Cyclone evacation: plan for your pet (they are not permitted in evacuation centres).

Cairns Residents in the line of flooding are being urged to evacuate early,

for many people this means evacuating their pets also.  Like most councils, Cairns Regional Council does not have facilities for pets at evacuation centres, so you will need to plan for their needs in advance.

 

Dallas McMillan
Cairns Veterinary Clinic 

Read Cairns Vet pet advice and Pet news on the web.

 

Cairns Council says some residents may need to evacuate before Cyclone Yasi

Roger Dickson

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

© The Cairns Post

 

RESIDENTS in low lying areas south of Cairns are being urged to consider voluntary evacuations as Tropical Cyclone Yasi, which is now expected to pack 250km/h plus winds, threatens the coast.

10:45 UPDATE: Cairns Mayor Val Schier, who this morning was in a state wide telephone hook-up with disaster experts, Premier Anna Bligh and Queensland Bureau of Meteorology director Jim Davidson said the storm was now predicted to reach high category-four status. 

"That could mean winds in excess of 250km/h," she said. 

"We are particularly concerned for the south between Cairns and Innisfail as the surge threat is greatest in that area. 
 
"It (evacuation) is not mandatory yet as there is not enough information on possible surge heights. Cr Schier described the meeting as both sobering and frightening. 

"(So) what we are urging people to do in low lying areas is to voluntarily evacuate to higher ground," she said. 
 
"People should contact friends who live in nearby safer areas." 
 
Cr Shier said the impact on the low-lying township of Cardwell was also of great concern.

Cairns southside councillor Paul Gregory, who headed up the response to Cyclone Larry in Babinda and Gordonvale, said storm surge posed a particular threat to the seaside villages of Bramston Beach and Russell Heads. 
 
He told The Cairns Post he had sent emails out through his networks advising of the threat. 

"People should prepare as required, if you live in a storm surge area that could mean evacuation," he said. 

"This is really, really serious." 
 
Cr Gregory said one saving grace was that the predicted crossing time of 1am on Thursday was at around low tide. 
 
Irrespective of storm surge he warned all residents to stay inside as the eye of Yasi crossed the coast. 

"That could be as long as an hour," Cr Gregory said. 

Cr Schier also said she expected Education Queensland to send letters home with school students later today advising of school closures tomorrow. 

She said as of this evening should be locating herself at the new Cairns Regional Council disaster management centre at Woree for the duration of the event.

 

Cyclone Yasi heads for Cairns: Tuesday morning BoM

 

Cairns RSPCA evacuates to foster homes

As Cairns battens down for Cyclone Yasi, the RSPCA, located on the flood-prone Barron River bank has evacuated pets to foster homes thanks to many willing and able community foster carers and the hard work of shelter staff and volunteers.

 

Dallas McMillan
Cairns Veterinary Clinic 

Read Cairns Vet pet advice and Pet news on the web.

 

Cairns Pet owners: prepare for Cyclone Yasi

Cairns Pet owners need to be making plans for their pets in the leadup for Cyclone Yasi.  Many areas of Cairns may flood with projected storm surge, heavy rainfall and high tide coinciding.

Make sure you have your pet somewhere familiar, safe and secure, and above potential flood levels.  If you cannot provide this look at sending your pets to a friend or boarding facility above flood levels.  Make sure your pet is clearly marked with a tag (preferably microchipped) in case they are lost in the storm.

Read the press release below from the Australian Veterinary Association.

  

Dallas McMillan
Cairns Veterinary Clinic 

Read Cairns Vet pet advice and Pet news on the web.

 

 

