If your pet has a habit of destroying furniture and belongings, you’re not alone. Many pet owners deal with chewed shoes, scratched furniture, and other damage around the house. Pets, especially young ones, are naturally curious and often use chewing or scratching as ways to explore or release energy. However, these habits can be frustrating and costly if they become a pattern.

Addressing Destructive Behaviour

• Identify the Cause: Destructive behaviour can stem from boredom, anxiety, or lack of exercise. Regular playtime, walks, and mental stimulation can greatly reduce the urge to chew or scratch.
• Provide Alternatives: Offer toys that your pet can safely chew or scratch. For example, scratching posts for cats and durable chew toys for dogs are good options.
• Training: Use positive reinforcement to redirect behaviour. Reward your pet when they engage with their toys instead of your belongings.

Teaching Proper House Training

• Consistency is Key: Create a routine for feeding, walking, and bathroom breaks. Pets learn better with a predictable schedule.
• Positive Reinforcement: Praise and reward your pet when they behave correctly, especially with toilet training or avoiding forbidden areas. This reinforces the behaviour you want to see.
• Gradual Independence: If your pet has separation anxiety, leave them alone for short periods initially, gradually increasing time as they get more comfortable being independent.

Responsible Waste Disposal

When replacing destroyed furniture or other items, dispose of them responsibly.

• Donations: If the items are in reasonable condition, consider donating them.
• Recycling: For broken furniture, check with local recycling centres to see if they accept materials like wood or metal.
• Proper Disposal: For items beyond reuse, contact your local rubbish removal service to find the best way to dispose of large items responsibly.

By understanding your pet’s needs and providing constructive outlets for their energy, you can protect your belongings while creating a happy, well-behaved household member.

Welcoming a new kitty into your home is an exciting journey, but it’s essential to acclimate them smoothly to their new environment, your family, and any existing pets. Let’s explore some stress-free methods to facilitate this transition. We’ll also delve into techniques for introducing a new cat to an established feline family member and address common queries, including integrating cats with different species like dogs or birds.

1-2 Week Adjustment Period:
Moving homes can be stressful for cats, so it’s wise to allow for an introductory period. Allocate a confined space like a bathroom for your new cat for 1-2 weeks. This space should include essentials such as food, water, litter box, bedding, toys, and scratching posts. Encourage each family member to spend time with the new cat, fostering a bond through play and feeding rotations.

Utilising Cat Pheromones:
Cats communicate through pheromones, which play a significant role in their behavior. Employing synthetic pheromones, available in diffusers, sprays, or calming collars, can help alleviate stress and foster a sense of security for both new and existing cats.

Introducing Cats to Each Other:
Rather than employing a one-size-fits-all approach, consider multiple introduction techniques tailored to your home dynamics. Scent swapping involves exchanging soft materials like blankets and toys between cats to familiarize them with each other’s scent. Feeding Friend-zy and Baby Gates methods capitalize on meal times and visual proximity, respectively, to create positive associations.

Supervised Interaction and Joint Play:
Supervised visitation allows for controlled interaction between cats, gradually increasing in duration until they are fully comfortable. Joint play sessions involving interactive toys facilitate bonding and shared positive experiences, fostering acceptance and confidence in shy cats.

Patience and Understanding:
Above all, patience is key in facilitating successful cat introductions. Respect each cat’s individual personality and space, allowing them time to adjust at their own pace. With perseverance and love, your feline companions will soon form lasting bonds in their shared home.

… and when should I be concerned?

As the warmer months approach, it’s essential for pet owners to be proactive in safeguarding their beloved companions against the persistent threats of fleas and ticks. At Pet Doctor, we understand the importance of your pet’s well-being, and we’re here to guide you through effective preventive measures.

The Menace of Fleas and Ticks:

Fleas and ticks aren’t just a nuisance; they pose serious health risks to your pets. These pesky parasites can transmit diseases, cause skin irritations, and lead to discomfort for your furry friends. Our experienced veterinarians emphasise the significance of year-round prevention, but it becomes especially crucial during the warmer months when these parasites are most active.

