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Compassionate care for every creature, great and small.
Why you should have your pets microchipped
Every year thousands of family pets — dogs, cats, birds — go missing. For many their fate will be a brief stay in a Council Pound or a shelter where, if their owners cannot be located, they will be euthanised. Others will ‘go bush’ and turn feral, suffering the rigours of what is usually a short and brutal life in the wild and, particularly with feral cats, decimating native wildlife in their efforts to survive.
It doesn’t have to be that way. If they have a microchip implanted your lost pet can usually be reunited with your family within hours. Implanting a microchip in your dog or cat is one of the simplest of all services offered by veterinary clinics. It’s quick, completely safe, requires no surgery or anaesthetic and there are no follow up costs or hospital visits. Once the chip is there the animal is protected for life and any vet, Council or shelter can easily read the chip and locate the animal’s family within minutes.*
Microchipping is also very inexpensive. Many vets, including Alpine Animal Doctors, treat microchipping as essentially a not-for-profit service. The one-off fee covers the cost of the chip and registration on national databases. Many Councils will also offer a discount on annual registration fees for pets that are microchipped.
We strongly urge all of our clients to take advantage of this inexpensive, simple procedure that helps you find your pet should they get lost.
Most microchips are implanted in dogs and cats, the two species most likely to wander, but we can also microchip other species, from pet birds and rabbits to horses and livestock.
In the Alpine Shire it is a Council requirement that all dogs and cats must be microchipped before they can be registered.
If you have any questions or concerns about microchipping your pet(s) we have prepared a comprehensive article and FAQ which details the pros and cons and explains the benefits of microchip technology. Please see Keep Spot Safe, our microchipping project for all Alpine Shire pets.
*Provided that the owner’s address/contact details are kept current on the registration database.
Why you should vaccinate your pet
Vaccinations save lives. A simple series of shots when an animal is young, plus booster shots throughout the life of your pet, will provide protection against a range of serious diseases.
Some of these diseases are transmissible to other animals, and in some cases to people, so you are not only protecting your own furry family you are helping keep the incidence of infectious, life threatening disease outbreaks under control.
There are two types of vaccination used for animals: Core vaccines immunise your pets against the most serious, difficult to treat and transmissible diseases. They are essential for every pet, dog or cat. Non-core vaccines offer protection against milder diseases and/or against conditions which may affect animals in specific circumstances.
Core vaccines for dogs cover parvovirus, distemper and adenovirus. For cats the core vaccines protect against FPV (feline parvovirus), FHV (herpesvirus) and FCV (calcivirus).
In dogs, the non-core vaccines can provide protection against kennel cough (parainfluenza virus and Bordatella br. Bact), corona virus and leptospirosis.
Non-core vaccines for cats protect against FeLV (feline leukemia virus), FIV (feline immunodefficiency virus) and Chlamydophila felis.
The core vaccines are vital for the ongoing health of your pet. Ideally they should be administered to puppies and kittens in two shots, the first at 6 to 8 weeks of age, with a second, adult, shot at 10 to 12 weeks. These vaccinations ‘kickstart’ their immune systems but are short lived and need to be followed by a booster shot at one year old.
After that, your pet will need regular booster shots, usually every year, to ensure ongoing protection (see How often should I vaccinate my pet?). If your pet was not vaccinated as a puppy or kitten they will still benefit from being vaccinated at any age.
The non-core vaccines are equally important to your pet’s health but not every pet will need or benefit from them. In some cases external issues will be the deciding factor, e.g., a boarding kennel will usually insist that a dog has been vaccinated against kennel cough (a C5 or C7 vaccination). In other cases the need will be dictated by where the animal lives and/or what it does. For example, we will always recommend that a working dog be given a C7 vaccination for protection against corona virus and leptospirosis, a nasty disease that’s easily transmissible to humans.
To find out what level of protection and frequency is best for your particular pet you should fully discuss the question of vaccination with Dr Bek. Our in-house pathology facility allows us to test your pet to accurately design an immunisation regime that offers the best protection with minimum risk and cost.
At Alpine Animal Doctors our policy is to ensure that each individual pet receives the optimum protection consistent with keeping them healthy and avoiding potential side effects. We encourage our clients to ask as many questions as they need to be fully informed.
Whether you decide on annual or triennial vaccines, the most important thing you can do is to make sure that your pet receives an annual check up at the hospital.
How much does it cost?
Cost varies depending on the level and frequency of the vaccination/immunisation program you choose for your pet.
In general, costs for annual vaccinations for dogs range from around $50 to $100 per year depending on your required level of vaccination. When you think about vaccinations you need to weigh up the relatively low cost of regular protective measures against the likelihood of a fatal outcome and/or the much higher costs you would incur for emergency treatment should your pet contract one of the serious diseases vaccinations protect against.