Don’t forget animals when cyclone Yasi hits
With tropical cyclone Yasi due to make landfall in northern Queensland this week, the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) is warning people with animals to be prepared.
Australian Veterinary Association spokesperson Dr Jodie Wilson warns that in addition to planning for cyclones ourselves, it’s important to make arrangements for our animals too.
“Preparing ahead of time and acting quickly can be the best way to keep yourself, your family, and your animals out of harm’s way,” said Dr Wilson.
“Be prepared for possible disruption to services, including power, water and phone lines for extended periods of time. Prepare for your animals by putting together a pet or livestock emergency kit,” she said.
The AVA has produced a series of brochures with useful information about protecting pets and livestock during the cyclone season. Information is also available on the AVA’s website at: www.ava.com.au/about_pets and www.ava.com.au/publicinfo.
 For pets
The key things to think about when preparing a pet for a cyclone are:
·         If a cyclone hits, are you going to evacuate or stay at home?
·         If you need to evacuate, do you have a place to take your animals? Consider friends, kennels and animal shelters outside the danger zone.
·         If your pet is staying at home, think about confining it in the safest enclosed room of the house e.g. the bathroom, and DO NOT tie your pet up. Make sure there’s food and water.
·         Talk to your neighbours and tell them about your evacuation plans in case you are away.
·         Ensure your emergency kit contains plenty of non-perishable food (e.g. dry food) and water in spill-proof containers.
·         Make sure your pet is microchipped and has a current collar and tag in case it gets lost.
If you are at home with your pet during a cyclone, try to keep them as calm as possible.
For horses and livestock
The key things to think about when preparing horses and livestock for a cyclone are:
·         If evacuation is impossible, move your horses and livestock to the safest place possible on the premises.
·         Whether you leave livestock in yards or in the paddock should depend on the type of emergency and the risk of injury from material or trees in the paddocks, the likelihood of flooding and the stability of their yards.
·         If time permits, secure or remove all loose objects.
·         Animals need to be identified in case they get lost during wild weather.
·         Make sure the horses and livestock have access to a safe food and water source. Do not rely on automatic water systems as power may be lost.
·         It is also important to make sure that you have alternative sources of feed. This may mean having a storage shed on or off-site specifically for storing feed, or a prearrangement with a stock feed supplier for such situations.
The Australian Veterinary Association encourages those in affected areas to talk to their local veterinarians about planning for a cyclone and preparing an emergency kit.
 
 
 
 
Jacob O'Shaughnessy
Media Relations Manager
 
The Australian Veterinary AssociationUnit 40, 6 Herbert StreetSt Leonards NSW 2065
Ph: 02 9431 5062
Fax: 02 9437 9068Mob: 0439 628 898www.ava.com.au

Vets warn of deadly heartworm risk after floods

The heavy rain this year (with more to come) and widespread flooding have cause a boom in mosquito numbers.  As mosquitoes carry heartworm, a deadly parasite of dogs, we can expect this disease to surge in areas where heartworm prevention is not widely used.  Make sure your dog is protected by giving a monthly heartworm tablet or yearly heartworm injection.

A Press release from the Australian Veterinary Association follows.

 

Dallas McMillan
Cairns Veterinary Clinic 

Read Cairns Vet pet advice and Pet news on the web.

 

Queensland pets at risk
Dog owners cautioned about heartworm
 
The Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) is warning Queensland residents to prepare for an outbreak of heartworm following the recent flood crisis.
 
Heartworm is a parasite which is passed from animal to animal by the bite of a mosquito and the AVA is calling on all dog owners to take preventative measures for the potentially fatal disease.
 
Dr Jodie Wilson, Queensland President of the Australian Veterinary Association says the significant mosquito numbers brought on by the floods will result in an increased risk of the disease. 
 
“Incidence of the disease can rise when temperatures and mosquito numbers increase. Currently, the aftermath of the Queensland flood crisis has meant that the climate is ripe for an increase in mosquito and heartworm numbers,” said Dr Wilson.
 
“We recommend dog owners visit their local vet to find the most appropriate treatment for their animal. While prevention can be as easy as a once a year injection, if a dog is infected, it becomes very hard to treat and can become potentially lethal,” she said.
 
Local Bundaberg vet Dr Andrew Marland said that Queenslanders should step up their preventative measures to protect dogs from heartworm. However, Dr Marland added that this is a unique situation which could result in a significant outbreak.
 
“As Queensland residents continue to clean up following the floods, we urge them to visit their vet and discuss heartworm options for their dog,” said Dr Marland.
 
The number of displaced animals is also expected to impact the spread of the disease, with many heartworm infected wild animals and lost pets already displaced from their usual habitats by the rising flood waters.
 
According to the American Heartworm Society, hurricanes Katrina and Rita saw a similar impact on heartworm levels, with an estimated 60 percent of the pets displaced by Hurricane Katrina likely to have been infected with the illness.[i]
 
“It is in crises such as these that compliance with monthly heartworm treatments may become more difficult due to extenuating circumstances. Dog owners looking for a simpler solution should speak with their vet about a once a year heartworm injection to take the worry out of pet health during the following months,” said Dr Marland.
 
Signs of heartworm can include:
Lethargy or general tiredness
tiring easily with exercise
coughing
loss of appetite
enlarged or swollen abdomen
 
Queensland residents concerned that their dog may be infected should immediately talk to their local vet about treatment.
 
