15 Top Boredom Busters for your Dog

Is your dog spending long hours home alone? Dogs will happily sleep 12-14 hours per day (a lot more for puppies and seniors) however if you don't provide both physical and mental stimulation on a daily basis, be prepared for them to create their own fun! This could mean anything from rearranging your home décor to pulling clothes off the line or impressive landscaping efforts!

Common signs of boredom can include:

• Digging
• Chewing or other destructive behaviours
• Excessive Barking / Whining
• Following you around when you are at home

Most professional dog trainers and behaviourists advise that dogs should not be left alone for more than 4-6 hours but if you're working full-time, this is unachievable ...
Cue the dog toy box because one easy solution to enrich their environment is to provide a great selection of tough toys and boredom busters, best rotated daily!

Bored dogs will have a ball with the Rogz Tumbler… literally! 

Fill this durable, transparent ball with your dog’s favourite treats or dry food and let them play. Your dog will spend hours rolling this ball all over the place, trying to get to the treats they can see (and smell!) inside. In fact, they'll be so busy having an amazing time, they won’t even realise you’re gone. 

When the Tumbler is at the right angle, a treat or two will pop out the side. As your dog plays, the Tumbler wobbles and rolls erratically to stimulate your dog’s natural hunting instincts. It encourages exercise, helps develop their problem-solving skills…and banishes boredom for good!

Once your dog gets the hang of the Tumbler, you can adjust the difficulty level for a whole new challenge. Available in five fun colours, it's even dishwasher safe. 

RRP: $29.99 from www.habitatpets.com.au

K9 Connectables are a uniquely designed range of toys to keep your dog occupied by providing mental stimulation and engaging their senses. K9 Connectables come in 3 designs that click together to connect; The Original, The Dentist and Tech-Bone.

When filled with treats you’ll love watching your dog become engaged and entertained as they figure out how to get at their tasty reward. 

They are also great as fetch toys for exercise and will float in water. All toys in the range promote dental hygiene through specially designed features that aid plaque removal when your dog bites down. 

K9 Connectables are made from non-toxic food grade material, they are easy to clean, freezer and dishwasher safe. 

RRP: from $24 to $28 at www.woofpackonline.com.au 

The Buster Food Cube is a dry food dispensing toy with a difference!

Your pooch will excitedly use their nose and paws to move the cube around and dispense their kibble and treats. Not simply a hollow cube, the food must move through the internal compartments, like navigating a maze, to reach the exit.

The dice-shaped toy is simple to use and can fit a whole meal. It will roll erratically and not dispense food at every rotation, making for longer play than similar hollow food ball or wobble designs!

While the Buster Food Cube is made from hard plastic and not designed for chewing, the shape also makes it difficult for dogs to get their mouth around to pick up and chew.

Available in 2 sizes (Mini and Regular) and 4 colours: Purple, Pink, Lime or Black.

RRP: $23- $39.50 at www.animalenrichmentaustralia.com where you’ll find many other enrichment products and puzzles.

The Lifesaver is a durable slow feeder toy that combines the best in chewability and will stop those pups from wolfing down their meals.

Designed specifically for raw feeders, this toy fits on average 220grams of raw - perfectly pushed in the grooves, making your dog’s mind stimulated and kept working for their food.

Suitable for freezing and putting in the dishwasher for any bits not gotten out, this toy is a favourite amongst raw feeders!

The Lifesaver is biodegradable, sustainable and made from non-toxic natural rubber.

RRP: $23.95 from www.roverpetproducts.com.au

Do away with the boring old dog bowl and make meal time more fun your dog!

The Starmark Bob-a-lot Mini is a self-motivating, treat dispensing toy ideal for smaller pets and holds cups of dry food well, making it ideal for when pets are being served their meals. Choose from two dispensing points, with adjustable opening holes, to vary the challenge of accessing the food.

The Bob-a-lot is made of durable materials that are also non-toxic and dishwasher safe, making the toy more convenient to use. The weighted base allows the toy to wobble, tumble and roll as the pet plays with it. This encourages greater interaction from the pet while they try to release the food inside the Bob-a-lot.

RRP: $23.95 (Mini) or $30.95 (Large) from www.petsonthepark.com.au

Founded by Arianne, a Melbourne girl, in love with her dog and an advocate for health, Bell & Bone is the solution to a lack of convenient, healthy dog treats in the Australian market today so you now you can spoil your dog naturally with their range of Superfood Dog Treats.

