A common sporting injury that we see in our canine patients here at Double Bay Vet Clinic is injury to the cruciate ligament. There are two cruciate ligaments found internally in each of the stifles or knees of dogs, the cranial and the caudal cruciate ligaments. They function to stabilize the knee and prevent excessive wear and tear to the soft cushioning cartilages that are found in the knee. When our patients injure the ligaments it is almost always the cranial ligament that is either partially or completely torn but, the soft cushioning cartilages can be damaged also. This tearing of the ligament initially results in an acute or instantaneous lameness or limping on the affected hind leg as it is very painful. This lameness and pain can subside over several days to a couple of weeks. If the ligament is completely torn the lameness never completely resolves as the knee remains unstable and this creates pain and arthritis which can become quiet severe with time. Almost always the dogs injure the ligament when running or jumping in the park or are chasing balls as it has been found at and inward rotation of the knee is usually what injures the ligament. With that being said some breeds or individual dogs have a higher chance of cruciate injury to due conformational abnormalities of the stifle. Also older dogs that have arthritis can be a higher risk as the arthritis over time can weaken the ligaments.
So What Can Be Done?
Any acute lameness should be assessed by the Veterinarian. If your dog is limping it’s because it is pain. This although doesn’t necessarily mean it has injured its cruciate ligament. There are a many possibilities that need to be assed and this should be done by your Vet. If it is found that the cruciate ligament has been ruptured surgery is indicated. Without surgery the longer term outcome and use on the affected leg will be poor. The surgery is invasive and recovery times are generally 4-12 weeks depending on the procedure opted for. There are several surgical procedures available for repair of the ruptured ligament but generally speaking the outcome for each is closely the same. The Veterinarian can discuss which is most appropriate for your individual pet. The different procedures either replace the cruciate ligament or otherwise involve changing the dynamics of the knee so as to reduce the instability with which the ruptured ligament has created. Once the procedure has been completed and the standard recovery time has passed then the patient should return to full use of the affected leg without any ongoing issues such as lameness or pain. The resultant arthritis which occurs with any joint injury will be kept to a minimum and your pet will have a very good outcome overall.

