VET Talk Radio Podcasts

According to the Story Dogs website... "When children read to a dog, the outcomes are amazing! It is a non-judgemental setting, the children's focus improves, their literacy skills increase and their confidence soars.

The accepting, loving nature of dogs gives this program its magic and helps children relax, open up, try harder and have fun while reading to a friendly, calm dog."

In this 'Podcast With Pictures' we chat with one of the Melbourne (VIC) volunteers Cindy McGregor who explains how it works, why it works and how you can be involved too!

Website: www.storydogs.org.au

*** DOUBLE BUBBLE = DOUBLE TROUBLE ***
Bloat! - Is there a 'cure'? Can it be stopped?... and what are the signs?

GDV or 'gastric dilation and volvulus' aka bloat is a life threatening condition in dogs where the stomach 'bloats' and twists on itself, cutting off major blood vessels and preventing gas from escaping the stomach.

Our recent story on two fascinating cases - Kobi & Dallas - that happened at two separate ARH (Animal Referral Hospital) Melbourne locations on the same day prompted us to find out more.

In this 'Inside ARH' Podcast from VETtalk ONLINE we chat with Emergency Vet Dr Megan Hemy who explains the condition, what can be done to help potential sufferers and a quick look at the cost differences between emergency & preventative care for this particualr condition.

...and yes we're pretty sure the animal in the photo of Dr Hemy is not a dog... but we liked it anyway :-)

OOOWWWCCCHH!... Poor little Gigi... this gorgeous little 11yr old French Bulldog just put her owners through absolute hell and nobody seems to know how it happened.

Basically, Gigi's dad came home and found her blood soaked, standing like a statue totally frozen with what turned out to be an entire hanging basket hook lodged under her tongue.

The photo clearly shows the hook poking out of the skin from under her jaw. No doubt it was extremely painful if she moved!

Without even wondering how or why, Gigi's dad rushed her to the ARH Emergency Centre at Baulkham Hills.
Lucky for Gigi he did!

Combined with dad's quick thinking and our overnight ARH Emergency Team Vet Nurses Alex & Jess and of course Emergency Vet Dr Karyn Wesselingh, Gigi seems to have recovered nicely.

Hopefully Gigi will stick to playing with tennis balls from now on! :-)

Meantime - We finally managed to track down the very busy ARH Emergency Vet Dr Karyn Wesselingh to tell us in person all about this amazing case that confronted her at the start of her overnight shift at Baulkham Hills.

International Author, Speaker, Veterinary Business Coach and mentor Dr Diederik Gelderman (AVBA President 2015/2016), shares the simple, but little known and rarely applied secrets to Veterinary Success and an amazing rewarding life.

His probing interviews of these highly successful practitioners reveals the simple and yet profound keys, mindsets, behaviours and strategies that help them achieve their success.

5 Freedoms… Freedoms From Whose Point Of View?
Veterinary Professionals are by default often considered society’s arbiters of what really constitutes ‘best care’ for pets and livestock.

For years, variants of the RSPCA’s ‘Five Freedoms’ have provided the benchmark for humane animal care… but is a human’s perspective of best care… the RIGHT care?

Pets Australia Board Member Dr Jo Sillince suggests it might be time to revisit and perhaps re-think the 5 Freedoms which we have reproduced below....

1 - Freedom from HUNGER & THIRST: by ready access to fresh water and a diet to maintain full health and vigour.

2 - Freedom from DISCOMFORT:
by providing an appropriate environment including shelter and a comfortable resting area.

3 - Freedom from PAIN, INJURY OR DISEASE:
by prevention through rapid diagnosis and treatment.

4 - Freedom to EXPRESS NORMAL BEHAVIOUR:
by providing sufficient space, proper facilities and company of the animal’s own kind.

5 - Freedom from FEAR & DISTRESS:
by ensuring conditions and treatment which avoid mental suffering.

Source: http://kb.rspca.org.au/Five-freedoms-for-animals_318.html

You're in a panic! - Your much loved pet has been in an accident and requires immediate surgery. You don't care what it costs.... or do you? There's not much difference between emergency medical care for humans and that for pets... except for the cost. While Medicare ensures people don't have to pay for treatment...there's no similar safety net for pets... To help explain why some things cost so much we turned to Specialist Surgeon Dr Sarah Goldsmid from the Animal Referral Hospital in Sydney for some answers.

Ahh Haaa!... New genetic clue might explain why this breed is more food obsessed than any other... And the reason might actually help humans too!

Vets tell us loveable Labradors are always on the 'over-represented' list when it comes to gastrointestinal foreign bodies.

And while some dogs - just like we humans - will skip a meal simply because we don't feel all that hungry, when a Lab does it you probably should be a bit concerned!

As Dr Anne Fawcett explains in her Small Animal Talk blog (link below) "There may be a genetic basis for this amazing appetite. According to a paper published in CellMetabolism this week, Labs and flat coated retrievers (the latter being a less common breed) have a gene alteration linked to canine obesity."

More Reading: http://www.smallanimaltalk.com/2016/05/are-labradors-genetically-prone-to.html

Would you really know if your dog, cat or bird was sick? – Animals are very good at hiding pain or other symptoms of ill health so we thought we’d ask an expert for the tell-tale signs! Remember - even if you THINK something is wrong don't delay - especially if you have a bird. Remember ALWAYS see your vet as soon as possible if you ever suspect anything is wrong with your pet - It may just save their lives and will save you money as Dr Jo Sillince from Pets Australia explains.

Question: Do vets ever diagnose their own pet's ailments? You'd think with all their training - especially specialists & surgeons - that they'd know 'everything' - but it seems that's not always the case...

And for good reason when you think about it - Of course they know all the basics all GP vets are required to know as part of being a registered vet but what if you're a specialist veterinary surgeon like Dr Sarah Goldsmid who spends her days literally 'opening animals up to fix them' but has her own cat at home who has a slight cough... What should she do?

Ask an internal medicine specialist like Dr Narelle Brown for some advice of course!

Most of us have heard of the two-head turtle Thelma and Louise right... but a two-headed cat???

Dr Jo Sillince from Pets Australia reveals that little gem and more in this week's show.