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Welcome to the winter edition of our newsletter. This issue features notes for keeping rabbits healthy, the importance of an annual health check and taking the stress out of your cat's life. Remember to take advantage of our free dental check.
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Rabbits Make Great Pets Too!
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Rabbits Make Great Pets Too 
Did you know that rabbits can be trained to do tricks like a dog? That they can learn to use a litter-tray like a cat?
I bet you didn’t know that a well-cared for rabbit can live for five to twelve years!
Most rabbits in NZ will not live this long for the simple reason that most people feed their rabbit the wrong food. NZ rabbits are being fed to death!
For every 1kg of bunny you should provide 1 cup of greens per day, and only up to ⅛ cup of pelleted food. This means a 3kg rabbit should have no more than ⅜ cup pellets each day, and needs 3 cups of greens every day.
Greens can include grass, dandelion greens, puha, spinach, cabbage, parsley, carrot tops and mint. Hay must be provided daily, and they should only be getting about 1 tsp of treat food per kg of bunny each day. Treat foods for rabbits include apples, carrots, berries, tomatoes, pears and peaches.
Do not give rabbits any bananas, grapes, peas, corn or potatoes, and definitely no bread, grain, cereals, biscuits or crackers.
Too many pellets and the wrong kind of carbohydrates can lead to fatty liver, overgrown teeth, obesity, gastrointestinal upsets, bladder stones and a shortened lifespan.
Rabbits need company and this can be human or with other rabbits. It is not a good idea to put guinea pigs in with them as sometimes rabbits have been known to beat up their smaller, untidier companions.
Take your rabbit out of its cage every day for supervised playtime. They are clever creatures and enjoy treat balls and other enrichment toys. Teach them tricks, play with them!
Search ‘amazing bunny tricks’ on U-Tube to see what rabbits can get up to with a bit of training.
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Intestinal Cancer Not a Death Sentence
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Intestinal Cancer Not A Death Sentence
Sebastian is a 14 year old cat who was diagnosed several months ago with cancer of the small intestine. The first indication that there was a problem came when his owners brought him to the clinic because of vomiting and weight loss. Prior to this time Sebby had been on a reducing diet due to excessive weight, so this led to some confusion as to the cause of his weight loss.
On examination he was found to be thin and his intestines felt thickened. Blood tests were mostly normal and a barium x-ray did not show any bowel obstruction. Initially Sebby did well on a short course of antibiotics, but the vomiting returned and an abdominal ultrasound was arranged. This showed that the intestines were thickened, but his liver and kidneys were normal. As Sebby was making no progress an exploratory operation was performed, with biopsies taken from the intestine and a lymph node. Despite the intestines appearing normal other than being thickened, the laboratory examination revealed a lymphocyte cancer or lymphoma. This is the same type of cell that causes leukaemia in humans.
Sebby recovered well from his surgery and continued eating. He was started on chemotherapy with one anticancer drug and prednisone, given in his food. This has been very successful so far, 9 months after the diagnosis. He has regained a healthy weight and his owners manage his medication well. Although the treatment will not cure Sebby it has given him a worthwhile extension to his life with minimal side effects.
As in human medicine there have been good advances in cancer treatment, making all options of treatment worth investigating.
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Un-Well Bird: A Medical Emergency
“My bird isn’t looking quite right, so I thought I’d better bring him in tomorrow if he’s not any better.” Sounds like a good plan? Wrong: An un-well bird is a medical emergency.
 Birds generally hide that they’re not well until they are so sick they can no longer do so. If your bird appears fluffed-up, is blinking a lot or, even worse, is down on the floor of the cage, then bring him is as soon as you can.
Please cover the bottom of the cage with plastic (eg cling-film) so that we will have a fresh faecal sample to examine when you arrive.
When your bird comes in we will check him all over and look at faecal and crop samples under the microscope. This way we can detect bacterial, protozoal or yeast infections, and check for any intestinal worms.
In some cases a bird is too ill to immediately examine, in which case they must be hospitalised in a warm, humid cage, and fluids and glucose administered. Once the bird has improved the diagnostic process can be begun and appropriate treatment given.
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Mythbusters
We’ve all been told a few myths about the well-being and care of our pets, so here are a few common questions with the correct answers to set the record straight.
Q: Without whiskers, does a cat lose all sense of balance?
A: No. Cats use their whiskers as "sensors", not to maintain balance. Cats’ whiskers are extremely sensitive and are used to sense close objects in poor visibility and determine whether a cat will fit through a small space. The positioning of a cat’s whiskers help indicate a cat’s mood. The whiskers on a cat are embedded deep in its skin where nerve endings are abundant, so you should never pull or cut your cat’s whiskers.