 
Jacob O'Shaughnessy
Media Relations Manager
 
The Australian Veterinary Association
Unit 40, 6 Herbert Street
St Leonards NSW 2065
Ph: 02 9431 5062
Fax: 02 9437 9068
Mob: 0439 628 898
www.ava.com.au

Vets on alert for disease outbreaks after floods

Many human and animal diseases spread rapidly during wet weather or following floods.  Poor sanitation, insect vector plagues and stressed animals crowded together on available dry ground all mean the risk of serious infectious animal disease (and also many human diseases like Ross River virus) are greatly enhanced.

 

Dallas McMillan
Cairns Veterinary Clinic 

Read Cairns Vet pet advice and Pet news on the web.

 

Veterinarians in Australia on standby – animal disease a major concern

It has been reported that veterinarians in Australia are on standby as animal diseases have become a huge concern across the country.

Vet advice
The Australian Veterinary Association has gathered a team to advise vets in flood zones. The advisors include those who deal with livestock, wildlife, horses and animal behaviour.

 

President of the Australian Cattle Veterinarians, Dr Robert Bonanno, has said that there major potential for many mosquito spread viruses. "The conditions have probably never been better, certainly in my living memory, for the spread of things like Akabane, three day sickness and those types of viral diseases spread by mozzies," he says.

 

Livestock owners are also being warned about feeding livestock mouldy feed, and of botulism.

Pet Relocation after Queensland floods: is your pet microchipped?

How would you find your pet if they were seperated from you by storms, a natural disaster or just ran away?  Hundreds of people have worked hard to look after pets displaced by flooding and reunite them with their owners.  This is so much easier if pets are microchipped, have a name tag, and you have good records including photos.  Here are details on how to relocate pets lost in the recent Queensland Floods.

 

Dallas McMillan
Cairns Veterinary Clinic 

Read Cairns Vet pet advice and Pet news on the web.

 

After the QLD floods- how to reunite lost pets with their owners

The heartbreak of a missing pet is just another burden for those affected by the tragic floods. There are hundreds of people who are desperate to locate lost pets and also many people who have found pets they wish to reunite with their owners. These tasks are made more difficult for many flood victims because they face a lack of access to resources such as pet-related documentation or even a car to assist with the search.

I urge people to make contact with the RSPCA, Animal Welfare League and local council pounds as well as making full use of the web, including Facebook and Twitter, to spread information.

Locating a lost pet

Collate your pet’s details.  It sounds obvious, but it is vital to have an accurate description of your pet including the breed, type, sex, colour, coat length, size, age, collar type and colour, the details engraved on the tag it was wearing, council registration details and micro-chip number.  Also include any distinguishing features such as ears being pricked or floppy, tail being curled or docked, nose being long and pointy or short and rounded – the more detailed information you can provide the better.  Shelter and pound staff indicate that owner descriptions of dogs and cats often bear little resemblance to how the pets actually look so getting this information right is vital.  If you are able to provide a recent photo of your pet, this will also assist in identifying it.

Is your pet micro-chipped?  If so, contact the organisation that your pet is listed with and let them know your pet is missing.  Make sure they have your up to date contact details.  There are five organisations that hold micro-chip records for pets registered in Queensland, so if you are not sure which one your pet is listed with, you may need to contact them all.

 

·       Central Animal Records, http://www.car.com.au/, 03 9706 3187

·       Australasian Animal Registry, http://www.aar.org.au/index.html, 02 9704 1450

·       National Pet Register, http://www.petregister.com.au/, 1300 734 738

·       Petsafe, http://www.petsafe.com.au/, 02 8850 6800

·       Homesafe ID, http://www.homesafeid.com/Index.cfm, 1300 537 140

If you know the micro-chip number but not the company, go to www.petaddress.com.au and enter the number, you will be advised which organisation you are with.

 

List your pet with RSPCA Queensland Lost and Found service: 1300 363 736, 07 3426 9999 or rspcaqld

 

Contact the Council pound in your own municipality and in areas where you think your pet may be.  If possible, ring the pounds every day and visit as often as you can as it may not be possible for the pound to contact you if your pet is not able to be identified by registration tags or a micro-chip.

 

Contact veterinary clinics in your area and surrounding areas – many displaced pets are currently being cared for in veterinary hospitals.

 

Use Social Media - Use Twitter, Facebook etc

List your pet on this website  Queensland flood animals

List your pet on this Facebook Page -  Animals Lost and Found

 

Search your neighbourhood and talk to as many people as possible.  Pets may stay hidden if they are frightened or injured, so carry a torch to check in dark areas.  Check yards, sheds and areas that are out of the way.

