Heartworms are parasites that are able to live inside the arteries of the lung and chambers of a pet's heart and feed on surrounding blood. In severe cases heartworms can grow up to 30cm long and 2cm thick in populations of over 200. The offspring of a heartworm are more commonly referred to as Microfilariae, which can be found in the blood of an infected pet.

Cats are living longer than ever. With improvements in nutrition, veterinary medicine including vaccines and therapeutic agents, cats are living to over 15 years of age and in some cases over 20 years of age.

General anaesthetics... what every pet owner should know

Some health problems and procedures may require your pet to have a general anaesthetic. These may include surgical and dental procedures, lump removal, radiographs and other conditions.

Your veterinary healthcare team will only recommend an anaesthetic when it is absolutely necessary.

From time to time your dog or cat will require medication such as worming tablets, or antibiotics. Giving tablets to your pet can be tricky business so here's a few tips that can help make medication time less stressful for you and your pet.

The grooming process is an important part of the day for most cats and many are able to keep themselves very clean without a bath. So you do not need to bath your cat, but you can. For some cats bathing assists to keep coat's clean, reduces parasite infections and can make life easier for those humans who are allergic to cats.

Microchipping is a permanent form of identification for your pet. Inserting a microchip is like a vaccination, it only takes a few seconds. The procedure is very safe and your pet will feel little pain. Once done, your pet's details, and your contact address & phone numbers are entered on a national database.

How long does pregnancy last? 

Pregnancy (or the gestation period) lasts for 58 to 63 days in queens. Individual cats may vary but you should inform your veterinarian if your queen's pregnancy exceeds 64 days.

If your pet is scratching or nibbling at their fur does this mean they have fleas? No, not necessarily. Irritated skin can be a result of many problems such as skin diseases, allergies, ear problems and other illnesses. However, it is a good idea to rule out fleas as they are extremely  irritating and when left to breed and multiply, they can cause other related issues such as a flea allergy. Not to mention the fact your entire household and backyard will become a breeding ground for fleas. So how do you tell if your pet has fleas?

Obtaining a urine sample from your pet can be tricky business. If your veterinarian or veterinary nurse has asked you to collect a urine sample from your pet at home, here are some handy tips on how to go about it.

Chlamydophila, Leukaemia, Panleukopenia are just some of the words you may hear your veterinarian referring to when discussing cat diseases in the community.  With a cross between medical terminology and more common names, it can all get a little confusing. So to help out here is a list of the most commonly discussed cat diseases we vaccinate against and some of the names you will hear used.