Sandy Paws Vet Iluka

06/05/2025

Just a reminder that the Maclean Show starts tomorrow, Wed 7th May, so the clinic will be closed from 1pm (public holiday).
We will reopen at 9am Thursday, 8th May.

Send a message to learn more

24/04/2025

Meet "Inch", a much loved 9 year old Staffy. This happy girl unfortunately developed a UTI (urinary tract infection).
Sometimes UTIs can lead to - or be the cause of - bladder stones!
Xrays revealed that poor Inch had two pretty decent sized stones, one 2cm in diameter and the other 3.5cm.
Now comes the scientific part... there are around six different types of stones and the treatment options vary for each type! So, we sent a sample of Inch's urine to the lab to establish the type of stone and to work out which antibiotic was going to work to fix the UTI.
The result - struvite crystals.
The solution - surgery OR a special prescription food that maintains the pH (acidity) of urine and actively dissolves struvite crystals. If this doesn't work then surgical removal of the stones is the only option.
Inch’s dedicated owner decided to try the dietary option. After six weeks of eating Royal Canin Urinary S/O food we repeated xrays. Whilst the stones had reduced in size they hadn’t disappeared. Another six weeks and BINGO! The stones had dissolved! Surgery avoided!
Inch will likely have to stay on this special food forever. No, it isn't cheap but nor is the research needed to develop these prescription diets.
For more information on how food and diet can benefit your pet's health please contact the clinic. We are always happy to help🥰

16/04/2025

Happy Easter everyone!

Sandy Paws Vet will be:
* CLOSED over Easter, reopening Tuesday 22nd April.
* OPEN at 9am on Tues 22nd, Wed 23rd and Thurs 24th April
* CLOSED on Friday 25th April (Anzac Day)

For after hours emergencies please call the clinic number on 66465676 and listen to the message regarding which clinic is on call.

18/03/2025

Remember those poor cats and kittens dumped at Happy Paws Haven’s gate last month?
The team here at Sandy Paws are happily helping out with the kitten Pre-Adoption health checks.

Not sure if everyone is aware of this fact – Female kittens are capable of having babies from 5 months of age – so early desexing is essential to keeping unwanted litters a thing of the past.
Please desex your pets.

And here’s some kitty spam to make you smile 😊😻

04/03/2025

Shared with permission from Katie 💜

Cyclone Warning! Are Your Pets Prepared?

With a cyclone forecast to impact our area this week, now is the time to make sure your pets are safe and your emergency plan is ready.

Here’s how to protect your furry, feathered, and scaly family members:

Emergency Pet Prep Checklist:
⚡ Secure your pets indoors well before the weather turns.
⚡ Prepare a pet emergency kit:
• Food and water (at least 5 days’ supply)
• Medications and copies of vet records
• Leads, harnesses, and carriers
• Blankets and familiar toys to reduce stress
⚡ Update your pet’s ID tags and microchip details.
⚡ Know where you can go: research pet-friendly evacuation centres.
⚡ Keep a list of emergency contacts, including your vet.
⚡ Have recent photos of your pets in case you become separated.
⚡ Ensure your yard is secure and remove any potential hazards.

If you need to evacuate, NEVER leave pets behind.
Plan ahead so they can stay safe with you.

Let’s keep our beloved companions safe through this wild weather!

Stay alert, stay prepared, and stay safe.

03/03/2025

Hoping to keep the mood light 💨 but in all seriousness, stay safe everyone 🙏

12/02/2025

HomeSafeID, one of the NATIONAL microchip databases is closing. If you moved from another state, ie Queensland, or if you purchased/adopted your pet from another state you made need to register the existing microchip with a different registry.
This does not affect the NSW Pet Registry in any way.
A microchip is only as good as the information attached to it so what a great time to check that those details are all up to date!
Book a (free!) appointment by calling the clinic on 66465676.