Q: Do cats need to drink milk?
A: No. Cats do not need milk for proper nourishment. In fact milk has a lot of a punch for such a small animal and in many cats it causes diarrhoea. Large amounts of milk can also lead to obesity. It’s more beneficial to you and your cat to stick to water and a well-balanced cat food.
Q: Is brushing my pet’s teeth a waste of time?
A: No. Routinely brushing your pets teeth is of great benefit to your pet; not only does it freshen their breath it also limits the risk of oral disease. Brushing your pet’s teeth regularly gives you the chance to notice anything unusual happening to the teeth and gums. It may also improve the bond you share with your pet.
Q: When cats and dogs eat grass does it mean they are sick?
A: No. There a several theories about why cats and dogs eat grass, but there is no proven answer; although research indicates that cats and dogs may just like to eat grass.
Q: My dog’s nose is warm and dry-does that mean he is sick?
A: No. Your dog’s warm dry nose means he has a warm dry nose. Many people believe dogs must always have a cold wet nose to be healthy but this is a common fallacy. After resting, sleeping or just lazing around the house all day it is common for your dog to have a warm dry nose. But while out walking and playing your dog is using his nose, sniffing out all the scents and on the ground following trails and then you will probably notice your dog’s nose is damp and cold.
Q: Can my dog see what colour t-shirt I’m wearing?
A: Yes, dogs can distinguish colours, though not to such an extent as humans. Colour is one of many visual messages canines detect in their environment. They also see brightness, movement and contrast.
Q: Frequent baths make my dog smell nice, but do they also cause dandruff?
A: Yes. Bathing too often can cause dry and itchy skin, leading to flaky skin. Keep bathing to a minimum and always use a canine specific shampoo, as human shampoo can irritate dogs’ skin.
Q: Do dogs heal themselves by licking their wounds?
A: Yes, to a certain extent. While a small amount of licking can help clean a wound, extensive licking can actually make the wound worse, slow down the healing process and invite infection. Licking can also become a bad habit and be hard to stop.
Q: Putting garlic on your dog’s food will help get rid of worms and fleas, right?
A: No. The only thing you’re achieving is giving your dog the impression you’re a gourmet chef. Putting garlic on your dog’s food will not kill or repel parasites, so save it for your food, your dog will never miss it.
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Staff Notes
 Bruce and Linda spent a week in Northland for their summer holiday, enjoying kauri forest and hiking about Tutukaka. Thankfully Bruce can now enjoy some jogging with a full recovery from his ankle injury; however his main exercise continues to be cycling, with aspirations to taking part in the round Taupo bike race. In May this year Bruce attended the combined Australian and New Zealand veterinary conference in Brisbane. A major topic was cancer treatment in cats and dogs, important to consider as our pets live longer lives.
Barbara is really looking forward to her son’s wedding in September. As it is being held  in Christchurch, where his fiancée is from, it has taken a bit of organising to find accommodation for his friends and family. After the wedding she and her husband will spend time with family from overseas sightseeing in and around Christchurch, with the Transalpine Rail trip sure to be one of the highlights.
 Andrea’s family was recently adopted by a black cat who decided to move in with them. Their other cat wasn’t too impressed, but what can you do when a cat not only wants to eat your cat-food but sleeps on your bed and purrs around the kids’ ankles? He was listed on ‘Pets on the Net’ and a mail drop done, but there was no response so Midnight was neutered, vaccinated, wormed and dressed in a lovely green collar. His manners are perfect, and now Thomas has got used to him, everyone is happy!
Over Easter Kylie and her partner visited his parents’ farm in Taumaranui, in the King  Country. Down there along with enjoying the country air, Kylie was taught how to vaccinate cattle and sort them out into the cattle yards. She had a marvellous time and enjoyed the farming lifestyle, and is keen to get back there the next opportunity she gets. Her dog Kougar seems to thinks it’s doggy heaven down there.
 March saw Geoff, "Pacific Rose” and crew venturing forth in somewhat windy conditions, to the much anticipated White Island and other places on route.
Needless to say in a bid to diffuse the winter blues, Geoff is now already into preparations for his Northland cruise in November. Life is tough!
Saara is our newest staff member to the clinic, having started here in March.. She has recently gained her Level 5 Certificate in Veterinary Nursing from Vet Nurse Plus, where she studied during 2009. Saara and her partner Gideon live on the Wild West Coast of Auckland, at Muriwai Beach, with their family Missy the dog, Scooter the cat and two turtles Mr T and Little T. Saara also does dog walking, grooming, house sitting and pet feeding in her spare time, so if you need any help with your pets while you are away feel free to contact Saara at the clinic.