By Dr Aiden Picking

Arthritis – an inevitable part of ageing?
As the days are getting shorter and the weather is getting cooler, here at Double Bay Veterinary Clinic we are seeing our fair share of stiff dogs and cats.
What is arthritis?
Normal joints have a layer of cartilage covering the end of the bones. This cartilage acts as a shock absorber and prevents the bones in the joint grinding together. This is helped by joint fluid (also known as synovial fluid), which acts as a lubricant aiding movement.
In arthritis the cartilage layer gets worn away and damaged, this means that rather than having a nice cushion protecting them the bones start rubbing together. This effect is made worse by inflammation in the joints causing the synovial fluid to become thin and watery and no longer acting as a lubricant. This results in pain.
Why do dogs and cats get arthritis?
Trauma – Dogs and cats can develop arthritis if they have injured a joint in their lives e.g. ruptured a cruciate ligament.
Abnormal joints – cats and dogs with underlying problems such as hip dysplasia and patella luxation are more likely than normal animals to develop arthritis with age.
Obesity – obese animals have abnormal amounts of stress and strain on normal joints and so are much more prone to getting arthritis than their slimmer counterparts!
How do I know if my dog or cat has arthritis?
Dogs – we all know the signs of doggy arthritis. The pet that is stiff to get up in the morning and then warms up and is OK. There is often an intermittent lameness that comes and goes and is usually worse after a run or game of ball in the park. Often people notice their dogs slowing down as they get old – but rather than just an inevitable part of ageing, your beloved companion could actually be suffering with arthritis.
Cats – cats are usually much harder to recognize the signs of arthritis is – if your cat is anything like my Sebastian who spends 20 hours a day sleeping on my bed! Cats are the masters of disguising pain and don’t tend to make a fuss like their doggy counterparts!
The most commonly noticed signs of arthritis in cats include:
• Lack of activity – this is often the hardest to recognize! But this is the cat that no longer ventures outside, or has overgrown claws from lack of activity.
• Decreased mobility – rather than jumping down from your work surface in one big jump, you may notice your kitty doing the descent in two stages – e.g. onto a chair and down. Sometimes cats show signs of limping and they can become constipated or have accidents in the house if they are reluctant to spend a long time crouching or are painful entering and leaving the litter tray.
• Lack of grooming – cats may develop scurfy coats and have faeces stuck around their bottoms if they aren’t grooming properly due to a stiff back or hips.
• Lack of interaction – cats may become withdrawn as your usual cuddling and petting can be painful over swollen joints.
What should I do if I think my pet has arthritis?
You should firstly make an appointment to come and see one of the vets at Double Bay Veterinary clinic. On the whole arthritic animals tend to be the older ones in our community and so there may be other underlying illnesses such as kidney problems, diabetes and cataracts going on in your pet. Therefore we recommend at least 6 monthly check ups in any animals over the age of 7, as with a lot of these conditions early diagnosis is the key.
In some cases we will diagnose arthritis in the consultation; however in others we may feel further investigations such as x-rays would be beneficial for your pet.
So my pet has arthritis – what now?
If your pet has been diagnosed with arthritis, the vet will go through a treatment plan specially designed for your animal. Treatment usually consists of a number of things:
1. Weight loss
Arthritic animals should be kept at their ideal weight to try and limit the stress and strain on sore joints.
2. Exercise
The worst thing for an arthritic dog is the weekday couch potato, weekend athlete; this usually ends up with an exceedingly stiff pooch! The best thing is regular moderate walks, these keep the joints moving and active and help with muscle building. Swimming is an excellent form of exercise – but beach water can be too rough so speak to your vet about hydrotherapy.
3. General care
For cats make sure that they can get up and down to their favourite sleeping areas by providing them with steps if needed. Water and food should be easy to get to and litter trays should be easy to access and not high sided.
4. Nutrition and neutraceuticals
Several dietary supplements are available for animals with arthritis. These generally contain glucosamine and chondroitin to help cartilage health.
There are also two prescription diets on the market available from Double Bay; Hills j/d – which contains omega 3 fatty acids – these act as anti-inflammatories, glucosamine and chondroitin and antioxidants to help prevent further damage to the joints. And Royal Canin Mobility Support – which contains green lipped mussel extract which helps joint mobility, omega 3 fatty acids and antioxidants. These diets can really make a difference to your pets quality of life.
5. Medical management
Daily medication
Anti-inflammatory pain relief medication is necessary in a large proportion of animals with arthritis at some point in the disease progression. Before starting this medication it is important that we know what the general health of the animal is like – as they should be used in care with animals with liver or kidney disease, low blood pressure and avoided in any animal with vomiting or diarrhea.
There are a wide range of these medications on the market but the two most often used are meloxicam (Metacam, Boehringer-Ingelheim, http://www.metacam.com/) and Carprofen (Rimadyl, Pfizer, www.rimadyl.com).
Weekly medication
Cartrophen (pentosan polysulphate) – is an injection which is given once a week for a course of 4 injections just like a vaccination. It helps to maintain cartilage health and to slow down the progression of arthritis. It can be used alongside metacam or rimadyl – but it is best if at least 24 hours without medication is left either side of injections.
6. Alternative therapies
A range of alternative therapies are available for arthritis which can be used along with medical treatments these include acupuncture, physiotherapy, hydrotherapy and stem cell therapy. If you are interested in exploring any of these alternative options then please contact Double Bay Veterinary Surgery and we will be happy to discuss these with you.

