You can avoid the phone and book online via our portal

We’ve created a secure client portal that (once you’ve signed up) will allow you to:

• book an appointment online (and change it if you need to)

• update or change your details

• update or change your pet’s details (and add new pets)

• access your pet’s medical records (called clinical summaries)

• see your pet’s diagnostic results

• download handouts relating to your pet’s care

• track your pet’s data (weight, heart rate etc)

• review your pet’s medications

• see when your pet is next due for treatments or testing

• check your pet’s vaccination status

• access your invoices/receipts

Booking an online appointment

When making an appointment, you’ll be asked a few questions so that we schedule you the right sort of appointment with the appropriate amount of time. Note that there’s a bit of hang time between these questions, please be patient.

We’re still working on a way for you to book an appointment with a specific vet, but in the meantime here’s some availability info that can help you:

• Deborah is available Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and some Saturdays

• Raquel is available Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and some Saturdays

• Craig is available Thursdays (but he’s generally booked up with surgical consults and operating)

• Jenni Corbett is available Monday, Friday and Saturday

Note that acupuncture appointments with Jen Robinson still need to be booked by phone.

Beransa® (bedinvetmab) is one of the most significant advances in managing osteoarthritis in dogs.

It's a different kind of medication—neither a painkiller nor an anti-inflammatory in the traditional sense. Instead, it's part of a new class of targeted therapies called monoclonal antibodies.

What is Beransa®?

Beransa is a monthly injection designed specifically for dogs with osteoarthritis. It contains bedinvetmab, a monoclonal antibody that binds to and neutralises nerve growth factor (NGF)—a key molecule involved in the development and persistence of chronic pain.

Unlike non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) or opioids, Beransa doesn’t block pain directly. Instead, it disrupts the messaging system that sensitises nerves and amplifies pain over time. This makes it especially useful in chronic conditions where inflammation and nerve sensitisation feed into each other.

How does it work?

NGF plays a role in maintaining nerve health, but in osteoarthritis it becomes overactive, driving chronic pain and stiffness. Beransa binds to NGF and blocks its effects, helping break the pain cycle.

Because Beransa is a protein, it is not processed by the liver or kidneys like many drugs. This makes it a potentially safer option for dogs with underlying organ conditions or those who don’t tolerate NSAIDs well.

What does the science say?

The development of Beransa is based on a growing body of research into NGF and chronic pain.

Clinical trials in dogs have shown:

• Improved mobility scores within weeks of starting treatment

• Reduced signs of pain even in dogs who previously struggled with other medications

• A low rate of reported adverse effects during controlled trials

These findings were exciting and marked a shift in how we think about treating osteoarthritis in our patients.

What does the internet say?

Understandably, a lot of attention—and anxiety—has emerged online around Beransa. Fear tends to generate clicks, but concerns should never be dismissed outright.

While the vast majority of dogs respond well, no medication is risk-free, and we approach Beransa with thoughtful caution.

In our clinic, Beransa is not a first-line treatment. We consider it when:

• NSAIDs are not tolerated or contraindicated

• Other pain management strategies haven’t provided enough relief

• A dog's mobility and quality of life are significantly affected

We monitor each patient closely and talk through the risks, benefits, and alternatives with you.

What about side effects?

Like all medications, Beransa is not without risk. The most commonly reported side effects are mild, such as:

• Redness or discomfort at the injection site

• Mild lethargy or gastrointestinal upset

However, in recent months there have been increasing anecdotal reports of more serious hypersensitivity reactions—such as facial swelling, hives, or, very rarely, systemic signs like vomiting or collapse. These are being reviewed internationally, and no definitive causal link has been confirmed.

That said, one of our own patients has experienced a severe reaction. While such reports are still classified as anecdotal, our direct experience makes this feel more than theoretical. This has strengthened our commitment to using Beransa carefully and selectively.

We encourage owners to contact us if they notice anything unusual after an injection—no matter how mild it seems.

Should I be worried?

It’s natural to feel uncertain when reading about adverse reactions online. The reality is that every medication—especially new ones—comes with some degree of risk.

Whether Beransa is right for your dog depends on:

• Their overall health

• What treatments have already been tried

• Your goals for comfort, mobility, and quality of life

If you’re considering Beransa, are already using it, or simply want to talk through your options—we’re here for that conversation.

What’s happening at Elwood Vet

And other useful stuff

Whenever we get a chance, we try and write something the pet owners of Elwood and the Bayside suburbs might find useful.

You’ve found a baby bird on the ground – should you ‘rescue’ it?

The short answer is (almost always) NO.

The longer answer requires determining two things:

• Is it injured?

• Is it a nestling or a fledgling?

Injured?

If a bird is clearly injured (eg you can see blood/wounds or a broken limb) then it should be assessed to see if it requires care or humane euthanasia.

Note that being unable to fly – especially if flapping and trying to hop away from you – is not a clear sign of injury. You’re often dealing with a fledgling (see next).

Nestling or fledgling?

A nestling is a baby bird who should still be living in its nest.

Nestlings aren’t covered in normal feathers. They may be bald or covered in down feathers or have little ‘pin’ feathers coming through. Nestlings can’t perch (grip onto a branch or finger with their feet).

A fledgling is a baby bird that has recently left the nest but can’t fly yet. Fledglings make up the vast majority of birds brought in to us.

Fledglings have feathers all over their body (tails might be short) and can perch. They spend a few days (to even a few weeks) hopping and flapping around getting their muscles and their coordination ready to take off and land. They are doing this under the watchful eyes of their parents, who spread them out (reducing the chances of a predator wiping out the whole family in one go), move them around to different spots at night and bring them food.

What’s the best way to help?

A clearly injured bird should receive veterinary attention. You can bring the bird to a vet or call Wildlife Victoria (03 8400 7300).

A nestling should ideally be returned the nest – its parents will give it the best chance (perhaps the only chance) of surviving. Look in the nearby trees/bushes for a nest – most are pretty well hidden. If you find the nest (and can reach it safely), pop the bird back in. If not, you can place a box/basket (lined with small tissue or ripped up newspaper) in the nearest tree. Pop the bird into that and leave it alone. If you can, monitor from a distance (preferably indoors) over the next 2 hours to see if its parents find it. If you can’t monitor it, you are better leaving it and checking later than bringing it to a vet – most of the nestlings we see cannot be hand-reared and need to be euthanased. We want to give the parents every chance of rearing their baby.

A fledgling should only be moved if it’s in danger of cars, other animals or people. For the vast majority, the parents are watching from a safe distance and feeding the baby when no one is around. If the baby is in danger, try placing it in a nearby tree or bush (remember a fledgling can perch). Again, leave it alone and monitor from a distance (preferably indoors) over the next 2 hours to see if its parents return. If you can’t monitor it, you are better leaving it and checking later than bringing it to a vet.

Note: if you bring in a healthy fledgling that is a non-native species (eg Spotted dove, Indian myna), we’re in a bit of a bind. Legally, we’re shouldn’t release a non-native species into the wild (so we’re not supposed to say ‘take it back to where you found it’) and we can’t pass it onto a carer (wildlife carers care for native species – that can be released into the wild). So we end up being obliged to euthanase it.

But I’ve touched it, won’t the parents reject it now?

No. Birds have amazing eyesight but not a very good sense of smell. The parents are more likely to stay away from the baby because they are able to see people hanging around (even from a distance).

Can I hand-rear the baby?

No. A, it’s illegal in Victoria for a non-registered carer to rear wildlife. And B, it’s really difficult to hand-rear birds – you need special feed, feeding techniques and housing.