Its is the time of year to be thinking about fleas! If you are not already its imperative you get on a good flea control regime before the warmer weather arrives.
 
But I never see fleas on my cat!
Even if you have not seen them, they ARE there. Fleas can breed on any untreated animals in your home and produce eggs which can cause re-infestation of all animals in the house in the future. A flea egg can remain dormant in the environment for up to six months. If your pet has flea treatment on board any eggs that mature and hatch in the environment will be killed when they come into contact with the product on your pets coat. Flea treatment should be viewed as a year-round commitment as fleas are active in all seasons
 
I’ll wait until I see my cat scratching a lot before I treat them
 
It’s the old story of prevention being better than cure. If your cat is showing signs of irritation, it could take months of treatment to break the cycle and bring them back to normal.
 
I’ll just pick up a flea control from the supermarket
 
Well you can but there is no one with any training in animal health to offer advice, and there may be a product better suited to your animal and situation and you are only going to find that out by going to your friendly local vet clinic for advice and a great range of quality products.
 
Is it really necessary to treat regularly for fleas?
 
Fleas would be one of the number one reasons your pet could become miserable. Untreated infestations can go on to cause allergy problems, untreated allergies that get scratched a lot can go on to cause broken skin and infection, it becomes a cycle which can take many many months to come out of.
 
So! The moral of our story is to treat for fleas on a regular basis with a reputable product from a vet clinic you trust!
 

​Monty presented to us in November 2017 with a complete de glove injury from his right hock down to his toes. This was only the second injury of this nature we had seen in our 13 years here at Animal Medical Centre, and we knew straight away it was going to be a long road for this sweet wee cat.
Owners Karen and James had been advised by the Wellington After Hours Vet Clinic that Monty would need to have the leg amputated, however Mike was determined to at least try saving it. Based on x-rays and examination we found no bones or structures in the leg had been damaged, this was good news. Since all the skin had been completely removed from the lower leg stitching the wound closed was not an option as there simply was not anything to stitch together, the wound was too vast, and so began the lengthy process of encouraging new skin to grow.
Monty stayed with us in the hospital for around four weeks at this point, we did twice weekly bandage changes under sedation to thoroughly clean the wound and flush out any nasties- not something Monty would have enjoyed awake.
Monty was an extraordinary patient the whole way through, unusually calm and cooperative, he just seemed to accept whatever came his way with grace and equanimity. Of course loads of cuddles for this affectionate wee cat and a reliable source of yummy dinners seemed to do much to ease his plight.
Monty soon transitioned to oral antibiotics and anti-inflammatories which meant, joy of joys, he could go home, only returning to us twice weekly for bandage changes. We saw Christmas, New Year and indeed Easter in with the Martin-Bond family, as Monty was the first priority for both families when it came to changing his bandage at regular intervals, even if it fell on a holiday.
Bandage changing became an art, Mr Monty decided he’d rather not lie on the table but much preferred to be held, usually by Antoinette or Anna while Karen gave him lots of pats to distract him while Mike changed his bandage.
It was very slow progress, and by the end of January the wound had reduced in size by 20%. At this point, keen to speed the process along, we consulted with local retired wound care specialist San Gerryts. With awards in recognition of her achievement in advancing wound care in Africa and decades of experience, San soon became our secret weapon.
Combining the best of Mikes veterinary knowledge with Sans experience working in humans. our combination was a winning one. San’s knowledge of bandaging materials and their differing effects at the different stages of wound healing proved just the ticket and we began to see some real progress.
By April the wound had closed sufficiently that we could see greater progress still would be made if we performed a skin graft. The surgery was successfully performed taking a piece of skin from Monty’s flank and stitching it over the remaining wound on his leg. The leg was then put in a splint and thoroughly bandaged and would remain so for two weeks.
So, while we waited, and hoped and waiting and desperately hoped some more, Anna encountered one of the more intensive nursing jobs she’s done with us doing a superb job of caring, observing and monitoring Monty. 
Skin grafts can be notoriously tricky things, either they take, or they don’t and once the surgery is complete there is very little that can be done to affect the outcome.  This period was one of the more stressful, it was tough to maintain positivity that the graft would be fine, often we all found our minds straying to thoughts of ‘what if’, what was Plan B if the graft didn’t take? Would we do another? and was that fair on Monty?
Finally the day came, and knowing that if 60% of the graft had taken we were winning, when the bandage came off we found we had indeed shot within that parameter. Despite San’s assurances the whole way through the two week wait that she believed the quality of the tissue was such that the graft would take well, it still felt as much like good luck as good management.
After another couple of weeks in the hospital Monty was once again free to go home, returning as usual for his bandage changes. Over the whole six month period Monty had 44 bandage changes!
The small wounds that had not taken with the graft gradually healed between April and June, and our challenge then became how are we going to uncover his leg not let him, and other four legged members of the household, lick it. This went surprisingly well, with a minimum of time for Monty in an Elizabethan collar..
It seemed very sudden that the day came for one more check and Monty’s leg did not need any more help from us, it had healed, and grown back thick black fur, a delight to see.
A celebration was well in order, most of all for Monty, one in a million, coolest little cat ever, here’s hoping he has many many long years of lying in the sun and roast chicken dinners ahead of him.
 

As our pets grow older, they also suffer from the same aches and pains we do. Arthritis in cats and dogs is one of the most common causes of pain in our elderly pets. This pain is due to a reduction in cartilage around their joints. This leads to joint inflammation as the bones begin to rub directly upon each other.  Identifying that your pet has arthritis can be tricky as many animals do not respond to or show they are in pain like we do. That’s where a regular check up with their vet is vital.
Benefits of Early Detection of Arthritis
If identified early, it is possible to slow down the progress of arthritis in your cat or dog. Here are some of the signs your pet may be suffering from arthritis:

• Limping or walking funny
• Having difficulty jumping
• Slow to stand up from when lying down
• Spends more time sleeping
• Reluctant to climb stairs or jump into the car
• Does less self-grooming
• Does not play as much as they used to
• Muscle loss

It can be hard to tell if they do have arthritis or not, as many of these signs can also be contributed to old age or other causes. An x-ray is the only way we can definitively diagnose arthritis, but damage is not often seen until many years after this painful disease has been present. A clinical examination can tell us if arthritis is the most likely culprit for their symptoms and we usually base our treatment on this, rather than a confirmed diagnosis.
While there is no cure for arthritis, we can help slow down the progress of it. That’s why early identification is so important. The longer your pet has untreated symptoms, the more irreversible damage is being done to their joints and the longer they are in unnecessary pain. You can help your pet to manage their arthritis by:

• Ensuring they remain a healthy weight
• Providing a warm, soft bed in an area free from draughts
• Gentle regular exercise. Cats will enjoy inside movements and play, while dogs can benefit from walking on flat areas or swimming.

We can help prevent further arthritic damage in your cat or dog by:

• Helping you manage your pet’s weight
• Providing prescription foods
• Prescribing medications to reduce the inflammation and pain
• Offering dietary supplements

A regular vet check-up is your pet’s best defence against arthritis. Book your appointment today!