Dr Donna Pyke home visit veterinarian

20/06/2025

Gorgeous patient to end the week 🥰

17/03/2025

FAST FACT TIME
See the infographic below . Even a 21 degree day can be too hot to leave your pet in the car . I saw dogs in cars at the supermarket today and they were panting a lot . Don’t be fooled by cooler days as it is still not safe.

14/03/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Dq56CjDea/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Science shows losing a dog is as hard as losing a human loved one — is there a difference?

With 62% of Americans owning pets, and nearly all considering them family, the grief of losing a pet is profound and often misunderstood.

Studies show that pet loss grief mirrors that of losing a spouse or partner, as people tend to use "we" language when discussing their beloved animals. Despite this emotional connection, pet grief is often dismissed, leaving many to suffer in silence.

Researchers have identified five key themes that impact how people cope: and recover the depth of the owner’s response, the complexity of euthanasia, the isolation caused by disenfranchised grief, the distress of ambiguous loss (such as when a pet runs away), and the coping mechanisms that help individuals process their sorrow.

People navigate their grief in various ways, from honoring their pet’s memory through keepsakes and rituals to seeking comfort in social support or spirituality. While grief is deeply personal, acknowledging the pain of pet loss and offering empathy can help people heal.

As Jon Stewart tearfully said about his late rescue dog, "He was ready. He was tired, but I wasn’t." This sentiment captures the lingering heartache that many experience, proving that the loss of a pet is far more than “just a dog” or “only a cat”—it’s the loss of a family member.

Learn more: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0030222820914678

03/03/2025

FAST FACT TIME - DOG COATS
The late evenings and mornings are starting to get cool so we need to think about putting a coat on our dogs when they go outside or overnight if they are outdoor dogs . Short coated dogs , older dogs especially those with arthritis and young dogs with joint problems or arthritis all benefit from coats.
Coats not only keep them warm but also help maintain the blood circulation to the muscles and joints . Even a quick outside toilet break from a warm house to cooler outside temperature can affect their joints.
I often see dogs in short coats that only cover their back . They need a coat which covers their main joints . ( see my filthy , I have rolled in everything smelly , dog Elfie in his coat 👇). A great place to buy dog coats are horse saddlery’s - and some online shops even sell matchy matchy dog and horse rugs !!

24/02/2025

FAST FACT -BASELINES
It is really important to get know your dog or cats normal . How they walk,sit,jump,bend down to eat etc .
This is because dogs and especially cats innately hide any weakness as it makes them more vulnerable -their primitive brain still tries to protect them .
When you are walking your dog take a video of their gait when the dog is walking away from you and past you. Small changes such as changing their walk from a normal diagonal walk (left fore right hind move forward together ) to a lateral walk ( left fore and left hind move forward together ) could mean some discomfort somewhere . Cats might start to use a lower piece of furniture to jump up to a height they could normally jump up from the floor .
All this helps to intervene early and make sure our beautiful non verbal fur baby’s stay healthy and pain free

17/02/2025

11/02/2025

REMEMBER AGE IS NOT A DISEASE !
This is Mil . She is 18 and amazing !
She maybe a bit stiff when she first gets up but otherwise so healthy and fit .
Not all old dogs need medication . There are things we can do at home to make it easier for their ageing body ,such as :
🐾elevating food and water bowls so they don’t have to bend down to eat or drink ( it is like us constantly bending over )
🐾keep their nails trimmed so they don’t slip and their toes are not bent ( their toes are equivalent to our fingers and they can get achy toe joints )
🐾keep any fur trimmed under their paws to prevent slipping
🐾limit their jumping or use cushions or buy a ramp if they insist they want to be on couch or your bed . This isn’t only for protecting the joints but their eyesight is reduced with age so they can misjudge a jump and fall
There are many other things we can do if needed and doing home visits helps me assess what needs to be changed for our fur babies .
I do love pain medications but I always weigh up the risk benefit ratio and don’t give drugs just because I can 😊. But if things change I always want to know !
Mil I hope I am as good as you when I am your equivalent age in human terms 💕

06/02/2025

I would also add catrovert and horsetrovert 😁

05/02/2025

Great new word …but would also add catrovert and horsetrovert…😁

03/02/2025

FAST FACT TIME

How animals respond and show how they are feeling is contextual .
So many times over the years of pets coming into my old clinic in Melbourne I have had owners say “ he was really sick or really lame and in pain or really quiet at home” but at the clinic the pet is bouncing off the walls , wagging their tail and seems excited and sometimes aggressive and scared - or cats hide in their cage and freeze or become very fractious . This is because they have adrenaline/cortisol pumping through their system , there is environmental stimulation - noises and smells and other animals - , or they are in flight /fight mode which overrides any thing else .

With home visits I don't need to worry about hidden responses. My clinical exam often starts when I get out of the car - does the dog bark at me arriving or are they despondent - how are they interacting with their natural environment . What are they doing whilst I talk to the owners ( and although I talk a lot I have my eyes on the patient !)- how they walk , sit or lie down , cats moving around jumping on furniture , facials expressions etc ,

It is also a great idea when you do go to your vet clinic to video what your pet is doing at home. It is so helpful for the vets and nurses and all adds up to being able to treat these beautiful non verbal animals we are lucky enough to have as pets .

29/01/2025

Yes Pablo I am looking at you ! 🐾😅