Holbrook Veterinary Centre Cnr Byng and Hay Streets Holbrook, NSW, 2644 reception@holbrookvetcentre.com.au www.holbrookvetcentre.com.au Phone: 02 6036 2374 August Newsletter August 2014 August has been a rather busy month at HVC, we are well into our spring calvings which has been keeping the vets rather busy. We do appoligise for the tardyness of this newsletter edition. Since our last newsletter Dr. Seumas has returned from his trip to the Northern Territory where he was the treating vet for the NSW Polocross Team. Seumas was kept nice a http://www.holbrookvetcentre.com.au/newsletter-archive/edition/9216 1/8
busy during the carnival. Congratualtions go out to NSW Senior mens, NSW Senior mixed, NSW Masters Mixed, and NSW U21 Womens who all came home Nationals Winners. A final congratulations goes to Lucy Grills and Berragoon Ravers who won Best ASH and rider in the U21 Ladies competition and Abott Grills with Berragoon Percussion won champion horse and rider combination, Champion ASH and overall horse of the carnival! On another note, this month marks a year since HVC joined facebook. We are upto 530 Likes! We hope everyone is enjoying our posts. To like our Facebook page just follow this link. Watch this space next month for some handy tips on Bull Testing for our spring calving herds. Some pics of Seumas Vetting at the Polocross Nationals Contents of this newsletter 01 Production: When to help the calving cow??? 02 Production: Retained Foetal Membranes (RFMs) 03 Companion: What s hiding in your pet s http://www.holbrookvetcentre.com.au/newsletter-archive/edition/9216 2/8
mouth? 04 Companion: Who loves this dog's reaction? 05 Companion: Watch out, winter hazards about 06 Companion: A new collar senses when your dog is under the weather 01 Production: When to help the calving cow??? Calving, or parturition, in the cow is broken up into three stages; dilation of the cervix, delivery of the calf and delivery of the foetal membranes. The vast majority of calvings will be completed swiftly, smoothly and without the need for intervention. Most people will check their calving mobs 1 to 2 times a day, sometimes more frequently in 1 st calving heifers. Once a cow has broken the foetal membranes (water bag) she is now in stage 2 which in most cases should see a calf delivered within 4 hours, however everyone will still be thinking when is it appropriate to intervene? When to Assist? The decision to intervene is a matter of judgment and judgment improves with experience. The cow that labours for over an hour with the front feet and nose showing will need some assistance. Similarly, the cow that has obviously been labouring for over an hour with nothing showing certainly needs help. Guidelines that can be useful are that if there has been regular monitoring and a cow is found to be calving, if the water bag is still present, she can be given 2 hours and then taken to the yards if there is no further progression. If the cow is calving but the waters have broken then she can be given 1 hour before being taken to the yards. When the cow is brought into the yards for http://www.holbrookvetcentre.com.au/newsletter-archive/edition/9216 3/8
investigation, hygiene is paramount to the survival of the cow and calf (wash hands and arms thoroughly with iodine or chlorhexidine solution). It is important to assess the presentation of the calf, normal can be coming forwards with presentation of the head and two front legs, or backwards with two hind legs and a tail. If any issues arise during examination of a calving difficulty, then assistance should be sought. 02 Production: Retained Foetal Membranes (RFMs) In healthy cows the expulsion of foetal membranes (which gernally occurs 30 minutes to 8 hours post calving) signals the completion of 3 rd stage labour. If the foetal membranes are not released after 12 hours from calving, the cow is considered to have retained foetal membranes (RFMs). Retained foetal membranes by themselves is not a problem, however they can lead to uterine contamination and the condition metritis. Cows that have RFMs are more susceptible to suffering secondary complications such as, mastitis, ketosis, pyometra, septicaemia and poor reproductive performance to name a few. Several factors have been associated with an increased risk of developing RFMs; Mechanical factors dystocia (esp. difficult calving s in heifers), twins and abortions. Metabolic factors some vitamin and mineral deficiencies, such as clinical and subclinical milk fever (low Ca). Management factors stress, excessive body condition, calving inductions, unnecessary calving assistance. Infectious disease vibriosis and leptospirosis. Following a normal calving the body recognizes the foetal cotyledons as now foreign and the cow s immune system attacks them, breaking them down and allowing them to be passed. Any instance that reduces the cow s immune system can also increase the likelihood of RFMs. Dealing with a cow with RFMs: Generally, the cow will pass the membranes within a week and no intervention will be necessary. However, on some occasions, when there has been contamination, intervention will be required. As each case is slightly different it is generally best to contact the vet centre to see what is the best approach for your particular case. http://www.holbrookvetcentre.com.au/newsletter-archive/edition/9216 4/8
