JCU Vet

Did you know that just like human children, puppies will shed their baby teeth and grow a whole new set of adult chompers? 🦷

Puppies normally shed their baby teeth between 4-6 months old, and by 7 months of age, all their adult teeth should have erupted. If your pup still has any baby teeth remaining at this time, these teeth could be abnormally “retained” (stuck), which can lead to painful crowding issues. 🐕

If you’re unsure about your pup’s dental health, we’d recommend booking a check-up with one of our dentally-diligent vets! 🩺

With daily brushing being the gold standard in canine oral health care, our team would love to pass on a few tips to help make brushing your pet’s teeth more approachable:
1️⃣ Ensure that your pet’s mouth isn’t sore before starting to brush, or else they’ll naturally resist the process – book them in for a dental check-up with our vets if you’re unsure.
2️⃣ Ease your pet into brush-training by starting with some dry medical gauze wrapped over your finger. 🦷🪥
3️⃣ Don’t forget to offer your pet regular tasty bribes throughout! 🍖

For more advice on keeping your pet’s teeth in tip-top shape, chat to our helpful team. And if you have a great photo of your dog flashing their pearly whites, please post it below!

The first question many owners ask us about dental extractions in their pet is, “Will they still be able to eat properly?”

Firstly, remember that adult dogs have 42 permanent teeth whilst cats have 30, so your pet definitely has a few back-up chompers! 🐾

Secondly, extraction is only recommended for very abnormal or irreparably damaged teeth, which your pet is likely avoiding chewing with anyway. It’s very common for owners to notice their pet actually eating more comfortably after the removal of such teeth! 🦷

For more bites of information about pet dentistry, contact our knowledgeable team. 📞

Did you know that “cat flu” is not one specific infection, but instead refers to the upper respiratory symptoms caused by a few common feline viruses and bacteria? 🦠

As well as cold-like symptoms (such as red, runny eyes and nasal discharge), affected cats may also develop a fever, breathing troubles, or ulcers in the mouth or eyes. 🐾

The good news? Cats can be vaccinated against some of the most common causes of cat flu, thereby lessening their unwellness should they be exposed! 😺

Phone our team for personalised recommendations on the safest disease protection options for your pet. 📞

🐶🐱 It's Dental Month at JCUVet and we're brushing up some deals! Get 10% OFF on all dental scale and polish services throughout August and September. Perfect time to get those pearly whites shining! ✨🦷

📞 Got a minute? Call us at 074781 3600 to book a spot. Let's get those tails wagging and smiles gleaming!

Meet Mabel, the adorable Border Collie pup! She's in for her heartworm injection today, a vital step in protecting her against heartworm disease.

This injection provides Mabel with a year-long shield, ensuring she stays healthy and active.
Our GP team at JCUVet love caring for pets like Mabel, ensuring they get the best preventive care possible.! 🐾

🐾 Monday at JCUVet! 🐾

These noisy kittens brought a little bit of joy to our Monday! They received lots of love and care from our amazing nursing assistant💕

Old dogs require old-dog nutrition. 🐶🍽️ Nutritional requirements change as our dogs age. A puppy’s diet should be quite different from an old dog’s, as they have different energy, fibre and nutrient needs.

We strongly recommend feeding older dogs a specifically formulated food that addresses the unique nutritional needs of an older animal. This includes increased fibre, decreased calories, and increased supplementation of fatty acids. If you’re unsure what to feed your dog, contact us for advice. 📞🐾

Not all superheroes wear capes...

Meet Beau, the Great Dane whose superpower is saving lives! 🦸‍♂️🐾
Blood donor extraordinaire at JCUVet today.

Blood pressure checks are important for old cats. 🐱💉 Just like humans, cats can experience blood pressure issues as they age. While the causes for these issues are often different from humans', the effects can be just as dangerous. Uncontrolled hypertension (or high blood pressure) can wreak havoc on the body and increase the risk of death.

We recommend six monthly blood pressure checks for older cats as part of their physical check-up. This way, we can pick up issues early and initiate treatment if required. 🩺🐾

As winter’s chill truly bites, we often find creative ways to stay warm. ❄️ Our pets are no different and love to stay cosy over winter.

