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Dog Rehab

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Dogs are resilient creatures, but sometimes they need help recovering from an injury or illness. This is where canine rehabilitation comes in. Rehabilitation is the process of helping animals recover from injuries, muscle atrophy or surgeries by using therapeutic exercises and techniques.

What is canine rehabilitation?

Canine rehabilitation is a form of physical therapy that focuses on restoring a dog’s mobility, strength, and function. Rehab can help dogs recover faster and more completely than if they were left to heal on their own.
Rehabilitation can also help prevent future injuries by strengthening muscles and improving their range of motion. Dogs of all ages can benefit from rehabilitation, from puppies with developmental issues to senior dogs with arthritis.

What does rehabilitation involve?

Rehabilitation involves a specifically trained vet nurse working with the dog to complete a combination of therapeutic exercises and techniques to help regain their mobility, strength, and function.
The rehab nurse will create and implement a rehabilitation plan that is tailored to the dog’s specific needs, the dog’s progress will be monitored and adjustments to the plan as needed. They can also provide owners with guidance on how to continue rehabilitation exercises at home.

What exercises and techniques does my dog complete?

Depending on the requirements and plan for your dog’s rehabilitation, there are a number of options for exercises and techniques. We also have the option to measure and fit your dog for a custom made brace to support their recovery.

Brace wearing – A brace is a specialised device designed to provide support and aid in the rehabilitation of dogs with injuries or conditions affecting their limbs. Such as hip dysplasia, arthritis and ligament tears. These braces are often used to support the joint or limb affected by the injury or condition, reducing pain and inflammation, and promoting healing and recovery. In addition to providing support and facilitating healing, they can also help prevent further injury by stabilising the affected limb or joint during physical activity.

Range of motion exercises – In canines this refers to the degree of movement that a dog’s joints can flex, extend, abduct, adduct, and rotate. The ROM can be assessed by gently manipulating each joint in a dog’s body through its natural range of movement.

Strengthening exercises – These exercises help build a dog’s strength and muscle mass to improve their balance and coordination and enhance their overall physical fitness.

Balance and coordination exercises – These exercises may involve standing on a balance board or performing other activities that challenge a dog’s stability to help improve their physical fitness and overall wellbeing.

Hydrotherapy – Hydrotherapy involves using water to help dogs recover from injuries. It can help reduce swelling, improve circulation, and increase range of motion, while exercising in a low impact environment.

Massage therapy – Massage therapy can help reduce pain and stiffness in dogs. It can also help improve circulation and promote relaxation.

If your dog is in need of rehabilitation, having someone to offer encouragement and guidance can make all the difference.
Talk to us about how our rehab nurse can help get you and your furry friend off on the right paw.

CALL NEWTOWN VET CLINIC

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End of Life Care

Euthanasia is a difficult choice for every pet owner. We are here to support you through this period to help guide you and support you in your decision.
We wish our pets would live forever, but we know that they do not. In most cases the decision to euthanize a loved pet is made to end or prevent suffering at the end of life. Euthanasia is a kindness that we can offer our pets that is often not afforded to our human loved ones.

We know the decision is difficult and the loss of a beloved pet is heartbreaking. We pride ourselves on providing compassionate and caring end of life services.
From our dedicated euthanasia “lounge-room” to allow for a longer and private goodbye when requested. We use relaxant and sedative medications to ensure that your pet is calm and relaxed during the entire process.
We welcome family members to be present to help support you alongside our team.
The euthanasia process is tailored to each individual family and pet. Some families do not want to be present, others want to stay until the end.
The separate euthanasia space means you can take the time that you need before and after the euthanasia.
We use the services of Eden Hills Cremation to take care of your beloved pet’s body. With communal or private cremation available.
Individual urns, wooden boxes or jewelry can all be chosen to store the ash of your beloved pet.
If you or your family members need further support following the loss of your pet, we are again available to advise and guide you to help you in your grief recovery.
Our aim is to provide a relaxed and dignified end for your beloved pet, whilst ensuring your emotional wellbeing is supported.

If you would like to discuss end of life care with one of our compassionate team members, please give us a call.

Dental Disease

Dental Disease

Just like humans, our pets are vulnerable to gum disease and problems with their teeth. Alarmingly, 80% of dogs and 70% of cats suffer from some form of dental disease by the age of three.
When there is a build-up of bacteria, food particles and saliva on the teeth plaque is formed. Plaque sticks to the tooth surface above and below the gum line, it appears as a yellow-brown on the teeth, if not removed plaque will calcify into tartar (also known as calculus).
Over time the bacterial infection in tartar causes irreversible changes to occur, these can include the destruction of supportive tissues and bone, resulting in red gums, bad breath and loosening of teeth. This same bacterial infection is also a source of infection for the rest of the body (such as the kidney, liver and heart) and can make your pet seriously ill.
Ultimately, dental disease results in many pets unnecessarily suffering tooth loss, gum infection and pain. It also has the potential to shorten your pet’s lifespan.

