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Having a pet as part of your family can bring a level of happiness that only those who own pets will ever get to experience. However, we also know how daunting it can be introducing a new member into your family, especially as a first time pet owner. That’s why we’ve put together a few simple tips to help make your new pet comfortable and ensure you become the best of friends with no fuss and no stress.

Make sure the rest of the family is prepared

Having a pet in the house is a wonderful experience but it aalso requires a bit of preparation time to make sure everyone understands the responsibilities and jobs that need to be done. A few simple things to discuss are:

• Feeding time and location
• Exercise schedule
• Changing the water bowl
• Location of kennel (for outside dog or cat)

It is essential to visit your local vet

Your new pet is temporarily protected against a range of diseases through antibodies received in their mother’s milk. However, this can also neutralise any early vaccinations the pet receives. This is the reason that puppies and kittens require a series of vaccinations through the first few months of their lives as well as worming and heartworm prevention to make sure they are well enough protected to enable them to play outside.

Remove any harmful materials

Our pets (especially puppies and kittens) don’t know the difference between what is edible and what is potentially harmful. It’s up to us to remove those unsafe materials from their play and living areas to ensure that they remain happy and healthy in their new home.

Don’t make a habit of feeding your pet scraps

Giving your pet too much human food can sour its appetite for pet food. This can create problems in the future as pet food contains all the vitamins and nutrients your pet needs to maintain a healthy weight and lifestyle. If more than 10% of your pet’s diet consists of people food, you may be putting it at risk of developing heart problems, weight gain, diabetes or digestive problems.

Socialising takes time

Socialisation is extremely important in raising a well adjusted and healthy pet. However, just like we humans, you don’t want to pile it on too heavy. Take a bit of time allowing your pet to get used to all the things they will encounter in their adult life such as new people, other animals, moving objects, loud noises such as ringing phones and different surfaces like wood and carpet.

Patience and persistence go a long way

Every pet is different and it’s those differences that allow us to form special bonds with our pets. Getting to know your pet, its unique behaviour, its likes and dislikes, takes a bit of patience but is a wonderful process that is more about the journey than the destination. Take time getting to know your pet; be patient and be persistent, especially when it comes to showing him what he can and can’t do.

Just as with humans regular exercise combined with responsible and balanced nutrition is the best way you can contribute to your pet’s prolonged good health.

Your pet has some basic nutritional needs, such as:

• Water –  It’s essential in any diet. Your pet will quickly perish without it. Your pet should have access to clean, fresh water at all times.
• Carbohydrates for energy – These come from sugars, starch and fibre. A bright and active pet needs carbohydrates to rejuvenate brain and muscles.
• Fats for energy – In the right amounts, fats help build strong cells and promote nutrient absorption. Too much can lead to diabetes, heart disease and osteoarthritis.
• Proteins –  Cats and dogs need a high-quality animal protein for a healthy coat, skin and nails. The amino acids in proteins make enzymes and hormones to maintain a healthy immune system.
• Vitamins and minerals – These help regulate many body systems. Calcium and phosphorous help support strong bones and antioxidant vitamins, like vitamin E and C, boost immune systems.

How healthy is your pet’s diet?

• Feed premium pet foods. They offer high-quality ingredients and palatability. Best for maintaining good health.
• Fresh is best. Check pet food for freshness. Store in a cool, dry place and keep lid tightly closed. Place in a clean bowl.
• Feed only the right amount. Check the label for the measured amount for your pet’s ideal weight (may not be their current weight). Feeding too much or large amounts at one time can lead to obesity.
• Keep a regular feeding routine. This will help your pet keep normal bowel movements and avoid indoor accidents. Feed younger pets more frequently, as they usually burn more calories.
• Avoid feeding your food. Feeding ‘human’ food or your leftovers will result in an unbalanced diet, can cause stomach upsets or even life-threatening inflammation of the pancreas. Onions, garlic and chocolate, for example, are toxic for dogs and cats.

The best way to introduce a new food to your pet

Life cycle feeding

Your pet’s nutritional requirements will change as they age.

