Animal victims of Coronavirus pandemic

Blog post by Dr. Paulina Czerska:

Although there is no medical evidence that pets and other animals can be infected by Covid- 19, they can still end up being victims of the pandemic.

For our own safety we cover our faces and hands with disposable masks and gloves but unfortunately not all of them go directly to the trash. Some end up lying on the streets and in our parks and can be easily picked up and even swallowed by our loved furry friends.

That's what happened to our patient Dobby. He is an older pug who has never been interested in biting or swallowing foreign objects in the past. When he started to have abdominal pain and severe vomiting, we didn't take ingested foreign body as first on the differential diagnosis list. However, when all blood parameters were normal, and Dobby was feeling worse and worse, we decided to perform a diagnostic imaging test. We started with an ultrasound which showed all organs in perfect shape (which was in line with what blood results told us), but in the cranial part of the duodenum we found something. This ‘something’ was blocking the ultrasound beam and gave us what is called an acoustics shadow. This is significant as it is what happens with all animals that have ingested a foreign body. Before the object, the duodenum lumen was dilated but behind it, was back to normal dimension. This is how we know a blockage has occurred.

To confirm our suspicions, we conducted an x-ray of Dobby's abdomen which didn't show any abnormalities in the bowels but when we sent Barium through him, we were left with no doubts that there was a partial blockage of the cranial part of the duodenum.

We performed a surgery called Enterotomy where we removed the foreign body from the duodenum. Upon closer inspection we found that what Dobby had ingested was a disposable glove.

Dobby's case teach us a few things. Firstly, that we have to take more responsibility of our waste, and how we dispose of it. In the process of protecting ourselves we can end up making our world more contaminated with plastic and other non-biodegradable materials when our planet is already struggling. Secondly, it teaches us about our diagnostic tools and how important is to combine them. It shows us how ultrasonography and x-rays compliment each other and how extremely lucky we are to be able to offer this service to our patients, therefore ensuring that we reach a diagnosis quicker.

Ultrasound. Visible surface of the foreign body reflecting the ultrasound beam and below creating the artifact called acoustic shadow

Ultrasound. In the middle of the scan is visible dilated

X-ray. Visible contrast in dilated duodenum. Foreign body partially blocking

X-ray. Visible how foreign body is slowing down

Disposable glove removed from the duodenum

Dobby recovering after anesthesia.

Tick-born Diseases in Dubai

We are sure you know that ticks can transmit infectious diseases when they attach themselves to our dogs. One of these diseases, Ehrlichiosis, is quite prominent in the UAE.

The infectious agent, Ehrlichia canis will introduce itself in the dog’s (rarely cats) blood cells and multiply from there.

The disease will generally develop in 2 phases:

The 1st phase (acute phase), will appear 1 to 3 weeks after the infected tick bite. Symptoms will be fever, fatigue, anorexia, and clotting issues resulting in nose bleeding, bruising, blood in urine or stools etc… Some neurologic symptoms can sometimes accompany the 1st phase.

The 2nd phase (chronic phase) will then follow if the pet survives the 1st phase. During the 2nd phase, anaemia and clotting issues are still present, plus the dog can also have enlarged spleen, liver and lymph nodes. Eye issues, arthritis and seizures can also appear.

The prognosis is good ONLY in the very first days of the Acute phase and early treatment usually results in drastic improvement within a couple of days. Unfortunately, if left untreated, the bone marrow will not be able to produce new blood cells to replace those that have been destroyed by Ehrlichia (we talk about medullary aplasia). In these cases, the prognosis is very compromised.

Tick prevention is therefore very important and should not be overlooked. We have a range of very effective treatments from spot-on treatments to collars or tablets, please visit us for info.

If you discover a tick on your dog, we can test him for Ehrichia canis in the Clinic. It takes 10 minutes to have an answer and we can start the treatment promptly.

Chronic Kidney Disease & Your Cat

Chronic Kidney Disease is probably the most frequent condition in our senior cats.

Kidneys are very important organs: not only do they filter waste products from the blood, but they also regulate the blood pressure, the electrolyte balance, and they play a role in the red-blood-cell production in the body.

Chronic kidney failure leads to a progressive and irreversible failure of the kidney functions. Unfortunately, cats are very good at hiding that they are sick, and they usually show symptoms (fatigue, weight loss, reduced appetite, increased thirst….) when around ¾ of the kidney function is impaired. This can be very annoying for us pet parents who would like to catch CKD before it worsens.

Fortunately, it is possible to diagnose the disease way earlier with a simple blood and urine test. When diagnosed at an early stage, specific measures can help to slow the progression of the disease.

If you have a senior cat and would like to screen for Chronic Kidney Disease, please get in touch with us.

The earlier we diagnose the better!

Vienna Veterinary Clinic Ultrasonography Specialist: Dr. Paulina

My name is Dr Paulina and one of my areas of speciality is Ultrasonography. In my years of experience I have found that screening the abdomen with an ultrasound alongside a  complete blood profile is a truly effective and efficient way of getting an overview of a pets internal health.

