Category Archives for General Information

How to calm a dog or cat during a thunderstorm

If your pet suffers from anxiety during storm season then here are some tips to calm a dog or cat and keep them safe :

1.  If they are likely to become distraught and possibly tip their water bowl over during storms, then be sure to use a heavy based bowl or bucket so that their water supply isn’t compromised.

2.  Ensure they have a protected and sheltered area to stay out of the storm.

3.  If loud noises such as thunder and fireworks create anxiety consider keeping your pet indoors as much as possible during those times to not only prevent damage to your property but also to prevent harm coming to your pet. 

4.  Ensure your pet has a collar with name tag that has your contact details. A lost dog/cat can quickly be reunited with its owner if the contact details can be found on a collar. 

5.  Make sure your pet is micro-chipped and that your microchip details are up-to-date. Whilst all strays are scanned for a microchip when brought into the clinic, it is often the case that the owners details are incorrect and that means we can’t reunite these pets and owners. In these instances we then need to send them to the Council pound until their owners can be located. This could be avoided by having current contact details on the microchip file. 

6.  Speak to your vet about medication for severe cases of pet anxiety. Our pets are no different to humans when it comes to anxiety and it can be crippling for them. In some cases a prescribed medication for your pet can mean they get through our storm season without coming to any harm. 

Snake bite symptoms in dogs and cats – Edmonton Veterinary Clinic

Snake Bite Symptoms in dogs and cats

With the high temperatures in Far North Queensland we see an increase in the amount of pets brought in to the clinic due to snake bites.  It’s important to know what the snake bite symptoms are and what to do if your pet is bitten to ensure the best outcome for your pet. 

Even if you suspect your pet has been bitten but are not entirely sure, it is vital that they be checked by your vet to ensure they are treated as soon as possible if need be. 

There are many types of snakes here in Far North Queensland, ranging from venomous such as the Death Adder, Coastal Taipan, Eastern Brown and Red-bellied Black snakes to the non venomous including many types of python. You can find a listing of the types of snakes in our region at the Department of Environment website and it’s a great way to be able to identify any snakes that you have seen around your home.

snake bite symptoms

If your pet has been bitten or you suspect they have been bitten please:

  1. Keep your pet calm and try to stay calm yourself. Panic in you will be noticed by your pet and it is imperative that they remain as calm as possible after being bitten by a snake. Try to stay calm and take the following steps immediately to reduce the severity of the situation.
  2. Apply a pressure bandage to the suspected bite site on your pet. Just as we do for humans, we need to apply pressure to the bite to reduce the impact of the venom travelling through the blood stream.
  3. Seek veterinary attention IMMEDIATELY. Please do not hesitate or delay getting to your nearest vet. Even if you are unsure if your pet has come into contact with the snake, it’s better to get them checked as some animals can have delayed symptoms post envenomation.
  4. Dont try identify or handle the snake yourself! If it is safe photo identification can be used or contact a professional snake catcher to identify the snake and remove it from your property.
  5. Snake bite symptoms you may notice – this can be a combination of the following:
    Sudden weakness followed by collapse.
    Shaking or twitching of the muscles and difficulty blinking.
    Vomiting.
    Loss of bladder and bowel control.
    Dilated pupils.
    Paralysis.
    Blood in urine.

Time is of the essence with treating snake bites so please don’t delay in seeking treatment. During normal clinic hours you can call us on 4045 5555 or for after hours treatment you can contact the Emergency Vet

Boarding your cat over the holidays – Book the best Cattery in Cairns.

Easter Holidays are coming up and it’s time to book your cat in for their holiday at the best Cattery in Cairns. Edmonton Vet Clinic & Cattery offer 24/7 boarding for your cat in our specialised boarding facility.

Imagine having a holiday where you get to stay in a hotel with daily room service, meals brought to you and all in air-conditioned comfort and the option to stretch your legs in the great outdoors (aka your own private backyard)…

That’s exactly what your cat receives when boarding with us at Edmonton Vet Clinic & Cattery. We treat your cat like royalty – just ask Gabbie our clinic cat… she loved it so much she never left and has moved all her clothes in as well (that’s a whole other story)!

Cattery in Cairns

When looking for the perfect cattery in Cairns for your cat’s holiday, it pays to ask to see the facility and to ensure you feel safe and secure with the people who will be looking after your cat. Our team are all involved in looking after our boarders and love spending time with the cats to ensure they feel like they are in their home away from home.

When boarding your cat with us you can choose from an indoor run only or choose the option of an indoor/outdoor run, depending on what your cat is used to at home. Our nightly rate includes food, litter and bedding unless your cat is on a prescription diet for health issues etc. All boarders must be desexed and up to date with vaccinations. All the indoor area of the cattery is fully air conditioned for your cat’s comfort. Seriously it’s so good you would think you were boarding your cat at a 5 star hotel!