Widen your search with a “flyer” that can be placed in public areas.  It should include a description of your pet, a recent photo, your contact details and the date.  Photocopy and distribute this as widely as possible: letterboxes, local shops, schools, supermarket notice boards, vet clinics, animal welfare shelters and council pounds.  Keep one identifying characteristic, such as a marking on your pet, private so that if someone rings you can quickly check whether the pet is yours or not.

 

Place advertisements in Lost and Found in the local newspapers, including papers in major cities, and check the Found sections daily.  Another good option is the web, there are a number of sites that have been set up including the Facebook page “Animals lost and found in Qld Floods”.

Phone breed clubs of your breed as they often ‘rescue’ dogs of their particular breed from vets and pounds.

 

Phone radio stations as many will be happy to help the community at this difficult time.

Have you found a lost pet?

Keep the animal secure and take it to an animal shelter or vet as soon as possible so it can be scanned for a micro-chip.  If the animal is micro-chipped the owners will be contacted so they can be reunited with their pet.

List the pet with RSPCA Qld Lost and Found service: 1300 363 736, 07 3426 9999 or www.rspcaqld.org.au.

 

Notify Councils in your area that you have found a pet.  If you are unable to care for the animal temporarily, they may be able hold the pet at their pound or shelter.

List the pet on this website   Queensland Flood Animals

the Animals Lost and Found Facebook Page

 

Place a Found notice in local papers or post information on web sites specifically set up for the floods.

Pets survive Queensland floods

Pets which survived the Queensland floods are being looked after by volunteers, councils and vets and gradually reunited with their owners.  Here are some touching survival stories.

 

Dallas McMillan
Cairns Veterinary Clinic 

Read Cairns Vet pet advice and Pet news on the web.

 

Pet survivors amaze rescuers after Lockyer Valley flash flood

RESCUED: Animal control officer Darryl Simpson with parrots saved from a Lockyer Valley home. Picture: Glenn Barnes

Source: The Courier-Mail

THE other survivors emerging from flattened Grantham are bedraggled and trembling dogs and cats left behind to face a deadly wall of water as their owners tried frantically to flee from its path.

In one low-set house, where the dirty water line marked the ceiling, animal control officer Darryl Simpson found two dogs sheltering amid thick sludge in a back bedroom.

Nearby, another house wrenched off its stumps came to rest at a 45-degree angle and waiting there on the jutting front porch were two old and tiny black chihuahuas.

"I know animals can survive extreme circumstances but some of these animals that have survived this incident, you just scratch your head and think 'how?'," he said.

Mr Simpson said more than 100 pets had so far been saved as council trucks became "travelling zoos", transporting muddy dogs and cats as well as parrots, rats, siamese fighting fish and chickens.

"You think if a chook can survive, there's still a lot of hope for those people that are missing," he said.

Floodwaters rendered the Lockyer Valley Council's Gatton pound useless so cages at the nearby University of Queensland small animal hospital are now filled with homeless animals.

The equine centre is full of amazing tales of survival, such as an orphaned miniature horse born as the torrent hit, or the standardbred trapped in its racing stable that had to tread water for 30 hours.

Head vet Dr Bob Doneley said most new arrivals "ate ravenously" then curled up to sleep for a day.

Cat lost in Queensland floods

The power of social media is helping people reconnect with lost pets following the Queensland floods

Dallas McMillan
Cairns Veterinary Clinic

Read Cairns Vet pet advice and Pet news on the web.

Pets seek refuge in "Noahs Ark" after Queensland floods

A veterinary clinic is helping to house and care for the massive numbers of lost pets after the devastating Queensland floods

Dallas McMillan
Cairns Veterinary Clinic 

Read Cairns Vet pet advice and Pet news on the web.

 

Dozens of pets find haven in university's Noah's ark

Date: January 18 2011

A VETERINARIAN clinic in south-eastern Queensland has become a Noah's ark after receiving more than 80 pets separated from their owners by the floods.

Staff at the Gatton veterinary medical centre at the University of Queensland have spent the past week feeding, washing and caring for 35 dogs, 20 birds, 10 cats, seven horses, five guinea pigs, two rats, two quails and two Siamese fighting fish.

And more sick, injured and lost animals that survived the Lockyer Valley floods are arriving at the clinic.

Adjunct Professor Bob Doneley was the only small-animal vet left on the Gatton campus when floods hit eight days ago.

He offered the clinic's services to the Lockyer Valley council after electricity and water supply could not be guaranteed at the local pound.