We as vets are all used to using  blood tests as a first tool to assessing the health profile of our pets, and I cannot disagree with this method. The blood test is a very precise and fast diagnostic test, but we always have to remember that the earlier stages of some diseases and a few congenital diseases will not give any clinical symptoms.

All of our internal organs have very important skills which can be be carried out in the body even when they are not in the best condition . In many cases structural changes will appear first without of any outside symptoms being present.

The best example of this is the Kidney, as they really only need 25% of the healthy tissue to work as an effective and fully functioning organ. Because of this it can be hard to notice, through blood tests alone, if the organs have any life threatening issues. Ultrasonography will help us to catch early structural changes, kidney stones, polyps in polycystic kidney disease, atrophy or dysplasia on one of the kidneys. Plus, thanks to the ultrasound scan we can also find lumps on the organs before they  grow to a dangerous size or spread to other vital organs

Therefore, ultrasounds work very well alongside a blood test, as increased blood parameters will estimate where the problem is, but the ultrasound will tell as what exactly is going wrong. From here your vet can assess the best course of treatment.

My advice is to have your pet's organs checked with an ultrasound to give you some peace of mind and to avoid internal issues progressing unnecessarily.

For more information please feel free to call us and a vet can walk you through the procedure and answer your questions.

Our Clinic - 04 388 3827

Vaccinating Your Pet in Dubai

When you picture owning a dog or cat in Dubai, do you picture the following: Fancy dog-friendly brunches. Cats in their sky-high apartments, view of Burj Khalifa sipping water out of their stainless steel drinking fountain. Fridays at the desert with your dogs. Coming home from a long day at work, making through the rush hour Sheikh Zayed Road traffic to your cat purring on your bed.

Well, we assume that it is all of the above, but here are some laws by Dubai Municipality that you should keep in mind before committing to a pet.

It is a commitment

As announced by the Dubai Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, abandoning your pet is considered an act of animal cruelty and illegal/punishable by law in the UAE.

All pets need to be vaccinated, licensed and registered

For new pet parents who adopt kittens and puppies, you will probably need to bring your new baby into your nearest vet for their initial vaccinations and rabies vaccinations. You will need to bring them back in 3-4 weeks for their booster shots, and then just once annually moving forward.

Once any pet has been given their rabies vaccination, they will have to be microchipped and issued a Dubai Municipality Tag. They will be registered under your name with the Dubai Municipality, and registration is only valid for a year. Re-registering your pet can be done during your pet’s next annual vaccination.

Abusing, hunting, buying or selling animals is considered an act of animal abuse and can be punishable by law here within the UAE.

All's Well With Bella

Once upon a time, Bella's mommy took her in for an appointment with us. It was a straightforward appointment, Bella just wanted to get her teeth descaled and get a skin tag removed. Easy peasy.

While she was here, one of our vets suggested having an ultrasound done before the surgery. The vets said that she really showed no signs of any underlying problems, but her owner agreed anyways- it was just a quick ultrasound, just to be safe rather than sorry.

Dr. Paulina took little Bella in the ultrasound room and started away. A quick half an hour later, the reports came back and well, there was a tumour found on Bella’s spleen. Bella was happy, healthy, active and it was a good call for Bella’s mommy to give the go-ahead with the ultrasound; We wouldn’t have known the tumour was there otherwise. Luckily enough, the tumour was caught very early on and we even had it removed during the descaling and skin tag removal.

After the surgery, we sent the tumour samples off to the labs and a few weeks later it was declared benign! Yay! A happy ending to a good story. Anyways pet moms and dads, we just wanted to share this with you to highlight the importance of prevention and taking the extra step just to make sure- because sometimes you won’t really ever know until you take the proper steps to find out.

How Often Should You Wash Your Pet's Bowls?

We can guess what your pet’s daily routine might be, and while this isn’t accurate to every Dubai cat and Dubai dog, does it look a little like the following? Playtime, naps, treats, demanding for attention, more playtime, eating, nap again, demanding for cuddles, playtime (yes again), snacks (yes again), and finally sleep.

Like us, eating is an important and exciting part of our pets day. And also like us, cleaning their water and food bowls is important to prevent the growth of bacteria. While this might be obvious to most, we wanted to just take a quick stop to touch on a small, sometimes overlooked part of our pet’s hygiene care.

The answer to how often we wash our pet’s water bowl is: Often and frequent. Although, this does vary depending on what is on the menu. Hot water and a good dishwashing liquid should do the job, and do not forget to wash your hands before and after dealing with your pet’s food.

Dry food: Should be washed every other day and scrubbed down once a week

Water bowls: Every day to prevent the build-up of slime

Wet, raw food: After every meal. Raw food contains Salmonella and E. Coli, so it’s imperative that these bowls are not left out, and then reused for a second meal hours later.

Preventing the growth of bacteria in your pet’s bowl is important to prevent your fur baby falling ill. A dirty food bowl can cause an upset tummy, irregular bowel movements, vomiting or a loss of appetite. If this occurs please take them to your nearest vet ASAP.