06/02/2025

Did you know that 41% of dogs in Australia are overweight or obese? See the chart below to work out your dog's "BODY CONDITION SCORE".
Health risks include shorter lifespans, joint disease, diabetes, heart disease, urinary issues, high blood pressure, some cancers, breathing difficulties and reduced stamina.
Step 1: Recognise there is a problem ✅
Step 2: Consult with your veterinarian to:
* establish if there is an underlying health concern such as
Cushings or diabetes
* establish a healthy weight loss regime - what to feed, how
much to feed, over what period of time and how much
exercise is safe
Step 3: Regular weight checks, ie monthly
🧀It may be as simple as cutting out high-calorie snacks, reducing the volume of each meal or replacing some of the meals with lower calorie options such as a different meat or some veggies.
https://prime100.com.au/blogs/blog/the-truth-about-overweight-dogs-causes-consequences-and-effective-solutions
Weight loss consultations available by calling the clinic on 66465676.

23/01/2025

What happens when a dog eats rat bait? Ollie found out the hard way but luckily it all ended well! Find out how local greyhound Hank saved Ollie's life 🥰

Most domestic rat baits are anticoagulants; they reduce the ability of blood to clot. Unbeknown to his owners, Ollie must have consumed rat bait a week or so ago. He became very lethargic and had very pale gums indicating that he was bleeding internally. Ollie needed an immediate blood transfusion to replace lost blood as well as to introduce clotting factors back into his bloodstream.

Luckily, Hank, came to the rescue! Greyhounds are perfect blood donors as they have significantly more red blood cells than other breeds. 🩸

Ollie was indeed a critical patient! Via ultrasound, the "lost" blood was located in Ollie's chest restricting his ability to breathe. Over 2 hours 1.7 litres of blood was drained from his chest. The result was immediate and Ollie was able to have a comfortable night's sleep in hospital.

24 hours later Ollie was well enough to go home albeit wrapped up in bubble wrap! It will take a further 3 weeks of care and Vitamin K dosing to get his blood back to normal but all should go well as long as he doesn't injure himself (or eat more rat bait!) in that time.

Thank you Hank 🤟 and well done Ollie! We'll see you in 3 weeks for a quick blood test. We'll get you back running around on the farm again soon 🏃‍♂️🏎

If you know - or think - that your dog has eaten rat bait then get them to a vet ASAP.

12/12/2024

The team at Sandy Paws Vet would like to wish all our clients and friends a happy and safe Christmas. In the New Year we will introduce you to our expanding team as we look forward to an exciting 2025.
With best wishes from Dr Lisa, Ally, Keira, Layla, Marcia, Deb and Brittaney.
The clinic will be closed from Monday 23rd December, reopening the following Monday 30th December. For emergencies please call the clinic number on 66465676 and listen to the message to find out which clinic is on call over the holiday period.

12/12/2024

How lucky is Luna?! In an unusual twist of fate a fishing hook actually saved Luna's life 🪝
Luna presented at the clinic with fishing line hanging from her mouth. An xray confirmed that it was attached to a hook which was now down in the stomach 😳. Unfortunately, the only way to remove it from the stomach is surgically.
While Dr Lisa was extracting the hook she noticed that the spleen was very irregular indeed. A suspicious looking lump and inflamed tissue meant that the spleen was probably about to rupture - a life-threatening emergency 🚑 This can happen to any dog (usually older animals) at any time, usually with no warning whatsoever. If it wasn't for the fishing hook we would not have known there was a problem until it was too late.
Dogs can live happily without a spleen and we are pleased to say that Luna has made a great recovery, albeit a little lighter now!
Lucky Luna! We recommended her owner buy a lotto ticket as good luck was clearly shining on them that day! 🍀

29/11/2024

Some great news!

Due to popular request we now sell Prime100, a complete and balanced dog food. It is Australian, is nutritionally balanced, cost effective and comes in a variety of flavours and formulas including:
* chicken and veg roll
* beef and veg roll
* kangaroo (lowest fat)
* slow cooked tetra packs (no refrigeration required)
* air dried formula
* prime cut treats

To order, please call the clinic on 66465676 by 1pm every Monday for delivery the following day.
The Prime 100 SPD range (Single Protein Diet) is specifically formulated for dogs with gastrointestinal issues. To discuss the benefits of a single protein or novel protein diet please call the clinic to make an appointment with Dr Lisa.