Cooroy Veterinary Surgery

29/04/2026

LABOUR DAY PUBLIC HOLIDAY

We will be closed on Monday 4th May.
We re-open at 8am Tuesday 5th May.

For emergency after hours veterinary attention the following options are available.

Animal Emergency Centre Noosaville on (07) 5353 7005.
Animal Emergency Service Tanawha on (07) 5445 1333.
QVS Pet Emergency Warana on 1300 753 838.
SASH Emergency Sippy Downs on (07) 5453 7555.

We hope you and your pets enjoy the long weekend.
Stay safe everyone.

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29/04/2026

We are pleased to present a recent contribution to the Cooroy Rag Community Newspaper from 28th April 2026.

The Idioms Have It….

The English language is rich in descriptive terms and colourful phrasing. The use of dogs and cats in figures of speech that on face value make little or no sense but over the years have gained cultural traction are many and varied.
I am confident that none of the following will require explanation or clarification due to being a part of the vernacular for years and in some cases centuries.
In the cat category we have that smug individual the cat that got the cream and at the other end of the spectrum the cat on a hot tin roof.
When the cats away the mice will play is another chestnut which I first heard in PNG as, in Tok Pisin, “Pussy I Raun, Rat I Hamamas”.
A struggle for compliance is well articulated with “like herding cats” and “letting the cat out of the bag” a slightly disturbing image (poor cat) spills the beans nicely. The confined space described by the phrase “not enough room to swing a cat” certainly conjures images of feline welfare abuses but the violence implied probably derives from the equally disturbing “cat-o-nine tails” used to flog prisoners in days of old.
At the crossover, raining cats and dogs brings us to canine derived idioms such as barking up the wrong tree, all bark and no bite and, in a similar vein, his bark is worse than his bite. We are encouraged to let sleeping dogs lie and try to avoid ending up in the dog house.
For actual veterinary advice don’t hesitate to contact your veterinary professional when it seems like things have gone to the dogs.

Craig H Marshall BVSc

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29/04/2026

We are pleased to present a recent contribution to the Cooroy Rag Community Newspaper from 7th April 2026.

Body Language Huh! Huh!

Without the capacity for articulate verbal communication animals have evolved a wide range of techniques to interact with one another. As a child these interactions fascinated me and now as a vet these non-verbal cues give me a lot of information about the state of mind and personality of my patients.
Dogs with their repertoire of tail positions, eye contact (or avoidance of) and posture generally allow interpretation of mood and intention. When interacting with dogs, it is important to take an overall view from head to tail. Ears forward indicates a focused alert mindset whilst ears back suggest that the individual is nervous about the situation or interaction. Licking the lips reinforces a nervous attitude. The tail position and movement also infers a lot, keeping in mind that some individuals have tails that are not capable of functioning as an emotional flag. As a rule, tail wagging indicates emotional arousal with the speed of wagging proportional to the degree of excitement. The reason for the emotional response can be further defined by the tail position; a relaxed dog will hold the tail in a neutral position, an anxious dog will keep the tail low or between the legs and a confident or dominant dog will display a high tail carriage. A relaxed look to the eyes reflects just that whereas the hard focus or stare usually indicates a high degree of arousal which can precede confrontation. From a clinicians perspective, the worst scenario is ears forward, dead eye stare, raised tail and hackled back especially when the individual is fifty kilograms and under minimal restraint. Thankfully a situation infrequently encountered.
Cats can be hard to read as the majority of visits to the vet involve a disruption to the daily routine; car travel and an unwelcome, highly stimulation environment. Eye contact and a series of slow blinks can break the ice.

Craig H Marshall BVSc

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23/04/2026

ANZAC DAY

We will be closed Saturday 25th April
We re-open at 8am on Monday 27th April.

For emergency after hours veterinary attention the following options are available.

Animal Emergency Centre Noosaville on (07) 5353 7005.
Animal Emergency Service Tanawha on (07) 5445 1333.
QVS Pet Emergency Warana on 1300 753 838.
SASH Emergency Sippy Downs on (07) 5453 7555.