** Try using a stainless steel, glass bowl to reduce the use of plastic

** Pro tip: Try having more than one bowl for your pets so that you may use a fresh bowl if you are yet to get around to do the washing

Vienna Veterinary Clinic Reception Walk Through

Hello! Welcome to Vienna Veterinary Clinic. We are a health center especially dedicated to animal/pet health for all the cats and dogs in Dubai, UAE. While we are easily found on Google Maps or Waze we are located on Al Thanyah Street (somewhere between Al Wasl Road and Jumeirah Beach Road)

Vienna Veterinary Clinic

Healthcare services aside, part of your pet’s trip to the vet isn’t just solely based on what happens inside the consultation room. It starts the moment they leave the house, to when they’re waiting for their consults, up to when they leave.

VVC reception area

Welcome inside!

Hydration is key. Whether it’s during the scorching hot summer here in Dubai, or if it’s February when we are blessed with Dubai winter. We have a water cooler in reception for pet owners or pets alike. If there are no water bowls for your cat or dog, don’t be shy and ask one of our receptionists for one.

We have cat trees available in reception which we do urge cat owners to utilize during their wait in reception. Visits to vets might be stressful, from car rides to a doctors trip, to dogs who might be hanging out in reception. When your cat is placed on a higher point in a room, it helps reduce their anxiety as well as maintain a safer distance from doggies.

Water cooler for both humans and pets

For cats to hang out while they wait

While you wait for your fur baby’s appointment, please take the time to look around. A place to start might be our Lost & Found Board. You may never know you could help reunite a family. If not we have plenty of flyers, posters around reception with a lot of information in regards to veterinary care for your pets. Additionally, we also have a product catalogue. All products are on special order, so just let reception know and they will give you a call once it’s been delivered to the clinic for you to later pick up.

Lost & Found Board

Flyers regarding veterinary care for your information and knowledge

Product CATalogue if you feel like spoiling your pet

We also have dog treats available for before or after appointments. When given strategically, it can really help make your dog’s trip to the vet. Take as much as you like but use wisely :-P. Once familiar with the place, we get dogs who come in and sit immediately in front of the treat jar. Smart cookies, we love them.

If you have the time, or if you’re waiting for a vet to finish your fur baby’s billing please do help yourself and fill our a review form. Hearing your honest opinion of how we can help better improve any single aspect of your visit is always welcomed.

Dog treats to reward a good boy or to make up for a jab

Clinic review forms

So that’s about it from our side. Just your friendly local veterinary clinic here in Dubai right in the heart of Jumeirah.

Feel free to call us for more information, appointments, of pet care advise of 04 388 3827 or e-mail us on info@viennavet.com

Few of our patients waiting very patiently for their appointments

Pup Friendly Restaurants In Dubai

We have compiled a list for new dog parents, new to Dubai dog owners or if you overall are looking for a lunch spot for you and your pup.

SHIEKH ZAYED ROAD

🐶 Jones The Grocer

Think gourmet grocery. Cafe. Think flat white and a poached egg. Perfect late mornings for you and your dog.

🐶 Denny's

If you're craving some good American comfort food or breakfast food at 10pm this is the place for you- with outside seating overlooking the Sheikh Zayed Road allowing your dog to enjoy some car watching.

🐶 Miyabi Sushi & Bento SZR

A sushi place that is also dog-friendly!

JUMEIRAH LAKE TOWERS

JLT is overall a very dog-friendly neighbourhood, as you will see lots of dog owners walking their four-legged best friends around the lakes; or if you're lucky you'll see little dog parties in the park. Luckily enough for us humans, there are also a lot of restaurants scattered around that are usually quite pet-friendly, but here's what we've got:

🐶 Nofara JLT

🐶 1762 Stripped

🐶 This Is Hot Dog

DUBAI MARINA

🐶Counter Culture Cafe

Located on the ground level of Dubai Mariott Harbour & Suites, the ambience is great for both human and pup. The outdoor seating is perfect especially with good weather to pair it with.

THE PALM JUMEIRAH

Another very pet-friendly community in Dubai with ample of pet-friendly restaurants!

🐶 Breeze Beach Grill

🐶 Barrel 12 The Palm

🐶 W Dubai

🐶 AJI Palm Jumeirah

🐶 Sun & Palm Jumeirah

JUMEIRAH 1

🐶 Life n' One

🐶 Alto Mar

DUBAI MEDIA CITY

🐶 Urban Bistro Dubai

An outdoor terrace that is great for dogs while you enjoy a meal in a great modern space.

THE GREENS

The greens is another pet friendly community shrouded in greenery. Good for a after lunch walk with your pup or even just for lounging at one of these pet friendly restaurants:

🐶 Bert's

🐶 Arrows & Sparrows

SZR, AL QUOZ, JBR

🐶 Lime Tree Cafe

Al Garhoud

🐶 Irish Village

Complex compound with a lot of elements for your dogs to entertain themselves with. As well as potential duck, geese and cat friends!

Sustainable City, Arabian Raches

🐶 Tuk Tuk Thai Cuisine

Good food and plenty of space to walk around for you and your dogs. We think that the ample of space is a great plus to not overcrowd your doggy.