• Puppies and kittens need diets made specifically for them because it is higher in energy, calcium and protein.
• Older pets need diets restricted in fat and supplemented with fibre for their optimum health. Premium senior diets also contain additives to assist in the management of arthritis.

Please give us a call at Sydney Animal Hospitals to discuss your pet’s nutritional needs. Our trained Veterinarians and Vet Nurses can ensure your pet gets the diet that will give them the optimum quality and length of life.

#PetNutrition #Hills

Puppy Preschool should be seen as important to your puppy’s long-term health as vaccinations and good nutrition, as it offers you the chance to positively influence how your puppy will interact with other dogs and people for the rest of its life.

Many pet owners are under the impression that if they have prior experience with puppies or have a house full of other dogs that Puppy Preschool is not necessary for their puppy. However, Puppy Preschool offers far more to puppy owners than simple basic training or the chance for their puppy to interact with other dogs.

Puppy Preschool teaches puppies more than basic training

Puppy Preschool allows even the most well-behaved puppy to learn even better manners and also equips them with skills to deal calmly and appropriately with a variety of behaviours that other puppies may exhibit. These skills persist into adulthood and can help your puppy when it is older and dealing with other dogs that may not be as nice and friendly!

Between the ages of eight and 14 weeks of age a puppy is considered to be in its ‘critical socialisation period’. During this period a pup will learn many of the social skills that it will retain for the rest of its life. It is important for puppies to be exposed to a wide variety of people and other dogs during this period of time, preferably both in and outside of the household. It is vitally important that these interactions are positive and non-intimidating to the pup because unpleasant experiences that occur during this time may have a long-lasting effect of the behaviour of the puppy. The puppy must also be protected from the risk of infection during this period. The people and other dogs that interact with your puppy and the location that this takes place in should therefore be carefully selected.

Sydney Animal Hospitals is an ideal location for your pup to participate in Puppy Preschool

First, we offer clean premises where the risk of infection to your young puppy is greatly reduced compared to Puppy Preschools that take place in outside locations such as parks. We also require that all puppies in the program have been health checked and vaccinated prior to participating.

Puppy Preschools that allow significantly older puppies and/or adult dogs to participate are inappropriate for your young puppy. The potentially larger size of older puppies combined with their being at a different stage in their behavioural development increase the chance that an interaction may occur that injures or scares your puppy. This will have the exact opposite effect on their behavioural development to what you were intending! At Sydney Animal Hospitals we strictly adhere to our policy of only allowing puppies of an appropriate age to participate in our classes.

Experienced Puppy Preschool leader

It is important that the leader of the Puppy Preschool be experienced in the running of Puppy Preschools and be up-to-date with current recommendations regarding gold standard training methods. Our Puppy Preschool trainers have many years of experience in running these classes and keeps abreast of current theory regarding the training of puppies.

Sydney Animal Hospitals advocates only the use of positive reinforcement such as praise and food treats in our Puppy Preschools. This is because the use of aversive training methods such as choker-chains can not only make your puppy fearful but also impede its ability to learn from classes as anxiety can reduce learning ability and memory.

Finally, having your puppy enrolled in Puppy Preschool at our clinic will help your puppy view the clinic as a fun place. This will make future clinic visits and boarding here a much more pleasant experience in future. You will also be able to meet new people from the local area. It is not uncommon for friendships forged during Puppy Preschool to lead onto ‘play dates’ and fun interactions in the future.

If you are interested in your puppy participating in our Puppy Preschool, please call your nearest Sydney Animal Hospitals 

Newtown 95194111
Inner West 9516 1466
Norwest Ivanka’s Puupy School – 0435 141 157
Kellyville – Ivanka’s Puppy School – 0435 141 157
Newport 9997 4609
Avalon 9918 0833 
Baulkham Hills (02) 9157 5557

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At Sydney Animal Hospitals, we understand that pet grooming is an important part of keeping our pets happy and healthy. Regular pet grooming sessions not only ensures that our pets look and smell great, but is also beneficial to the health of your pet. We offer a professional pet grooming service because we want to provide our pets with the highest standards of care.