The Alpine Animal Doctors is proud to partner once again with the National Desexing Network and the Alpine Shire council to promote responsible pet ownership. We’ve been with NDN for over a decade and we’re so thrilled the Alpine Shire is continuing its support for this valuable and important venture.
In support of responsible pet ownership for the month of July, the Clinic will be offering discounts to the cost of all our desexings and the Alpine Shire has also committed to an additional $50 subsidy* on top of the already discounted pricing.
There has never been a better time to get your pet desexed!
Call the Clinic now on (03) 5756 2444 for further information and bookings.
*pets must be registered with the Alpine Shire Council to be eligible for the the additional $50 subsidy.
DESEXING OPTIONS AND INFORMATION FOR PET OWNERS:
In modern veterinary clinics practicing holistic and integrative medicine desexing is no longer an ‘all or nothing’ approach. These days there are a number of ways in which your pet can be prevented from either becoming pregnant or causing unwanted pregnancies in other dogs and cats. At Alpine Animal Doctors we offer our clients the choice of all of the available desexing options, including the very latest techniques.
Desexing both male and female pets involves a surgical procedure. For many years the procedures used to spay (or spey) or neuter your pet have been limited to the surgical removal of the testes (castration) for male dogs and cats. For females spaying has meant the complete removal of both the ovaries and the uterus, known as an ovariohysterectomy.
Ovariohysterectomy and castration remain the most common methods used to desex an animal in Australia. In recent years however, we have seen mounting evidence that the conventional methods of desexing, particularly ovariohysterectomy in female dogs, may actually be factors in the development of long term negative health impacts and compromised longevity in some breeds.
There is also evidence that, for larger breeds of dog, the age at which your pet is desexed can play a crucial role in ensuring that the healthy growth of your dog is not adversely affected.
To combat the potential health issues which may be caused by ovariohysterectomy and castration alternative procedures have been developed. For male animals we can perform a vasectomy, which renders the dog sterile but leaves the testes intact.
For females an alternative to ovariohysterectomy is an Ovary-sparing spay, or OSS (a hysterectomy), where we remove the entire uterus but leave the ovaries intact. With this technique the dog retains her female hormones, which are now known to play a major role in reducing long term health risks.
While these newer procedures are viable and safe desexing alternatives it’s important to understand that the traditional ovariohysterectomy and castration procedures still have their place. All the available options have their pros and cons. We recommend that you discuss all the options with us before making a decision. Dr. Bek can advise on the benefits and downsides of the various procedures and suggest the most appropriate method and optimum time based on the age, gender and breed of your pet.
If you want to learn more, or compare the various options before talking to us please check out the links on the right (note that these will each open in a new window to allow you compare each procedure).
Regardless of which option you choose, at Alpine Animal Doctors your pet will have a full physical examination prior to surgery to make certain he or she is healthy enough to cope with the operation. The procedure is carried out under a full general anaesthetic. Your pet’s heart rate, respiration, oxygen and anaesthetic levels are continually monitored both electronically and by a trained veterinary nurse, substantially reducing any risk from anaesthesia.
Usually patients are in our hospital for the day of surgery only, going home the same evening. Most patients recover very quickly, feeling entirely feel normal within a couple of days.
Having your dog or cat desexed is one of the most important decisions you can make as a responsible pet owner. Desexing pets is not only the most effective contraceptive, it has also helped to dramatically reduce the numbers of unwanted dogs and cats.
Pathology testing for animals
Accurate testing for a wide range of markers is absolutely vital to the veterinary clinician to aid not only in establishing the baseline health of our patients but to also diagnose specific conditions. However, running a regional veterinary hospital that is around four hours travel from the nearest capital city brings with it some challenges. The tyranny of distance when urgent pathology tests are needed can often be a critical issue. At Alpine Animal Doctors we have met that challenge by investing heavily in our own on-site Pathology Laboratory.
Our in-house pathology lab is one of the best equipped facilities in regional Australia, utilising a range of modern high tech equipment that allows us to undertake an unparalleled array of tests.
Almost 98 per cent of all of our testing procedures are conducted directly on our own premises, a service we believe is unique in regional Victoria. We use the services of external laboratories only for some rarely required specialist biopsy testing that are beyond the scope of all but university veterinary teaching hospital facilities.
Being able to carry out these often critical procedures in our own hospital means that when we test your pet, whether it’s for a simple blood test or for more complex histology, the blood or urine samples never leave our premises. The test processes are completely under our control from start to finish — removing any possibility of degradation of samples during transport, possible contamination at external labs, or your pet’s samples being mixed up with those of another animal.
Having our own lab also helps reduce the costs of testing, making it easier for our clients to justify any additional tests that may be helpful.
The biggest advantage, however, is speed. In most cases we can have your pet’s test results back in just minutes, with even our most complex tests taking little more than an hour. In comparison, it can take a day or more to return results for similar tests from an external laboratory in Melbourne. Since the construction of our path lab getting those results fast has sometimes been the difference between our being able to save the life of an animal or not.