5 Reasons Why Your Dog Is The Best Valentines

Valentine’s Day is around the corner, and while it is a cute holiday to spend spoiling and appreciating your better half - it is highly associated with extravagant nights out, and a date who will sit across the table from you. There are a lot of expectations and demands for humans this time of the year, which is why we are are advocating dogs as the perfect Valentine’s Day date. These are 5 reasons why:

Zero worries about presents

Maybe you’re an exellent gift giver, down to picking the right gift and wrapping paper; or maybe you’re like me and it’s just not your forte. In the end of the day, your four-legged Valentine’s expects nothing this Valentine’s than to just spend a little extra time with their favourite person ever.

No stress about your date venue

There’s always so much pressure on the type of Valentine’s Date you have to plan. Are we going out for dinner by the sea, or are we having dinner cooked in by candlelight? Your four-legged date will have no objections going out staying in, and we bet you’d get a pretty hard tail wagging response either way.

Your date will 100% out-cute everyone

If you do decide to do a fancy night out however, you already know that your date will definitely be the cutest, and goodest out there.

Desserts all for yourself!

You don’t need to (and really shouldn’t) share your chocolate molten lava cake with your date this time. Most of the Valentine’s Day desserts and foods that will make your dog sick; so more for you!

Dogs care about the important things: You

Your dog won’t care about materialistic things, or the price of the steak you brought home - as Valentines’s Day should be. They will love you unconditionally and spoil you in their own adorable way, which is all that matters this Valentine’s Day!

Smile!

DID YOU KNOW

Due to the build up of bacteria, 70% of cats contract oral diseases by the time they open the tuna can on their THIRD BIRTHDAY.

Here are some signs and indicators to look out for ~

🐱 Bad breath/foul odour

🐱 Changes in eating habits

🐱 Constantly pawing at mouth or face

🐱 Drooling

🐱 Loss of appetite = weight loss

🐱 Loose/broken/abscessed teeth

If you notice these indicators bring them in for a consultation and have one of our super vets look at your cats dental health!

Mobility and Arthritis in Dogs

With the weather becoming cooler during the winter months many of our elderly pets may suffer from arthritis, a potentially painful condition that can often become worse as the environmental temperature decreases.

Old age arthritis (or osteoarthritis) is present in 20% or 1 in 5 dogs over one year of age and typically leads to pain, lameness, joint inflammation and reduced mobility, resulting in a reduced quality of life.

OA is usually a result of ongoing wear and tear and instability in the joints, although other factors such as injury, genetic makeup, infection, immune disease and cancer can also affect its progression.

Arthritis can affect one or more joints anywhere in the body; however the most common joints affected in dogs are the hips, knees, shoulders and elbows. Most of these joints depend on a layer of cartilage acting as a cushion which also provides a smooth surface so the adjoining bones can move freely over each other. This movement is assisted by the lubrication provided by synovial fluid in joints.

With arthritis the cartilage deteriorates and the synovial fluid loses its lubricating properties so that movement of the bones becomes less smooth, leading to pain, discomfort and reduced mobility.

Signs of arthritis

There are many signs that may indicate your dog is suffering from arthritis, even though most dogs are very stoic creatures and tend to mask signs of pain. Signs may include one or more of the following:

• Reluctance to walk, climb stairs, jump or play

• Limping/lameness

• Lagging behind on walks

• Pain, stiffness or slowness when getting up or down

• Yelping when touched

• A change in personality (aggression when normally good-natured)

• Licking of the affected joints

These signs become more obvious as arthritis progresses, and the pain worsens. As a result of the changes that have occurred in the affected joint/s, arthritis in dogs is not a condition that can be cured. However, the pain and discomfort can be effectively controlled and managed.

MANAGING  ARTHRITIS IN  DOGS

The first step in managing arthritis is to schedule a veterinary appointment for a thorough clinical examination.

To help your dog be happy and enjoy life again, there are 4 important areas that we will need to focus on:

1. Weight management

This is the MOST IMPORTANT aspect of managing any animal with arthritis. Overweight animals will place proportionally more weight on their joints and therefore cause more localised inflammation and irritation to the joints- which in turn can hasten the progression of arthritis.

2. Exercise management

Exercise is a very important part of managing arthritis. Regular controlled exercise (leash walking, swimming) is extremely beneficial for keeping the joints mobile and the muscles working well.

3. Home comforts/ environment changes

In mild cases, some simple steps taken at home will help to reduce their level of pain and discomfort. Ensure that your pet has a warm, comfortable place to sleep that is away from drafts. Plenty of bedding will help protect any sore joints (a trampoline bed with extra padding is ideal). Provide a ramp in the garden, as an alternative to stairs and provide assistance when getting in and out of cars.

4. Veterinary treatments

Various veterinary treatments are available to manage osteoarthritis in pets. The best option will depend on a number of different factors involving your dog: such as age, severity of signs, progression of the disease process and whether they have any other health problems. Importantly all arthritis patients should be accurately diagnosed before starting a treatment plan.  

