Pet health advice from Macquarie Veterinary Hospital
Straight answers to the questions we are asked most, written by our own team.
If it is an emergency
What cannot wait, and what to do on the way in.
- Can Dogs Eat Grapes? No. What to Do in the Next 10 Minutes Grapes, sultanas and raisins can injure a dog's kidneys, with no known safe amount. What to do in the next ten minutes, and who to ring in Macquarie Park.
- When Should You Rush to the Emergency Vet? The signs that mean go now, the ones that can wait until morning, and who to call after hours. Written for Sydney pet owners.
Symptoms A to Z
What a symptom usually means, and when it is worth a visit.
- Dog Diarrhoea: When to Worry and When to Wait How long dog diarrhoea should last, the signs that mean ring us today, and what to feed at home. Come and see us if it is not settling.
- Dog Ear Infections: Causes, Treatment and Why They Recur Why dog ear infections happen, what treatment involves and why they keep coming back. The signs that mean we would rather see them now, and how we can help.
- Dog Reverse Sneezing: Is It Serious, and Do You Need Us? That honking, snorting fit where your dog seems unable to breathe. Why it is usually harmless, what changes the answer, and when to book in.
- Dog Throwing Up White Foam: What It Means White froth can be nothing much or a warning. The retching that means go now, when to ring us, and what not to give at home.
Conditions explained
Plain-English guides to the diagnoses we give most often.
- Dental Disease in Dogs and Cats: Signs, Stages and Treatment Dental disease in dogs and cats explained: the signs, the stages, when to see a vet, and what a proper dental involves. Free dental assessment.
- Dog Bunny Hopping: What It Means, What to Do Next Both back legs moving together, like a rabbit? What bunny hopping means, what to film and note this week, and what a visit to Macquarie Veterinary Hospital involves.
- Dog Joint Supplements: Are They Worth the Money? Is your dog's joint supplement worth the money? What the evidence says about glucosamine, green-lipped mussel and omega-3, and where your money does more good.
- IVDD in Dogs: Signs, Care and Surgery IVDD in dogs: the signs of a slipped disc, when it is urgent, and what happens next at Macquarie Park, with CT and surgery at our Lane Cove sister practice.
- Luxating Patella in Dogs: Grades and Cost A slipping kneecap explained: the four grades, when it needs surgery and when it does not, and the fixed $4,000 price at Macquarie Veterinary Hospital.
Treatments & surgery
What a procedure involves, what it costs, and what recovery looks like.
- CT Scan for Dogs and Cats: What It Shows, Macquarie Park When a CT scan helps your dog or cat, what the day involves, and how it works from Macquarie Park, with the scan at our Lane Cove sister practice.
- Dog Cruciate Surgery Cost: TPLO $4,800, Macquarie Park A TPLO is $4,800 and a lateral suture $4,000 at Macquarie Veterinary Hospital. What the price covers, which surgery suits your dog, and when.
- Dog CT Scan Cost: $2,500, Explained A dog CT scan is $2,500 for the first area and $500 for each extra, anaesthetic and contrast included. Scans at our Lane Cove sister practice.
- Orthopaedic Surgery for Dogs: What to Expect Cruciate, kneecap and hip surgery for dogs at Macquarie Veterinary Hospital. What the first visit involves, why we assess before we quote, and how to book.
New puppy & kitten
The first weeks, done properly: vaccination, socialisation, desexing.
- Puppy Socialisation: The Weeks That Matter Most Why the weeks before 16 weeks shape your puppy's whole life, and how to socialise safely before full vaccination, from Macquarie Veterinary Hospital.
- Puppy Vaccination Schedule: What Your Puppy Needs and When When puppy vaccinations are due in Australia, why the 16-week dose matters most, and when your puppy can safely start meeting other dogs.
- Toilet Training a Puppy: A Simple, Patient Routine A simple toilet training routine for your puppy, how long it usually takes, and what to do about accidents, from Macquarie Veterinary Hospital.
Ticks, fleas & seasons
Parasites and seasonal risks in this part of Sydney.
Pet-owner guides
The practical side of owning an animal in New South Wales.
Nothing here matches that
Try a shorter word, or the symptom rather than the diagnosis: “limping” rather than “cruciate”.
If your pet is unwell now, do not work it out from a website. Call us on 02 9888 1833 and we will tell you whether it can wait.
Still not sure?
Reading is no substitute for someone looking at your pet. If something is worrying you, book in and we will go through it properly.