And getting those tests back quickly certainly reduces the anxiety levels for clients anxiously awaiting test results in critical cases.
We are very proud of our pathology facilities — just one more element in our goal of providing a centre of excellence for animal healthcare in the Alpine region.
We can conduct and process more than 75 different tests, directly in the lab. Some of the conditions we can test for include…
- Allergy screening
- Anaemia
- Bone calcium
- Cardiovascular testing
- Congenital conditions
- Diabetes
- Hepatitis
- Infectious Diseases
- Metabolic testing
- Progesterone
- Canine Free T4
- Canine TLI
- Canine Total T4
- Canine TSH
Digital radiology at Alpine Animal Doctors
Radiology (x-ray) is a crucial part of every veterinarian’s arsenal of diagnostic tools. The Radiology Suite at Alpine Animal Doctors is equipped to provide our clients with exceptional levels of radiography services.
Our modern, fully digital x-ray equipment completely eliminates old-fashioned film, providing incredibly detailed images on a medical grade computer monitor.
With these images we can not only see far more detail than we could ever get from a film, using specialised software we can zoom in on small areas, rotate an image, and accurately measure things like the length of a break in a bone, or the displacement of a joint.
Digital x-ray images are also available instantly, meaning your pet needs to be sedated for the shortest possible period and minimising risk of complications.
All of these things mean we can offer our clients an extensive range of radiology services at a very affordable cost.
We can x-ray an area as small as a single tooth or as big as the entire spinal cord of a medium-sized dog.
Because the level of detail is so much greater we can now use digital x-rays to assist in the diagnosis of many conditions including scans of soft tissue. The primary use however remains the imaging of skeletal conditions.
Radiology imaging services are available for everything from examining the level of bone density and measuring the extent of degradation caused by arthritis to diagnosing congenital bone defects and, of course, providing crystal clear images of broken bones.
One of our more frequent uses of x-rays is as a tool to help establish hip scores in dogs. Hip scoring is a method of predicting the level of predisposition for a particular dog to develop hip dysplasia, and subsequently, Osteoarthritis (OA).
Although it’s used primarily by breeders and by the veterinary profession to establish a database of breeds prone to hip dysplasia, hip scoring can also be an important tool for any dog owner. With our pets living longer than ever before the incidence of painful Osteoarthritis is increasing. There is a large genetic component contributing to the possibility of your dog developing this painful degenerative disease.
While every breed has some propensity to hip dysplasia some breeds fare better than others. And, within breeds, individual dogs will score higher when they have been bred from parents with good hip scores.
Testing for hip dysplasia scores uses specific x-ray views which are sent to specialist centres in the USA for scoring by expert consultant radiologists and, as recommended by PennHIP, to consulting radiologists here in Australia. The use of digital x-rays for hip scoring helps ensure more accurate readings and a faster turnaround time than conventional film. The ability to send an x-ray to a referral specialist via email also cuts down the time needed to get results.
At Alpine Animal Doctors we use the PennHIP method, developed over 20 years ago at the University of Pennsylvania, and, by any measure, far more accurate than the older AVA method. Dr Bek is one of only a few hundred vets, out of around 8,000 practising in Australia, certified in the use of the PennHIP scoring sysyem.
Whether your pet has a broken leg and needs an x-ray prior to orthopaedic surgery, requires cruciate ligament repair or you are a breeder keen to get accurate hip scores for your dogs, our modern radiology suite can give you the answers.
Endoscopy at Alpine Animal Doctors
Unlike people, our patients can never tell us how they’re feeling, and we can’t ask them where it hurts. For a veterinary clinic that means having every possible diagnostic tool available to us becomes far more important than it might be to your own GP. At Alpine Animal Doctors we are not limited to the usual ultrasound and x-ray facilities found at most vet clinics. Our patients also have access to leading edge diagnostic facilities, including endoscopy and arthroscopy.
Basically, endoscopy allows us to look inside your pet’s body without the need for invasive surgery. The device we use — an endoscope — has either a rigid or flexible tube — which can be as long as two metres to travel the full length of your pet’s intestines — a light to illuminate the area we are examining, a lens and an eyepiece.
Depending on the procedure additional instruments such as grasping forceps, snares and biopsy forceps can be fitted. We can also fit tiny video cameras that allow us to watch our journey through the innards of your pet on a monitor.
We use endoscopy in conjunction with pathology analysis, radiography and ultrasound to help us make a definitive diagnosis and to formulate a treatment/therapeutic plan for the patient. Using endoscopy we can closely examine the oesophagus, stomach, the small and large intestine, upper and lower respiratory tract and other internal organs, allowing us to perform cancer biopsies, diagnose inflammatory bowel disease, stomach ulcers, colon polyps and much more, without referring your pet to specialist services that may involve hours of travel for you and your pet, as well as additional cost.