The different treatments that can be offered include:

Disease modifying osteoarthritis drugs such as ‘Cartrophen.’ (Pentosan polysulfate): Cartrophen is given as a series of injections: one injection a week for four weeks and then a maintenance injection once per month. These injections act to stabilise joint membranes, help joint cartilage repair and improve joint lubrication. They provide significant improvement in a high percentage of arthritis patients with minimal (if any) side effects.

Non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID’s): These medications are specifically formulated for use in dogs and should only be prescribed by your veterinarian. They work by reducing the inflammation around the joints and by providing significant pain relief. With regular check ups with your veterinarian to monitor your dog’s liver and kidney function, assess the most appropriate NSAID and dose rate to administer, most patients respond very well to their use.

Nutraceuticals/ Prescription diets: Eg: Glyde, Synoquin, Royal Canin Mobility diet, Hills J/D. These are dietary supplements or prescriptions diets that contain ingredients such as Glucosamine, Chondroitin sulphate, Fish Oils and/ or Green Lipped mussel. These agents work together to aid the protection of joints and can be given on a long term basis to help reduce inflammation over time.

Physical therapy: Physical therapy involves specific activities designed to improve strength and mobility without causing additional stress on a joint. It is also a useful adjunct to helping a pet lose weight and assisting rehabilitation following joint surgery.

Dental Disease

DOES  YOUR  PET  HAVE  DENTAL  DISEASE?

Does your dog or cat have bad breath, red or swollen gums, yellow/brown or loose/missing teeth,   reduced appetite or is losing weight? If the answer is yes your pet may be suffering from periodontal disease!......

Periodontal disease is the most common clinical condition diagnosed by vets and occurs both in adult dogs and cats and is often entirely preventable.

Periodontal disease is a bacterial infection of the mouth and involves four stages including:

By three years of age 80% of dogs and cats have some evidence of periodontal disease. Unfortunately, other than bad breath, there are few signs of the disease process that are evident! As a result, periodontal disease is often missed by owners and may cause multiple problems in the oral cavity associated with damage to internal organs in some pets as they age.

Signs of Peridontal Disease:

Periodontal disease develops as a result of bacteria and plaque under the gum line.  Plaque mixes with minerals in the saliva and hardens into tartar which is firmly adhered to the tooth.  If the tartar isn’t removed, it will build up under the gums, eventually causing them to pull away from the teeth. This creates small pockets in the gum tissue which become pockets for bacteria. This bacteria then releases toxins which causes your pet to have bad smelling breath and infection resulting in painful and inflamed gums, loose teeth, weight loss and serious illness.

If periodontal disease is left unchecked it progresses and becomes increasingly painful.  How quickly this process takes place in your pet’s mouth depends on a number of factors, including age, overall health, diet, breed and genetics.

Periodontal disease is commonly associated with poor diet and if your dog or cat eats predominantly wet food then this can predispose them to developing dental disease. Some other conditions which may lead to periodontal disease include:

Malocclusion

Malocclusion is the term used when one or more teeth are not properly positioned.  Selective breeding has resulted in malocclusions being “normal” for some breeds (e.g. Boxers, Bulldogs, Pugs, Shih Tzus, etc.) due to shortening of the upper jaw (maxilla).

Retained Deciduous Teeth

Just like in people, our pets have deciduous (“baby”) teeth. These teeth stay in the mouth until 4-6 months of age when the adult teeth should erupt pushing the deciduous teeth out.  This process does not proceed correctly in some pets which results in the deciduous tooth being retained in the mouth.  Retained deciduous teeth cause problems by causing plaque accumulation and impeding the eruption of the adult tooth. All pets should be checked by a veterinarian for retained deciduous teeth between 5-6 months of age.  If retained deciduous teeth are identified they should be extracted promptly.

Feline Gingivostomatitis

Stomatitis or gingivostomatitis is another common disease affecting primarily cats.  This is a painful condition which involves severe inflammation of the oral soft tissues. It appears that stomatitis results from the cat’s immune system reacting to the plaque film on the teeth. 

Broken Teeth

Teeth may break for a variety of reasons including: trauma, aggressive chewing and decay.  Any tooth with signs of wear or fracture should be evaluated promptly.  Broken teeth can result in pain and predispose teeth to developing infection which can result in the tooth becoming non-vital.  The earlier treatment is initiated after a fracture, the better for the pet.

Masses / Oral Tumors

Any time a growth or abnormal tissue is noted in a pet’s mouth investigation is warranted.  Sometimes masses or growths are only found during the detailed examination under anesthesia during a veterinary check up.  Pets can have a variety of oral growths which can be either benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). 

Preventing Dental disease in your Pet

Signs of periodontal can be subtle in pets and often go unnoticed by owners.  However the good news is that with a good diet, consistent home dental care and regular veterinary check ups, periodontal disease can be slowed or even prevented!

Diet

The texture of food and its composition can affect the environment of the mouth. It can help maintain tissue integrity, stimulate saliva production, alter plaque bacteria metabolism and provide mechanical cleansing of tooth surfaces. Feeding a good quality dry dog food is preferable to feeding a wet food as the mechanical action and abrasion on the surface of the tooth when the dog bites into a hard food will help prevent the formation of plaque and bacteria on the tooth surface. Feeding raw bones in addition to good quality dental chews and treats is also a good way to prevent and/or minimise periodontal disease in your pet.