Tailored Prevention Plans:

At Pet Doctor, we believe in personalised care. Our expert team will assess your pet’s lifestyle and health to create a customised prevention plan. This may include topical treatments, oral medications, or collars designed to repel and eliminate fleas and ticks effectively.

Educational Resources:

Knowledge is key to prevention. We provide pet owners with educational resources on identifying early signs of infestations, proper grooming techniques, and environmental control measures. By staying informed, you can take proactive steps to keep your pets happy and healthy.

Routine Check-ups:

Regular veterinary check-ups are crucial in monitoring your pet’s overall health, including potential flea and tick issues. Our team will conduct thorough examinations and recommend the most suitable preventive measures based on your pet’s unique needs. If you’re due for a check up, please give us a call to make an appointment!

At Pet Doctor, we’re committed to ensuring the well-being of your pets. Don’t let fleas and ticks spoil the joy of the warmer months for your furry family members. Contact us today for a consultation and let’s work together to create a tailored prevention plan that keeps your pets protected year-round.

As the seasons change and springtime blooms into the warmer months, it’s not just humans who experience the effects of Mother Nature’s transformations. Our furry companions, too, can be susceptible to seasonal allergies, especially those related to grass and other environmental factors. One common manifestation of these allergies is itchy skin. As a responsible pet owner, understanding and addressing these concerns can ensure a happier, healthier season for your beloved four-legged friends.

Key Points:

1. Understanding Seasonal Allergies: Just like humans, pets can develop allergies to various environmental triggers. Spring and warmer months often bring an increase in pollen, dust, and grass, all of which can lead to allergic reactions in our pets.
2. Itchy Skin as a Symptom: Itchy skin is a telltale sign of allergies in pets. If you notice your furry friend scratching excessively, biting at their paws, or rubbing against furniture, it’s likely due to allergies.
3. Regular Grooming: Maintaining a consistent grooming routine for your pet can help reduce the impact of allergens. Frequent brushing can remove pollen and other irritants from their fur, preventing them from settling in and causing discomfort.
4. Consulting Your Veterinarian: If your pet’s itching persists or worsens, it’s essential to seek guidance from the staff at Pet Doctor. They can perform tests to identify specific allergens and recommend appropriate treatment options.
5. Allergy Medications: Veterinarians may prescribe antihistamines, steroids, or other medications to alleviate your pet’s itching and discomfort. These medications can provide relief during allergy seasons.
6. Environmental Management: Minimize your pet’s exposure to allergens by keeping them indoors during peak pollen times, using air purifiers in your home, and regularly cleaning their bedding and toys.
7. Specialised Diets: In some cases, dietary changes may be necessary to manage allergies. We can recommend hypoallergenic or limited-ingredient diets to determine if certain foods contribute to your pet’s allergies.
8. Preventive Measures: Seasonal allergy management isn’t just about treating symptoms; it’s also about prevention. Consult with your veterinarian about allergy vaccines or immunotherapy options that can build your pet’s tolerance to specific allergens over time.

By staying proactive and seeking professional guidance from the team at Pet Doctor, you can help your furry companions enjoy the changing seasons without the discomfort of itchy skin and allergies. Remember that each pet is unique, so a personalised approach to allergy management is key to their well-being during spring and the warmer months.

Bringing a new puppy home is an exciting and joyous experience, but it also requires a lot of preparation and responsibility. Before you bring your furry friend home, it’s important to make sure you have everything you need to provide a safe and happy home for your new addition.

Safety is key when bringing a new puppy home. Make sure to puppy-proof your home by removing any hazardous objects, securing electrical cords, and keeping any poisonous plants out of reach. It’s also important to provide a designated space for your puppy, such as a crate or playpen, to keep them safe when unsupervised.

Diet is another important aspect to consider when bringing a new puppy home. Make sure to research the best diet for your specific breed and age of puppy. Feed your puppy a balanced diet that is rich in nutrients and protein. Avoid feeding them table scraps or human food, which can lead to health problems such as obesity.