Bell & Bone believes that health and happiness go paw in paw. Dogs love to eat almost everything, so why not feed them healthy food, right?

There are 3 Superfood Dog Treats, packed with ingredients to benefit the health of your pup. 

All treats are grain-free, human grade, 100% natural, Australian-made, preservative free. 

• Flaxseed & Turmeric for active dogs
• Carob & Ginger for happy bellies 
• Coconut & Chia for beautiful coats 

RRP: $17.95 (150g bag with over 100 treats) at www.bellandbone.com.au.

An Active Box subscription from Waggly Club is the perfect way to curb bored and destructive behaviour in your active dog.

Each month you will receive one durable, road-tested toy designed to stimulate and engage your dog. This could be a chew toy, a treat dispensing toy or something interactive. Your pup will also receive 3 different treats and chews.

Dogs can grow tired of toys, so new ones each month can be very effective in maintaining excitement for healthy play (rather than chewing the couch!). With the toys are shipped with healthy, Aussie-made Waggly Snacks, dogs start to get excited with each delivery, increasing their interest in the toy inside.

RRP: from $45 per month (includes free shipping). 

Get your first box half price by signing up at wagglyclub.com.au

The Magnum Can Toy is designed for the toughest power chewers. 

It’s a durable chew toy, treat and meal dispenser that can be frozen, put in the dishwasher and left for your power chewer to much on! 

This toy comes with a 6 month replacement guarantee - and is made with a blend of proprietary natural latex - it’s a level of toughness that is unmatched by other toys. Made from biodegradable, sustainable and non-toxic natural material.

Choose from 3 sizes: Medium (up to 14kg), Large (15-24kg) and XL (25+kg).

RRP: $24.95 - $39.95 at www.roverpetproducts.com.au

This clever vending machine dispenses toys and treats you know your dog loves to play with or eat, each item is dispensed at pre-set times you choose, with a voice message from you!

Tricky Treats is the world’s first automatic toy and treat dispenser delivering fun and positive play throughout the day.

It also has a voice recorder, so it’s your voice your dog will hear calling it to come and fetch their surprise.

Say good-bye to guilty feelings knowing your dog is happily occupied when you can’t be there.

RRP: $199.95 at dogue.com.au/online-pet-store

The Snuffler Mat provides great mental stimulation for your dogs as they will need to work for their treats!
The mats are all handmade using a thick safety rubber mat as a base and quality fleece tied in knots as a cover.

This creates a sea of plush tangles which are easy for your dog to lift or push around with his/her nose as they try to find the hidden treats.

The Snuffler Mat provides amazing enrichment for puppies, calming for anxious pets and a wonderful treat for elderly pets. Also very effective at slowing down a fast eater. Available in Small, Medium or Large.

At least 15% of each sale goes toward helping rescues find their forever home.

RRP: from $35.00 at www.snufflemataustralia.com 

This Tug-a-Jug™ interactive toy from PetSafe® will keep your dog engaged and motivated to play. 

The unique design lets dogs see, smell and hear the food or treats as they roll around in the jug. The attached rope is perfect for dogs who like to grab and shake their toys. The rope acts as a barrier to meter the amount of food that is dispensed.

The Tug-a-Jug™ is perfect for obedience training or slowing down meal times! 

Available in 3 sizes: Extra Small, Small, Medium/Large.

RRP: from $16.99 at store.intl.petsafe.net/en-au

The Home Alone range from Aussie Dog Products is designed to entertain your dog whilst at home alone.

The Hanging Bungee Ball toy provides hours of tug-of-war fun in the backyard and may help prevent boredom, barking, separation anxiety and the destruction of your garden. 

This toy is made up of a sturdy plastic ball with an internal rattle and a durable loop for pulling. This is mounted onto a thick rope and bungee strap that springs back when pulled and released. 

Simply hang in a sturdy/safe place, place dry food in the ball (optional) which will rattle around and be dispensed during play.

Available in 5 sizes from Mini to Extra Large. 

RRP: from $57.40 at www.aussiedog.com.au and from online resellers.

If you’re an ace at DIY you could try to replicate this concept  but this is not an option for us … 

This soda bottle treat dispenser is an amazing toy for one dog or two! This is great stimulation for any dog and tons of fun. Simply fill the bottle up with your dog's favourite treats and watch them work out how to get these. 

