Only one food has been associated with megaoesophagus, and it has been recalled after the deaths of a number of dogs including Police Dogs. READ HERE and HERE

Interested in what megaoesophagus and what it means to a dog? READ HERE

Can pet retailers be sued for providing food that hurts pets? It’s the brand that is responsible for the safety of your pet food, not the retailer. If you are a small brand, you can be put out of business if you are sued. Talk to us about insurance options if you are making your own pet foods or treats.

Heat exhaustion, not just heat stress,  is causing problems with the extended and very hot and dry weather in Qld, NSW, SA and Vic. While most trained pet people can identify heat stress (remember, NO TOWELS!), heat exhaustion can be harder to identify, but just as deadly. Different to heat exhaustion in humans, it happens when there have been multiple days of hot weather PLUS hot nights that do not allow the animal to recover. These animals are often only marginally dehydrated (and you may not notice), but become lethargic, depressed, off food. Often they are found in the morning “dead in their basket” and it’s a particular issue for very young, old, overweight and brachycephalic pets. It’s a particular problem for pet industry business, particularly for pet sitting/minding (where subtle changes may not be noticed if the animal is only seen for short periods daily, or cats held in hothouses for many days at a time;   boarding businesses (where hot facilities may take a while to cool down at night) and grooming salons (where the heat inside the salon can tip an animal “over the edge).

Deal with it by working hard to allow the animal to cool down and sleep soundly overnight –eg by cooling gel bedding, air conditioning, low-energy foods. Minimise exercise in all forms, and keep the animal hydrated by “drink treats” (eg 25% lactose-free milk in water), or “icy poles” (frozen water or frozen “drink treats”. Be very aware of the association between heat exhaustion and lethargy or visible dehydration (gum assessment, for those who have done their Pet First Aid course) and get the animal to the vet as soon as possible if signs are seen – do not wait. Sometimes I/V fluids can be lifesaving, as can rest overnight in an air-conditioned surgery!

Oatmeal isn’t as safe as you might think! Everyone knows that Oatmeal is “soothing” and “gentle” , right? That’s why it’s included in everything from soaps to shampoos to ear cleaners. For some angry skins, it can be “soothing” and reduce redness and irritation.

BUT oatmeal is also an allergen. Animals and humans who are prone to allergies can develop allergy to oatmeal, and it’s relatively common. Like all allergies, it usually develops over time with multiple exposures, with the reaction getting worse each time.

The oatmeal allergy is associated with:  

• Skin irritation and redness, including in the ear (for oatmeal ear cleaners)
• Itching and scratching, which can be severe
• Hair loss
• Licking and chewing skin
• Thickening and ulceration of skin in long standing cases
• In some cases, other symptoms including breathing difficulty, red and swollen eyes, and sneezing

HERE’S THE PROBLEM.   For most of these symptoms, groomers and even some veterinarians would recommend oatmeal shampoos, ear cleaners or other oatmeal products!

HERE’S WHAT TO DO – Don’t throw out your oatmeal yet! Oatmeal products can still be soothing and give the coat a lovely texture. So do this:

1. Only use oatmeal products when there is a reason. Don’t use them for general use, but use when there is red or angry skin with no past history of oatmeal use
2. Monitor after use. If you use an oatmeal product, ask the client when they present again whether the oatmeal treatment you used last time helped.
3. Be sensitive to the issue of potential oatmeal allergy. If a client reports “red skin” or “scratching” after you have used oatmeal don’t take chances – mark that pet’s record as NO OATMEAL. After all, YOU are legally responsible if you continue to use oatmeal products when you know the pet might be allergic
4. Refer animals to appear to have skin reactions to oatmeal to a vet for allergy testing. You may have to provide this article to the veterinarian because oatmeal product producers are NOT telling their clients about this risk.
5. BE CAREFUL YOURSELF! Groomers get oatmeal allergies just like animals. A dog might see an oatmeal shampoo only once every couple of months, but a groomer might be exposed 10 times per day! If your hands become red or blotchy and itch after oatmeal product use, consider switching to other products. Tell other groomers about this issue, we are all part of an industry and quality, science-based knowledge is power!

A quick note that Westies can be very susceptible to yeast skin infections (Malassezia) . Hair is lost, skin is dry and flaky and may also host bacterial secondary infection and itchiness. It can also occur in association with Cushing’s disease, which many groomers already deal with.

This MUST be seen by a veterinarian. Cushings animals with skin problems that are not getting better should be referred for skin scrapings in case a yeast infection has started. DO NOT persist with washing/treating these animals for more than a couple of weeks without proper diagnosis. Animals with Cushings with no yeast infection will have thin skin with hair loss that is otherwise in reasonable condition.

Treatment for yeast based skin conditions normally includes specialist anti-yeast topical treatments (NOT shampoos) and/or oral treatments.

Winter is coming and therefore so is Canine Cough season. Remember that vaccines can only reliably provide 12 months protection; that the vaccine is only about 85% effective so all animals in the community must be vaccinated to protect non-responders; and that Bordetella is everywhere, not just in kennels. Dog parks, obedience clubs, off-leash beaches, grooming salons, pet minding, pet sitting and even pet shops that allow you to bring in your dog are risk areas.

NOW is the time to check vaccination certificates for all pets coming into your pet business, NOW is the time to remind clients that vaccination is needed. Being a responsible member of the pet industry also means educating your clients.

Remember, getting your dog boosted for Canine Cough can also improve the human’s immunity to Whooping Cough. There is an association between immunity to one and the other, so thank your dog for sneezing all over you on the way home from nasal vaccination at the vet’s!;  so it’s not only going to protect the dogs but might also help the people, including your staff!