Exercise is also a crucial component of raising a happy and healthy puppy. Puppies require a lot of exercise and playtime to burn off their energy and stay healthy. Take your puppy for daily walks and provide them with toys and games to play with. This not only keeps them physically fit, but also helps with mental stimulation and socialisation.

Bringing a new puppy home is also about the joy and love that they bring to your family. A new puppy is a member of the family, and it’s important to make them feel welcome and loved. Spend quality time with your puppy, snuggle with them, and show them affection.

In conclusion, bringing a new puppy home requires preparation, responsibility, and love. By providing a safe environment, a healthy diet, plenty of exercise, and love, you’ll be able to welcome your new furry friend into your family with open arms. The joy and love that they bring will be worth all the effort and preparation in the end.

Have you thought about feeding your pet a raw diet? Or heard of other people doing so? Ever wondered what the fuss was about, or if it was even safe? We sat down with one of our most trusted Veterinarians, Nicole, who answered some of our most asked questions about the controversial raw diet. 

Firstly, what is a raw diet?

Typically people think of the BARF diet when speaking about raw feeding. This is the Bones And Raw Food diet. If we think of wild dogs and wolves, they were predators; hunting and catching prey, with seasonal variety. A raw diet simulates what they would get in the wild and is species appropriate. Dogs and cats are anatomically and physiologically designed to eat and break down raw meat and bones. In order to best simulate this, people feed their pets raw meat, bones, offcuts with fur, etc. This would often be instead of feeding dry biscuits. 

Many people say how beneficial it can be for dogs especially, do you agree? 

I do tend to agree with this, from a health-based perspective. Again, if we think of the evolution and domestication of dogs, they came from wild dogs and wolves. These animals were catching a variety of prey, and have been designed to cope with raw meat and bones. 

Some breeds are now very much evolved from the wild dog due to human intervention and breeding. For example, a Husky versus a Pug. I would say that both would benefit from a health perspective, but due to the anatomical conformation of a Pug, I would actually be weary of feeding them raw and bones. Home-prepared raw diets need to be prepared carefully in order for the animal to get all its essential nutrients. 

I also think that some dry biscuits can cause food sensitivities, if they have preservatives or other processed foods that dogs would not be exposed to in the wild. 

When feeding raw, the animal does tend to need to work a bit more to eat as well, which is always a positive for maintaining good behaviours. It allows for more stimulation during feeding. It also helps to maintain oral health, keeping teeth clean and strong. 

What are the risks involved in feeding a raw diet? 

One of the main risks is infectious disease transmission. As we all know, raw meat can be full of bacterial and parasitic organisms which can be dangerous when consumed causing illness. Some of the organisms found in raw meat are zoonotic meaning they can be transmitted to humans. 

Another risk is bones. Bones can occasionally get stuck in the gastro-intestinal tract and cause an obstruction, sometimes requiring surgical correction.  

What advice would you give to clients considering switching their pets to a raw diet? 

My first piece of advice would be sanitation. I would advise people to be very conscious when preparing raw meat and bones, making sure that dishes and cutlery used for preparation are sanitised appropriately. If feeding inside the house, I would recommend a rubber feeding mat to facilitate cleanliness. Hand washing is also very important. If feeding raw, I would not allow the dog to lick the humans as much either as this can transmit bacteria. 

Raw takes a lot more effort to formulate and prepare if doing it at home. It is essential to ensure your dog is getting all the nutrition it requires, so you may need to consult a nutritionist for advice. 

If starting out, I would suggest finding a company that pre-formulates bones and raw food so it will ensure the proper macro and micronutrients. After doing more research, you can start formulating at home. 

I would also suggest having a bag of dry biscuits readily available at all times in case of travel. It will be much more complicated to travel with raw food. 

If giving your dog a bone for the first time, ensure they are supervised in case of choking. 

Closely monitor your dog’s faeces while they are on a raw food diet as this can give you a lot of information about how well they are digesting and absorbing. 

Thank you Nicole for sharing these insights with us. If you have any further questions regarding the raw diet or if you are considering starting your own pet on a raw diet, please do not hesitate to contact Pet Doctor on (08) 8268 6777 and book an appointment with Nicole today.