Dr Julie Brooks BSc, BVSc, MRCVS

This got me thinking about all the things we eat on a daily basis that can cause problems for our furry friends. There are hundreds of things that are toxic to both dogs and cats, so if you are worried about anything they’ve eaten then ring us as soon as they’ve eaten them – this gives us the best chance of Recently we have had a few poisoning cases at Double Bay – mostly rat bait but also a few other toxins. preventing any nasty side effects on what they’ve eaten.
Yummy for us…toxic for them!
There are lots of things that we love to eat that are poisonous to our pets… these include:
Chocolate
We all love a good piece of chocolate and no more so than when the days start to get colder – comfort food anyone?!
However, there are two components of chocolate that are poisonous to dogs – theobromine and caffeine. Dogs that have eaten chocolate show signs of vomiting and diarrhoea, they can drink and urinate more than usual, sometimes they can become wobbly on their legs and this can lead to seizures and death. Different types of chocolate contains different amounts of theobromine, dark chocolate contains the most – with just 30grams of dark chocolate being the fatal dose for a 5kg dog. Signs usually develop within 1-2 hours of ingestion and can last up to 3 days.
If your dog eats any chocolate at all, you should contact us at Double Bay Veterinary Clinic (93634045) as an EMERGENCY.
Remember no matter how little chocolate your dog has consumed always inform your vets as very small amounts can be toxic!
Grapes and Raisins
We all enjoy grapes and a slice of raisin toast with our coffee in the morning – but did you know both these things are toxic to our pets?
Ingestion of grapes and raisins causes lethargy, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhoea, acute kidney failure and may even lead to death. The actual mechanism by which grapes and raisins are toxic is actually not known and at the moment the actions are not thought to be dose dependent. This means that unlike chocolate, we cannot say how many grapes/raisins an individual animal needs to eat to have the toxic effects. Some dogs will be able to eat lots and be fine, some dogs will have one or two grapes or raisins and develop kidney failure.
We are currently unsure if they are poisonous to cats, although there have been two reported cases of kidney failure occurring in cats after ingestion of raisins/grapes.
If your dog or cat eats any raisins/grapes you should contact Double Bay Veterinary Clinic on 93634045 as an EMERGENCY, no matter how few they’ve eaten.
Macadamia nuts
A good Aussie treat….but did you know macadamias are poisonous to our pets?
Macadamia nuts are poisonous to both dogs and cats. As little as 0.7g of nuts per 1kg of body weight can cause clinical signs and these include weakness, vomiting, trembling, weakness, joint pain, tummy pain and a high temperature. Signs usually become apparent within 12 hours of ingestion.
Xylitol – (an artificial sweetener used in chewing gum, toothpaste, some baked goods and some sweets.)
Xylitol helps us having fresh breath in our gum….but can cause some strife to our furry friends.
Xylitol is present in a large range of foodstuffs. Ingestion of xylitol can cause a dangerously low blood sugar – as it causes a large release of natural insulin from the body. This can result in seizures and if untreated death.
As well as seizures there can be vomiting, diarrhoea, weakness and blood clotting issues. Just a small amount can cause clinical signs, so if you are concerned that your puppy may have eaten some xylitol containing products then give us a ring as soon as possible.
Onions and Garlic
We use onions and garlic in hundreds of recipes, so be careful around your pets.
The onion and garlic family contain things called ‘disulphides and thiosulphides.’ When these are broken down in the body, free radicals are produced which can result in damage to the red blood cells and cause anaemia in dogs and cats.
How poisonous they are depends on whether the onion is cooked, dried, fresh or powdered as well as the time of year and species of plant!
Usually treatment is recommended when the ingestion is >0.5% of the animals body weight. Animals can present with vomiting and diarrhoea as well as anaemia, which can potentially be life threatening!
Small amounts of garlic and onions in left overs probably won’t cause harm to dogs but avoid feeding any onion products to cats – as even small amounts are toxic! Contact Double Bay Veterinary Surgery if you have any concerns.
Remember – there are hundreds (if not thousands) of toxic products our pets like to eat. So if you have any questions or are worried about anything your naughty animal has munched on then do give us a call on 93634045.
Dr Julie Brooks BSc, BVSc, MRCVS.

A letter titled ‘No Sign of Ticks’ published in the Wentworth Courier’s Opinion section this week caught our eye. The letter, written by a dog groomer Brett Featon, is probably well intended but unfortunately is misinformed.

Though Mr Featon may not have seen any cases of tick paralysis, we (as described in this recent blog posting) most certainly have. Which makes a certain amount of sense since we are a veterinary practice – the logical choice for dog owners to go to should their dog be showing signs of tick paralysis.

Whilst it is not 100% possible to tell exactly what parks a dog may acquire a tick, there is no doubt that we have treated several dogs for tick paralysis that have not left the Eastern suburbs. The most common parks that the dogs presented are walked in are Cooper and Centennial. We have kept the ticks removed from the dogs in formalin at the practice for inspection should anyone be interested. Happily, all of the dogs have made a full recovery after treatment.

This is a worrying change in the distribution of the problem that has traditionally been isolated to coastal areas to the north and south of the city. It is suspected that a combination of an increase in the number of the local wildlife host population of bandicoots and the high rainfall we have experienced this summer have been contributory factors. Whatever the reason, it is appropriate that pet owners be aware of the risk because the outcome is often fatal if not treated quickly.

That said, pet owners should be reassured that the incidence of this problem is still relatively low. And if some basic precautions are taken they are unlikely to experience a problem.

Our recommendation is that all pets should receive an effective tick preventative and owners perform a daily tick-check from September through April. Concerned pet owners should consult their vet for specific advice about treatment or prevention of paralysis ticks. (The Double Bay Veterinary Clinic recommendation for dogs in the eastern suburbs of Sydney is that they receive a dose of Advantix∗ or Frontline every 2 weeks.)