Our Pet Grooming Philosophy

When it comes to pet grooming we believe that:

• All pets should receive a high quality and professional service
• All pets should be groomed in a comfortable and safe environment
• The end result of our grooming sessions should meet your expectations

We know that regular grooming sessions are a great way to stay on top of your pets health, as many conditions can actually be picked up on during one of our grooms.

What happens during our grooming sessions?

We offer a full range of grooming, clipping and washing services for cats and dogs of all sizes and breeds.

During the course of one of our grooming sessions, we also provide:

• A free dental check
• Ear plucking and cleaning
• Anal glands expression
• Nail trims
• Flea treatments
• Shampoos that cater for different skin problems or sensitivities

Nail clipping

Regular nail clipping, or trimming, should be part of the routine care of your pet. It is essential for elderly and indoor pets, whereas outdoor pets may wear their nails down naturally.

The requirement for nail trimming can vary depending on breed, age, level of exercise and the environment in which your pet is kept.

What you need to know about your dog’s nails

Working and herding dog breeds

Working or hearding dogs are usually active and generally have compact feet with well arched toes that angle the toenails downwards towards the ground.

• If active on hard surfaces such as gravel, rock and concrete, their nails may not need trimming.
• With age they slow down and exercise less and may require more regular trimming.
• You will still need to attend to their dew claws (the little claws on the inside of their front legs that don’t touch the ground) regularly.

Other dog breeds

Inspect your dog’s nails on a regular basis. (You may notice a change in the sound of your dog’s nails on hard floors. This is a pretty good indication that it is time for a trim).

What you need to know about your cat’s nails

Cats also require nail clipping, with the frequency depending on their lifestyle. Indoor-only cats will need more regular nail trims whereas outdoor cats may naturally wear their nails and require less frequent trimming.

What happens if my pet’s nails get too long?

If a pet’s nails are allowed to grow they can become a problem:

• Nails can split, break or bleed, causing soreness or infection in your pet’s feet and toes.
• Long nails can get caught and tear.
• Nails can grow so long that they can curl backwards into a spiral shape that can make walking very painful for dogs (it’s like walking in shoes that are too small).
• Uncut cat’s nails may curl so far that they pierce the paw pad, leading to infection and debilitating pain.
• The nail quick tends to grow out with the nail, making it nearly impossible to cut properly.

What to do when trimming your pet’s nails

Nails should be inspected and/or trimmed on at least a monthly basis. It is very important not to cut the quick of a nail as this is rich in nerve endings and very painful for the pet. If you do accidentally cut into the quick, pressing the nail into a bar of soap will effectively stop the bleeding.

Make an appointment today at Sydney Animal Hospitals to have your pet’s nails checked. We can teach you how to do it if you would prefer to cut them yourself.

Our grooming station is in a hospital facility

Some of the benefits of having a grooming station within a veterinary clinic are:

• Annual health checks and vaccinations can be conducted in the same visit
• Any ear problems will be identified and attended to
• Any lumps or skin problems will be identified
• We offer the option of sedation under veterinary supervision
• Our facilities allow for flexible hours of pick up or drop off

We also offer:

• A discount for return grooms within 6 weeks
• Scissor or style clipping available to give your pet that “show ring” look (on request only)

For further information on PET GROOMING visit:

DOG GROOMING

CAT GROOMING

MEET OUR GROOMERS

NEWPORT DOG WASH MACHINE

Going on holidays soon?

Before considering whether to board your pet, please check their vaccination records to make sure they have been vaccinated within the past 12 months. If your pet is due for a booster vaccination make sure this is done well ahead of the boarding period.

What to look for in pet boarding

At Sydney Animal Hospitals we pride ourselves in our dog and cat boarding facilities.

There are a number of factors to consider with pet boarding, such as:

• How big are individual kennels?
• Is there any natural light?
• Will your pet have access to a run during the day?
• How many kennels are there in the complex? Fewer kennels can mean a quieter, calmer stay.
• Do the kennels smell bad? If so, this can indicate poor hygiene or ventilation problems.
• Are there signs of overbooking or overcrowding?
• Do they provide food or can you provide your own pet’s specific diet?
• Can they medicate pets if required?
• Do they have veterinarians in attendance should an emergency occur?

