Whats New at Kensington Vet Clinic?

Staff News

Welcome to Kel, our new part time nurse. Kel is an experienced nurse who is currently studying part time. Kel also has an active social commitment to the Women's Circus.

Also joining our staff is Gretl, a 10 year stray cat who came to join us in July. She was starving and the majority of her coat had fallen out. Her ears are also missing - these would have been removed due to skin cancer earlier in her life. She is a lovely girl who gets along well with Squirt (sometimes) and loves nothing more than a cuddle and a pat. Squirt is not sure he is happy to have competition for every one's affection so he will be glad of an extra pat next time you are in.

Jo Williamson and Helen Mason have both been studying hard for mid year exams. Jo is going to graduate as a vet at the end of this year and we'll miss her cheery company.

Julia Malcolm who graduated as a vet last year is enjoying her time in large animal practice in Moe. Kathy and Sarah went to visit her recently in her new home and to check out the lovely countryside in and around Moe.

Congratulations to Charisse and Andrew Manwaring on the birth of their son. Jacob Riley Manwaring came into the world Friday 21 August and has managed to keep his parents very busy since. Both Charisse and Jacob are well and we wish them all the best.

Clinic Specials

Eukanuba are giving away a free mouse shaped cat tent with the purchase of any 3.18kg or larger Iams cat food - while stocks last.

Don't forget the ongoing Revolution Rewards Program. Make sure you pick up a reward card with your next Revolution purchase. Once you have purchased 12 doses of Revolution, you can redeem you card for a free 3 pack.

Pet Care for Spring

With the chill of winter fading and sunny days approaching we start to enter into our itchy pet season.  Allergies to plants, pollens and parasites are worse during the warmer months as many plants start to flower and seed, and our flea population starts to multiply.

Animal skin is a highly dynamic organ that constantly adapts to changes in its environment. It provides the body with a structural, physiologic and immunologic barrier to the outside world. Leading Veterinary dermatologists have recently been discussing the contribution of barrier dysfunction of the skin as a key element in the development of skin ailments.

The health of the normal skin barrier can be compromised by physical damage such as scratching or damage caused by parasites, loss of moisture (usually due to poor shampoos), or inflammation (usually an allergic reaction to plants, pollens or parasites). We may not be able to prevent exposure to some of these things but we can help keep the skin barrier in optimal condition using a balance of correct diet, shampoos and proven products such as Essential Six. By doing so we help to reduce the amount of inflammation and damage to the normal skin barrier.

Essential Six is brought to us by the developers of the PAW range and is a 100% natural blend of essential oils and omega fatty acids proven to improve coat shine and skin condition, reduce dandruff and odour.

Essential Six is ideal for either dogs or cats and is easy to apply via a spot-on pipette.  This product is applied weekly for initial treatments and then every two weeks for maintenance.  Relatively new to Australia, this product has had great success worldwide and we are already seeing some great results here at the clinic.

Your choice of shampoo is very important for your pets' skin health. Human shampoo is not good for animal skin, as human skin is 6 times thicker than dog skin and has a different pH. Please ask any of our staff for advice on shampoos that are safe and effective for your pet. We also stock a range of medicated shampoos for specific skin conditions.

Many premium diets are designed to help protect the normal skin barrier by providing high levels of fatty acids in an appropriate balance. We are happy to discuss diet with you at any time. We also stock a range of prescription diets for specific skin problems.

Don't forget flea control. Fleas damage the skin by causing inflammation and physical trauma from scratching. There are a range of very effective monthly spotons that will help prevent fleas in your environment and on your pet.

Got a great photo of your pet? Send it to us and we will add it to our gallery page.