him lick me in the face. Dan was a large overweight Labrador who had a rather embarrassing problem. Embarrassing for his owner; Dan himself didn’t have any shame. Dan had developed the habit of eating poo: his own and anybody else’s he could find. He […]
Read moreOf all the behaviours exhibited by dogs, barking probably causes more neighbourhood disputes than any other. Barking is a normal canine behaviour, although oddly enough it is one humans have created. Wild dogs like wolves and dingoes rarely, if ever, bark. Barking is a juvenile behaviour in wild dogs. By selecting for puppy-like dogs we […]
Read moreAt certain times of the year, especially summer, Darwin residents often come across baby bats. These great little creatures look quite like miniature people, just upside down (with a couple of subtle differences!) Baby bats are non aggressive and quite friendly but need to be handled with caution as they can carry Lyssa virus. Lyssa […]
Read moreA very bedraggled looking Galah called Gerry was brought to me this week. He was dirty and very thin. His feathers were patchy and greeted me with a very unenthusiastic “hello cocky”. He looked old beyond his 9 months of age. Closer examination showed haemorrhages and deformaties in the growing feathers. Gerry had Psittacine beak […]
Read moreVision loss is common in many pets as they get older. Any animal with loss of vision should be booked in for a check-up as soon as possible as some cases can be caused by potentially serious underlying diseases such as diabetes.Sometimes it is possible to treat vision loss but sometimes it is not. As […]
Read moreMost dogs do it occasionally but if your dog repeatedly drags their backside across the ground then it probably has one of two problems. It either has worms or its anal glands are full. Worms can be easily dealt with by giving your dog an all-wormer tablet. Make sure the product you use covers tapeworms […]
Read moreSally was a very pregnant Jack Russell Terrier. While most cats and dogs give birth to their young without any problems at all, Sally was not that lucky. She had chosen the father of her pups poorly. The father was a blue heeler several times larger than Sally. The pups unfortunately took after their dad. […]
Read moreAbout this time of year I see a lot of sick and dying pet baby blue tongue lizards and bearded dragons. Often it is the person’s first pet that they got a few months ago. The lizard is now depressed, not eating and often with lumps appearing on its spine or legs. Inevitably when I […]
Read moreCancer. The very word strikes fear in even the bravest souls. Unfortunately it is common and I see pets with some form of cancer everyday. We all have a fear of this disease. Many owners will put off a trip to the vet when they see a lump on their pet, thinking that there is […]
Read moreWith the arrival of cane toads in the Darwin region it is important how to recognise if your pet has been poisoned by a cane toad and what to do if it has. Firstly the good news. Most dogs and cats will not be poisoned. Cane toads know they are poisonous and act like it: […]
Read moreWe often receive calls about dogs who have been up all night coughing. Their owners are often distressed and worried that the dog has something stuck in its throat. Canine cough (Kennel cough), rather than something stuck, is often the cause. Canine Cough is a mostly mild flu like disease that is extremely contagious and […]
Read moreAll native reptiles are protected and you may need a license to keep any in captivity. It is illegal to keep exotic (non-Australian) reptiles in captivity. The following species do not require a permit: Centralian blue-tongued Lizard Tiliqua multifasciata Central Netted Dragon Ctenophorus nuchalis Central Bearded Dragon Pogona vitticeps Housing your lizard If your lizards […]
Read moreAs the density of the Territory’s human population increases so too does the Territory’s cat population. With this increase in cat density, the incidence of cat flu is also increasing. This happens for the same reason that kids constantly catch colds when first at school or child care. Cat flu is a huge problem in […]
Read moreDespite the saying “to fight like cats and dogs” in most cases cats and dogs can and do live together amicably, especially if they have been brought up with one another. On the other hand you have always had a dog or cat only household and you’ve decided to add a member of the other […]
Read moreChickens make great pets and they are surprisingly popular. We often have people bringing in their sick or injured chook. Their owners are often embarrassed about admitting that they care but they shouldn’t be! Chickens can be very engaging, friendly and entertaining. They can even find a fair bit of their own food if allowed […]
Read moreChristmas, while for most a wonderful time of year, can be stressful and unsettling for others, including our pets. Most of us overindulge at Christmas, not only with food but with visitors and activities as well. With visitors in the house pets can sometimes be overlooked, their space can be invaded and your pet can […]
Read moreMore and more Wildlife Rescue Darwin is send out for Coastal Carpet Pythons. Not very special you might think, but these Coastal Carpet Pythons are not from The Northern Territory. You can find these pythons on the East-coast of Australia and are also known as the Queensland Carpet Python. They are often kept as pets […]
