Advice on worming your pet!!!

WORMING YOUR PET

How often should you worm your pet?

All animals are at risk from acquiring worm infections however some animals will be at a higher risk than others depending on their lifestyle.  Children are at increased risk of disease from worms; if you have a young family or your pets often come into contact with children, you should pay particular attention to regularly worming your pets.

Examples of animals that many require more frequent worming include:

vPuppies and Kittens

vHunting Cats

vScavenging Dogs

vAnimals regularly coming into contact with children

vFarm Dogs

vAnimals that are not regularly flea treated

SO HOW DO PEOPLE GET INFECTED?

People are infected by accidentally consuming worm eggs; these can be found in a variety of locations such as on your dog’s coat, in your house or garden or in the ground or sandpits at children’s play areas.

Human infection can occur easily therefore from:

vGrooming or stroking your dog

vAllowing your dog or cat to lick your face and hands {they can also lick their bottoms so could pass on worm eggs this way}

vEnvironmental contamination e.g. contact with soil through gardening, sports, play and recreation activities.

Remember that infected adult dogs and cats may not show symptoms.  However, this infection could still be present creating a risk to you and your family.

Here is a fact to make you wriggle:

25% of dogs have roundworm eggs in their fur!!!  

Call into our clinic to get full advice on worm treatments for your pet!!!

Strange Cat Deaths blamed on anti-freeze

An outbreak in sudden cat deaths has been blamed on irresponsible car owners and anti-freeze.
The sweet-tasting but deadly substance used to keep cars running in winter has been found in a spate of poison deaths in five areas around the country.
Over the past few weeks their has been an increase in the number of cats being brought to vet practices - many have died suddenly or after a short illness, and the post-mortem examinations have confirmed that these animals experienced rapid kidney failure following the ingestion of ethylene glycol, a major component of anti freeze.
Most of the deaths were family pets and it is believed cats are more susceptible as they lick the substance in small puddles while dogs look for larger water sources.  A few millilitres will kill a cat.
Cats are also more at risk as they spend time outside fending for themselves and have a habit of lying under warm cars.
There is no way to be certain how or where the cats ingest the chemical although suspicion has fallen on leaky car radiators and irresponsible disposal of anti-freeze products.
It only takes a small amount of ethylene glycol to poison small animals and induce relatively rapid kidney failure, after ingesting the chemical, small animals may initially present with relatively vague, non-specific signs such as being dull and listless.  Other damaging side-effects include uncoordinated movement before they move rapidly on to kidney failure and death.
Please be vigilant with storage, use and disposal of anti-freeze products. Thank you

Christmas Stockings

              CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS AVAILABLE AT OUR CLINIC FOR YOUR PET

You pick out what you would like your pet to have for Christmas from our wide range of pet accessories and we’ll make up a stocking for you to put under your Tree. Or you can choose from one of our own stockings already made.           



Tips to help your pet through halloween

HOW TO HELP YOUR PET THROUGH HALLOWEEN

The fireworks have started for Halloween and your pets hearing is a lot more sensitive than ours so a firework would be a lot louder to your pet!!

Here are a few tips to help your pet through this period –

v  Create a darkened quiet comfortable enclosed space for the dog to sleep in and go to during fear episodes.  A crate is useful, include blankets so the dog can burrow and hide.  Cover the crate over with a heavy blanket.

v  Leave a radio playing in the room in order to create background noise which can distract your dog.

v  Close all blinds/curtains during fireworks.

v  Avoid speaking in sympathetic tones and inadvertently reinforcing the behavior.

v  Be sure not to walk your dog without a lead during this period.

v  Ensure your dog is wearing a pet tag and is micro chipped.

We also have products that are proven to reduce stress and anxiety –

v  Dap collars which your dog wears that have appeasing pheromone which helps reduce anxiety and stress.

v  Dap Diffuser which you can plug into the room.

v  Anxiety Drops which you give to your pet orally.

These are all natural products.