Professor Doneley said yesterday: ''They came one by one - dogs covered in mud, cats terrified from their ordeal and horses that had worn down their hooves swimming for up to 30 hours to stay afloat.

''The council's animal management officers did an amazing job searching houses and buildings for animals that had survived the flood. In some cases they had to rescue animals from houses that had … collapsed.''

An equine veterinarian, Andrew Van Eps, said his staff were heading out to farms to treat horses that had contracted pneumonia after breathing in floodwater while swimming for their lives.

''We are also caring for a miniature horse foal that is only a few days old and was orphaned by the floods.''

In yet another display of community spirit, Professor Doneley said businesses and the public had all chipped in to donate food for the animals.

The Petstock shop in Toowoomba gave almost five tonnes of food and flea products, and another five tonnes came from Lockyer Valley locals.

The Forest Hill butcher donated bones to keep the dogs busy during their cage rest, and up to 20 people from Gatton and surrounding small towns volunteered to be carers in the clinic.

Some of the pets have been reunited with their owners, but the clinic does need people who can foster others in the meantime.

Pets on death row after Brisbane floods

Many Queensland Pets are still waiting to be reclaimed by their owners after the Queensland floods.  This is partly due to animals being spread far and wide by the floods and partly due to displacement and disruption of their owners and their homes.
 

Dallas McMillan
Cairns Veterinary Clinic 

Read Cairns Vet pet advice and Pet news on the web.

 

Council pet put down amnesty extended

Courtney Trenwith

January 18, 2011

The RSPCA at Fairfield was inundated by flood waters. Photo: Robert Shakespeare

Brisbane's flood-affected residents have until Monday to claim lost pets from council shelters.

The council this morning clairifed its position on its euthanasia amnesty, saying healthy animals would not be put down until February after flooding separated countless pets from owners.

 

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Pets are salvaged from flood waters. Photo: Pat Scala

Recollection fees have been waived until Friday.

In usual circumstances, pets can be euthanised after five days.

Ipswich City Council also has initiated an amnesty on collection fees and an indefinite hold on putting down any pets in its shelters.

Numerous animals have become lost after thousands of residents were evacuated from their homes last week.

Council shelters have been under added pressure because the RSPCA in Fairfield, in Brisbane's south, went under water.

However, Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman said it was important to give residents time to deal with the tragedy of the floods.

“This is a very stressful time for Brisbane residents and getting much loved family pets back is an important part of the overall recovery process,” he said.

“We are particularly keen to see pets reunited with their owners after the floods and want to avoid a situation where people cannot afford to collect them."

RSPCA spokesman Michael Beatty said the amnesty should be made indefinite for flood victims.

The RSPCA has had to place all of the animals in its care into foster homes and few can be adopted out because of damage to the desexing clinic.

Mr Beatty said a small number were being desexed at the University of Queensland but there would be delays.

"They're not going to be able to desex 30-50 animals a day, which we were able to do before," he said.

"We've got problems but as far as we're concerned, we're certainly not euthanasing any [healthy] animals."

Mr Beatty said community websites listing missing animals, while well intended, were hampering efforts to reunite residents with their loved ones.

He said pet owners also needed to register directly with the RSPCA.

"All [the websites] are doing is putting more work on the over-worked [RSPCA] call centre staff because people think they've listed on the lost and found website but they haven't listed them with us," he said.

“The key to locating your pet is to get all your information together, list the pet's details with the RSPCA and your local council and then start a methodical search of all possible locations.

"If your pet is micro-chipped and registered it will make the process easier but it is still a case of hard work and perseverance."

The RSPCA recommends collecting detailed descriptions, including any distinguishing features such as pricked or floppy ears, a curly tail or the colour of its collar. A photo also is helpful.

Pets that are micro-chipped should be reported missing to the organisation that holds the record.

To list a pet with the RSPCA Queensland Lost and Found service phone 1300 363 736 or 07 3426 9999 or visit www.rspcaqld.org.au.

Cairns Pets helped by rainforest drug

Some Cairns Pets participated in veterinary drug trials for the new cancer drug developed from the Rainforest tree, blushwood, with fantastic results.  The drug is used locally on solid tumors to cause the tumor to break down and be removed by the animal's own immune system.
The trial has been so successful, human trials may be fast tracked so that human patients can be helped also.  This is a great example of how veterinary medicine can help improve human health.
The product is not yet available for routine animal use but we have enquired and expect to be able to access the drug in late 2011.

Dallas McMillan
Cairns Veterinary Clinic 

Read Cairns Vet pet advice and Pet news on the web.