13/04/2026

Found on Elm Street Cooroy

Sweet little female white and tan mini foxie x?
Proof of ownership required.

Please contact us on (07) 5447 6655

31/03/2026

EASTER HOLIDAYS

We will be closed Good Friday 3rd April - Easter Monday 6th April.
We re-open at 8am on Tuesday 7th April.

For emergency after hours veterinary attention the following options are available.

Animal Emergency Centre Noosaville on (07) 5353 7005.
Animal Emergency Service Tanawha on (07) 5445 1333.
QVS Pet Emergency Warana on 1300 753 838.
SASH Emergency Sippy Downs on (07) 5453 7555.

We hope you and your pets enjoy the long weekend.
Stay safe everyone.

31/03/2026

We are pleased to present a recent contribution to the Cooroy Rag Community Newspaper from 17th March 2026

Cane Toads

In all my years living in Queensland I can safely say that the consensus regarding cane toads is overwhelmingly negative. That said, I have always struggled with people (including confirmed animal lovers) who gleefully relate tales of toad golf and other inhumane practices in the guise of addressing the cane toad menace. As things stand, brutalizing individual toads is about as effective in controlling their numbers as the impact of swatting a fly has on theirs.
An exception was a client I visited who wanted to know how high she should construct a barrier to keep them out of her yard. Her aim was to avoid her dog from interacting with them and didn’t wish them any harm. In her words, with a thick East London accent; “I fink they’re cute in a rugged sort of way.”
Nevertheless, following their misguided introduction in the mid 1930’s to control cane beetles in sugar cane crops, the lack of any natural predators has led to an explosion in cane toad numbers. As a result, envenomation from toxin produced by glands on the back of their head and skin does occur relatively frequently in dogs and cats.
The toxin involved has an acute effect on the heart and exposure is through the mouth and tongue contacting these secretions. The poison is very irritant in nature and usually causes profuse salivation. These compounds are rapidly absorbed and if there is sufficient exposure cardiac arrest can occur as little as fifteen minutes after exposure.
If you suspect your pet has mouthed a cane toad you may see drooling and frothing, pawing at the mouth, vomiting, disorientation and breathing difficulty. First aid involves wiping out the mouth with a damp cloth for 15-20 minutes. Avoid using a hose to rinse the mouth as inhalation of water can lead to fatal pneumonia. Veterinary treatment involves hospitalization and medications to control heart rate, seizures, vomiting and respiratory failure. Bear in mind that toxin can be ingested after drinking from a water bowl that has had a toad in contact.
If you suspect poisoning contact your vet promptly. Cane toads are here to stay but with care and awareness you can dramatically reduce the chance of a fatal encounter.

Craig H Marshall BVSc

04/03/2026

We are pleased to present a recent contribution to the Cooroy Rag Community Newspaper from 24th February 2026

Smallest animal practice…

‘pocket pets’ ( mice, rats, guinea pigs ) are popular pets for children and adults alike due to their relatively low maintenance requirements and, lets face it, their cuteness. As a locum vet in South Devon earlier in my career I was initiated into the world of tiny furries when I met up with my first employer at his family home. Sitting at the dining room table discussing terms of employment, I found it difficult not to be distracted by a transparent ball trundling through the doorway from the adjacent room. Contained within was his daughters hamster propelling his personal cat-proof exploration sphere; a sight I became accustomed to whenever I visited his house. Mice, rats, ferrets, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, rabbits and chinchillas ( I had never heard of these either) made up a considerable proportion of patients at this practice and were doted on by owners aged 5 to 85.

Closer to home, I see a number of rats, mice and more frequently guinea pigs coming through my door with health conditions particular to rodents. Most rats have a respiratory virus from birth which usually does little more than cause a bit of a snuffle and sneeze but can be debilitating and require treatment in older individuals as there immune system falters with age.
Itchy skin and dermatitis are a relatively common complaint usually caused by mites and treated with scaled down dose of the same products used for dogs and cats.
Guinea pigs (”cavies”) are quite charismatic little critters and a first pet for many children. It is worth being very aware of the gender of your prospective pets as they have the potential to fall pregnant from 5 weeks of age and unexpected population explosions are a common lament from clients. Husbandry is important and a snake proof cage with minimal wire on the floor, clean water daily and plenty of hiding places is imperative. They have a digestive tract similar to a horse in that they rely heavily on roughage as found in grass hay to keep their gut bacteria happy so a balanced diet with minimal highly digestible carbohydrates such as bread is important for both digestive and dental health.
It is always a pleasure to help these little ones that bring such happiness in such a small package.