By following these simple precautions it should be perfectly possible for the dog owners of the Eastern suburbs to continue to enjoy the benefits of the magnificent parklands that Sydney has to offer.

∗Advantix should not be used on cats.

In our last blog this year Dr. Dave gives you all a few tips on how to keep your pets healthy this Christmas, and an update on the tick situation in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs.

Happy Christmas from us all at Double Bay Vet Clinic.

Guide Dogs NSW/ACT held their Wet Nose Day in Centennial Park on Sunday and Double Bay Vet Clinic was there to support a great cause, offering free dental health check ups, behaviour training and healthcare advice to pet owners.

The day was a great success, with hundreds of dog owners enjoying a variety of entertainment that ranged from the fun face painting for kids, to the educational blindfold maze which was used to simulate the conditions visually impaired people have to handle each day.

There were also inspirational talks from a range of local celebrities including Emma Freedman and star of Bondi Vet, Dr Lisa Chimes.

Intensive Training

The guide dogs have one of the most rigorous training programs of any work dogs. This is understandable given the variety and subtly of the work that a guide dog has to undertake reliably each day.

They are placed with puppy carers from eight weeks of age and then, after being carefully nurtured and gently trained, they enter guide dog boot camp at 14 months.

The day they leave the puppy carers to go back to Guide Dogs is a big day for everyone. It’s hard for some to say goodbye after looking after the dogs from eight weeks of age for a full year. The carers watch them grow from the fluffy balls of puppy fun into adult dogs, teaching them good habits along the way.

No wonder they call this day “Tissue Day!” (I don’t think one of us here at the clinic could do it!)

A huge amount of time, money and effort is put in to training each dog. In fact, it takes $30,000 to train just one dog! Amazing eh?

Another interesting fact we didn’t know was that for every 10 puppies that start the training program, only five actually make it through.

Apparently one of the most common things is lack of ability to concentrate. For example, a dog that can’t control itself when it sees another dog or a bird would be a big problem. So if these natural urges can’t be managed then the training doesn’t go further.

Those that do make it go on to add tremendous value to their visually impaired owners.

And don’t worry, for those excitable eddies that don’t make the grade, life isn’t all bad. Any dog that fails is re-homed. And guess who gets first refusal? You got it – the puppy carers.

Having had the pleasure of speaking with quite a few of them last weekend, we’re sure some have secretly got their fingers crossed that their young charge gets to come home. (Though we’re in no doubt that they all take immense pride in seeing their pups become amazing Guide Dogs.)

Talking at the event, Double Bay’s Dr Dave Nicol said, “We’re delighted to be able to support the Guide Dogs. The work they do is amazing and to see so many of their supporters, puppy careers and trainers here today, you really get a feel for the scope of what they have to achieve.”

Guide Dog Etiquette

And so to round off today’s blog. Do you know how to approach and interact with a guide dog? If not then here’s the etiquette guide direct from their website.

It takes a lot of concentration for a person who has impaired vision to work safely with a Guide Dog. To help this team focus on its important work, please follow these tips:
• The Guide Dog must not be the centre of attention. Please don’t pat, feed or otherwise distract the dog when it is working. A well-intentioned pat can undo months of training.
• Please don’t grab the person or the dog’s harness. First ask if they need assistance. Learn more about guiding etiquette.
• When you provide guiding assistance, please walk on the person’s opposite side to the Guide Dog.
• Please make sure your pet dog is on a leash or under control around a Guide Dog. When approaching, it may be polite to let the person know that you have a dog.
• If you see a loose dog, please contact the local council.
• According to government legislation, you must allow a Guide Dog to go anywhere that the person using it can go.

How should a Guide Dog behave around me?
• The Guide Dog should be well behaved at all times, and settled when not working.
• When working, the Guide Dog should avoid temptations such as begging for food, drooling and chewing objects around them.
• The Guide Dog should respond to the user’s commands to maintain its concentration.
• The Guide Dog should be clean, groomed and free of offensive odours.

People who use Guide Dogs have been trained in the most effective ways to control their dog’s behaviour, so please only provide assistance if requested.

Support an Amazing Organisation

We had a great day out, met some amazing pets and people and we checked up the teeth of lots and lots of dogs. Thanks to Guide Dogs for having us, and keep up the good work. See you next time.

And don’t forget that Guide Dogs NSW/ACT do not receive any government funding. So if you want to sponsor a puppy then click on this link. You’ll be glad that you did.