Post a picture below of your pets keeping toasty this cold season. Bonus points if they love to snuggle together! 🐾📸🐱

🌟 Exciting News from JCUVet! 🌟
We are thrilled to announce that our dedicated vets have passed their ANZCVS Membership examinations! 🎉

Join us in congratulating:

• Dr. Rebecca - Membership in Emergency and Critical Care
• Dr. Tara - Membership in Emergency and Critical Care
• Dr. Sophie - Membership in Emergency and Critical Care
• Dr. Gillian - Membership in Feline Medicine

Becoming a member of the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists (ANZCVS) is a remarkable achievement that requires significant dedication and study. Candidates must have at least three and a half years of post-graduate veterinary experience and must pass rigorous written, oral, and practical examinations in their chosen field. This process, supported by our dedicated mentors, involves intense self-guided study.

Achieving ANZCVS Membership not only opens doors to specialist training but also signifies advanced knowledge and expertise in a specific veterinary field. The challenging process and difficult passing rate make this accomplishment even more impressive.

The hard work and commitment of our veterinarians to achieve excellence in their field is truly inspiring. 🐾🐾

Send a message to learn more

If your cat suddenly starts limping one day, you’ll probably want to know why. 🐱❓

Cats can limp for a variety of reasons, including acute (short-term) and chronic (long-term) conditions. For acute reasons, limping could be caused by an abscess, other infection, trauma, cancer, or inflammation. Sometimes, limping is caused by an acute flare-up of a chronic condition (e.g. arthritis).

Ultimately, the only way to know for sure and treat the limping is to see the veterinarian. 🩺 So don’t ignore your cat’s limp; see your vet if you spot any symptoms. 🐾

Don’t take the saying “you can’t teach an old dog new tricks” too literally. All dogs should engage in training, exercise, and other environmental enrichment activities throughout their lives to keep their brains healthy and strong. 🐾 Just like humans are told to “use or lose” their brain power, the same concept applies to dogs. Daily walks where dogs can sniff, explore, and socialise, as well as puzzle toys and training, can help keep a dog’s mind sharp as they age and stave off doggy dementia. 🐕‍🦺🧩

Any eye changes in pets should be checked by the vet, as they can be a sign of serious disease.

However, some eye changes are considered normal, so knowing what is a normal eye change and what is not is essential. For example, as dogs get older, they often acquire a blueish, transparent haze to their eyes. 🐕👀 This is called nuclear sclerosis. It affects the lens of the eye and is often associated with reduced vision. As a rule, we always recommend older dogs get checked every six months to ensure changes are age-related and not disease-related. 🩺🐶

❤️🩺 Zuri getting some much needed recovery time after her knee surgery 🩺❤️

🌟 A Huge Congratulations 🌟

We’d like to put a spotlight on one of our exceptional staff to recognise Kimberley Litster, our amazing Head Referral Nurse, for her outstanding presentation at the annual VNCA Conference in Adelaide!

She delivered an insightful talk on BOAS (Airway disease in flat-faced breeds) and absolutely nailed it!
Kimberley’s expertise and dedication shone through, earning her the title of Best Presenter, voted by her peers across the entire conference! 🏆👏

She truly is a leader in her field, and this incredible achievement deserves to be celebrated.

Way to go, Kimberley! We are so proud to have you as a part of our team. 🌟

We are taking part in Operation Wanted with RSPCA Australia for 20% off Desexing until August 31st.

Register online and give us a Call to book 07 4781 3600.

https://operationwanted.com.au/register/

Don’t let cats fool you – they can suffer the effects of arthritis, too. 🐱

Cats are masters of hiding disease. When we recognise something isn’t right in our cats, a disease is often quite advanced. So, it pays to look for the subtle signs.