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Left or Right Pawed?
Did you know that left and right preferences may apply to our pets just as humans have a left or right preference?
Various studies suggest approximately half of cats are ambipawed [use of both paws], while the remaining half are mostly left pawed.
So is your cat left or right pawed? Try this test to investigate. Place some meat inside a paper towel roll, place it in front of your cat and record which paw your cat uses the most to retrieve the meat. If your cat uses both paws equally he or she may be an ambipawed cat.
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Why Has my Kitty become a Nervous Wreck?
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Why Has My Kitty Become a Nervous Wreck?
Anxiety-Related Behavioural Disorders in Cats
Recognising your cat has an anxiety problem is important to both the cat’s emotional and physical health. A cat may be brought to the vet with symptoms as varied as vomiting, excessive licking, fur loss, urine spraying, cystitis or aggression. Before treatment the vet will do a full examination to rule out any physical cause for the problem, and take an in-depth history to understand any environmental stressors.
When a cat has an anxiety disorder stressors present over a prolonged period cause chronically raised adrenaline levels with associated physiological changes. The cat may display behaviours such as urine spraying or scratching at the furnishings to try to re-establish its place in its territory. It may hide and resist being held, or display ‘displacement behaviour’ such as excessive self-grooming. There may be aggression towards other pets in the household or towards the owner, which can be very upsetting.
The owner’s reaction to these things may aggravate the problem. If the owner attempts to reassure the cat by holding onto it this can reinforce the perceived threat; if the owner punishes the cat for its aggressive behaviour, anticipation of the owner’s apparent aggression can increase the cat’s anxiety.
There are three main strategies for treating anxiety in cats; environmental change, use of pheromones and treatment with psychotropic drugs.
The first step is to look at the environment to reduce any stressors. It may be as simple as a paying a bit more attention to the cat, or providing eating and toileting areas separate from the other cats in the household.
 You may be recommended an aerosol product called Feliway. This mimics the facial pheromones cats produce in their cheeks to rub against surfaces when marking their territory. It has a calming effect and is particularly useful in the treatment of indoor urine marking but is also found to be beneficial in multi-cat households and some cases of aggression.
Some cats displaying extreme anxiety may compulsively over-groom, causing hair loss or skin infections. Others may become uncharacteristically aggressive. In some cases it may be appropriate to prescribe anti-anxiety drugs to get the pet back to a ‘happy place’ while we sort out the environment.
As you can see, diagnosing behavioural problems in cats isn’t simple and requires us to see the world through their eyes. But as everyone knows who has a well adjusted, happy cat purring on their knee, it is worth the effort!
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Free Dental Examination till the End of June 2010
Has your pet got bad breath? Is it a while since anyone had a really good look in your pet’s mouth?
North Harbour Veterinary Clinic is offering a free check of your pet’s mouth, available to any new or existing clients until the end of June.
Give us a call to book your free dental appointment on 479 6034.
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Annual Health Checks
When was the last time your pet was checked by a vet? Whether or not you choose to vaccinate, having an annual health check is the first step in preventative health care. Dog, cat, rabbit, bird or rat, they all benefit from regular vet checks.
Here at North Harbour Vets we start the annual health check by weighing your pet, as weight changes can be an early indication of ill health. You will be asked if you have noticed any changes in your pet’s appetite, thirst, toileting or behaviour.
This is followed by a full nose-to-tail physical examination; checking the eyes, ears, mouth and nose then making our way down the body we palpate the lymph nodes (‘glands’) and abdomen, feeling for any abnormalities. We check your pet’s temperature, heart and respiration. We examine your pet’s skin and coat, checking for parasites or skin abnormalities, ensuring it’s all looking healthy.
This is the time to ask any questions you may have. Any particular areas of concern will be thoroughly checked.
Older pets may benefit from a more thorough check; the Golden Paws or Silver Whiskers examination. A small blood test and urinalysis is taken to check for diabetes, renal disease and urinary tract health. Abnormalities may indicate more extensive laboratory tests are required.
Problems older pets commonly develop include arthritis, bladder infections, hyperthyroidism, kidney disease, cancer and diabetes. Detected early, we can work out a treatment plan to suit your pet that will ensure good quality of life.
Our veterinary team will assist you with any of those tasks that you find frustrating to do at home such as nail clipping, worming and de-fleaing.
So, book your pet in for a health check if they haven’t been to see a vet in the last 12 months.
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