 

New hope as cancer drug developed on Tableland may be fast-tracked

• By Daniel Bateman
• From: The Cairns Post
• January 20, 2011 8:27AM

RESEARCHERS behind a potential cure for cancer being developed on the Tableland hope they may be able to test the drug on diseased patients earlier than expected.

Yungaburra-based pharmaceutical company QBiotics is on track to start human trials in the second half this year of EBC-46, a drug derived from a molecule in the seeds of the rainforest tree blushwood, cairns.com.au said.

The product has so far demonstrated a remarkable ability to treat a range of tumours in more than 200 dogs, cats and horses.

In some cases, deadly tumours in pets disintegrated within five to seven days of treatment.

It is believed the drug has the potential to treat skin, head, neck, breast and prostate cancers in humans.

The company raised $10 million last year to fund the human trials, which will be run in Australia.

Start of sidebar.

However it could still be some years before the product will be commercially available to patients.

A QBiotics spokesman said researchers are currently working with US based project managers who were helping them progress to clinical phase 1 trials on humans.

The US Food and Drug Administration recently allowed cancer drugs to be tested on diseased patients during the first clinical phase.

"This is excellent news for EBC-46, as the approach in the past has been to test new drugs on healthy patients only in clinical phase 1, with the drug not tested for efficacy against the target disease until clinical phase 2," the spokesman said.

However, obtaining FDA approval to roll the drug out is an expensive process, costing up to $500 million and requiring QBiotics to team up with a much larger pharmaceutical company.

EBC-46 is non-toxic to cells and works differently from most chemotherapy agents, stimulating a patient’s immune system into destroying the tumour.

The drug is also easy to administer, causing minimal trauma to patients.

Cairns Vet: Dr John Robertson

Cairns Vet Feature Vet: Dr John Robertson. 

Cairns Pet Grooming

Cairns Vet Clinic offers a full range of pet grooming and bathing services.  We focus on comfort clips and clipping animals sedated (rather than fancy clips with bows and powder!).   We also carry a wide range of pet supplies including DIY pet grooming products, shampoos and preventative health care.

 Why do we sedate pets for grooming?
We sedate pets which are anxious, have matted coats or are likely to struggle and panic when being clipped (which means all cats :-) )
Sedation does add to the cost of clipping but it makes the experience much less distressing for them and ensures a better clip.  It also means the clipping is quicker and thus less expensive.

When should I have my pet clipped?  Your pet should be clipped when their coating is getting long but before it is matted.  Once the coat is matted clipping is more difficult and a very short clip may be needed as this makes it easier to clip under the knots: many people who let their pet get matted do so because they like their pet with long hair (not clipped short) so this can be counterproductive.

My pet's breeder said you should never clip (insert breed here: Malamutes, German Shepherds, Pomeranians etc.)
They clearly don't live in Cairns.  We have not seen any adverse effects of clipping pets.  (Supposedly clipping long coated dogs will somehow permanently affect their ability to grow a nice coat or give them a chill or something).  In fact, many dogs grow much nicer coats after a clip, and many long coated dogs suffer chronic skin disease unnoticed under their thick hair, especially if they have an undercoat.

Won't my pet be cold after clipping?
We recommend clipping long coated pets at least twice a year: clipping in September and May ensures your pet has some coat cover on the coldest days and nights: still, Cairns weather rarely gets below 20 degrees, so its really not cold!  Many pets need 3-6 clips a year: just clip them before it gets too cold and they will be fine.

Doesn't long hair insulate my pet from the heat?
Not unless the temperature is over the dog's body temperature: 38.5 degrees!.  Dogs don't sweat so wearing a thick fur coat doesn't bother them as much as it would bother us, but they still can't lose heat as quickly if they have a long coat. 
Pets consistently get more active and comfortable after clipping: it can seem to take years off their age in many cases.

To book your pet in for grooming phone us on 4032 9999

Dallas McMillan
Cairns Veterinary Clinic 

Cairns Pet

Read Cairns Vet pet advice and Pet news on the web.

 

Cairns Vet: Dr John Robertson

Cairns Vet Feature Vet: Dr John Robertson. 

John Robertson is  a long time Cairns Local.  John was raised on a dairy farm at Millaa Millaa, and joined thee Cairns Vet Clinic in 1979.  His veterinary interest areas include surgery (including orthopedic procedures) , Skin disease and preventative health care.  Outside of work John and his wife Merry breed dogs, birds, horses and cattle so he has enormous practical animal care and breeding experience and knowledge.  He loves spending his his spare time at his cattle and horse stud in Malanda.

