Canine hepatitis (or CAV-1) is a very serious condition caused by a highly infectious virus that affects a dog’s liver. CAV-1 can develop extremely quickly in especially puppies. The virus is transmitted through the blood, nasal discharge, saliva, urine, or faeces of infected dogs and is highly contagious.
Joining The ‘Green Revolution’ With Your Pet?
Cannabis is becoming more and more legal throughout the world, and this could have a severe impact on your beloved pet.
“Cannabis is very much in the vogue with regards to treating all sorts of ailments, from cancer to itchy skin. Not much of this is supported by actual science though,” says Dr Omar Mehtar of TAH Somerset West. Continue reading
Keeping clear of Kennel Cough
Kennel cough is a highly contagious, infectious disease and upper respiratory infection affecting dogs. Most kennel cough cases are caused by viruses, although dogs are often secondarily infected with bacteria due to their immune systems being compromised.
Barking Up a Freeze This Winter
During the past week Capetonians have taken all their jackets, scarves and gloves out to protect themselves against the assault of winter cold fronts. It is, however, not only people that need to be protected from the cold, but also their beloved pets: Continue reading
Travelling with our Furry Companions (Part 2)
Are you planning travelling with your pet abroad? |
Whether travelling domestically or internationally, planning and preparing for your four-legged companion’s travel requirements is the best way of reducing any stress to yourself and your pet…
> Be sure to read the first half of this article:
Travelling with your furry companions – Part-1/
Brave Kara and her dad’s story – thanks to our specialists!
by Andrew Backstrom ~
Kara woke up crying and we could not figure out what was wrong. Then she freaked out when Logan touched her, and we realised she cannot see!
It really broke my heart, my little girl that goes running/riding with me, who lives for adventure, was suddenly not able to navigate the world she so loves to explore…
Are you planning on travelling with your furry companions? (part 1)
by Dr Fiona Holman & Dr Kevin Solberg ~
Whether travelling domestically or internationally, planning and preparing for your four-legged companion’s travel requirements is the best way of reducing any stress to yourself and your pet.
Ensure that you have provided adequate time to do so. The requirements depend on where you are planning to travel, but the best place to start this process is with a visit to your vet. The vet will do a clinical examination and assess your pet’s fitness for travel.
Continue reading
What to expect when Lucy is expecting?
Taking care of a pregnant bitch is quite a commitment, and we must take complete responsibility for their care and wellbeing during the pregnancy, birth and nurturing of puppies. They can’t exactly tell us if they are craving gherkins and ice cream like we do, or if they feel nauseous or are in pain, so monitor her carefully…
To breed or not to breed, that is the question…
by Dr Zarina Motala /
There are pros and cons to breeding, and the question to ask ourselves is – what is the right thing to do?
Responsible, well-educated dog breeders are invaluable, and I absolutely love working with them. They treat their animals as family members, know exactly what to expect and prepare accordingly, allowing us to benefit from excellent quality specimens of the various breeds that we know well and have preferences for. Continue reading
New Year’s resolutions for your pets
by Dr Michael Ferreira /
January is already almost over, and many of us are wondering whether we will be able to keep to those New Year’s resolutions we made. Even if you don’t consciously make a list, I suspect most of us have probably subconsciously thought about things that we would like to do better or more of this year. But with this being a blog post on a Vet’s website, I am obviously not going to address YOUR New Year’s resolutions, but instead focus on what we can do to improve the lives of our pets in the year ahead.
Most humans aim to lose a bit of weight as a New Year’s resolution, but the many pets can also benefit from shedding a few kilos. We as pet owners struggle to be objective about our pets’ weight. In my experience, many pets we see for examinations are overweight or obese. Being overweight leads to increased strain on joints, organs and the cardiovascular system and can even exacerbate allergies. A recent study has found that overweight pets live on average 2 years less than dogs that are at their ideal weight. If you would like an honest opinion about your pet’s weight, please make a free Weight Clinic appointment with one of our amazing nurses, where you will receive a weight assessment and a safe personalised diet plan for your pet.
Secondly, I would advise resolving to bring your pets for regular check-ups on at least an annual basis. Often medical conditions such as itchy skin and ears, lumps and lameness get left for far too long before the vet sees them. We strongly recommend annual vaccination, which protects your pet against infectious diseases and includes a full medical examination to identify any underlying medical issues. You can also discuss any concerns you may have about your pet with one of our friendly vets and explore treatment options. Preventative care and early detection of medical conditions may save your pet a lot of suffering and you some money if managed early.
Thirdly, I would advise more playtime or doing fun or interesting things with your pet. A bored pet is often a naughty pet, causing havoc in your home. Taking your dog for a walk in a new area, getting your cat new toys, or just playing with your pets helps reduce the risk of boredom. Furthermore, the benefit of being outside or spending time with your beloved pets has been scientifically proven to improve your mood as well.
Come to think of it, I don’t think that this blog post is just about pets. If we end up having happier, healthier pets and create opportunities to spend quality time with them, it makes us happier, healthier human beings. Who doesn’t feel better when coming home after a long day of work and being greeted by a tail wag or purr? I know I do!