Ask at reception for details

Keeping your pet safe this holloween

The fireworks have started for Holloween and your pets hearing is alot more sensitive than ours so a firework would be alot louder to your pet!! Call in to get a natural anxiety reliever that will calm your pet from noise phobias such as fireworks! Also remember to keep your pet well secure over the next few weeks because when their frightened they could run off to hide.

Here are 10 tips on having a happy and healthy Cat

1. Visit the veterinarian. Healthy cats are happy cats. While some owners may dread a trip to the veterinarian with their cat, many veterinary practices are cat friendly and will gladly show leery owners how pleasant a trip to the veterinarian can be. If a cat has not yet been spayed or neutered, this is an important step to keeping a cat healthy since it will help prevent aggression and decrease the risk of cancer.
2. Microchip your cat. In addition to a collar and identification tag, owners should ask their veterinarian about microchipping their feline friend. If a cat ever escapes or gets lost, having this type of permanent ID will make a reunion between cat and owner much more likely.
3. Go outside (appropriately). Yes! There are ways owners can safely take their cats outside to allow them to broaden their horizons. Cats can be walked on a leash with a harness or confined in a special outdoor area—always under supervision, of course—so they can periodically and safely experience the world outside their windows.
4. Scratch the surface. Cats should have places they are allowed to scratch and care for their claws. Scratching is an important aspect of feline behaviour. Providing a long and sturdy scratching post in a vertical, horizontal or angled position is a good way to keep your cat happy … and your sofa, too!
5. Provide preventive medications. No one likes fleas, ticks, mites or heartworms, especially your cat. Even if an owner’s cat is strictly indoors they can still be attacked by these little creepy creatures. Owners should speak with their veterinarians about the best preventive plan for their cats. A parasite-free cat is a happy cat—and will keep your family healthier, too.
6. Train together. Cats are smart and can be trained to do fun tricks just like dogs, and the mental and physical stimulation is great for felines. Teaching your cat to sit, for example, is easy, and training your cat to sit on stools instead of counters will make you and your cat much happier. An added bonus is that training will strengthen the relationship between owner and cat, which will certainly make a cat happy.
7. Work for food. Feline obesity is a huge problem in this country, and one way to combat it is for owners to make their cats work for their food. Food toys are available to channel a cat’s natural hunting drive and release kibble in small amounts. Another option is to hide a cat’s food in different places so that they have to find it. Working for food makes a cat happy because it’s great physical and mental exercise.
8. Get your cat acclimated to the carrier. Many cat owners find that the worst part about taking their cats anywhere is getting cats into their carriers. Owners should work with their cat on making their carrier a safe, secure, and inviting place to be prior to veterinary visits or family vacations. When the time comes, the cat will be happy to get into the carrier and go off on an adventure. Visit www.catalystcouncil.org to view Cats and Carriers: Friends not Foes for tips on how to get cats to love their carriers.
9. Provide prey toys. One of the easiest ways to make a cat happy is with a new prey toy. Cats are natural hunters and love chasing, pouncing, leaping, swatting and stalking prey, even when it’s not the real thing. There are many types of prey toys available on the market; with a little creativity, owners can even make their own out of common household items.
10. Think about getting another cat. Cats are social animals, and owners should consider getting another cat to keep their current kitty company. Cats love to play, and a playmate will make them happy—provided they are properly introduced and have the right places to eat, hide, play and go the bathroom. Visit your community animal shelter and see what feline friends they have to offer.

Taking Care of your dogs teeth

Believe it or not, taking care of your dog's teeth is as important as looking after your own. It is critical for your pet's overall health to have proper dental care. Saliva, bacteria and food particles combine to form plaque that will gradually build up if left on the teeth. Minerals in his saliva will then turn it into tartar, a hard yellowish deposit that accumulates on teeth surfaces. Tartar can irritate gums and lead to gingivitis, which is the beginning of periodontal disease.

Is Bad Breath Normal??
The answer is No! Bad breath, or halitosis, arises when plaque accumulates in your dog's mouth? Plaque will eventually lead to gum disease, so if your dog's breath is offensive, please call in and we will do a full dental check.