Cairns Veterinary Clinic 

Read Cairns Vet pet advice and Pet news on the web.

 

Animals suffering in Brisbane floods.

Here is a story covering some of the animal impact of the recent floods, highlighting the distress owners faced when they had to leave pets behind, and that many stock and native animals will have drowned in the rising waters: inevitable when an area the size of NSW was underwater!  Tragic.

 

Dallas McMillan
Cairns Veterinary Clinic 

Read Cairns pet news and Pet advice on the web. 

Animals suffering in Brisbane flood crisis

By Peter Greste

Posted Wed Jan 12, 2011 8:27pm AEDT

Domestic pets, wild animals and commercial livestock have all been caught up in the flooding disaster. (AAP: Kelly Watt)

• Related Story: Floods prompt call for pet evacuation laws
• Related Story: Helping hand for sodden animals big and small

It is not just people who have been affected by floods swamping Queensland - animals too are suffering terribly.

Domestic pets, wild animals and commercial livestock have all been caught up in the disaster.

Michael Beatty, the RSPCA's Queensland spokesman, says he has heard many devastating tales from residents forced to evacuate their homes.

"In some places where people have had to leave their pets behind it's been absolutely heartbreaking for them, as I'm sure you can understand," he said.

Mr Beatty says the flooding has left the organisation in a tough position.

"Anything to do with animals, everyone calls the RSPCA. Unfortunately, the situation in Brisbane now, in regards to us physically being able to take in animals, is non-existent because we simply can't," he said.

"We don't have an operational shelter in Brisbane. The animals that left the Brisbane shelter have gone into foster care and we just really thank the foster carers and the volunteers who came in this morning to help.

"But at the moment, we basically can't take in any other animals."

Mr Beatty says for the time being, the RSPCA has enough foster care homes.

"But certainly in the days, possibly even weeks ahead, we are going to need more foster carers, there's no doubt about that," he said.

Mr Beatty says there are concerns for all animals, including domestic pets, farm animals and those in the wild.

"In Rockhampton even now we don't know exactly how bad the situation is going to be in regard to livestock," he said.

"We have started to drop food to areas where we know livestock has been isolated.

"In most cases people did their best to try to move the animals to higher ground, but in some cases the higher ground that they moved them to simply wasn't high enough.

"In all possibility there'll be a large number of animals, livestock in particular, that will have died during the floods, no doubt about that.

"As far as the native animal toll, well, I don't think anyone's going to know probably for weeks."

RSPCA stretched by flood relief

The floods in Queensland have been so devastating to people and homes, yet when I see people struggling like this (and being helped by emergency crews etc) I can't help but wonder: what about their pets?  Horses and cattle?  Wildlife?  The animal death toll from these floods must be absolutely enormous and has gone largely undocumented: this will need to wait until waters recede. 

A major issue with evacuation plans in this sort of event is that evacuation centres do not accept pets and suitable alternatives need to be available.  Animal welfare organisations like the RSPCA play a vital role in organising and advocating for issues like this.

 

Dallas McMillan
Cairns Veterinary Clinic 

Read Cairns pet advice and Pet news on the web.

 

RSPCA at breaking point as animals flood in

Paul Tatnell

January 12, 2011Animal shelters in flood-affected areas of Queensland are being shut and RSPCA branches are at breaking point as the state expects to experience a sharp increase in animal welfare cases.

The RSPCA has had to close its main Brisbane shelter in Fairfield because of rising floodwaters, forcing the volunteer organisation to plea for foster homes for its animals.

RSPCA spokesman Michael Beatty said many owners around Queensland had been forced to leave their pets behind as floodwaters encroached on their homes.Mr Beatty said the organisation was struggling to deal with the number of animals in their care.

He expects scores of animals to need care as floodwaters hit more homes.

Several shelters have been cut off by floodwaters, with a temporary shelter in operation in Rockhampton.

"We are confident that we can deal [with the animals we have got] but our problem is other animals coming in; we really just can't deal with more impact," he said.

"We don't physically have a shelter to take them in."

Animals in the Fairfield shelter have been given to "trusted foster homes" and a nearby university's vet centre.

Mr Beatty said owners should offload their pets to friends on higher ground as early as possible if they think they might have to evacuate.

"Ideally what they need to do ... is think of the pets first ... and try and get the pet to someone else on higher ground," he said.

Temporary shelters at the Brisbane showgrounds are now allowing people to bring their pets after the local council reversed an earlier order banning animals.

"We managed to convince the council otherwise, thankfully," he said.

Mr Beatty said the RSPCA relied on donations and said the floods would "seriously stretch" an already tight budget.