Craig H Marshall BVSc

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23/01/2026

AUSTRALIA DAY PUBLIC HOLIDAY

We will be closed on Monday 26th January for Australia Day.
We re-open at 8am-5.30pm on Tueaday 27th January.

For emergency after hours veterinary attention please contact any of the following veterinary practices:
AEC Noosa Civic on (07) 5353 7005
AES Tanawha on (07) 5445 1333
QVS Pet Emergency Warana on 1300 753 838
SASH Sippy Downs on (07) 5453 7555

31/12/2025

NEW YEAR'S DAY PUBLIC HOLIDAY

We will be closed on Thursday 1st January for New Year's Day.
We re-open at 8am-5.30pm on Friday 2nd January.

For emergency after hours veterinary attention please contact any of the following veterinary practices:
AEC Noosa Civic on (07) 5353 7005
AES Tanawha on (07) 5445 1333
QVS Pet Emergency Warana on 1300 753 838
SASH Sippy Downs on (07) 5453 7555

Thank you for all your support during 2025.

Send a message to learn more

24/12/2025

We are pleased to present a recent contribution to the Cooroy Rag Community Newspaper from 16th December 2025.

Summer begins

The traffic chaos that punctuates the end of the school day has ceased and the manic cries of the koels fill the night. It can mean only one thing; Christmas is coming.
With the festive season approaching, it is timely to revisit a few of the potential perils to pets (dogs specifically) that the hot and humid days ahead bring.
Probably one of the more disturbing causes of death, particularly of dogs, is heat stroke. Dogs have a finite capacity for cooling and rely on evaporation of saliva with airflow generated by panting to cool their blood. Left to their own devices, most dogs will seek a cool environment and do very little during the heat of the day. So sitting in hot cars, going for walks or activity in the heat of the day are not ideal situations especially for brachycephalic breeds (Pugs, Bulldogs etc). Even the late afternoon when the shadows are getting long can present a problem as humidity, especially close to the ground, can approach 100% as the temperature drops . This dramatically impairs a dog’s ability to pant effectively and ironically a lot of the cases of heat stress I see are at this time of day. If your pooch really needs a long walk, early morning or nighttime is best.

The other common heat related issue is burnt and blistered foot pads. Although the leathery lea of dogs feet looks pretty robust it is actually very sensitive (see how a dog reacts to bindiis) and hot sand, bitumen and concrete can and will cause significant trauma. If a surface is too hot for you to walk on barefoot assume your furry companion has the same opinion.
Looking forward to not seeing your dog with heat related organ failure or burnt feet.
I would like to thank all the readers for the support of Cooroy Veterinary Surgery during 2025. We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Craig H Marshall BVSc

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16/12/2025

Please note our hours over the Christmas & New Year holidays.

Christmas & New Year Hours 2025/2026

We are open:

Monday 22nd December 8am – 5.30pm
Tuesday 23rd December 8am - 5.30pm
Wednesday 24th December 8am - 4.30pm

We are closed:

Thursday 25th December Christmas Day
Friday 26th December Boxing Day
Saturday 27th December Closed
Sunday 28th December Closed

We are open:

Monday 29th December 8am – 5.30pm
Tuesday 30th December 8am – 5.30pm
Wednesday 31st December 8am – 5.30pm

We are closed:

Thursday 1st January New Year’s Day

We are open:

Friday 2nd January 8am – 5.30pm

For emergency after hours veterinary attention please contact any of the following veterinary practices:
AEC Noosa Civic on (07) 5353 7005
AES Tanawha on (07) 5445 1333
QVS Pet Emergency Warana on 1300 753 838
SASH Sippy Downs on (07) 5453 7555

Send a message to learn more