Start when your pet is young to get them used to you handling their mouth. Have everything handy before your start. Let your pet investigate the brush and taste the pet toothpaste - using a beef flavoured paste may help. Always use a toothpaste made for your cat or dog, human toothpaste is not good for them. Start by putting something yummy like peanut butter on your finger then wipe it around their mouth. Then after a day or so, try it with the toothpaste. Then introduce the

Referred to as 'ACUTE MOIST DERMATITIS', hot spots are circular lesions often found on the head, hip or alongside the chest area of your dog. Often caused by a local allergic reaction to a specific antigen. Flea bites are often the cause. These lesions will be moist, raw, inflamed and hairless. Your pet usually licks and bites the area, thus inflaming it even more. Treatment involves clipping the hair around the area and cleaning the surface with a non irritating solution. In

WINTER ALERT For those who use anti-freeze in your vehicles, please remember that it takes very little to become deadly for your pet. Antifreeze contains ethylene glycol which is toxic to cats and dogs. It is sweet and attractive to your pet. If you pet walks through a spill on the ground and they lick it off a paw, that is enough to bring heart breaking consequences and kidney failure. Always keep the container locked away, preferable in a high cupboard. Pets are curious cre

Allergy Suffers Can Still Enjoy Having a Pet. Many allergy sufferers go without the pleasure of pet ownership because of their condition. But you don’t have to go without, just choose your pet wisely and those itchy red eyes and scratchy throat can be a thing of the past. Check out these cute buddies. The Bichon Frise – this cute adorable dog is a lower allergen pet and the dander (dry skin and pet saliva) is harder to escape their abundant curls. They are fun, cheerful and h

Funded only by public donations, this awesome group rescues, rehabilitates and rehomes beautiful kittens and cats of all size, colour and personality. Bentleigh Veterinary Clinic has been selected to partner with this amazing non profit team to care for the medical needs of Foster Cats. If you can help the charity, or want to become a foster care giver, then check out their website for more details. Every Cat deserves a warm, safe loving home and if you can help in any way, w

Prevention is far better than finding a cure, but the reality is that our pets can become affected by disease and conditions that are beyond our control. As families struggle with budgeting and finances, pet costs can come as an unplanned expense. The way to avoid this is to join a Pet Insurance Plan which can free you from the worry of finding the finances to help your pet. Just like car insurance, it provides assistance when accidents strike. With pet insurance there are no

All animals love a bit of a change in their routine, whether it is a new box to hide in, a different route to walk your dog, or a climbing pole for your cat. Bored pets tend to get into mischief, either rearranging the pot plants in the lounge, or removing the stuffing in your new cushions. Cats and dogs love chasing a ball or a few feathers on a rope. Dogs need a good run, an obstacle course or to be mentally challenged by a puzzle toy. Make your pet work for their dinner by

Yes, cats do get their own feline version ofthe flu which cannot be transmitted to humans. It will make your cat miserable and young kittens are particularly vulnerable. Without treatment, a cat’s condition can decline and for a kitten, it can be fatal. While there is no ‘cure’ as such, we can help a lot protect your cat against other infections that your cat can succumb to in their weakened condition. For more on how to protect your cat, call us today at Bentleigh Vet Clinic

Does your pets breath smell? Have they changed the way they are eating such as only eating on one side of their mouth or even leaving harder food in the bowl? This could be sign that your pet has teeth problems. Dental disease is common amongst pets by the age of three years old, but it can be preventable. When plaque forms on the surface of the teeth and under the gum line it can cause inflammation, pain and infection. Carefully check inside your pet’s mouth for any tell tal

As spring arrives we start to see more problems associated with grass seeds getting into dogs coats, under the skin and even into the eyes and ears. They have very sharp points and tiny backward facing barbs that make them very efficient at getting stuck into dog coats. So if you do see your dog knibbling and licking at their feet do check for grass seeds in the coat. And especially pay attention if they suddenly seem lame. Getting them out before the grass seed can penetrate