The treat dispenser is a fantastic toy to keep dogs busy when left on their own as it is a toy that they can use when nobody is around. The treat dispenser can be purchased with or without the Snuffler Mat.

At least 15% of each sale goes toward helping rescues find their forever home.

RRP: $50.00 from www.furleggedfamily.com.au

For home alone pets, boredom and separation anxiety can be challenging behaviours for dog owners to resolve. 

Pet Tunes is science-based music composed just for the dogs’ hearing sensitivity. A recent study showed what dogs hear triggers their behaviour and music composed just for canine hearing sensitivity can quickly calm anxiety and noise phobic behaviour.

Pet Tunes has already been adopted by many vets, animal shelters, groomers and behaviourists as a natural method to calm anxious dogs.

The Pet Tunes Bluetooth Speaker is pre-loaded with dog-specific music both you and your dogs can hear. A compact hand size unit powered by rechargeable battery or USB cable, makes the music portable for home, travel, even calming your dog on the way to vet visits.

RRP: $129.00 (free shipping Australia & NZ) at www.thePetCalmer.com  

The aim of Dog Sudoku is to find hidden treats by moving pieces of the game board. 

One of 3 available sizes, Dog Sudoku Medium Expert Rainbow (best seller), has 9 possible hiding places and 8 sliding pieces which give a number of possibilities to find the hidden reward.

Dog Sudoku is one of My Intelligent Dogs® innovative, interactive puzzle games developed to boost your dog’s natural instincts of curiosity, foraging and drive to play. The puzzles promote necessary mental exercise for your dog’s health balance as they train your dog’s concentration, skill levels and dexterity. Customisable challenges to suit a beginner to advanced player. 

All My Intelligent Dogs® games are made from natural, non-toxic, and high quality materials. Visit the webshop below to see the extended range.

RRP: from $65 at www.woofpackonline.com.au 

Dances with Dogs and Canine Freestyle

We've all marvelled at the flawless teamwork displayed by people in costumes performing elaborate dance routines with their dogs at international events such as the Westminster Dog Show and Crufts.

But how do you end up dancing with your dog on the world stage? We spoke to Janette Wilson, Secretary of the Melbourne & District Dances with Dogs Club to learn more.

'I took it up as a bit of fun eight years ago and also to entertain the residents in the nursing homes that I visit as a Pet Therapist' says Janette. 'I quickly realised that it was an awesome dog sport, and now with my second dog we are competing at very high levels in both Heel to Music and Freestyle.

What is Dances with Dogs? 

Have you ever felt like turning up the music and dancing with your dog? Does it make you feel great to have fun with your dog? 

Well, did you know that there is now an official sport that encompasses moves and tricks to music? 

Dances with Dogs (DWD) is a relatively new canine sport which became popular in Canada and the UK in the early 1990s. Approved in 2009 as an official sport by the Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC), dogs can now compete and gain titles to be added to their registered names. However, many people have taken up this sport simply to have fun with their dogs! 

Gaye with German short-haired Pointer Holly

With a fusion of obedience, creativity, focus and teamwork, a DWD routine gives the illusion of a dance with a skilful choreographed routine performed to music. 

In competitions, the routines are between one and four minutes. Competitors earn points for:
✔️  technical accuracy

✔️ musical interpretation and

✔️  artistic expression 

So what appears to be a simple sport is actually a very complex mix of techniques. 

But DWD is not just a sport for competitors: many people are finding the joy of doing classes just for fun and fitness with their dogs, and love showing off their moves to family and friends!

I can’t dance, can I still do DWD with my dog?

Do you “have two left feet”, and you can’t dance like Fred Astaire? Don’t worry! 
DWD does not require you to be a fantastic dancer! And it doesn’t require your dog to do a quick-step, a twirl or a waltz.

If you and your dog can walk together and you enjoy having fun together, then you can do Dances with Dogs.

The aim for each team is to make their routine look flowing, simple and interesting. By choosing the right music that suits your dog’s pace, style and natural rhythm you can create a routine that will wow the spectators.

While the routines move in time to your favourite music, they often also tell a story. The style of dance and music varies greatly from team to team and is only limited by your imagination. Each routine showcases the unique abilities and relationship between handler and dog.

Of course we all know how much training goes on behind the scenes to make a routine look easy! All DWD training is achieved by using positive and motivational methods, and that is why dogs are so happy doing this sport. 

