Blessed Are The Animals

AFTER having to stop a raging bull dead in its tracks, blessing a few dozen abandoned animals seems like a breeze.

Venerable Yana Dolma from the Arya Tara Gold Coast Buddhist Centre will be sending a healing and calming wishes on the cats and dogs of the Animal Welfare League tomorrow, between 5.30pm and 8pm.

{ read the full article here }

Do you feel blessed to have the pets you have in your life ?

Share your stories in the comments below :-)

Legislation that affects YOU !

If you have a currently de-sexed pet, ignore this blog post as this won’t affect you. Lucky you! You’re a smart pet owner.

Gold Coast City Council has implemented a new Animal Management Legislation that requires all breeders of cats and dogs to obtain permits, and follow a Code of Practice.

The new legislation requires anybody who owns a cat or dog and intends to breed, including hobby breeders and commercial breeding establishments, to hold a current breeder permit.

Legislation that affects YOU !

click here to read more

Arthritis in Dogs …. What Can You Do?

AUTHOR: Dr Kevin Cruickshank

Successful arthritis treatment can do wonders for a dog’s quality

of life. Frequently the signs are simply ascribed to “old

age” and only once your dog is on treatment do you

realise how much arthritis pain was affecting them.

General stiffness, slow to get up or lie down, and slowing or dragging on walks are key signs. Arthritic dogs battle on stairs and often can no longer jump up into the car.

Best results are achieved with a combination of treatments. There are 3 major areas - Weight Loss, Controlled Exercise and Medications. Carrying excess weight makes it harder to cope, burdens the painful joints and accelerates the damage. Don’t simply try reducing what you feed – consider a specialised weight loss diet. With controlled calories and special added ingredients such as L-Carnitine and Lysine, you’ll be amazed with the results and your dog won’t be constantly hungry.

Exercising within your dogs abilities is crucial. Calculate your walks to end BEFORE the point where your dog starts to lag behind. As they improve they’ll cope with longer distances. Little and often is key. Aim to exercise daily – it’s a case of use it or loose it. Deep water swimming is an excellent exercise - it takes the weight off painful joints.

Anti-inflammatory medications will make a radical improvement. We can help you select the best brand for your dog. This is often based on the form they come in, as well as your budget. Common forms are syrup added to food, chewable tablets as well as traditional capsules or tablets.

Anti-inflammatories work both as direct pain killers, as well as by stopping the inflammation of arthritis itself – hence they actually treat the problem rather than just masking the symptoms. Additionally we can improve

the lubrication in joints, help control inflammation and change

the course of the disease with Pentosan injections. Once initiated,

some dogs may only need an injection once every 3 months.

Glucosamine is a fantastic supplement that helps control arthritis. Glucosamine works by keeping cartilage, the shock absorber of joints, healthy. It comes in many forms and it is best to look for a product that also contains Chondroitin, as well as ingredients such as MSN and Vitamin C. We prefer to use products that DO NOT come from Shark Cartilage. Green Lipped Muscle Extract is also useful. It’s a natural anti-inflammatory, and mostly comes in a powder form. Fortunately there are now several excellent Joint Diets available that include many of these supplements. Sensibly they also focus on preventing obesity. And of course the little things help too. Keep them warm in the cooler weather and provide soft, non-slip bedding.

So through a combination of weight control, tailored exercise, special joint diet and anti-inflammatories, your dog can enjoy a new lease on life and win back their mobility. Don’t let them struggle any longer – book in for an Arthritis Check today if you have any concerns about your pet's mobility.

AUTHOR: Dr Kevin

Cruickshank

Dr Kevin along with his lovely wife Fiona own Gold Coast Vet Surgery.

"Where Pets Are Family" !

WEBSITE: www.goldcoastvet.com.au

PetTech PetSaver™ in Brisbane

On Saturday June 19th… I drove the 3 hour round-trip to Hamilton in Brisbane to become certified in Pet First Aid (aka Pet Tech PetSaver™ Pet CPR & First Aid).

My motivation to do this course was personal not just professional. I’ve been searching for quite sometime now a ‘hand on’ first aid course for “the average everyday pet owner”. Someone, like me, who cares for their pets deeply however isn’t necessarily wanting to do a full animal attendant, vet nurse or other similar course.

{ continue reading here }

Marnie

Roll Call !!

Marnie (mother cat)

Blue + White Kitten... Bailey

White Tortie Kitten… Bella

Black Kitten... Morpheus

Black Tortie Kitten... Mizery

From Friend to Friend

by Karen Clouston

Use and share this poem with those who have to ever make the heart-wrenching decision to help our animal companions transition from this life... I'll fore-warn you now: GET SOME TISSUES! This made me cry in memory of Bibs and Puddy (my most recent feline animal companions whom I had to help transition).

You're giving me a special gift,
So sorrowfully endowed,
And through these last few cherished days,
Your courage makes me proud

But really, love is knowing
When your best friend is in pain,
And understanding earthly acts
Will only be in vain.

So looking deep into your eyes,
Beyond, into your soul,
I see in you the magic, that will
Once more make me whole

The strength that you possess,
Is why I look to you today,
To do this thing that must be done,
For it's the only way.

That strength is why I've followed you,
And chose you as my friend,
And why I've loved you all these years...
My partner 'til the end.

Please, understand just what this gift,
You're giving, means to me,
It gives me back the strength I've lost,
And all my dignity.