Apart from its immense value in diagnostics we also use endoscopic techniques for treatments which once required more traumatic surgery.
Using specialised endoscopes we can perform a number of minimally invasive treatments as well as take biopsies, and treat fluid build-up in the lungs. An endoscope can also be used to insert long-term feeding tubes into the stomach of animals who are too ill to eat.
Compared to other surgical techniques endoscopic procedures are far easier on the patient. Some procedures, including evaluating the digestive and respiratory systems, are entirely nonsurgical and require no incisions. Used by a skilled veterinarian complications from endoscopy are very rare, pain and recovery time is considerably reduced and there is usually no post-surgical discomfort, reducing the need for medication.
While your pet will still need a general anaesthetic for an endoscopic procedure, in almost all cases the cost will be less than that for conventional surgery to achieve the same result. And your pet will be back on its feet and running around in the shortest possible time.
Flexible endoscopy can be used for:
- Endoscopy: an examination of the oesophagus, stomach, and upper intestine.
- Bronchoscopy: an examination of the lower airways.
- Colonoscopy: examining the transverse colon, ascending colon, cecum, large bowel, and rectum.
Rigid endoscopy is used for:
- Arthroscopy: examining soft tissue structures and joint cartilage
- Cystoscopy: examining the vagina, urethral opening, urethra, bladder, and ureteral openings.
- Laparoscopy: an examination of the abdominal cavity to obtain liver and kidney biopsy samples.
- Proctoscopy: an examination of the large bowel and rectum.
- Rhinoscopy: an examination of the nasal cavity.
Ultrasound at Alpine Animal Doctors
The use of ultrasound has become a fairly routine 
diagnostic tool in veterinary medicine. At Alpine Animal Doctors we use modern, highly efficient full doppler colour ultrasound devices and have both fixed and mobile ultrasound available.
Ultrasound scans, or sonograms, operate on the same principle as the sonar used on ships at sea and by mammals such as bats. High-frequency sound waves are reflected by the patient’s tissues and used to form images of tissues within the body, which are then recorded and displayed as a visual image on a computer screen. Because the images are being generated in real time, events such as blood flow, heartbeat and gastrointestinal movement can be observed as they occur.
Ultrasound is useful in far more conditions than its familiar role in pregnancy. Used together with digital radiology, baseline blood tests and urine analyses from our Pathology Lab, ultrasound provides an invaluable, safe, non-invasive diagnostic aid that is now a regular component of the thorough workups we provide for all of our patients.
We use abdominal ultrasound to examine organs including the liver, gall bladder, spleen, kidneys, bladder, prostate, uterus, ovaries, adrenal glands, stomach, and intestines. A properly conducted and accurately read ultrasound can help pinpoint the cause of many of the pet health issues we regularly come across, such as vomiting, abnormal urination and unexplained weight loss.
Ultrasound or echocardiograms have also revolutionised the early detection of heart disease and effective medical management of specific cardiac diseases.
Ultrasound is not some magic bullet, however. It can be very easy for an inexperienced operator to misinterpret an ultrasound image — for example, to mistake gas bubbles in the colon for bladder stones. It takes rigorous training and experience to master the skills needed to locate and examine the various organs and tissues and to be able to correctly identify any abnormalities.
An inadequate or incorrectly interpreted ultrasound can lead to misdiagnosis and possibly incorrect treatment, which can be very dangerous for your pet.
Ultrasound should be carefully and appropriately used, as part of an arsenal of diagnostic aids, including pathology, radiology and more specialised services such as endoscopy. At Alpine Animal Doctors we regularly use all of these techniques to help us discover and treat whatever condition your pets may be suffering from.
We have extensive training and years of experience in the generation and interpretation of sonograms and our clients can rest assured that when their pet needs an ultrasound they will receive professional treatment and an accurate diagnosis.
Soft tissue surgery at Alpine Animal Doctors
When a much loved pet requires surgery it can be a scary time for the animal’s owner. Utilising our state-of-the-art surgical suite together with integrated support from our anaesthesia, diagnostic and intensive care facilities, our animal hospital is equipped to ensure your pet receives an exceptionally high standard of care when they need soft tissue surgery.
The Alpine Animal Doctors soft tissue service provides skilled treatment for dogs, cats and other species needing surgery for ear, nose and throat, gastrointestinal, urogenital, respiratory, thoracic and cardiac diseases.
We also provide treatment for animals requiring surgery for congenital disease, cancer and the repair and reconstruction of traumatic injuries.
Wherever possible soft tissue surgery is performed using minimally invasive techniques — ‘keyhole surgery’ — minimising post-operative pain and helping reduce possible post-surgical complications.
We pride ourselves not only on our exceptional surgical facilities but also on the very strict protocols we have in place to maximise the safety and wellbeing of your pet during any operation. While we can never completely eliminate the risks inherent in any surgical procedure we go much further than most veterinary clinics in our efforts to ensure the best possible surgical outcome for your pets.