Janette Wilson training with her dog Scarlette

Is DWD a sport just for the most athletic dogs and handlers? 

Are you and your dog a “little less athletic”? While many of the more experienced competitors develop extremely athletic and complex routines, many others create routines that are more suitable to the ability of themselves and their own dogs.

DWD is a sport that is suitable for handlers of all ages and abilities. It is also suitable for dogs of all breeds, sizes, ages and abilities. We even have members with deaf or blind dogs!

The sport is suitable for all breeds, not just the usual athletic breeds. We see Löwchens, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Border Collies, Pomeranians, German Short-haired Pointers, German Shepherd Dogs, Australian Cattle Dogs, Papillons, Schnauzers, Poodles and of course dogs of mixed breeds.

Do I have to do obedience first?

In general there are no formal training pre-requisites for you and your dog to take up this sport. However remember that DWD is entirely performed off-lead, so a basic level of obedience is desirable before joining classes.

If you are already a competitor in Rally O, Obedience or Agility, then you will be very surprised at the added skills that you can learn in DWD. As DWD develops your dog’s focus and teamwork as well as gently improving fitness and body awareness, it is very common to see DWD titles on dogs competing at high levels of other dog sports.

But no matter what your reason for taking up the sport, it is guaranteed that you and your dog will develop your skills and fitness, while creating a fantastic positive training relationship.

DWD is not just one sport. It is actually two sports!

DWD encompasses two distinct divisions: Freestyle, and Heelwork to Music with competitions held in these two divisions. While Freestyle is “free flowing, flashy and tricky”, Heelwork to Music requires precision and very technical heelwork.


Obedience competitors know the amount of hard work that is required to achieve precision heelwork in one position (dog on the left) – so imagine the work required to achieve this precision in eight positions!

Do I need to buy expensive equipment to do DWD?

Gaye and Holly

No special equipment is required although some teams use clever props to enhance their routines and add to the spectator appeal.

If you don’t have a lot of space for training, you can even teach many of the DWD moves in your own living room!

While the human competitors might choose to wear costumes that enhance the story telling, the safety and dignity of our dogs is paramount.

Competing dogs are not permitted to wear costumes of any type, but are permitted to wear a bandana or flat collar.
And of course, no dangerous moves are permitted. 

The fun is growing, and you are welcome to join in. 

Every year since its introduction, the number of people involved in the sport in every state has been growing.

In 2018, Victoria held its very first Top Dog Competition where the top teams were invited to perform their Freestyle and Heelwork to Music routines for the accolades of being the Victorian Top Dogs. 

2018 Top Dog (Heelwork to Music) is A & G Penny and HTM.CH FS.CH Abtei Great Expectations CDX RN. Gaye and Holly showed amazing heelwork precision, performing to Variations 1-4 (Live) by Andrew Lloyd Webber. 

2018 Top Dog (Freestyle) is Deb Harvey and CH FS.CH Dymatan Denim N Diamonds ADX ET GD JDM RN SD. 

Deb and Tia (above) dazzled us with their rendition of All That Jazz by Glee Cast FT Kate Hudson. 

We are all excited to watch the 2019 Victorian Top Dog Competition to be held in July.

In addition to the regular competitions held by each club and each state DWD committee, there will be a very exciting National Competition on 29 June 2019 at Durack in Queensland. This will be followed by the Queensland State Competition on 30 June.

Check out the links at the end if you would like to come along and watch these amazing teams.

Where can I find out more about Dances with Dogs?

If you are looking for a sport that is a little bit different, develops your rapport with your dog and only uses positive and motivating training methods – then this could be the sport for you!

Italy's Lusy Imbergerova & Deril amaze crowds at Crufts 2017 with their incredible freestyle

There are several DWD clubs throughout Australia that host competitions regularly in each State, so check out the links below for the schedules. Spectators are also very welcome at all the competitions, so come along and join in the fun of Dances with Dogs.

Victoria: dogsvictoria.org.au

NSW:  www.dogsnsw.org.au

Queensland: www.dogsqueensland.org.au

Western Australia: www.dogswest.com 

ACT: www.actcdc.org.au

South Australia: www.dogssa.com.au

Understanding Cushing's Disease in Dogs

Cushing's disease, also known as Hyperadrenocorticism, is one of the most common hormonal diseases seen in dogs. 

We asked Dr. Louisa Fenny from Holistic Vet @ Home to share her expertise to understand the symptoms to watch out for as well as the causes and treatment options to ensure the best possible outcome.

