Vet's Voice Kathleen Linpus www.vetcaretauranga.co.nz

Spring is coming; the lambs are frolicking in the fields and the daffodils are flowering. It's a lovely time of year and time to get outside again.

If you are a keen gardener, please be careful when laying slug and snail bait. This can be very toxic to dogs, so sprinkle it sparsely – preferably in an area that dogs cannot access –and ensure you put the box safely away afterwards.
When you come home after a great day fishing, please make sure you clean all your sinkers and hooks and put them safely away. We see cats, dogs and birds that think they have found a tasty fishy treat and they end up needing surgery to remove a fish hook.

Dogs should not be fed cooked bones, they can splinter and cause major damage inside. So when you get the barbecue up and running again, don't share chicken or chop bones with your best mate – barbequed carrots go down a treat with our dogs!

If you decide it's time to get fit, take it easy on your exercise buddy too; gradually build their fitness levels up to prevent muscle injuries and ligament strains.
Enrol your new puppy in Puppy Preschool, to help them become well mannered, enjoyable family members. We also have Canine College, an excellent course for 6-18-month-old dogs.

Don't forget, fleas will be back with a vengeance as the weather warms. It is best to get the flea treatment on your pets early, to prevent the flea population exploding at your place.

Kathleen joined VCT in 2005. She completed her Veterinary Degree in 2003 and has a special interest in Ophthalmology – eyes – and Oncology – cancer. She is proud mum to dogs Romey and Manny and Woof the cat.