Prior to surgery all our patients receive a thorough health check. Blood tests and other appropriate pathology are run to check internal organ function and to establish a health baseline. These tests are all conducted in our own in-house pathology lab and allow us to more precisely refine the type and level of sedation, induction and gas anaesthetics your pet will need during their operation.
Our surgical prep area — where your pet will be sedated, clipped and shaved prior to their operation — is separate to the operating theatre for maximum hygiene. All surgical instruments are sterilised before and after use in a separate scrub and pack area and everything to be used in the procedure, including swabs and sutures, is counted before and after surgery.
The surgical suite itself is a closed, sterile environment with its own climate control and air filters. Our anaesthesia gas lines are also fitted with viral and bacterial filters to eliminate the possibility of cross-contamination.
Our ‘standard’ gas anaesthetic is the tried and trusted isoflurane. We are however more and more recommending the use of sevoflurane, particularly for senior animals and for very ill patients. Sevoflurane is rapidly metabolised and very quickly removed from the body once the gas is turned off. We have had remarkable results using it, with animals up and about and back to normal within minutes.
During surgery your pet will be closely monitored, both by an experienced theatre nurse and by electronic monitors that provide detailed information on heart rate, breathing rate, blood pressure, ECG, oxygen levels and the type and amount of anaesthetic agent. This critical information allows the surgeon to note slight changes in blood pressure and ECG that can indicate impending issues, even though the patient may appear perfectly fine to the naked eye.
Once the operation is over your pet will be transferred to either our day surgery recovery ward or our Intensive Care Unit. In both wards all patients enjoy a quiet space to recuperate and are constantly monitored during their recovery.
All our surgical patients are routinely given pain relief and long-acting antibiotics to ensure their comfort and post operative welfare. The pain relief provides 24 hours of active cover and the antibiotics continue to protect your pet whilst they are convalescing.
When soft tissue surgery is essential we think that your pets deserve exactly the same level of care as you would want for yourself. At Alpine Animal Doctors, that’s exactly what they will receive — highly skilled, professional surgical care in facilities at least as good as those found in university teaching hospitals.
Some of the soft tissue procedures we undertake include…
- Ovariectomy/ovariohysterectomy.
- Cryptorchidectomy.
- Cystotomy in dogs/cats.
- Preventative treatment of gastric dilation and volvulus (twisted stomach or GDV) syndrome.
- Removal of the kidney and ureter for chronic pyelonephritis/abcess, neoplasia, dysplasia of the kidney.
- Gall bladder removal.
- Pericardectomy.
- Lung biopsy or lung lobe removal.
- Cranial mediastinal mass biopsy or mass resection.
- Thoracic duct ligation.
Orthopaedic surgery at Alpine Animal Doctors
Alpine Animal Doctors specialise in orthopaedic surgery. Whether it is a simple fracture, a complex bone plating or a complete knee reconstruction our surgical facilities are equipped to deal with even the most arduous of orthopaedic operations.
Dr. Bek has a special interest in orthopaedic surgery and many years experience, collaborating with colleagues around the world to help advance the practice of this vital branch of veterinary surgery. She has been invited to assist Dr Wing Tip Wong, Consultant Surgeon in Orthopaedics and Neurosurgery at the University of Melbourne and collaborates with peer groups at the University of Pennsylvania and at Michigan State University.
Utilising our custom-built surgical suite and our extensive diagnostic and radiology facilities, the hospital undertakes surgery to deal with traumatic fractures, inherited orthopaedic conditions such as hip and elbow dysplasia as well as developmental problems such as cruciate ligament ruptures, patellar luxation, and bony deformities of the limbs.
We use only the finest Stryker tools in our orthopaedic procedures. In many veterinary surgeries tools such as bone saws, drills and chisels will be sterilised and re-used after surgery, sometimes twice, sometimes considerably more.
In our hospital all of our surgical tools are used once and then discarded. We insist on this because while the medical grade stainless steel used in the manufacture of these tools is of very high quality, despite sterilisation it is still possible for bacteria to remain viable in very tiny nicks and scratches in the steel. In keeping with our strict hygiene protocols we will not risk the possibility of cross-contamination affecting your precious pet.
We pride ourselves not only on our exceptional surgical facilities but also on the very strict protocols we have in place to maximise the safety and wellbeing of your fur babies during any operation. While we can never completely eliminate the risks inherent in any surgical procedure we go much further than most veterinary clinics in our efforts to ensure the best possible surgical outcome for your pets.
Prior to surgery all our patients receive a thorough health check. In our own in-house pathology lab blood tests and other appropriate pathology are run to check internal organ function and to establish a health baseline. These tests allow us to more precisely refine the type and level of sedation, induction and gas anaesthetics your pet will need during their operation.