Cushing's disease occurs when the adrenal glands, located just in front of the kidneys, produce too much of the “stress hormone”: cortisol. High levels of circulating cortisol in the blood stream leads to the typical symptoms, which include: 

1. Excessive thirst and urination (polydipsia/polyuria) which causes large volumes of dilute urine to be passed.


2. Increased appetite and weight gain.

3. Thin skin and coat, often with hairless patches due to alopecia (hair loss). Often the trunk and tail are the worst affected areas, resulting in a “rat tail” appearance.

4. Pot-bellied appearance or abdominal distension.

The disease is over-represented in smaller breed dogs such as the Maltese, Shih Tzus and Bichon Frise, (ie. “the white fluffies”) and generally affects middle-aged to senior canines. But it can affect all dogs with high incidence of cases also reported in Beagles, Boxers, Staffies, Dachshunds and Jack Russell Terriers.

What Causes Cushing's Disease? 

There are three main types of Cushing's disease seen in dogs.

#1. Pituitary Dependent Hyperadrenocorticism (PDH)

This is by far the most common cause of Cushing's, seen in around 85% of cases. It is caused by a benign tumour of the pituitary gland, which is a pea-sized gland located at the base of the brain. The tumour causes the pituitary to produce an excessive amount of a hormone known as ACTH. 

This hormone is responsible for stimulating the adrenal glands to produce cortisol, hence the over-supply of ACTH will result in an over-production of cortisol hormone. 

#2. Adrenal Tumour (Adrenal Dependent Hyperadrenocorticism (ADH)

Some unlucky dogs may have Cushing's disease associated with an adrenal tumour. This tumour stimulates the adrenal glands directly to produce too much cortisol. 

Unfortunately, most adrenal tumours in dogs are malignant which means they will spread to other parts of the body. Hence the long-term prognosis will be poor unless aggressive surgery and possibly chemotherapy are undertaken.

Fortunately, adrenal tumours account for less than 15% of total Cushing's cases.

#3. Iatrogenic Cushing's

Iatrogenic refers to the inadvertent induction of a disease by medical treatment. In Cushing’s, this is caused by a dog receiving too much steroid medications, for example prednisolone. 

Commonly this is seen in patients with severe allergies where no other treatments have been able to alleviate the clinical signs of intense itchiness. Fortunately, this type of Cushing’s is reversible, hence once the animal has been slowly weaned off the medication, the symptoms should resolve gradually. 

Diagnosis of Cushing's Disease: 

Definitive diagnosis of Cushing's disease can be a challenging process because several steps are required: 

Step 1: A general blood profile 

This will be run if your vet has a clinical suspicion of Cushing’s. For example, if your dog is showing one or more of the clinical signs listed above. There are several other diseases - such diabetes and kidney disease – that can mimic Cushing’s that need to be ruled out first. 

This initial test will provide some hints which can include a stress leukogram, raised levels of liver enzymes and higher than normal levels of glucose, cholesterol and albumin. 

Step 2: Cushing's specific bloods tests 

Your vet now has 2 options to proceed with: 

1. ACTH Stimulation Test

2. Low Dose Dexamethasone Suppression Test or LDDST.

These are both specific tests that measure the body's cortisol response to certain drugs. They require multiple blood samples to be taken and your pet will need to remain in hospital for 4-10 hours.



Step 3: Abdominal Ultrasound

An ultrasound of the abdomen is a very important part of the diagnostic process. Assessing the size and shape of the adrenal glands will indicate whether it is likely to be Pituitary dependent Cushing’s. In PDH, the adrenals will be bilaterally enlarged but a regular shape (i.e. enlarged to a similar degree on both sides). This is because the excess ACTH hormone causes both adrenals to be affected in the same way.

However, in ADH, the adrenal gland affected by the tumour is likely to be irregular in shape. However, the other adrenal will become small due to hypoplasia. In ADH it is also vital to assess the liver for lesions as this tumour will often metastasize (ie. the cancer will spread) to the liver.

Treatment of Cushing's Disease:

Treatment will differ according to the type of Cushing’s that has been diagnosed.

(a) dog with hyperadrenocorticism at diagnosis
(b) during Trilostane therapy

The standard treatment for Pituitary-Dependent Cushing's disease is ongoing medication with Trilostane – a synthetic steroid analogue which blocks cortisol production and is the standard treatment regime. 

