5 Freedoms… Freedoms From Whose Point Of View?
Veterinary Professionals are by default often considered society’s arbiters of what really constitutes ‘best care’ for pets and livestock.

For years, variants of the RSPCA’s ‘Five Freedoms’ have provided the benchmark for humane animal care… but is a human’s perspective of best care… the RIGHT care?

Pets Australia Board Member Dr Jo Sillince suggests it might be time to revisit and perhaps re-think the 5 Freedoms which we have reproduced below....

1 - Freedom from HUNGER & THIRST: by ready access to fresh water and a diet to maintain full health and vigour.

2 - Freedom from DISCOMFORT:
by providing an appropriate environment including shelter and a comfortable resting area.

3 - Freedom from PAIN, INJURY OR DISEASE:
by prevention through rapid diagnosis and treatment.

4 - Freedom to EXPRESS NORMAL BEHAVIOUR:
by providing sufficient space, proper facilities and company of the animal’s own kind.

5 - Freedom from FEAR & DISTRESS:
by ensuring conditions and treatment which avoid mental suffering.

Source: http://kb.rspca.org.au/Five-freedoms-for-animals_318.html

Ahh Haaa!... New genetic clue might explain why this breed is more food obsessed than any other... And the reason might actually help humans too!

Vets tell us loveable Labradors are always on the 'over-represented' list when it comes to gastrointestinal foreign bodies.

And while some dogs - just like we humans - will skip a meal simply because we don't feel all that hungry, when a Lab does it you probably should be a bit concerned!

As Dr Anne Fawcett explains in her Small Animal Talk blog (link below) "There may be a genetic basis for this amazing appetite. According to a paper published in CellMetabolism this week, Labs and flat coated retrievers (the latter being a less common breed) have a gene alteration linked to canine obesity."

More Reading: http://www.smallanimaltalk.com/2016/05/are-labradors-genetically-prone-to.html

Most of us have heard of the two-head turtle Thelma and Louise right... but a two-headed cat???

Dr Jo Sillince from Pets Australia reveals that little gem and more in this week's show.

Giving blood is something we humans are asked to do every year - in fact about 17,000 of us do it every week of the year! But what about our animals?

Many need blood transfusions or other blood by-products. So where does this blood come from?

Vet Nurse Rebecca (Bec) Charteris recognised the problem and has spent the past few years setting up the Australian Animal Blood Bank - one of only two commercial blood banks in the country.

She needs more donors and explains in this podcast how easy it is (it's also free!!) and the benefits for both donors and recipients.

Paralysis ticks… In Australaia they're more deadly than sharks or crocodiles but with the help of Surgery Nurse Kasey Findlay and Emergency Nurse James Perez-Christie from Sydney's Animal Referral Hospital, we’ll show you how searching for them can also be fun!

Listen to this podcast of watch the video! http://bit.ly/ParalysisTicks

It's well known by vets that for some reason cats seem to be the 'forgotten' pet. Dogs and even horses are being seen by vets more than the average cat.

Is it because dogs are like kids and considered 'part of the family' and tend to say they need help (like kids!) whereas cats are lovely creatures but will often hide from view if anything is wrong?

***BULLIES *** !
They're all around us. Online, at work, at home sometimes - even school. But what should you do?

Linda Campbell is a neurolinguistic programming practitioner and clinical hypnotherapist and has a few options in this short podcast.

There's plenty of 'keep fit' electronic devices nowadays to 'motivate you' to get up and moving… But if you’re one of those people who aren’t right in to all that ‘technology’.

What’s the best way to keep our pets – and us - moving over winter?

Former DOGSLife magazine editor Nadia Crighton has a plan - that works for her - and just might make all the difference for you and your pets to keep active this winter!

Hendra Virus Can Affect Domestic Animals & People Too!
Recently the AVA (Australian Veterinary Assoc) put out a media release regarding a new outbreak of the Hendra virus in QLD.

Normally this is something horse owners are more concerned about but it can also be deadly to dogs cats and people.

We spoke with Dr Maurine Thomson, Registered Specialist in Small Animal Surgery and Surgical Oncology with the soon to be opened Animal Referral Hospital Brisbane - Dr Thomson was in fact part of the Vet surgeons board investigation into the Hendra outbreak of 2008.

You'll also hear the latest on the soon to be opened ARH Brisbane Specialist Referral and Emergency Centre ...

Older dogs are often the last to be adopted and end up being 'just another statistic' in our already overcrowded pounds and shelters.

But one lucky 11yr old boxer caught the eye of long time ARH team member Sue Thompson who chose to take the 'old girl' on. But Sue also has a 'gripe' about her experience she wants us all to think about.

Also in this story you'll hear Mel Isaacs Founder of Team Dog, a registered charity passionate about changing how people recover impounded animals.