In this column veterinarian Dr Liesel van der
Merwe provides practical assistance for common
problems in companion animals. She is a specialist
physician at the Onderstepoort animal teaching
hospital and a senior lecturer in
the section of small animal
medicine. Send your questions to
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Dr Liesel van der Merwe
With the new year come all
those new year’s resolutions
. . . so let’s make
some for your pets . . . and let’s
keep them.
Off with the extra weight
Aim to get your pets at their target
weights. You should be able to see a
waistline both from the top and side
view of your pet and you should be
able to easily feel the ribs. Ad lib
feeding is a no-no. You can cut
down on the amount fed, stop all
the snacks, or feed special weight
reduction diets such as Hills RD and
Eukanuba weight control. Note that
the “light” diets are to maintain the
desired body weight in a dog prone
to obesity. All this extra weigh puts
strain on the joints and heart.
Start an exercise program
Both you and your pet will benefit.
Regular exercise will calm your pet
as well as keep him/her fit. The time
spent together
also improves
the interaction
between pet
and owner, as
long as it is not fraught with bad
behaviour.
Train your pet
Basic obedience training to verbal
commands and good manners when
on the lead makes for a much nicer
pet and will also encourage you to
spend more time with your pet.
Resources such as books, dog
trainers and DVDs abound.
Control parasites
Control of ticks is the only way to
prevent biliary fever. Fleas may
transmit blood diseases to cats and
cause severe allergic skin disease in
dogs. Intestinal worms are especially
dangerous in young puppies but
can also cause gastrointestinal signs
in adult dogs and can be transmitted
to humans. Get advice on your
specific situation and start a routine
anti-parasite program. This is money
well spent.
Premium diets
Good nutrition is essential to maintain
your pets in good health with a
shiny coat. Carefully evaluate what
you are feeding, including all the
extras, and try to upgrade to the
best premium dog or cat food you
can afford. The premium brands
contain highly digestible sources of
protein and also a large amount of
essential fats and anti-oxidants. The
bag will usually last longer than a
cheaper bag, as you pet will eat less
because the food is more digestible.
Evidence of this is usually smaller
and less frequent faeces. Not a bad
side effect at all.
Sterilise
Sterilise pets which are not intended
for breeding purposes. Female
dogs and cats should be sterilised at
about five to six months of age.
Smaller animals mature more rapidly
than the larger breeds. Cats can
become pregnant whilst still suckling
their kittens, so get in there
early.
Identify your pets
Use name tags on collars as well as
ID chips injected under the skin.
Thus, even if the collar is lost your
pet will still have an ID. All veterinarians
and SPCA’s have the required
scanners.
Health check
Arrange a general health check at
your veterinarian for your older animals.
This can be instead of the
yearly vaccinations which need only
be given every third year once the
initial booster course is complete.
Several diseases such as kidney
damage, prostatic disease and
malignant masses can be identified
early on and management is then a
lot easier.
Check your dog’s teeth
Smelly breath with a lot of tartar on
the teeth causes receding gum lines
and pockets in the gum resulting in
persistent periodontal disease and
discomfort for your pet. Extraction
of affected teeth with ongoing dental
care either with diet, chews,
brushing and regular descaling and
polishing at your veterinarian may
be required.
Vaccination
New puppies and kittens must have
their full initial vaccination and
dewormimg program. This is more
important than all the cute toys.
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