Home dental care: toothbrushing

Brush your pet’s teeth, preferably every day. If every day is too tall an order, commit to do it several times a week. If you’ve never tried brushing those canine or feline choppers -- or you’re not having much luck when you try -- view these instructional videos on how to brush your cat’s or dog’s teeth. A little time, patience and persistence can reap tremendous rewards in terms of your pet’s well-being and healthcare costs.

Regular routine mouth inspections

Perform routine mouth inspections. Your pet should allow you to open his mouth, look inside, and feel around for loose teeth or unusual lumps or bumps on the tongue, under the tongue, along the gum line and on the roof of his mouth. After you do this a few times, you’ll become sensitive to any changes that might occur from one inspection to the next. You should also make note of any differences in the smell of your pet’s breath that aren’t diet-related.

Regular Veterinary Check ups

Arrange for regular oral exams performed by your veterinarian. He or she will alert you to any existing or potential problems in your pet’s mouth, and recommend professional teeth cleaning under anaesthesia, if necessary. Once plaque has formed on the surface of teeth it cannot be removed with teeth brushing  and a scale and polish performed by a veterinarian under a general anaesthesia may be required. However once the teeth have been cleaned regular tooth brushing, diet and regular veterinary health checks are important in order to prevent reoccurrence of dental disease and further dental problems in the future.

Before and after a dental scale and polish:

Are you a responsible pet owner?

When you think about the term “responsible pet ownership,” what do you think about?

It might be something simple, such as just looking after your pet. It might mean something specific, like making sure their dog is well trained or taking them for regular check-ups. We feel there is no single way to define responsible pet ownership but there are some key points. 

Are you capable of meeting their needs?

Adopting a pet is not all that different to adopting a baby. You are taking in a living thing that will depend upon you in every aspect of their life. This being said, pet ownership is a serious commitment that should never be decided on spontaneously. 

Do Your Homework!

Before adopting any potential pet big or small, you need to understand what it takes to keep the animal secure, medically cared for and content. You need to know about their behaviour and whether or not they will bland with your everyday life. If you are ready to adopt a pet, you need to research the different breeds to make sure you select one that’s a good fit for your family and your schedule.

Can you afford a pet?

Feeding is only one small element of the financial responsibility of having a pet. If you adopt a puppy or kitten, they will need to be spayed/neutered, and vaccinated to protect them from diseases. Beyond routine vet check-ups, there may be emergencies and accidents that require extensive care and quite often, considerable expense. Will you be able to pay these unexpected vet bills? Finally, the additional expense of caring for a senior pet is one that most people don’t think about when adopting a puppy or kitten, but they grow old just like the rest of us and often require special care.

Do you have time to spend with your pet?

Animals need interaction, companionship just as much, if not more, than food and water. These are the things that make your pet feel safe and content, and although they may not be as obvious as a lack of food or water, going without these emotional needs does a pet just as much harm.

Responsible pet ownership means never adopting an animal during times of major stress or life changes. It also means that when these things invariably occur, we need to find ways to help our pets have stability and ensure they don't feel neglected or forgotten. Depending on the circumstances, that might mean enlisting the aid of family or friends, dog walkers, pet sitters or a doggie daycare centre.

Exercise, socialise and training

These are three essentials of responsible dog ownership that no canine companion should ever go without. Felines need exercise and socialisation too but not quite to the same extent – and I’m sure many people would enrol their counter-surfing cats in obedience school if it existed.

Feed them a high-quality pet food

Good food is the cornerstone of good health, for humans and pets alike. This may be the simplest aspect of responsible pet ownership. Because of caring companies like Royal Canin, we can feed our dogs and cats high-quality pet food that we trust, food that provides the essential nutrients and ingredients they need to stay healthy and grow.

Commit to your pet for life

Before getting a pet, people who don’t yet have children need to consider their plans for the future. If having children is a part of those plans, they need to decide if they’ll be able to care for, train and interact with a pet once they start a family. If the answer is no or even maybe/maybe not, then it would be extremely irresponsible to adopt a pet.

Every pet deserves to have a responsible owner. If we choose to adopt an animal, then it is our duty to properly care for them and to make sure they have everything they need to be healthy, happy and safe.

5 Tricks to Teach Your Dog This January!

New Year, New Start. Have you relaxed with your puppy's training? Do you want to teach your family pet some new tricks? Check out these easy tricks and tips to teach your dog so you can show off to family and friends.

SIT

1. Get on your puppy’s level, either on the floor or in a chair next to him.

2. Hold a treat close to his nose and let his head follow the treat as you move your hand up.

3. As his head moves up, his bottom will lower.

4. When his bottom hits the floor, release the treat to his mouth. Immediately praise him for his brilliance.

5. Repeat multiple times every day. Pair the behaviour with the word “sit.”

*Don’t hold the treat so high that your dog tries to jump up for it. Instead, hold it in your closed hand just high enough that he stretches his neck. Every time his rump hits the floor, tell him “Sit!” This is a great game for children in the house to play with your dog.

