Your pets’ ears play an important role in their overall health and well being but can sometimes be overlooked. Knowing the signs associated with a possible ear infection could help reduce long term damage.

If your pet is showing any of the following signs, contact your veterinarian straight away: Scratching the ear, shaking the head, pain when touched around the ears, a foul odour or discharge emanating from the ear canal, and/or, swelling or redness of the skin lining the ear canal. Infections may have primary underlying causes, including?allergies (to the environment or food), parasites (eg. ear mites), foreign bodies (eg. grass seeds), medical problems (eg. endocrine problems, growths, or skin disorders). Other contributing factors may include excess moisture in the ear (eg. from swimming or bathing) incorrect ear cleansing techniques, chronic inflammation from ear disease that has gone unchecked makes ear health a priority.

Maintaining your pet’s ear health is easy, if you require any additional information about your pet’s health and wellbeing, please feel free to contact us at (07) 3103 8432 or send us an email at info@baybreezevets.com.au. We would be more than happy to have a friendly chat and provide you with expert veterinary advice. 

Did you know, 90% of skin allergies are not caused by food issues! With summer in full swing, some pets may have an increased reaction to environmental allergens. Check out this handy video by Hills AU that provides some excellent insights and handy tips!

The sudden cool winter weather always comes as a shock to us in the Redlands, especially when we enjoy higher Autumn temperatures in Queensland, Brisbane and surrounds. The first hint that winter is on its way is when our dogs start curling up in a ball on their beds or eyeing out ours! 

Luckily winter does not last long in Queensland, and many people believe our pets don’t need anything extra during this time, however, some of our fur babies may need an extra layer or two, especially if they are accustomed to living indoors. 

Older dogs especially might find it a bit more challenging getting around during these colder months due to arthritis, so what can we do as pet owners to keep them safe, healthy and make their lives a little easier during the winter months? Here are our favourite tips for keeping your pets healthy and warm during the Queensland winter months: 

Warm winter bedding. 

Just like humans, our pets may slow down daily movement and activity during the winter months to conserve energy and keep warm. Consider investing in a nice warm blanket, a new thicker bed (ideally a raised option), or pet heating pads, as the radiating warmth can alleviate pain and improve mobility in dogs with arthritis.

Winter wardrobe. 

Most dogs don't have an issue heading outside when it's warm, however, some dogs may be especially sensitive to the colder weather in Queensland since our summer months can get very hot and humid. A winter dog coat or jumper can make all the difference to the comfort of your pet, especially for those hairless breeds, very small or senior dogs. 

Winter feeding.

How often have we read the advice that our dogs and cats will burn off more calories in winter than they do in summer because they are trying to keep themselves warm so we should feed them more? 

With 41% of dogs already overweight or obese in Australia, this has serious consequences on their health (causing a host of diseases) and reducing their lifespan. At Baybreeze Family Vets, we recommend keeping their portions controlled all year round so that they don’t put on weight and add any unnecessary strain to joints. We would encourage all pet owners to include a high-quality dog supplement to boost your dog's immune system, gut and general wellbeing during the winter months.

Senior dog care. 

As senior dogs have more sensitive joints and when the temperature drops, these aches and pains (like our own) can be much more painful and require more care and attention. 

Pet owners should be mindful of giving them age-appropriate exercise regularly to keep their muscles supple and encourage blood circulation. 

Regular Vet Health & Wellness checks.

It's a good idea to book your pets in for a health check-up with Baybreeze Family Vet Clinic. The cold weather can lower pets’ immune system, making them more susceptible to health problems. For elderly pets, check-ups every six months are recommended to make sure any health problems are detected early and efficiently treated.

If you are unsure if your pet is within the healthy weight range, suffers from any joint or mobility issues, or would just like to book a general check-up, please feel free to contact us at (07) 3103 8432 or send us an email at info@baybreezevets.com.au. We would be more than happy to have a friendly chat and provide you with expert veterinary advice. 

All of this wet weather recently has caused an influx of toads and mushrooms throughout backyards all-over Capalaba and South-East Queensland.

Cane Toads secrete a toxin from glands on each shoulder, the glands release the poison when the toad feels threatened. If ingested, this venom can cause excessive salivation, retching, vomiting, seizures and paralysis. Immediate first aid should be started at home, followed by a visit to your local vet or emergency center for continued treatment, particularly if they are showing any of the above symptoms.

First aid which should be applied at home is as follows:

Using a damp cloth, thoroughly wipe over the tongue and gums to remove any residual poison. It is extremely important that you do not use the hose directly inside the pet’s mouth, this can cause accidental inhalation of the water and result in aspiration pneumonia. Rinse the cloth thoroughly in between wipes. Contact your closest vet or emergency center and get your pet checked over, especially if they are showing any signs such as excessive salivation, vomiting or seizures or if you are unsure if you successfully removed all the toxins from the gums.

Mushrooms can also make your pet quite unwell when ingested. There are many species of mushrooms, many are toxic, and many are not, unfortunately there is no way to easily figure out if the mushroom growing in your yard is toxic or not. If your dog does eat a mushroom, toxicity will depend on the type of mushroom and the amount that is eaten, signs can occur anywhere from 2 - 24 hours. Signs of toxicity can be quite vague, usually dogs will only have some vomiting and/or diarrhoea. The easiest way to prevent mushroom toxicity is to monitor the growth in your yard and remove them immediately, and when out walking keep a close eye on your dog to ensure they aren’t becoming too interested in any mushrooms along the footpaths and grassy areas.

If you are concerned your dog has eaten a mushroom it is a good idea to seek veterinary attention, and if possible, bring the mushroom with you, this way it can be sent off for analysis to discover if it is toxic or not.

Many of us don’t realise that our dog is overweight, because the weight gain is easy to overlook as it often takes place gradually over time.

Even if you’ve noticed your dog is carrying a little extra weight, you may not be aware how much it can affect his health. Being as little as 20% overweight can greatly increase the risk of your dog developing serious health conditions such as diabetes mellitus, arthritis, urinary stones or heart disease.

Plus, excess weight can not only have a negative impact on your dog’s general wellbeing, happiness and overall quality of life, it can also significantly shorten his life expectancy compared to a healthy-weight pet.

Have a look at the useful image provided by Hills Au and see how as little as 20% excess weight may negatively influence your pets life.

If you are unsure if your pet is within the healthy weight range, please feel free to contact us at (07) 3103 8432 or send us an email at info@baybreezevets.com.au. We would be more than happy to have a friendly chat and provide you with expert veterinary advice.