For arthritis, symptoms in cats include decreased movement, such as sleeping more, reluctance to jump up or jump down, and increased grumpiness. 😾 Remember, aging is not a disease, so if your cat’s behaviour has changed recently, make an appointment with one of our vets. 🐾

🐶 Today we had 7 adorable golden retrievers come into our GP for their 6 Week vaccinations! 🐾 They did great and were all tuckered out from the big day! 💉

Do you have a dog with arthritis? Over the winter months, arthritis can often flare up causing increased pain, reduced mobility, and an all-around sad dog. 🐶

The good news is, there are plenty of things we can do to help arthritis. One of those is a course of under-the-skin injections that help improve diseased joints without putting stress on your dog’s other organs. 🐾

If you would like to learn more about how we can help your dog’s arthritis, contact us today. Let’s improve your dog’s arthritis symptoms together! 🌟

🎡 Show Day Long Weekend 🎡

JCUVet General Practice will be closed this coming Monday for the Show Day Public holiday.However, our Emergency and Critical Care Remains open 24/7.

If you have a pet emergency during this time please call us on 4781 3600.

Public holiday surcharges apply.

Did you know that monitoring an older cat’s weight is one simple way of keeping an eye on their general health?
Unexpected weight loss can happen secondary to some health conditions that are more common in older cats, such as chronic kidney disease, an overactive thyroid, or gut disease, and may be one of the first symptoms noted.
We recommend that cats eight years of age and older undergo a full health assessment (including a weigh-in and body condition check) every 6-12 months. Depending on your pet’s recent history, we may also recommend blood and urine tests too.
Do you have an older cat? Post a picture of your distinguished feline below 📸🐱!

Colitis refers to inflammation of the large bowel, which can lead to symptoms such as increased defecation frequency and urgency, straining, and loose stools (which may contain blood or mucus).
If your pet suffers from a sudden bout of colitis, you can try temporarily offering them an easily digestible diet (e.g. cooked skinless chicken breast or springwater tuna, plus cooked pumpkin).
However, if their symptoms persist for more than 48 hours, or they show other signs of unwellness such as lethargy or vomiting, we’d recommend a prompt check-up with our tummy-taming vets🚨🐶!

We're thrilled to share some positive news.

We know many of you have been eagerly waiting for updates on Wrangler, A juvenile green sea turtle who recently visited us with a pneumocoelom—air trapped in the body cavity. Our GP team performed a coloemocentesis, draining about a litre of air.

Great news! Recovering at Magnetic Island Network for Turtles Wrangler is doing exceptionally well and is on track for release in about 3-4 weeks, depending on weight gain. He's a great feeder, so we're confident he'll hit that target without any issues.

We can't wait to see Wrangler return to the wild!
Thank you for all your support and love for this incredible little turtle. Stay tuned for more updates! 🐢💚

Have you heard of splenic tumours? These are tumours that can grow on the spleen of dogs, and may or may not spread to other organs.
Splenic tumours can sometimes be found incidentally on physical examination (if they are large enough in size) but affected pets may also present as a sudden emergency case if a previously undetected tumour ruptures and begins bleeding into their belly.
As older pets are more prone to this issue, we recommend a full physical check-up every 6-12 months for all dogs eight years of age and older.
For more information on older pet health checks, consult our elderly-pet educated team🐕👴!

Did you know that paracetamol is poisonous to cats?
Unlike humans, cats are unable to properly metabolise this drug, leading to the production of toxic by-products that can cause potentially fatal damage to their liver and red blood cells.
It’s important to never administer paracetamol to your cat, even if they seem in pain. If you ever suspect your pet to have accidentally eaten paracetamol, please phone our hospital or the Animal Poisons Helpline immediately for further advice ☎🆘.
To ensure the safest healthcare for your four-legged friend, always consult our helpful team!

"🌿🐨 Our adorable wild koala friend was found off Becks Drive—an unusual spot for these creatures! Thankfully, Dr. Katie and the GP team were there for a wellness check to ensure it's healthy and happy. 🩺

Whilst NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as carprofen and meloxicam can be great for relieving inflammatory pain in pets, they should still be used with caution.
NSAIDs should only be administered to pets who are well-hydrated and in reasonable general organ health. If used inappropriately or at excessive doses, NSAIDs can unfortunately cause damage to the kidneys or liver. They may also cause gut irritation, particularly in pets with “sensitive tummies” or when used for longer periods.
For advice on the safe use of NSAIDs in your pet, please consult our pharmacologically-proficient vets 🏥💊.