Wellbeing Services

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arthritis

and Mobility Care

Arthritis occurs when cartilage that cushions a joint wears away faster than it can be replaced causing exposure to bone and nerve endings. This leads to pain, inflammation and reduced mobility. Arthritis is generally caused by wear and tear as our pets age. It is much more common in senior pets but young pets can suffer from it too. Other risk factors include genetics, trauma and infection. Excessive weight will cause more pressure on the joints increasing the risk of arthritis.

General signs of arthritis include stiffness, lameness, reduced activity and sometimes grumpiness. Cats may show difficulty grooming and jumping on or off surfaces, whereas dogs may lag behind in walks, be stiff to rise, and show signs of discomfort when touched in affected areas.

Arthritis is not curable but early management with improved nutrition, anti-inflammatory drugs and nutraceuticals/supplements can help slow the progression of the disease and reduce discomfort providing a better quality of life. Acupuncture and physiotherapy can also be used to treat osteoarthritis and can be used in conjunction with prescription medication.

Behavioural Services

Behavioural problems can have psychological causes, medical causes, or both. Our veterinarians investigate behavioural problems by obtaining a full history and conducting a full physical examination to accurately diagnose a problem. Sometimes your pet may require blood or urine tests to rule out underlying medical conditions. Behavioural problems are often the result of a combination of multiple factors, including your pets environment, previous experiences and learning.

Genetics can also predispose an animal to certain behaviours, however the expression of those behaviours will depend on early socialisation and training.

Changes in the environment may contribute to the emergence of behavioural problems. For example, changes in routine, a new member of the household (pet, baby or spouse), moving house, or the loss of a family member or pet can have a dramatic impact on behaviour. Any medical or degenerative changes associated with ageing may cause the pet to be even more sensitive to these environmental changes.

Learning also plays a part in many behavioural problems. Early training and socialisation is essential to have a happy, well-adjusted pet. Punishment or incorrect reinforcement of behavioural problems often worsens the situation and it is very important that professional advice is obtained as soon as the problem appears to effectively resolve it. Positive reinforcement is the preferred method for changing behaviour, however this also needs to be used carefully as it can encourage undesirable behaviour if used incorrectly.

There is no simple cure for any behavioural problem, so be careful when taking “helpful advice” or “Googling”. It is very important that the cause of the problem is addressed, not just the symptoms of the problem. 

When it comes to your pet’s behaviour, it is extremely important to seek the advice of a qualified general practitioner veterinarian or veterinary animal behaviour specialist. Changing problem behaviour requires commitment on behalf of the whole family, as everyone your pet interacts with will be responsible for encouraging desirable behaviour. For some problems such as barking, escaping, aggression, or separation anxiety we may recommend an extended behavioural consultation after an initial assessment. It can also be beneficial to see the pet in its natural environment, thus a home visit may be appropriate. Some cases may also require medications alongside the new training techniques to get the best outcome. 

For behavioural problems we advise you contact us to make an appointment with one of our veterinarians. Our friendly and knowledgeable nurses will be able to further explain the process.

Special Needs Cat Boarding

At our Eltham Central Hospital we offer a small number of boarding spaces for cats with special needs. This might be a cat that requires regular medication, such as a diabetic cat, a cat with an illness or a cat that for medical reasons cannot be vaccinated and boarded at a standard commercial boarding cattery. Boarding cats are cared for by our nurses. Each cat is considered on a case-by-case basis – please contact our staff for more information.

Travel/Export and  Pet Immigration Service

Here at the Diamond Valley Veterinary Hospitals we offer travel advice for your pets whether you are going interstate or exporting your pet internationally. In a travel consultation we can discuss your pet’s vaccination, internal and external parasite requirements and the time frame needed to conduct any necessary testing so that your pet is ready and healthy for your upcoming trip.

End of Life Services

There are many health and age-related reasons why a pet owner may have to make the difficult decision to euthanise a beloved pet, but most of the time there is a common theme – quality of life.

In most situations, it is up to us as owners to decide when it is time to farewell our pets, and because of the strong emotional bond that forms between an animal and their family, making this decision can cause a barrage of feelings including grief, guilt and confusion.