For maximum hygiene our surgical prep area — where your pet will be sedated, clipped and shaved — is separate to the operating theatre. All surgical instruments are sterilised before and after use in a separate scrub and pack area and everything to be used in the procedure, including swabs and sutures, is counted before and after surgery.
The surgical suite itself is a closed, sterile environment with its own climate control and air filters. Our anaesthesia gas lines are also fitted with viral and bacterial filters to eliminate the possibility of cross-contamination.
Our ‘standard’ gas anaesthetic is the tried and trusted isoflurane. We are however more and more recommending the use of sevoflurane, particularly for senior animals and for very ill patients. Sevoflurane is rapidly metabolised and very quickly removed from the body once the gas is turned off. We have had remarkable results using it, with animals up and about and back to normal within minutes.
During surgery your pet will be intensely monitored, both by an experienced theatre nurse and by electronic monitors that provide detailed information on heart rate, breathing rate, blood pressure, ECG, oxygen levels and the type and amount of anaesthetic agent. This critical information allows the surgeon to note the very slight changes in blood pressure and ECG that can indicate impending issues, even though the patient may appear perfectly fine to the naked eye.
Once the operation is over your pet will be transferred to either our day surgery recovery ward or our Intensive Care Unit. In both wards all patients enjoy a quiet space to recuperate, and are constantly monitored during their recovery.
All our surgical patients are routinely given pain relief and long-acting antibiotics to ensure their comfort and post operative welfare. The pain relief provides 24 hours of active cover and the antibiotics continue to protect your pet whilst they are convalescing.
Our operating theatre is at least as well equipped to undertake even the most complex orthopaedic surgery as most regional hospitals used by people. We believe that your pets deserve the same level of care as you would want for yourself. At Alpine Animal Doctors, that’s exactly what they will receive — highly skilled, profe
Dental health for dogs and cats
Oral health care for pets is vitally important for your pet’s overall wellbeing — just as important as keeping your
own teeth and gums healthy.
Unfortunately, all too many people are unaware of the serious health issues that can arise when your pet suffers from unhealthy teeth and gums. It’s led to a crisis in animal oral health in Australia, with four out of every five dogs having some degree of gum disease, dental plaque, tartar or gingivitis. For cats the figures are even worse, approaching epidemic proportions.
Apart from the risks of serious long term health issues arising from poor oral health your fur babies can also suffer toothache. Mostly they will suffer in silence but the pain and discomfort they experience can be severe — another good reason for regular pet dental care.
Alpine Animal Doctors offer an extensive range of pet dental care. In our purpose-built dental surgery we can provide treatment to fix most oral health issues, from a scale and polish of your pet’s teeth to extractions to surgery to remove tumours and abcesses affecting an animal’s gums.
When your pet visits us for dental treatment it’s a little more involved than when you go to your own dentist for a routine visit.
Animals undergoing dental procedures must have a general anaesthetic before we can safely delve into that forest of sharp fangs. Just like your own dentist we may also need a series of x-rays that gives us a clear picture of each tooth, using digital equipment specially designed for dental radiology.
Because the bacteria in plaque and tartar can cause major damage to the heart and kidneys your pet may be given a short course of antibiotics prior to their dental appointment. Generally we will also take a blood test, particularly in older pets, to ensure the kidneys have not been compromised.
Despite all of these additional checks and procedures oral health care for your pets will usually cost considerably less than your own dentist charges you. In most cases the cost can be largely covered by pet health insurance if you have cover.
The best way to avoid the possibility of your pet ever needing extensive dental work is to make sure you book them in for a regular annual dental checkup, a simple, inexpensive procedure that can avoid a lot of problems further down the track. Prevention is always better — and usually cheaper — than leaving treatment too long.
You can find a more extensive explanation of the oral health issues pets may suffer in the Winter 2011 issue of our Talk with the Animals newsletter. Clients are also always encouraged to call us if you have any questions.
In addition to our in-house pet dental services we also offer on-farm dental treatment for horses and large animals, including portable x-rays.
Breeding services at Alpine Animal Doctors
Alpine Animal Doctors are experts in reproductive issues, genetics and inheritable conditions. We offer a wide range of specialist services to registered breeders and individuals wishing to ensure successful conception and whelping.
Our services include fertility testing and health checks of mother and babies throughout the pregnancy using our ultrasound facilities.
We can help with natural, artificial and surgical insemination, using fresh, chilled or frozen semen, and assist in birthing, including Caesarian surgery and post-whelping management and care.
Fertility testing: The most common reason for a failure to fall pregnant is a mis-timed mating. Using the testing facilities in our own Pathology Lab we can measure the progesterone level of your bitch to ascertain the optimal time for mating.
Studies have shown that observing days in season, discharge colour, vulva size or male interest are all inaccurate methods of assessing when a bitch is ready to mate, and that progesterone assays greatly increase conception rates. Using an immunoassay machine to measure the serum progesterone levels of in-season bitches means they can be inseminated at precisely the correct time, maximising their chances of a successful pregnancy.
