There are many breeds of dogs on the market, some pure bred, some cross bred, males, females, young puppies and adult dogs. No wonder this seems confusing. Every person or household will have a specific need and this must first be identified: whether you need a family dog, guard dog, toy breed, working dog, terriers or giant breed, to name a few. Once the type of dog has been decided upon it is easier to make a clearer choice.Examples of certain popular breeds: Guard dogs: Rottweiler, Boerboel, Bullmastif, German Shepherd, Ridgeback, Doberman Toy Breeds: Yorkshire Terrier, Maltese, Toy Pom, Chihuahua Working dogs: Weimeraner, Pointer (German, English), Spaniel Terriers: Jack Russell, Fox Terrier, Scottish Terrier Giant Breeds: Great Dane, Irish Wolfhound
Buying a puppy or kitten
Having decided what breed of dog or cat you want, it is best to research any inherited problems your chosen breed may suffer from.
The next thing you have to decide is where you are going to buy the animal. Never buy a puppy or kitten without first seeing it. Unless you are supporting a charity and taking on a rescue case, you should always ask to see the mother and, if possible, the father of the litter. Seeing them in the home environment gives you the chance to see how they are kept, how they are fed and if there are many other breeding animals present.
It is best to buy a puppy or kitten that has been a part of the breeder’s family, being reared in the home. This means that they will be better socialised and used to normal household noises, etc.
Ask lots of questions: How old are the animals in the litter? Has the puppy or kitten been dewormed or vaccinated? How many babies were born? What are they being fed and how often? Never take the smallest or weakest of a litter. Never take the baby if it seems unwell.
Buying from pet shops, from Junk Mail or from local newspapers can mean that you are buying a ‘Puppy Mill’ puppy. These puppies often do not grow up to resemble the breed they are sold as, they are often sick, have a heavy worm burden and are not socialised.
Puppies and kittens should not leave their mothers until they are eight weeks of age. Before this age, the period of staying with the mother and litter-mates is an essential developmental time.
Should I have my dog/cat vaccinated and how often?
Since the advent of vaccines (think Louis Pasteur…) many fatal diseases have been prevented and even some diseases have even been wiped out almost entirely wiped out. Dogs and cats are no different to from humans in this regard. Deadly dog viruses can be prevented by inoculations. Pups need a series of three vaccines given at 6, 10 and 12 weeks of age. The vaccination is repeated every year. The most important dog diseases that are prevented by vaccination are: Distemper, Rabies, Parvo Virus, Hepatitis, Para-influenza, Kennel Cough and Leptospira. Cats are no different and also need a series of vaccines when they are young, to be repeated annually. Cat viruses diseases that can be prevented by vaccination are: Herpes Virus, Calici Virus, Feline Panleucopaenia, Chlamydia and Rabies.
At every annual inoculation your veterinarian will give your pet a thorough examination. He/she will: look at the pet’s ears, eyes, mouth, heart, lungs, abdomen and skin coat and the condition of the pet will be noted. These observations are compared to the year before (weight, growth etc.) and advice will be offered for what is the best to do for your pet.
When and how often does my dog come on heat?
Unsterilised bitches come on heat between the ages of 5 and 9 months, depending on the type and breed of dog. Large dogs generally come on heat a little later and small breeds a little sooner. Once the bitch has experienced her first oestrus cycle she may will come on heat every 9 -11 months. This will occur throughout her life until about 10-12 years of age, when she may go through a phase of anoestrus.
Should I sterilise my dog?
Unless a bitch is intended for breeding she should be sterilised. The risk of the anaesthetic and the cost of the operation are far outweighed by the benefits of sterilisation.
Benefits include decreased incidence of mammary tumours, pyometra (uterine infections) phantom pregnancies, ovarian tumours and anoestrus (she will not come on heat again).
It is advisable to sterilise male dogs as well. Males can suffer from prostate cancer, prostatic hyperplasia, perineal hernias and testicular cancer. Castration dramatically reduces these risks. Male dogs tend to become less aggressive towards other males and territory marking (leg lifting) will be reduced.
At what age should I sterilise my dog/cat?
There is a myth that a female must have a litter before she is sterilised. Every time a bitch comes on heat she increases her chances of mammary tumours and pyometra. It is therefore advisable that a bitch be sterilised between 5 and 6 months, before she comes on heat. Males can be castrated at the same age, before hormonal aggression towards other male dogs sets in.
How often should I deworm my pets?
Worms (intestinal parasites) occur the whole year round. Once off deworming may not be enough to prevent re-infestation. Worm eggs are small, they can be blown around, they occur on grass lawns and they hatch every 3 weeks, depending on the time of year and the type of worm. It is therefore advisable that pets should be dewormed 3-4 times a year. We advise that, with every change of season, a dewormer should be given to all pets.
My dog/cat is scratching – does it have fleas?
Your pet may be suffering from flea infestation, but there are other causes of itching in dogs and cats. Ectoparasites (fleas, ticks, lice, mites) allergic dermatitis (contact allergy, food allergy, food allergy) and certain mineral deficiencies all cause itching in dogs/cats.