In some situations the decision for an owner is a clear and straightforward one, making it a little less difficult. For others it may be more complex and hard to know when the “right time” actually is. Our team feel that our pets deserve compassion and dignity, quality of life and a peaceful farewell, and it is our responsibility to guide you into making this decision at the appropriate time.

If you are unsure about your pets quality of life and overall health we suggest having a thorough health check followed by an empathetic but honest and open discussion on all the options available for your pet. Our team can assist you to create the best health plan for your pet which may include how to recognise when it is time to make that final decision. This conversation may seem a little confronting, however it can alleviate the struggle you may be feeling in trying to know when to make the decision.

When the time comes you can be assured that the process itself is painless for your pet. We begin by giving your pet a very small injection of a sedative. This medication will calm and relax your pet, making the procedure less stressful for them and for you. Once this stage has occurred and you are ready, we will administer a overdose of an anaesthetic agent via intravenous injection. This has a very rapid effect, and your pet will pass away peacefully generally within a minute of the second injection.

We encourage owners to stay with pets (and we provide plenty of tissues and support) however if you cannot be present we also understand. It is most important that you are able to have the time required to be able to properly grieve and farewell your furry or feathered friend. In order to allow this, we try to arrange euthanasia appointments to be extended visits. If possible it may be less stressful for you to make the appointment in a quieter period of the day, such as the last appointment for the evening or morning.

With notice we also offer the option of house-call euthanasia visits.

After your pet passes away you have some options regarding their remains. If you cannot bury your pet at home we can arrange burial for you. Private cremation is also a popular choice, with ashes returned within 1-2 weeks from our excellent cremation service. We can guide you through all options and organise it all on your behalf.

As owners ourselves, our Team understands how difficult saying  “Good-bye” to your pet can be. We understand the need for grieving and we want for you to feel comfortable to do so. When it comes to our pets, there are no silly questions and it’s important that you ask anything you need to. Our only goal is to ensure we are doing the best for your pet, while supporting you through this very sad time.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) approach to treatment of disease via accessing defined and very specific points on the body. This may be done with extremely fine stainless steel needles, laser light stimulation, electrical stimulation or injection of saline at those points. The knowledge and techniques have been used for over 2000 years by the Chinese and other Asian healers, and have been gaining acceptance in western medicine.

TCM puts the relevant signs in context of emotions, temperament, home life and environment etc allowing the clinician to a treatment plan that may involve acupuncture, herbal remedies and alteration of diet and environment.

Patients with musculoskeletal conditions such as arthritis, delayed post-operative function and spinal issues are very good candidates for acupuncture.  Acupuncture relieves pain and acts as an anti-inflammatory by improving  tissue blood flow, oxygenation, and removal of wastes and toxins. It can also be used in conjunction with traditional veterinary medicine.

Dr Aish Ryan, from Vets At Home, provides our clients with acupuncture treatment at our Eltham Central Clinic. Please contact our clinic for her availability and further information on her services.

Puppy Preschool

**Please note due to COVID restrictions we are currently unable to resume puppy pre-school**

 

Puppy Pre-School classes are conducted at our Eltham Central Veterinary Hospital on scheduled weeknights. Each program consists of four practical lessons, which run for approximately 1 hour each. We conduct owner education, appropriate socialisation and a basic training program for puppies aged 8 – 14 weeks in a safe, controlled environment. Puppy preschool is a great foundation to then move onto more involved dog training

Aims of our Puppy Pre-school

For puppies:

  • respond to name
  • begin socialising with other pups, children and adults
  • simple commans eg. sit, drop
  • beginnings of walking on a loose lead and recalls
  • gentle handling

For owners:

  • positive reinforcement training
  • handling and grooming
  • toilet training
  • bite inhibition
  • understanding and management of normal puppy behaviour eg. jumping and mouthing
  • responsible pet ownership
  • environmental enrichment
  • nutrition

 

Please call and speak to our nurses if you have any further questions or would like to book a place for you and your puppy in our next class.