Reproductive treatments: For animals with suspected reproductive problems we can perform a complete diagnostic work up including uterine biopsies, ovarian follicular flushing and examination for ovarian cysts or cancers.
Semen collection service: We offer a full semen collection service. On most days we will have an in-season bitch in the hospital to act as a ‘teaser’ or you can bring your own seasonal bitch. If you intend to do this please advise us when you book your appointment, and be sure you keep the prospective sire and bitch well separated while travelling, preferably in a separate trailer.
If there are known or suspected fertility problems we can carry out a full investigative program and a detailed semen assessment.
Semen collection and assessment appointments generally take no more than 30 minutes.
Semen freezing service: Our clinic is fully certified to use the Camelot semen freezing/storage system and we use only the high quality Camelot extenders to produce pelleted semen packaged into screw capped vials, with each vial containing one insemination unit.
Freezing a semen collection takes about two hours to complete. When the final pellets are formed we thaw one to assess its post thaw motility. A pellet thawed immediately after full freezing has occurred will have exactly the same characteristics as when thawed after a month, a year or ten years. From this ‘test’ pellet we can calculate how many ‘splits’ are feasible.
When contemplating having the semen of a prospective sire frozen you should consider his recent history. Ideally he should have had a mating or a semen collection in the two months prior to your collection appointment. If he has gone six months or more without sexual activity the initial semen sample may be of inferior quality. If you need advice or assistance in establishing the optimal time please contact Dr. Bek.
Moving overseas with your pets? Alpine Animal Doctors are also fully AQIS Certified and can assist with import and export of both live animals and semen.
At the hospital we have our own small research centre, where we undertake projects aimed at advancing veterinary treatments for animals everywhere. For more information see Discover our genetic research lab.
AQIS services at Alpine Animal Doctors
If you are planning to take your pet out of Australia, whether for a short period or for permanent emigration, or are a breeder wishing to export animals overseas, there are various regulations and procedures you must comply with under Australia’s Export Control Act 1982 before your pet can travel overseas.
All live animals leaving Australia will need a veterinary inspection before export and most countries require various levels of treatment, testing and vaccinations before an animal can be imported.
Only an AQIS accredited veterinarian can provide the necessary certification needed for companion animal exports. Dr. Bek is fully certified by AQIS (Australian Quarantine & Inspection Service) and Alpine Animal Doctors are familiar with both export and import requirements and can assist you through the whole export process.
You should contact us to discuss your plans well in advance of your intended date of export, particularly if an animal is going to a country that requires a rabies vaccination. We suggest you allow at least a 6 to 8 week period for planning.
For some countries you should talk to us earlier. For example, the UK’s Pet Passport system can eliminate the need for your animal to spend time in quarantine before you can be reunited. However, to take advantage of the Pet Passport scheme the required tests must be commenced at least 8 months before your departure.
If you intend to take an animal overseas, contacting us should be one of the first things you do once you have made the decision. The earlier the better.
Important! If you are travelling with your pet and intend to bring it back to Australia it is vital that you discuss this with us before your pet leaves the country. Animals cannot be imported, or re-imported, back into Australia from some countries. If you plan to return to Australia with your pet within 6 months of export all preparations and permits must be obtained prior to leaving.
All countries have their own specific requirements before an animal can be imported. You can check these for yourself on the AQIS website, or we are happy to advise you of the requirements of a particular country.
For most countries the requirements involve a range of health checks, testing and certification as well as up to date vaccinations.
Please note that all animals to be exported must have an ISO approved microchip implanted before any pre-export testing can be done.
Live animal export procedures can be daunting to the average pet owner, and even to breeders. While they can be complex they are like most things when dealing with government departments — relatively straightforward when you know how. We organise animal exports regularly and are familiar with the regulations and requirements. Please feel free to contact us for advice so we can help make what can be a frightening experience for a dog or cat, as well as a worrying time for an owner, as easy and relaxed as possible.
Senior pet health at Alpine Animal Doctors
The enormous advances in veterinary medicine and pet food formulations in recent years have been major contributors to our pets living longer, and staying active and healthy well into what we once thought of as ‘old age.’
It’s a wonderful thing that our much loved and loyal companions are staying at our sides for longer than ever before. At the same time, as we gradually lift the average lifespan into ever more giddy heights, it’s also true that we vets are seeing an increasing incidence of the specific diseases associated with ageing.
In many ways these trends are mirroring what’s happening in our human population. Our older patients are more frequently presenting with obesity problems, arthritis, prostate and urinary issues, heart and kidney disease, diabetes and various cognitive disorders remarkably similar to dementia in people.
And, also just as in human age-related medicine, with a planned diet, adequate levels of exercise and, where appropriate, suitable medication, a veterinarian skilled in geriatric animal care can help your ageing pet stay healthy, happy and physically active throughout their senior years.