Read moreCoccidia are microscopic parasites. Not worms like many parasites, but single celled organisms (similar to amoeba). The wet season brings out coccidia in many different species, including kittens, puppies, wallabies, birds, and lizards.The immune system of healthy adult animals usually keeps coccidia in check. Coccidia in low numbers don’t cause any problems at all and […]
Read moreThis week I saw a stray Chihuahua who had very bad skin. She was nearly bald and a skin scraping revealed she had thousands of tiny long thin mites in her skin. She had mange. There are two types of mange both caused by different types of mites. Sarcoptic mange is highly contagious and incredibly […]
Read moreOne of the most important aspects of owning a dog or a cat is looking after it properly. Desexing is often considered an optional extra but it really is an essential part of responsible pet ownership. We all love puppies and kittens, but what happens when our pet is left undesexed and the neighbour’s dog […]
Read moreDiarrhoea is when animals have runny or watery faeces. Diarrhoea is not an actual disease but rather a sign of some other problem. I usually means something is irritating your pet’s bowel. The most common cause of diarrhea in dogs is dietary indiscretion. If a pet eats too much, or eats food that is too […]
Read moreEar infections (Otitis externa) are much more common during the Wet Season and Build-up. Ears are a little like gardens which normally have a carefully cultivated and controlled population of bacteria and yeasts. But like a garden, the high humidity may cause abundant growth which can sometimes become unruly and out of control. Normal ear […]
Read moreI had a little ginger kitten sitting in front of me. He was a stray and tiny. He could not sit still. He tried to play with me but every few minutes he had to stop and scratch his ears. A quick look in his ears showed me the distinctive coffee like discharge in his […]
Read moreMany pet parrots and cockatoos have problems with losing feathers. Many people assume that the bird must be plucking its feathers because it is just bored, but the reality is much more complicated than that. Causes of feather loss falls in two main categories, either the feathers are falling out or the bird is pulling […]
Read moreThe Territory is distinct from other parts of Australia in that fireworks are still permitted once a year on Cracker Night (Territory Day, July 1). While many people think this is fantastic fun, for most animals, especially dogs, the experience is terrifying and sometimes dangerous. We are often busy at the clinic on Cracker Night […]
Read moreJessie, a young red kelpie, lay on the table looking guilty and pleading. She couldn’t move. Jessie’s owner had gone fishing the day before and had a very successful day. Tired and exhausted when he came home, he put his catch in the freezer and left most of his fishing gear on the back veranda. […]
Read moreHow many of us have had to vacate a room or car in a hurry when a grinning canine has made the air unbreathable. Flatulence, although more commonly called by other names, is a normal part of digesting food. When food is digested gas is produced and must be expelled through one end or the […]
Read moreThe build up this year has produced fleas in abundance. Many people whose dog or cat has never been bothered by fleas before are now being attacked by hordes of them. Those in the centre are lucky though, because fleas don’t survive there. One adult flea can lay 2000 eggs so their potential for a […]
Read moreEvery few days for the past month I have had injured bats bought to me after they were caught on a barbed wire fence. Mostly in the past they have been little black flying foxes but lately they have mostly been little reds. Barb wire is very dangerous to flying foxes. Unlike smaller bats flying […]
Read moreThose of us who live with cats know the distinctive sound of a cat vomiting up a hair ball. Cats can actually vomit voluntarily. They can choose when and where they are going to vomit. (This is why it is always on the good furniture.) It is a very useful thing to be able to […]
Read moreI have to admit that not many people bring their fish to the vet. Bob the goldfish was certainly a very lucky goldfish – not only did he have a huge tank with lots of friends to swim around with, he also had an owner who cared enough for him to seek help when a […]
Read moreHeartworm begins from a mosquito bite, but for dogs and cats the results can be fatal. The minute baby heartworms grow and fill the blood vessels leading from the heart to the lungs weakening the heart and filling the lungs with fluid. The adult worms can be up to 30 cm long. Like most vets, […]
Read moreA very sad looking Galah called Gerry sat in my consult room this week. In the last two days he had stopped eating and talking. Gerry was usually the life of the party, singing, screaming and dancing, always the centre of attention. Now he sat feathers fluffed swaying slightly because he was so weak. His […]