03 Companion: What s hiding in your pet s mouth? There is a sneaky disease that likes to hide in your pet's mouth. It is called dental disease and as many as 8 in 10 pets may be under its curse. Dental disease is caused by food particles and bacteria that build up around the teeth. This causes irritation of the gum and leads to an inflammatory condition called gingivitis. image source: upsidedowndogs.com/ Eventually the tooth's attachments start to break down and the disease becomes irreversible - affecting your pet's entire health. Things you might notice at home: Bad breath Shying away when the mouth is touched Drooling or dropping food from the mouth Bleeding from the mouth A loss of appetite or weight loss image source: icanhas.cheezburger.com/ If your pet will allow it, gently open his mouth and have a smell! Look inside for red and swollen gums or a yellow-brown crust of tartar around the gum line. Sometimes the problems aren t as obvious and an anaesthetic is needed for more a thorough exam. Dental disease is a great example of why regular check ups with us are important. There are well known links between dental disease and kidney and heart disease. If we can pick up on dental disease early, we can implement a dental disease prevention plan are often able to prevent further damage to your pet's teeth and health. We want to give you and your pet something to smile about! http://www.holbrookvetcentre.com.au/newsletter-archive/edition/9216 5/8
04 Companion: Who loves this dog's reaction? We love this dog's reaction when the music stops. It goes to show that our pets love to listen to tunes too! Have you ever thought about leaving the radio on for your pet while you are out? Not only will it pass the time, it may help your dog feel less lonely. 05 Companion: Watch out, winter hazards about With winter in full swing, here are a few hazards to watch out for: http://www.holbrookvetcentre.com.au/newsletter-archive/edition/9216 6/8
Frozen water: In some areas of Australia it gets so cold overnight that your pet s water bowl may freeze over. Sometimes it doesn t get a chance to melt during the day so your pet will have no access to water. Check your pet s water twice daily. Heater hazards: Don t let your pet sit too close to the fire or heater - he can singe his fur or even burn his nose! Coats and clothing: A coat might be a good idea for pets that have been clipped or are old and feel the cold, but be aware that most pet clothing is unnecessary and impedes an animal s ability to regulate his own temperature. Never leave your pet clothed and unattended as he may overheat. (It is not even recommended in the chilly UK - see here) Who is hiding under the bonnet?: Cats (and other critters) might find a nice warm spot under your car bonnet on a cold night so always turn on your car engine and leave it running for a while before heading off just to be sure. Beware, cats find the warmest spots - this can even be under the bonnet of your car! Anti-freeze: If you are heading to the snow fields and are using anti-freeze in your car, make sure it is out of your pet s reach. Dogs especially like the initial taste of anti-freeze but it is highly poisonous. 06 Companion: A new collar senses when your dog is under the weather A new smart collar has been developed in the US that can help tell you when your dog is sick. The studded collar contains sensors that keeps track of temperature, pulse and respiration as well as activity patterns. Whilst it doesn t take the place of regular vet visits and you keeping an eye on your best friend, it does let you know if your http://www.holbrookvetcentre.com.au/newsletter-archive/edition/9216 7/8
dog s vital signs start to deviate in a way that might indicate a possible problem. If this is the case an alert is sent to your smartphone and to your vet. A great feature is that because the device works in real time, vets will have more information on which to base their diagnoses and keep track of how animals respond to treatment. When it comes to technology, there are exciting times ahead! Read more here The Fine Print This email contains comments of a general nature only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional veterinary advice. It should not be relied on as the basis for whether you do or don't do anything. All content Pet Pack 2014 You received this email because you're subscribed to our newsletter or are a client of Holbrook Veterinary Centre This email was sent to: Click here to unsubscribe http://www.holbrookvetcentre.com.au/newsletter-archive/edition/9216 8/8