Repetitions are important, but your dog will tire of multiple reps. Rather, play the sit game with your dog in short bursts multiple times every day. 

ROLL OVER

1. Kneel down, and get your dog in a ‘down’ position in front of you. Hold a treat close to their nose with your palm facing up.

2. Turn their nose towards their shoulder by rolling your hand over so your palm is facing downwards while arching your arm over their head.

3. As your dog’s nose follows the treat, they’ll become unbalanced and flop onto their side. At this point, reward them with the treat and plenty of praise.

4. Repeat the move, and add a second step: this time, keep your hand moving so that your dog has to roll over on to their other side. As soon as their body flips over, give them the treat.

5. After some more practice to reinforce what they’ve learnt so far, try getting them to roll right over in one move. When they get it right, add the command, “roll over!”

6. After enough practice and treats, they’ll learn to roll over on your command alone.

SPEAK

Teaching your dog to speak on cue can be a fun trick as well as a useful behaviour. It is also easier to teach your dog to “quiet” when you put barking on a cue. You can reward your dog for just one bark, as opposed to barking non-stop for several minutes.

Plus it is a great trick to show family and friends!

1. Find something that gets your dog excited enough to bark. This may be a favourite toy, ball or treat. If treats and toys do not work, try knocking on a door or ringing the doorbell.

2. Get him to bark by waving your object around excitedly and being exciting yourself.

3. As soon as your dog barks, mark it by immediately saying “yes” or “good” and reward with a yummy treat or play with the toy.

4. When your dog starts consistently offering a bark, add a hand and/or verbal signal to put the behaviour on cue.

Tips:

1. Do not reward barking unless you ask your dog to speak.

2. Try to capture only a single bark. You do NOT want “speak” to mean a barking frenzy.
 

SLEEP

This is a famous trick that dog owners teach their dogs. Many dogs lay on their backs, especially if they're looking for a belly rub. If you notice your dog doing this often, catch this behaviour and then associate the action with the command, 'Go to Sleep'.

1. Have your dog lay down. With your treat in hand, slowly guide it so that your dog moves into the 'Go to Sleep' position and give him a treat with praise.

2. Keep repeating the process while saying, "Go to Sleep!" See if he'll do it at your command.

3. In different training sessions, shape and perfect the trick by only treating when he is in the exact position you want him to be in (i.e., legs in the air, paws bent and still etc). 

PEEK-A-BOO

Peek-a-boo is an adorable trick to teach your dog and is a great way to impress your friends.

There are two different methods to teaching your dog this trick. If your dog can already give his paw on command, start by having him sit in front of you, and ask for his paw.

Hold his paw in your hand, and then raise it over his eyes. Repeat the command gently, and treat/praise him immediately.

Continue repeating the process until your dog makes the connection. 

Next, try simply clicking above your dog’s nose gently to get him to raise his paw. If you repeat these steps whilst saying the command, your dog will eventually perform the trick automatically.

You can try this trick with them sat down to start with and then make it more difficult by having them lie down and put both paws over their nose.

Here's to a well behaved January! 

New Years Eve & Your Pet

Loud noises and commotion can cause even the calmest of pets to stress. While New Year’s Eve is often fun for us, for our animals it can be stressful and unpleasant.  When a pet gets scared, they will often try to escape the cause of fear thus leading to New Year’s Eve being the night of the highest run-away rates for pets. Here are some things you can do to help your pet:

Distract. Your behaviour will often affect your pet’s. By staying calm and treating her the same way as you usually would allow your pet to calmly play through any loud noises. If she shows no interest in playing, don’t force her.

Find a Happy Place. Most pets have a happy place they like to go when they want a good nap or to reflect on the day. Use this spot when you notice your pet becoming stressed out by the noise. 

Stay Together. For most pets, their favourite place to snuggle is somewhere near their owner. Be it on their lap, next to their feet or curled up nice and close on the couch. If fireworks are going on in the neighbourhood and you are simply watching a movie, let your pet watch the movie with you. Often just being near their owner can calm a pet down. 

It’s important to remember that your pet is acting out of fear. So if your pet makes a mess or is a bit destructive don’t scold him or yell. Your pet is afraid and is finding a way to express this fear or even to escape it. Our pets are like family so while we’re having fun our pets should be too.

Pet First Aid

For too many people first aid for animals is just not a very interesting topic…

That is until their dog or cat suddenly begins to choke on a toy. Or ingests one of the countless pet toxins found in the average home—from grapes to anything sweetened with xylitol.

The fact is, animals are surrounded by hazards, and these hazards sometimes lead to serious accidents. We need to ensure that all pet owners keep a first aid kit and be prepared should these terrible accidents happen.