At Sydney Animal hospitals you’re boarding your pet with the full services of a veterinary hospital with qualified veterinary and pet healthcare team in attendance.

An ideal boarding facility for your pet has a relaxed, calm atmosphere, created by having fewer kennels/animals, a design that minimises stress and allows maintenance of a high standard of hygiene.

Cattery

Please give us a call at Sydney Animal Hospitals to discuss your pet boarding needs.

Newtown (02)9519 4111
Inner West for cat boarding only ph (02)9516 1466
Norwest (02)8883 0411
Kellyville for dog boarding only ph (02)8883 0533
Newport for cat boarding (02)9997 4609
Avalon for cat boarding (02)9918 0833
Baulkham Hills for cat boarding (02) 9157 5557

Please note – Sydney Animal Hospitals Newport & Avalon offer dog boarding through Hanrob however we care for animals onsite who require health observations, please contact our team for your pets needs.

Sydney Animal Hospitals Boarding Policy

• Due to COVID regulation unfortunately no personal pet bedding or toys are allowed.
• All pets must have a current vaccination certificate.
• Senior pets who are boarding (over 10 years) must have had a consultation with a vet within the last 6months. If they attend another vet, please provide pet history, so we know the exact health of your pet including if any concerns.
• Pets boarding who are on medication are required to have a vet check within 6 months of boarding, if they attend another vet, please provide your pet history.

We also offer Pet Grooming, click for grooming information here.

Pet behavioural problems can be due to both behavioural and/or medical causes. At Sydney Animal Hospitals our Veterinarians will investigate pet behavioural problems by obtaining a full history and conducting a full examination, including blood or urine tests, to rule out underlying medical conditions and accurately diagnose a problem.

Behavioural problems are often the combined effect of many factors:

1. Genetics can predispose your pet to some behaviours. However, the expression of those behaviours will depend on your pet’s early socialisation and training
2. Medical or degenerative changes associated with ageing
3. Changes in the environment may contribute to the emergence of behaviour problems. These can include:
   • changes in routine
   • a new member of the household (pet, baby or partner)
   • moving house
   • the loss of a family member or pet can dramatically impact behaviour
4. Learning also plays a part in many behavioural problems, this can include:
   • early training and socialisation, which is essential for a happy, well-adjusted pet
   • punishment of behaviour problems, which often worsens the situation. Positive reinforcement of good behaviour is a much more powerful tool

At Sydney Animal Hospitals we believe it is very important that professional advice is obtained as soon as the problem appears to effectively resolve it. Positive reinforcement is the preferred method for changing behaviour. However, this also needs to be used carefully as it can encourage undesirable behaviour if used incorrectly.

How are behavioural problems treated?

There is no simple cure for any behavioural problem, so be careful when taking ‘helpful’ advice. Sometimes pet owners with a destructive dog are often given the advice to get another dog to fix the problem. However, they may end up with double the trouble.

It is very important that the cause of the problem is addressed, not just the symptoms of the problem. For example, don’t chain a dog up because it is digging; find out the reason for the digging and treat the dog accordingly.

When it comes to your pet’s behaviour, it is extremely important to seek the right advice and our Sydney Animal Hospitals Veterinarians are qualified to assist you with pet behaviour problems, but they can also provide you with a referral for the services of a veterinary animal behaviour specialist.

If you are serious about changing your pet’s problem behaviour, here are some tips to get the best outcome:

• Get commitment on behalf of the whole family, everyone your pet interacts with will be responsible for encouraging desirable behaviour.
• For some problems such as barking, escaping, aggression or separation anxiety it is beneficial to see the pet in its natural environment, thus a home visit may be appropriate.
• Some cases may also require medication.
• New training techniques.

For this and other behavioural problems, call us at Sydney Animal Hospitals to make an appointment with one of our skilled Veterinarians.

For further information on PET BEHAVIOUR PROBLEMS visit:

TIPS FOR DOG BEHAVIOUR PROBLEMS

DOG SEPARATION ANXIETY