Gungahlin Vet Hospital

It’s extremely valuable to be able to give a tablet to your cat. If they ever become sick, you want to know that you can medicate them, hopefully without too much hassle. Ideally a cat is taught from a very young age to accept handling e.g. mouth examinations, touching of the paws and brushing. As a kitten they should have many positive handling experiences and grow up to feel ok about having their mouths opened and a tablet popped in. This isn’t always the case however and it’s helpful …

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There is no doubt that we all want to do the best we can for our pets and providing a balanced, nutritional diet is an essential part of raising a happy healthy animal. Unfortunately, not all the pet food products available meet the nutritional requirements that our pets need. It’s easy to assume that ‘pet mince’ and ‘pet food rolls’ are fresh, nutritious, high quality and a more ‘natural’ alternative. They are usually cheaper than fresh mince that we get for our own consumption a…

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Heat stroke (hyperthermia) is a very serious, potentially fatal condition, which unfortunately, is seen commonly in veterinary practice. Dogs rely mostly on panting to cool themselves, as, unlike humans, they’re unable to sweat. When the ambient temperature is similar to body temperature, evaporative cooling via panting is not very efficient. The muscular work associated with panting can actually generate more heat than that lost by panting and the associated salivation can lead to dehydration…

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Unfortunately, it is quite common for cats which may have lived harmoniously together for months or years to be very aggressive when reintroduced after a period of separation. The separation may be as short as a few hours, such as a visit to the vet. This is not a status (dominance) issue, but rather a form of Territorial Aggression and is associated with lack of recognition of the smells on the returning cat’s fur. Aggression can be profound, and very upsetting to observe. Signs: Staring …

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 We want your cat’s visit to be as pleasant as possible. The following information is provided to help you and your cat to have a more comfortable and relaxed experience. Getting the cat into the carrier Why must you put your cat into a carrier? The simple answer is safety: cats who are correctly secured in carriers cannot become projectiles should the car stop suddenly; they cannot become panicked and entangled in the pedals or steering wheel; they are less of a distraction to the driver; …

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Most cats love to spend time outdoors.  They experience a great deal of mental and physical stimulation. Cats in the wild experience weather changes, move around to find food and water, interact with other animals, and mark their territory. Their lives are enriched by complexity, unpredictability, and choice; and they exert a degree of control over their lives. However, the big wide world is a dangerous place for domestic cats. Here at Gungahlin Veterinary Hospital we see numerous cases of cat…

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For more than 20 years the routine vaccination for most dogs in Australia has been the ubiquitous "C5" - a single injection delivering vaccine designed to protect against Distemper, Canine Hepatitis (Adenovirus), Parvovirus, Parainflueneza and Bordetella (these latter two commonly called "kennel cough" or "canine cough"). This type of vaccine had to be delivered three times to puppies, ideally at 6, 12 and 16 weeks of age and has proven to be very effective. Some vets still use and recommend th…

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