Leeming Veterinary Clinic

14/10/2026

Probiotics may support gut health, particularly after antibiotic use, during stressful periods, or for pets with sensitive tummies. 🦠 Not every pet needs one, though, and quality varies widely between products.

Look for a veterinary-specific probiotic with documented strains and an adequate viable colony count, rather than a human product. 🐾 If your pet has ongoing digestive issues, a probiotic isn’t a substitute for investigating the underlying cause.

Ask us for more information. 🩺

12/10/2026

Supermarket ‘pet meat’ is often labelled ‘not fit for human consumption’ and isn’t produced to the same food-safety standards as meat sold for people. 🥩 It can carry a higher risk of bacterial contamination and, in some cases, contain sulphite preservatives that can cause serious thiamine deficiency in cats and dogs. ⚠️

If feeding raw meat, choose human-grade options, and store and handle them carefully.

Ask us about safe ways to include meat in your pet’s diet. 🐾

10/10/2026

07/10/2026

A good-quality, complete and balanced dry food can meet all of your dog’s nutritional needs on its own. 🐶

Kibble is convenient and cost-effective. Some specially formulated dental kibbles can help reduce plaque and tartar, but standard dry food shouldn’t be relied on to clean your dog’s teeth. 🦷 Wet food isn’t essential, though it can help boost hydration or tempt fussy eaters. The most important thing is choosing a diet labelled ‘complete and balanced’ for your dog’s life stage. 🥣

Unsure if your dog’s food ticks the box? Ask us at their next visit.

05/10/2026

Chronic kidney disease is common in older cats, and diet plays a major role in management.

🐱 Prescription renal diets are lower in phosphorus and contain carefully controlled levels of high-quality protein, which can help slow disease progression and ease symptoms. They’re formulated differently from standard ‘senior’ foods, so it’s important to use a vet-recommended option. 🥣

If your cat has been diagnosed with kidney disease, ask us which renal diet best suits their needs. 🩺

02/10/2026

With H5 bird flu detected in wildlife across several Australian states, you may be wondering whether your pets are at risk. 🐦

Bird flu mainly affects birds. Although the risk to cats and dogs remains low, close contact with infected wildlife, including eating an infected bird, may result in infection.

Keep cats indoors or in secure enclosures, and dogs on a lead around beaches, wetlands and other wildlife areas. Prevent pets from hunting, scavenging or approaching sick or dead wildlife. 🐾

Concerned about possible exposure? Contact our team for advice.

28/09/2026

As the weather starts to warm up, our knowledgeable vets have some hot tips on common skin allergy presentations in cats.

Cats with allergies tend to show relatively distinctive symptoms, which can include:

🔎 Rashes of tiny red, itchy scabs, known as miliary dermatitis
🔎 Overgrooming, leading to signs of hair thinning, particularly around the belly, rump and hind legs
🔎 Intense itchiness around the head, neck and face
🔎 Slightly raised, red-orange skin patches or ulcers on the upper lip, known as eosinophilic granulomas

Common allergy triggers in cats include certain proteins (food allergies), fleas (flea allergy dermatitis), and airborne particles (atopy). If you suspect an allergy in your pet, reach out to our vets for further advice.

23/09/2026

Have you heard of compounded medications?

Offered by certain pharmacies, compounded medications allow some drugs to be made up into a more bespoke formulation compared to “off-the-shelf” options containing the same active ingredient.

A medication may be compounded:

💊 To contain the active ingredient at a more convenient dose for a particular patient
💊 Into a formulation that is easier to administer, such as a palatable liquid, or for certain drugs, a transdermal cream that can be absorbed through the skin

Compounded medications are usually more expensive and may not have the same proven shelf life or absorption as established “off-the-shelf” options, but can be useful for pets who are otherwise challenging to medicate.

For more information on medical treatments for your pet, consult our medically-minded vets. 🐾

21/09/2026

If your dog is prone to frequent ear issues, we’d highly recommend having a chat to our vets about potential long-term control options.

Once your pet has been effectively treated for any current infections (which may require an anaesthetic for a thorough ear assessment and clean), we can implement maintenance treatments relevant to your pet’s particular issue, such as:

👂 A hypoallergenic dietary trial
👂 Long-term anti-inflammatory ear drops
👂 Long-term allergy-control injections or tablets
👂 Compounded antibacterial/antifungal ear medications
👂 In some cases, surgery to open up excessively narrow ear canals

Comfortable, settled ears for your pet? We bet that’s music to your ears!

16/09/2026

Have you ever seen a herding dog with a crusty, raw-looking nose? 👃

They could have been affected by “collie nose”, otherwise known as discoid lupus erythematosus or nasal solar dermatitis. This is an autoimmune condition that can affect Collies and other herding breeds, and is often worsened by sunlight. ☀️

Affected dogs tend to lose the normal pigment and texture of their nose. Without treatment, the condition can gradually progress to cause scaling, crusting and painful ulceration on and around the nose.

If you notice any unusual skin lesions on your dog, it’s always safest to have our skin-smart vets take a look! 🩺