Space is limited so be sure to book in early to ensure your cat is looked after while you enjoy some time away. Give us a call on 4045 5555 or fill out our contact form and one of our team will get back to you.

Specialist Veterinary Services Cairns

Specialist Veterinary Services in Cairns

Whilst our Veterinarians at Edmonton Vet Clinic are highly qualified and highly skilled, just as with human medical treatment, there are times were specialist veterinary services are required for assessment and treatment of our patients. We aim to ensure this process is a streamlined and stress-free as possible for you and your pet.

Specialist Veterinary Services in Cairns can be accessed via Edmonton Vet Clinic in a number of ways. For complex cases that require specialist intervention, our vets may work with specialists to review your pet’s case in order to provide your pet with the highest level of treatment available.

At other times, your pet may need to be referred to a Specialist Veterinarian to have a consultation with the Specialist either here in Cairns during their visiting rotation, or in some cases, in the Specialist Vet’s clinic location.

Specialist Veterinary Services in Cairns

During this process we will aim to keep you as informed as we can and provide you with all of your options so you can make an informed choice for your pet’s specialist care and ongoing care needs.

As Specialist Veterinary Services will often be expensive, we encourage all of our clients to take out Pet Insurance either separately, or via your home insurance (if your insurance company offers this facility). Pet Insurance can end up saving you thousands of dollars if surgery or extensive treatment is required for your pet.

Whilst there are conditions regarding pre-existing conditions and your pet’s age, we encourage you to take the time to speak to our friendly team or contact your insurance company to discuss how you can put in place an insurance policy that will ensure you can provide the best care for your pet without a large and unexpected financial outlay in times of emergency or severe illness.

24hr Vet in Cairns

We now have a 24hr vet in Cairns. For many years, after hours emergencies were handled by local vet clinics who shared a rotational roster to cover after hours emergencies. This was not an ideal situation as vets and clinic staff already work extensively long hours and when you combine that with emergencies that happen after hours, it means that clinic staff were not getting enough rest and down time.

We are now very lucky to have a dedicated After Hours Vet Surgery for all the after hours pet emergencies that happen when we are not open. For local vets it means we can rest assured that your pets can receive emergency treatment outside of our normal clinic hours.

Here at Edmonton Vet Clinic we operate Monday to Friday 8.30am to 6pm and Saturday 8.30am – 12 midday. We aim to treat all our patients during those times but we know that our furry friends can get themselves into trouble at the oddest times so are happy to be able to refer our clients to the only 24hr vet in Cairns, Cairns Emergency Vets, for all emergency and after hours issues.

For all other treatments we continue to offer our high quality of service and care in our state of the art clinic. We also offer the convenience of online bookings so that you can book your appointments with us, quickly and easily.

Best Vet in Cairns – Edmonton Vet Clinic & Cattery

So what makes us the best vet in Cairns? We care. We go above and beyond at all times. We are locals treating locals. Locally owned and locally operated.

Edmonton Vet Clinic & Cattery pride ourselves on providing the highest level of care for your pets, courteous and respectful communication with you and a modern hospital and theatre facility for your pet’s treatment.

Our vets have a broad range of experience, not only in day to day vet care but also in complex cases that require in depth analysis, treatment and long -term care.

Our nursing staff are all qualified veterinary nurses and the entire team treat your pet as if it was their own. Our team care about you, your pet and your family and at all times our focus is on ensuring your pet is in good health and receiving the best care possible.

We also work with a variety of specialist veterinarians and will refer you to them where required, to ensure that your pet is being given the highest level of care should their condition require specialist intervention.

At Edmonton Vet Clinic and Cattery our focus isn’t just on family pets but also on re-homing of rescue animals. We support and work with a local rescue group, North Queensland Animal Rescue. We love the work they do and together with them we support their animals for adoption by showcasing the pet of the month on our social media pages.

If you are looking for the best vet in Cairns for your pets then please book an appointment with us – we look forward to getting to know you and your pet.

Here’s what some of our clients had to say:

“Jason and Selena are tops. We had to put our 21 year old cat Scratch put down. I rang our own Vets, Green Cross, they were too busy to do a House Call. They had an emergency. Said we could bring Scratch in, I said no we want her put down at home. We wanted our Scratch to be calm and in her own surroundings. Rang Jason he said him and Selena will come to our place about midday. So caring and sensitive. I recommend them, and have done to many. Thanks Jason and Selena.” Charlie and Rose

“Jason is an exceptional vet and is a caring, patient and honest man. I trust him and his staff with all our animals. My two dogs get excited to see Jason and strain on their leads to get inside the clinic, other veterinary clinics in Cairns they would shake and put the brakes on….that’s a testament to his good work and kind character. Jason has performed life saving surgery on one of our dogs and she remains loyal and is keen to see Jason as if she knows…. We would highly recommend Jason and his staff at Edmonton Veterinary Clinic and Cattery. ” Lexi and Andy Eames