All animals in the household (dogs and cats) should be treated once a month with Frontline, which will kill all adult fleas. The product also contains a chemical that prevents flea eggs from hatching. Frontline is also highly effective against ticks. Ticks are the transmitters of the deadly disease Biliary fever.
What food should I feed my dog/cat?
There are many pet foods available to the consumer these days. The general rule is that you get what you pay for. Dog and cat foods that are recommended by our practice include: Eukanuba, Iams, Hills, Olympic, Royal Canin, Vets Choice. These foods differ in quality and price. Please ask our trained reception staff, nurse or vet for more information about what will suit your pet’s specific needs.
Can I give my dog a bone?
Bones have only one function when given to dogs: they help the animal salivate and cause a mechanical abrasion action on the teeth. The salivation keeps plaque build-up limited and the mechanical action will remove some tartar build-up. However bones, unfortunately, have more detrimental than beneficial effects on a dog’s health. Teeth often fracture and bones can splinter and become stuck in the oesophagus (swallowing pipe) or stomach or can cause constipation. Many patients have had to have bones surgically removed from their intestines.
What can I do when my dog has diarrhoea?
Diarrhoea is only a symptom of disease. There are many causes of diarrhoeas: viruses, bacteria, protozoa, worms, inflammatory conditions and food intolerance, to mention a few. If adult dogs and cats are otherwise bright and alert and still eating well it may be sufficient to starve the patient for 12 hours and then to start feeding a bland diet. There should be a favourable response within 24hours. If your dog or cat vomits, is depressed and its condition deteriorates, please bring the dog/cat in to the vet.
My dog/cat is overweight – is there anything I can do?
An amazing 40% of our patients suffer from obesity. Obesity radically reduces the pet’s lifespan and increases the risk of heart disease, liver disease, diabetes, arthritis, pancreatitis and several other serious diseases.
The good news is that there has been incredible research in the field of animal nutrition over the last few years. Products on the market now allow us to control our patients’ weight. Prescription diets like Eukanuba Restricted Calorie, Hills R/D are available to us now and have produced outstanding results. Our Fat Fighters fortnightly Weekly weigh-ins are done at our hospital, with advice and support at no charge. for easily monitoring progress.
My dog’s breath smells - what can cause this?
There are numerous causes of halitosis: renal failure, periodontal disease, gastritis, anal gland impactions, to name a few. The most common cause, however, is oral pathology involving peridontal disease or plaque accumulation with gingivitis. An astounding 80% of pets suffer form oral pathology. Red, inflamed gums are all part of this disease. Regular check-ups (vaccinations) at your vet will ensure that your pet’s oral hygiene needs are taken care of. If periodontal disease or gingivitis is noted by your vet, he/she will recommend a dental prophylactic descale and polish. This is done under anaesthetic and the patient’s teeth are descaled and polished in much the same way as a dental hygienist treats our teeth. Tooth extractions are only performed if absolutely necessary. We will advise home-care for your pet, which will include chews, toys, toothpaste and tooth brushing of your pet’s teeth as well as a recommended diet.
Is my pet too old for surgery?
Pets should not be denied surgery on the grounds of old age. Pets are living and staying healthy longer and age is no longer a big concern when it comes to anesthetics or surgery. It is the health of the pet that we are concerned with. Our ability to run blood tests, measure output from the heart, etc. allows us to ensure that your pet is healthy. We can ensure support and monitoring as required during any anesthetic or operation performed.
Many senior pets require surgery such as cancer removals or dental work and a large number of our surgery cases are seven years or older. Denying these pets surgery will often allow the disease to worsen, leading to pain or suffering. Often the only humane alternative will be euthanasia.
What happens when my pet is euthanased?
To euthanase a pet is often a very difficult decision and should be discussed with the veterinarian and family members. If you wish to be with your pet when it is put to sleep just let the veterinarian know.
The drug used to euthanase an animal is a very strong anaesthetic. The procedure is painless. The Doctor will need to clip an area on the fore leg for the injection. Either a needle or a catheter is placed in the vein to inject the drug. As soon as the injection is given your pet will lose consciousness and go to sleep, no longer able to feel pain or fear. Very soon after, the breathing and heart will stop.
Your pet may gasp, or empty its bowels or bladder. This is caused by the muscles relaxing and is perfectly normal.
We use Envirocin, a dedicated pet crematorium, to cremate the pets. If you would like to receive your pet’s ashes so that you can scatter or bury them, let us know at the time of euthanasia and we can arrange this for you.
Does a dog or a cat need a friend?
Dogs and cats are social animals. They are used to other animals in litters and it is therefore advisable that kittens and puppies have peers they can relate to. You do not necessarily need to acquire more than one young animal at one time. Pups need a lot of attention when growing up and more than one pup can divide your attention. It is would be easier if one pup was is a few months old and house trained before another pup is was introduced.
Young animals also learn good habits (and unfortunately bad habits too) from older dogs. This can make house training, obedience and basic commands easier for a pup to learn.
How do I clean my dog's ears? 