To make donations, click here.

Pets perish in rising floodwaters

There is a massive tragedy sweeping Australia this week: many thousands of people are being forced to evacuate their homes as once in a generation floods overwhelm the landscape.  In many cases, people are able to get to safety but their pets may not be so lucky, and obviously larger animals like horses and livestock are even harder to move.   Cairns needs to pay close attention to how this unfolds, as we could face similar challenges in a cyclone/storm surge event.  For the most part there are poor plans in place for pets and animals: most evacuation centres DO NOT take pets, so pet owners and councils need to make better plans in advance to prevent pet loss.

Dallas McMillan
Cairns Veterinary Clinic 

Floods prompt call for pet evacuation laws

By Tim Leslie

Updated 

Fri Jan 7, 2011 3:55pm AEDT

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Slideshow: Photo 1 of 2

Wendy Hilcher from the RSPCA (right) helps to rescue a dog caught by the rising floodwaters in Rockhampton. (AAP: Kelly Watt)

• PHOTO GALLERY: Animals and the Qld floods
• RELATED STORY: Helping hand for sodden animals big and small
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• RELATED STORY: Rockhampton prepares for more rain

The RSPCA is calling on all levels of Government to take pets into account in future flood preparations, as it launches an appeal for donations to feed animals displaced by Queensland's devastating floods.

Spokesman Michael Beatty says while authorities are doing what they can to help animals in need, Australia should take its lead from the United States, where disaster laws regarding pets were introduced in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

"I think down the track the whole situation in regard to domestic animals in particular will probably need to be reviewed," he said.

"We have to now look forward and perhaps view the situation in much the same way as the United States now does.

"They learnt a lot of lessons after Hurricane Katrina there, and now it's enacted in law that provision for pets must be made along with provisions for humans. In other words, there has to be evacuation centres for pets as well as humans, and/or the evacuation centres that are catering for humans also have to cater for pets."

Mr Beatty says while the RSPCA has been able to set up evacuation centres in Rockhampton and Bundaberg, people in smaller towns have been forced to leave their pets behind or in some cases put them down.

"Luckily in Rockhampton and Bundaberg they basically had enough time, so they could make provisions for their pets, or they were able to bring their pets with them," he said.

"Unfortunately in Condamine, and to a certain extent Theodore, the situation wasn't quite as encouraging. There were undoubtedly pets that did die in Condamine because they weren't able to take them out in helicopters at short notice.

"Some of those pets did get left behind in Condamine and you'd have to say presumed perished, and some of the owners took the only action they thought they could and they put the animals down before they left."

He says while it is important the rescue efforts focus on human lives, pets play an important role in helping overcome tragedy.

'Part of the family'

"I think people need to understand how important pets are to people, particularly in a crisis situation," he said.

"And particularly with older people or people who live alone, often that pet is either part of the family, or their entire family.

"And to lose their pet is akin to losing a member of the family, so we just have to understand how important pets are, and also the role that pets can play in helping people get over personal tragedy."

Livestock is at particular risk from the rising waters, with fences cutting off possible escape routes.

Mr Beatty says volunteers have been attempting to help stranded animals.

"We've been trying to get out to animals that have become trapped or stranded," he said.

"Obviously with livestock if they haven't been moved to high enough ground because of the fences and what have you, they can't get to higher ground, so you have to somehow get in and cut the fences and allow those animals to get through to higher ground," he said.

Mr Beatty says farmers hopefully learned the lessons from 2008 floods, but the magnitude of this disaster means losses are inevitable.

"Judging from the carcasses that have been observed floating down the Fitzroy River, there's a lot of livestock that did perish," he said.

"Whether or not it's on the same scale as 2008, you'd have to hope not. Certainly the message went out way before time.

"I think part of the problem with these floods were that they were a lot more severe than was originally anticipated, and perhaps some livestock owners thought 'well, that area didn't go under in 2008 so hopefully the stock will be OK here in 2011'."

But Mr Beatty says the RSPCA is heartened by how native animals have fared in the floods.

"The only slightly encouraging situation is that so far there don't appear to be that many casualties among the wildlife," he said.

"Obviously there are pockets of roos and the like stranded on different high spots throughout the floods. There's going to be a need to get some sort of food to them, especially if we can get to them once the waters start to slightly recede, and the same goes for livestock out there.

"[But] the only native animals that we're seeing in abundance displaced among the city areas because of the floods is obviously snakes and rodents."

People wishing to donate to the RSPCA's flood appeal can go to: www.rspcaqld.org.au.