summer-2011

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Glenvale Veterinary Clinic
Summer 2011 Newsletter


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Pet Nutrition

dog eating

We are often asked the question “what should I be feeding my pet?” and with so many choices out there, the decision can be very overwhelming. Dried food, tinned food, pre prepared pet meat, vegan diets and bones; the list is endless.

Many people like to cook for their pets and while this is not entirely a no no, it is difficult to get the balance just right to ensure good health. Check with us before you embark on a Masterchef extravaganza so we can give you some guidance. Avoid raw meat diets with any preservatives added – Preservatives destroy Vitamin B1. Lack of B1 will cause brain damage, seizures & death. Feeding a balanced or a complete commercial diet recommended by veterinarians is a great option. These premium foods are highly digestible which means your pet produces less waste and you get more value for money. Due to their high quality ingredients and excellent quality control your pet will also benefit in the following ways:

  • Optimal health and wellness
  • Great coat quality
  • Less chance of an upset tummy
  • Maintenance of healthy weight


Pets need different diets at different stages of their lives or with different diseases. Puppies and kittens have different requirements to an adult dog or cat, and pets with arthritis or allergies may also require a specific diet. Raw bones, tooth cleaning treats like Greenies & pigs ears & certain dry foods such e.g. Hills Oral Care & Hills T/D diets will assist in keeping teeth clean.

Ask us for advice about the best diet your pet.


Pet Insurance - Is it really worth it?

With over 60 pet insurance policies available these days, you must be asking, what does pet insurance cover, what is the best policy available and does my pet really need insurance?

The average cat or dog will cost their owner between $100 - $300 per year at the vet, this includes routine health checks and vaccinations. Preventative medication (flea & worming) and food adds another $500 to the yearly total which means owners are spending on average $800 per year on their pet.

Most Pet Insurance Policies will cover incidents such as accidents, sudden illness, prescriptions, animal hospital stays, surgery, lab fees, x-rays and cancer treatment. Some policies will even cover annual health exams, vaccinations and desexing. Illnesses such as skin conditions (allergies), eye/ear problems, urinary tract infections and arthritis are all conditions that are likely to re-cur throughout your pets life. Pet insurance policies will not cover pre-existing conditions – that is a condition present prior to the date the insurance policy is deemed effective (after any waiting period specified), whether it was diagnosed or not. The older the animal is the more likely it is to have a pre-existing conditions therefore a lot of insurance policies have an age limit on signing up for illness cover. There is however, no upper age limit for accident insurance, but claims may still be affected by the presence of a pre-existing condition.

The best time to take out an insurance policy is when your pet is purchased.

Here is an incomplete comparison a selection of pet insurance companies.
* Bow Wow Pet Insurance Medibank Pet Insurance RSPCA Pet Insurance Pet Secure Pet Insurance
Cover Options Accident Plan Comprehensive Plan – Accident plus illness Major Medical Plan Optional routine Care Bronze Paw Cover - Accidental injury only Silver Paw Cover - Accident + illness Gold Paw Cover – Accident + illness + routine care PetCare – Accidental injury cover PetCare Plus – Accident + illness PetCare Premium – Accident + illness + routine Accident Cover Accident & illness cover Optional Wellness Care Cover
Benefit % of Claim Paid - Accident or illness 100% 100% 80% or 70% option 100%
Age Limit on joining 8 weeks - 9 years. No upper age limit for accidental cover 8 weeks - 9 years. No upper age limit for accidental cover 8 weeks - 9 years. No upper age limit for accidental cover 8 weeks - 9 years. No upper age limit for accidental cover
Premiums (monthly) From $9.65 (Cat - Accident plan with $250 excess) From $12.50 (Cat - Bronze Paw cover $200 excess) From $23.80 (Cat - Accidental cover 70% benefit option) From $8.40 (Cat - Accidental cover $300 excess)
Waiting Periods Accidental Injury - 0 days, Routine - 0 days, Illness conditions - 30 days, Cruciate ligament conditions - 6 months, * conditions apply Accidental Injury - 0 days, Routine - 0 days, Illness conditions - 30 days, Cruciate ligament conditions - 6 months, * conditions apply Accidental Injury - 0 days, Routine - 0 days, Illness conditions - 30 days, Cruciate ligament conditions - 6 months, * conditions apply Accidental Injury - 0 days, Routine - 0 days, Illness conditions - 30 days, Cruciate ligament conditions - 6 months, * conditions apply


Case Study

Josie was bought into the clinic for her annual check up & vaccination recently and as suggested in the vaccination reminder letters, her owner managed to bring along a urine sample.

Josie was not showing any signs of being unwell but the urine analysis revealed that she had quite a significant urinary tract infection, which was causing her kidneys to be unable to concentrate her urine properly.

After a course of antibiotics, a repeat urine analysis revealed that Josie’s kidneys were now concentrating her urine properly and there was no longer any sign of an infection. The kidneys contain thousands of little factories called Nephrons and their job is to work out how much water should be conserved in the body. Once damaged or destroyed, Nephrons do not function properly and can't regenerate. Toxins, drugs & infectious diseases can damage the Nephrons and your pet may not appear unwell until 75% of these Nephrons are damaged.

We strongly recommend that at your pet’s next health check, you bring along a urine sample to have tested. Containers can be collected from our clinic at any time, for those that find it difficult to collect a sample at home; you can bring your pet into the clinic for us to obtain a sample!


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