Here is a list of things that we think should be in a basic pet first aid kit:

• Gauze - For wrapping wounds or muzzling the injured animal
• Nonstick bandages, towels, or strips of clean cloth to control bleeding or protect wounds
• Adhesive tape for bandages  (do NOT use human adhesive bandages (eg, Band-Aids®) on pets) for securing the gauze wrap or bandage
• Digital Thermometer —you will need a "fever" thermometer because the temperature scale of regular thermometers doesn't go high enough for pets. To check your pet's temperature. Do not insert a thermometer into your pet's mouth—the temperature must be taken rectally.
• Eye dropper (or large syringe without needle)To give oral treatments or flush wounds
• Muzzle (in an emergency a rope, necktie, soft cloth, nylon stocking, small towel may be used) To cover your pet's head. If your pet is vomiting, do not muzzle it!

You should, however, always consult a vet if you are in any doubt about what to do.

Your Pet During The Festive Season

We at Vienna Vets love Christmas but we also want everyone to be aware of the dangers for their pets. Please have a look at the, potentially, dangerous foods and drink below to ensure that all members of the family have a safe and wonderful festive period!

Christmas Pudding, Christmas Cake & Mince Pies

These Christmas yummies are bad for dogs for a number of reasons. They are jam-packed full of currants, raisins and sultanas, they are high in fat and are usually laced with large amounts of alcohol which can cause many of the symptoms of intoxication in humans. 

Grapes & Raisins

Consumption of these fruits can cause acute kidney failure so to be on the safe side don't allow your dog to eat these at any point. 

Chocolate

It is a well-known fact that chocolate is poisonous to dogs so be sure to keep it out of reach from your precious pups. In addition, the wrapping can prove to be problematic too, so keep your choccie on a high shelf. 

Macadamia Nuts

Within 12 hours of ingestion, macadamia nuts can cause your dog to experience weakness, depression, tremors, vomiting and hyperthermia (increased body temperature). To avoid a trip to the vet on Christmas Day keep these hidden away.

Cooked Bones

Once cooked, bones can become brittle and splinter easily which can lead them to piercing your cat or dog's digestive tract. Larger fragments could also get 'stuck'and cause an obstruction. 

Alcohol

Take care to ensure no drinks are left unattended on low surfaces or the floor, especially glasses with a wide opening and clean up drink spillages as they happen to avoid your pet clearing them up for you. We also tend to use much more alcohol in our cooking at this time of year so be careful when giving titbits to your pet.

Christmas is a wonderful time of the year for all members of the family but take a moment to ensure that everyone is safe before enjoying the festivities. 

Arthiritis & 'Hidden Pain'

Overview                            

Osteoarthritis is a form of joint inflammation characterized by chronic deterioration or degeneration of the joint cartilage. It is also known as “degenerative joint disease” or DJD.

Primary osteoarthritis is rare, it is generally secondary to a joint disease (such as hip dysplasia, patellar luxation, shoulder dislocation etc.) or to a trauma. Although it is a progressive disease which will worsen with age, some pets with congenital primary joint disease can show signs of osteoarthritis at a very early age.

Symptoms

Dogs:

Dogs may show decreased activity level; be unwilling to perform certain tasks and have intermittent lameness or a stiff gait that slowly progresses. Lameness or abnormal gait may become worse with exercise, long periods of lying down or resting, and/or cold weather.

Cats:

Obvious lameness may not be seen; instead, they may have difficulty grooming, jumping onto furniture, or accessing the litter box; and they may have increased irritability.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is made on history, clinical signs, and pain when manipulating the joint. It is confirmed by X-rays showing alterations of the joint / cartilage.

Treatment and prevention

• Weight management is very beneficial as obese dogs put more pressure on their joints
• Physiotherapy can help: Maintaining or increasing joint motion—passive range of motion exercises, massage, swimming.
• Joint supplements to slow the progression of the disease are of great help, and omega-3 fatty acids can also be used to reduce the inflammation.
• As the disease progresses, some anti-inflammatory medications may be needed to help with the pain and inflammation.

Ask us for more information on 04 388 3827 or book you pet in for a consultation with one of our vets. 

Our Pets!

DID YOU KNOW?

All of the treats and toys sold at Vienna Vets are picked specially with your pets in mind. All of our staff here are pet owners and before we put anything on our shelves we (or should I say our pets) trial and test them first.

Lucy & Pippa

We will only recommend them to you if they have passed the test with flying colours! If a toy breaks too easily or doesn't spark interest then we will not recommend them to you.

Likewise, for food and treats, we carefully check the ingredients and only then try them out. If our pets like the food and we are happy with its quality we will suggest it to you. 

Macie, Kahra & Casey

As you can imagine, working at a veterinary clinic has resulted in us all having many animals, most of which were rescued in Dubai through rescue organisations or after they have been abandoned/surrendered to us.

Those that weren't, were brought with us from other countries and welcomed our ever growing number of furry family members. 

Bibe, Roux, Elmo, Yogi, Axel, Zoey, Raleigh, Rosie & Blu

In total, we have over 30 pets in the Vienna Vets family and we're sure there will be more to come.

Coco, Rose, Chompy, Pumpkin & Hobbs

Here are some pictures! What do you think?

Frodo, Gizmo, Gomez, Pippin, Patty, Thing 1 & Thing 2