How do I know if my pet has dental disease?

Our vets can examine your pet’s teeth on a regular basis and discuss options with you, if necessary we can make a follow-up appointment for a professional dental clean.
The professional dental teeth clean is completed while your pet is anaesthetised, this allows our experts to carry out a thorough dental examination, and clean all teeth without distressing your pet.
A complete dental examination involves charting all present teeth and evaluating their condition, including the degree of tartar, gingivitis (gum inflammation) and any pockets in the gums around the teeth. Our veterinarians will then remove the tartar above the gumline using a special ultrasonic scaler, just like a dentist uses for our teeth. The teeth are then polished using a dental polisher and specialised fine-grade paste.
If the dental disease is not severe the procedure will end here, however, if certain teeth are so severely affected they cannot be saved, extractions will be necessary.
Once all dental work is complete, your pet may be given an antibiotic and an anti-inflammatory injection, pets are generally able to go home on the same day.
 
Following a professional dental clean, a plan needs to be implemented to minimise build up of tartar again, and will depend on the severity of your pet’s dental disease.  This may involve regular tooth brushing, feeding raw meaty bones and/or a special diet. It is recommended that all pets be examined 6 months after dental cleaning to determine the effectiveness of your dental care routine.
 

How can I minimise ongoing dental disease?

Long-term control and prevention of dental disease requires regular home care. The best way to begin this is to acclimatise your pet from a young age. Dental home care may include:

  • Pet Oral wipes to wipe over and clean your pets teeth daily
  • Brushing teeth daily using specialised pet toothbrush and toothpaste. DO NOT use human toothpaste as these may be toxic to your pet!
  • Feed specially formulated dental food
  • Use dental toys, enzymatic chews, or teeth cleaning biscuits
  • Regular and frequent attention to your pet’s teeth may avoid the need for a professional dental clean under anaesthetic, and will also improve your pet’s overall health. 

Read more about Dental Malocclusions

Pet Insurance

Pet insurance is becoming more and more popular in Australia. It offers you peace of mind as it covers some or all of the treatment costs if your pet was ever involved in an accident or suffers a sudden illness. There is no equivalent of Medicare for pets, thus often treatment costs exceed what an equivalent problem would cost for a human patient. Did you know that 24 hr emergency care for animals can cost over $1000 per day? Some surgeries such as repair of fractured bones or exploratory surgery can also add up to thousands of dollars and that does not even include the recovery and aftercare treatment. It is a heartbreaking situation to have to choose between the health of your pet and financial constraints, so for peace of mind we strongly recommend that your pet is insured.

There are several companies that offer pet insurance and we can help you find one that best suits your needs and your pet.

What does pet insurance cover? 

Individual packages vary in the type of treatment covered. However, they usually include most accidents and unexpected illnesses.
You need to consider the differences between policies, in particular the claim excess amount, proportion of treatment costs covered, annual claim limit, age restrictions, pre-existing illness exclusions and policy costs.
We highly recommend pet insurance and encourage you to discuss it with us at your next visit.

Specialist Referrals

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Certain illness or injury may require specialised expertise and advanced equipment for accurate diagnosis and optimal treatment. If your pet is facing a problem that requires this level of expertise our team will refer you to a trusted specialist, who has earned our confidence and demonstrated excellence in their field. We work closely alongside the specialists and together can offer optimum care for pets that require this service.
We understand that seeking treatment from a specialist can raise challenging decisions for pet owners. Rest assured, our responsibility and support continue, even when your pet is under the care of an external specialist.

We are delighted to provide convenient access to a team of specialist surgeons right here at Newtown Veterinary Clinic

  • Dr Wayne Fitzgerald for advanced dentistry (root canals, bridging plates etc)
  • Dr Adrian Wallace for orthopaedic and advanced soft tissue surgery requirements
  • Dr Harold Pook for advanced ultrasonography and scoping 
  • Dr Clint Yuldman for internal medicine and specialist treatment

Newtown Veterinary Clinic also works closely with Advanced Vet Care, Geelong Animal Referral Services and Geelong Animal Emergency centre.

If you find yourself facing difficult choices regarding the recommended treatment, we encourage you to reach out to us. We are here to provide guidance and assistance in evaluating your options, ensuring that you make informed decisions that align with your pet’s well-being.

CALL NEWTOWN VET CLINIC

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