You take a stand on my behalf,
For that is what friends do.
And know that what you do is right,
For I believe it too.

So one last time, I breathe your scent,
And through your hand I feel,
The courage that's within you,
To now grant me this appeal.

Cut the leash that holds me here,
Dear friend, and let me run,
Once more a strong and steady dog,
My pain and struggle done.

And don't despair my passing,
For I won't be far away,
Forever here, within your heart,
And memory I'll stay.

I'll be there watching over you,
Your ever faithful friend,
And in your memories I'll run,
...a strong dog once again.

A fundraiser for the Animal Welfare League

Getting Good Behaviour from Pets

Thursday April 29, Animal Welfare League, Coombabah, Gold Coast.

Click to book

The first of many seminars to be held at the Animal Welfare League, this seminar is all about how to get the best behaviour you can from your cat or dog.

The Getting Good Behaviour from Pets seminar is ideally suited to pet owners, pet trainers, veterinarians, vet nurses, pet groomers... basically anyone who has an interest in how to humanely and kindly create behaviour change in animals.

Focusing on how to create this behaviour change using positive reinforcement, and how to identify whether or not you're rewarding theright behaviour, this seminar is a must for all pet owners who want to help their pet be the best it can be.

Many talk about positive reinforcement training, but few know the secrets of how that works. This seminar will tell you those secrets.

This seminar is a fundraiser for the Animal Welfare League, and tickets cost $55. Included in the price is a bonus one month's membership to www.PETHEALTH.com.au, valued at $22.

Click to book

Feline cabin fever isn't healthy for your pet

Work to keep your cat busy busy busy

By Dr. Marty Becker and Gina Spadafori

Keeping a cat inside is one of the best ways to ensure a long and healthy life, but it won’t be that happy an existence unless you’re going to add some interest to the surroundings. It doesn’t take much in the way of time or effort, so get going. Your cat will thank you!

( read more here )

Whilst cats (or at least mine do!) spend most of their time sleeping or napping, just like dogs they require MENTAL and PHYSICAL stimulation... no matter their age. This is where employ-ing the services of a pet sitter to come more than once a day for a minimum of 30 minutes can provide your cat with a happy, healthy life whilst you are away. xox Vanessa

Testimonial

What did you enjoy about your experience using Gold Coast Pet Sitting?

I found Vanessa's Pet Sitting Service very proffessional and Vanessa genuine.

June Trenwyth:Morgan (Molendinar)

Pets: Hapi the Dog and Kinza the Cat

Hapi The Dog (video)

Vanessa is trustworthy and obviously loves what she does. I always feel comfortable leaving Dusty in her care and know that he will be happy and well looked after when I return :-)

Rose (Upper Coomera)

Pet: Dusty

Dusty The Cat (Photo)

Even if you were very satisfied with the experience of using Gold Coast Pet Sitting, is there any feedback you would like to give to help us improve the experience for you ?

None, you are absolutely The Best...

June Trenwyth:Morgan (Molendinar)

Pets: Hapi the Dog and Kinza the Cat

Nothing to improve upon - everything was fantastic :-)

Rose (Upper Coomera)

Pet: Dusty

Thank you June and Rose! I am always forever grateful for the opportunity of being allowed to give some love and care to other peoples' pets! No matter what is happening my life, the fulfillment I receive from hanging out with each and every animal companion (or petizen) can't be beat! xox Vanessa

Recommended Pet First-Aid Kit

SOURCE

(Download as PDF)

This is for a basic pet first-aid kit. For convenience, you may want to make one for your home and another for your car. It is also a suitable Disaster Preparedness kit.

• Sterile gauze pads (77mm x 77mm and 51mm x 51mm) and gauze bandage rolls (26mm and 51mm)
• First-aid adhesive tape, 26mm roll
• Cotton swabs (Q-tips®)
• Tweezers
• Scissors
• Plastic freezer/sandwich bags
• Small bottle of 3% hydrogen peroxide
• Styptic pencil or cornstarch (stems blood flow from minor cuts)
• Antibacterial ointment
• Antiseptic cleansing wipes
• Kaopectate® or Pepto-Bismol®
• A current pet first-aid book
• Eyewash
• Eyedropper
• Mineral oil (a lubricant and laxative when given by mouth)
• Digital or rectal thermometer in a plastic case
• Leather work gloves (to protect you from being bitten)
• Latex gloves
• Leash
• Thin rope
• Splint materials (tongue depressor, 305mm wooden ruler or thick magazine)

Place the contents in a plastic storage box, tackle box or coffee can with lid.

In a future blog, I will be visiting Pet Supplies Direct at Harbour Town Shopping Centre to source prices of all of the above as unfortunately they do not have pet first aid kits able to be bought already "put together".

If you would like to purchase a full 44 piece First Aid Kit (great for cats and/or dogs), please contact me for further information.

With the Christmas holiday season upon us, this would be a great time to update your supplies !

Testimonial

Hi Vanessa,
Thankyou for looking after the tribe, you did a fantastic job. The pictures are beautiful and you can post them wherever you like.. see you when we next have a holiday..

Michelle, Warren, Max (their son), Stitch, Russel, Oakley, and The Ratties..

I looked after the dogs Stitch + Russel, Oakley (the cat) and the ratties (rats) for a period in October 2009.

Please visit Gold Coast Pet Sitting on Facebook or Flickr to view photos of "the tribe".

and now for something heart warming...