Dr Bek has been closely involved in geriatric animal healthcare for a number of years now and can offer clients who live with older pets a detailed knowledge of this specialised branch of veterinary medicine.
Our Senior Pet Wellness Care program includes extensive pathology testing to accurately determine if your pet is suffering from any age-related diseases, scans and x-rays to establish the level of any joint or cartilage degeneration, diet and nutrition planning, and the development of an individual treatment plan designed to provide maximum control of any symptoms.
If you have a precious pet who is showing some signs of slowing down a little, of aches and pains or changes in their behaviour patterns, bring them to see us. There is so much we can do these days to eliminate or alleviate most of the effects of growing older.
We also recommend that senior pets have more frequent examinations, usually every 6 months, or the rough equivalent of you seeing your doctor for a check up once every two to three years after you turn sixty.
Vet monitored boarding at Alpine Animal Doctors
When your pets are an integral and important part of your family it can sometimes be a challenge to find appropriate and trusted facilities when you have to be away from home and cannot take your fur babies with you.
It can be particularly difficult when your pet suffers from medical conditions that need regular, controlled medication or specific daily treatments. It might be because of diabetes, hyperthyroid cats or renal (kidney) conditions.
In these circumstances many caring pet parents worry that their pet may not be receiving appropriate treatments when they must spend time in a boarding kennel. In some cases responsible kennel managers will recognise that they are not equipped to provide specific treatment protocols and will not accept animals with certain conditions.
Although our Animal Hospital is definitely not a pet boarding kennel we do offer limited facilities for medically monitored short term stays for dogs and cats with specific conditions.
When they are boarded with us your pets will be monitored by qualified veterinary nurses who are familiar with their medical history and with any specific dietary requirements. A veterinarian will also always be available if more extensive medical intervention is required. All of our guests receive individual care and attention.
Animals are individually housed in comfortable, spacious kennels and have access to companionship, outdoor areas and regular, controlled exercise.
Please note that we can only accept animals for medically monitored boarding if they are diabetic, diagnosed with hyperthyroidism or have renal disease. Animals must also have up to date and appropriate vaccination certificates. This generally means that they must be vaccinated against any diseases that may be transmissible to other animals or to humans. We will discuss your pet’s vaccination status with you when you make a booking enquiry.
Boarding your pets at Alpine Animal Doctors means you can leave home secure in the knowledge that whatever dietary, medical or clinical management they require will be strictly adhered to by our caring and compassionate staff.
Acupuncture at Alpine Animal Doctors
While all of the advanced technology we use at Alpine
Animal Doctors plays a vital role in helping keep your fur babies healthy, we also believe there is more to veterinary medicine than technology.
We believe that the delivery of better animal health care should mean that the full gamut of tried and tested treatments are available to our clients. Our philosophy is to approach the treatment of all of our patients in a fully holistic and integrated way.
The drugs, medications and techniques available to the veterinarian these days are remarkable but if we can achieve our goal of making your pet well again using drug free treatments we will do so, with the agreement of the client. That might be through nutrition and diet, physical therapy or psychology. If a ‘natural’ therapy works, we will use it, where appropriate.
One drug free treatment we have success with is acupuncture. Dr. Bek is one of relatively few vets in Australia fully qualified in the modern form of this ancient Chinese technique and has been using it for some years, finding it effective in many treatments and many species, including dogs, cats and horses.
Modern acupuncture involves much more than inserting needles into specific points in meridians of the body. Other forms of acupuncture use laser pens, which are particularly good for thin skinned dogs or pets that don’t tolerate needles well. We also have a TENS machine in the hospital, for electrical stimulation of points, a form of acupuncture that allows increased stimulation and may be a better modality for more chronic conditions.
For pets suffering from chronic conditions that respond well to needling we also use gold bead insertion, particularly for dogs with hip or elbow dysplasia and mares with nymphomania, allowing constant stimulation of points without return visits.
Most acupuncture treatments require between four and eight weekly visits, with ‘top ups’ every six months if required. The more chronic the condition, generally the longer the course of treatments needed. The initial consult can last up to half an hour but subsequent treatments only about 15 minutes.
We have successfully used acupuncture for everything from whelping difficulties, anxiety, shock and arthritis to improving health in pets with renal failure, and even improving racing performance in greyhounds. We can also use acupuncture on patients who are in the hospital for any length of time. It’s an effective way to naturally increase endorphins in the body, creating a sense of wellbeing, reducing pain and inflammation and making your pet feel more comfortable.
Acupuncture, properly used, has proven to be a really useful adjunct to veterinary treatments. It is not for all animals, nor for all conditions, but where appropriate it can offer an effective and practical way to improve health and reduce disease, with the benefit of zero side effects.
If you believe your animals may benefit from acupuncture therapy please call the hospital to discuss the available options.