The dose required by each patient can be highly variable, so regular follow up blood tests are required to measure the body's response to the drug, and to inform the veterinarian if dose adjustments need to be made. Trilostane currently needs to be imported from the UK and can prove cost prohibitive for some people.

A slightly older medication, Lysodren or Mitotane, can also be given to treat the disease. 

Mitotane works by actively destroying the adrenal tissue, and can be very effective at managing Cushing's. However, if too little medication is given, the abnormal adrenal tissue remains and the disease will persist. 

Conversely, if the dose of medication is too high and too much adrenal tissue is destroyed, this will result in abnormally low cortisol levels. This medical condition is known as Addison’s disease or Hypoadrenocorticism and can be life-threatening, hence careful monitoring with regular blood tests is vital. 

Mitotane is generally considered a second line therapy due to its cytotoxic nature which can be harmful, along with the slightly higher risk of adverse side-effects compared with Trilostane.

Natural remedies including Withania and Dandelion Root can also assist in mild cases of Pituitary Dependent Cushing’s. Some dogs also respond well to a correctly balanced raw food diet.

Surgery option:

In the case of adrenal tumours, a complete adrenalectomy (removal of the adrenal gland) is recommended because the tumour is usually malignant. Due to the close proximity of the adrenal glands to major blood vessels and other vital structures, it is a very involved procedure, and is be best performed by a surgical specialist. 

Chemotherapy is generally advised in conjunction with surgery in cases of adrenal tumours.

Prognosis:

Unfortunately, most cases Cushing's disease cannot be 'cured'. Management requires ongoing medication and regular monitoring blood tests to achieve a good outcome. The good news is that most dogs suffering from pituitary dependent Cushing's can be well managed, and most dogs will have a good quality of life with ongoing medication. 

Unfortunately, dogs with adrenal tumours have a guarded to poor long-term prognosis as these tumours are often highly aggressive and surgical excision is challenging. 

Case Study – “Pepe” 

“Pepe” is a white male Miniature Poodle aged 11 years. He was adopted two years ago from the Shenton Park Dog’s Refuge Home of WA and has been quite healthy in this time, however, his medical history prior to adoption is unknown. 

Pepe displaying alopecia (hair loss)

I met ‘Pepe’ at his regular annual vaccination booster and health check. 

I noticed that his appearance was classic “Cushingoid” with a sparse coat, especially over his trunk and a “rat tail” with barely any hair and thin skin.

Even though his owners had not noticed any of the usual symptoms of Cushing’s, this appearance along with his signalment (a senior, white fluffy breed!) also raised my suspicions. 

Pepe’s abdomen felt bloated on palpation but there were no obvious masses nor organ enlargement discernible. 

In summary, I found him to be in good general health with no sign of any skin conditions or parasites that would explain the hair loss. I was suspicious of Cushing’s based on these clinical signs and suspected PDH given the chronicity of the hair loss.

Being over the age of eight, I always recommend an annual health screening blood test, which her owners were happy to proceed with. The initial screening blood work confirmed my suspicion of Cushing’s, showing a stress leukogram, raised liver enzymes and higher than normal levels of cholesterol. 

The liver changes could have also been consistent with an age-related nodular hyperplasia of the liver but I was still highly suspicious of Cushing’s and recommended we investigate further with the LDDST.

The LDDST performed definitely diagnosed Cushing’s by demonstrating inadequate suppression of cortisol hormone production after a low dose steroid injection into the bloodstream.

Pepe’s owners are currently deciding which treatment option to pursue but at this stage are the most interested in pursuing treatment with natural remedies.

About the Writer

Dr Louisa Fenny graduated from Murdoch University in 2005 and is a member of the Veterinary Surgeons Board of WA and the Founder of Wilderness Warriors, a not-for-profit wildlife organisation.

After more than a decade as a vet, Louisa finds it incredibly rewarding to be a part of the close bond between people and their pets and she's passionate about educating the community about small animal care. 

She loves to take a holistic approach to preventative health care and incorporate natural based diets when appropriate.
Louisa has also featured in national TV show Desert Vet which looks at the life of her veterinarian dad, Rick Fenny.

You can find Dr Louisa Fenny - Holistic Vet at Home at https://byronbayholistic.vet and also connect with her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/drlufenny and 

on Instagram at www.instagram.com/drlufenny_holisticvet/