Read moreToday’s problem is often the butt of jokes or an embarrassed quietly asked consult room question. It is rarely discussed out loud. Why do some dogs hump peoples legs, cushions, soft toys or other dogs? While the motivation behind humping behaviour seems obvious enough, it is actually not that straight forward. Dogs hump for two […]
Read moreThe Territory’s population is still very transient and it is getting close to the time of year when many people are planning on leaving and heading south. It’s difficult moving, especially if your leaving somewhere as great as the Territory. It can be as stressful for your pets as it is for you. Early planning […]
Read moreNew years eve is commonly celebrated with parties and in certain parties people think its funny to get the pet drunk. It’s certainly not funny, dogs and cats are much more sensitive to the effects of alcohol than humans and even small amounts can be fatal. Ethanol toxicity is seen more often in dogs than […]
Read moreObesity is a growing trend not just amongst us humans but also amongst our pets. A survey by the RSPCA showed that 41% of Australian dogs and 33% of cats are overweight. It is certainly very common and I see animals every day that are suffering poor health due to being overweight. Being overweight can […]
Read moreThis week I saw Bob, a Labrador, who went for a walk with his owner in the bush. Bob was enjoying the sights and smells when he spotted a wallaby in the distance. This set off some primal urge and off he went after it. The wallaby disappeared with bob in hot pursuit. Three hours […]
Read moreChristmas is fast approaching. There is not much that spoils Christmas more than having to rush Fluffy to the vet. However a little bit of planning will keep your pet safe and your holidays happy. Be mindful of your pet’s needs and feelings. People often get stressed over Christmas and your pets will pick this […]
Read moreRabbits are excellent pets. They are becoming more popular as pets world wide because they make excellent pets for flats and units as they are very clean, quiet, low demand and most are naturally toilet trained. Rabbits have constantly growing teeth so they need plenty of hard things to chew on like pieces of safe, […]
Read moreA wet soggy tennis ball dropped at my feet. A smiley grin and furiously wagging tail invited me to toss the ball for a game of fetch. Nothing too unusual except that Marbuk the Labrador had fallen off a ute a few minutes before and had broken his back leg. His owner had carried him […]
Read moreCarlton was so proud of himself. Meowing loudly he dropped the still twitching snake on his sleeping owner. (Who needless to say woke up pretty quickly!) When his owner recovered, her concern turned to whether Carlton had been bitten. She was pretty sure her couch potato of a cat could not have caught a snake […]
Read moreSnakes are certainly the pet of the moment. I treated a pet snakes about once every six months when I first graduated thirteen years ago. Now I see dozens everyday. They make excellent and spectacular pets and they are relatively easy to care for. What’s more they suit most peoples busy lifestyles better than dogs […]
Read moreStress. It affects us all, even our pets. Cats in particular often suffer from severe stress. Territory Cats in particular have a fair bit to be stressed about what with big dogs, big cars and wheelie bins around every corner it’s a dangerous place to be a cat. In addition most cats don’t like change […]
Read moreSlip, slop slapping yourself AND your pet The UV light from the sun across the Territory is extremely high. We are all aware of the need to protect ourselves from the sun, but the same need applies to many of our pets. Not surprisingly the Territory has quite high levels of skin cancer amongst pets. […]
Read moreOne of the joys of working as a vet in the Northern Territory is the vast amount of wildlife I get to treat and see. One of my most common and favourite patients are orphaned agile wallabies. These poor little guys have lost their mothers usually as a result of a car accident. Often they […]
Read moreFor many people the arrival of the thunderstorms bring feelings of exhiliration and relief. However for many dogs thunderstorms are terrifying. The anxiety that thunderstorms can cause some dogs can be extreme. In their panic to flee dogs can cause significant damage to property and injury to itself. One dog I know caused nearly $30,000 […]
Read morePeople often ask me why they are still getting ticks on their dogs even after treating for them. The reasons for tick control failure are many and often it is necessary to simply go through step by step why it doesn’t seem to be working. Ticks are prolific breeders, with each female tick producing around […]
Read moreThe build up is here again and with it again is an explosion of ticks. While ticks are certainly disgusting and can arrive in hordes, the effect they have on most dogs is rather negligible. We don’t have the deadly paralysis ticks here in the NT; it’s an east coast problem. The ticks we do […]
Read moreThis is the time of the year when I usually get a panicky phone call from a dog owner who has found a single tick on their dog. They are usually recent arrivals to the territory and are unaware the deadly paralysis tick is an east coast problem. The ticks we get here are much […]
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