Fleas, worms and ticks are harmful parasites, which readily infest pets, causing debilitation, illness and even death. All pets will be infested with parasites at some stage during their lifetime. Many will have recurring problems and young animals are particularly vulnerable. Parasite infestations in animals can also pose a health risk to members of the family – certain diseases are transmitted during human – animal interaction. Prevention, through the regular use of professionally administered parasite control products, is necessary – it will not only ensure that your pet (and family) remain healthy, but will also be more cost – effective and avoid unnecessary suffering.

1. Fleas:   

What a flea season we have this year! Everyone is complaining ~ and controlling them is a little more complicated than just treating your pet ~ of the whole flea population, only 5% is made up of biting adults (the fleas we see on our dogs) – the rest are quite happily developing into adults in the environment. So imagine how infested your environment is, if you are already seeing a lot of fleas on your animal. The most common problem created by fleas, is when they bite the pets to suck blood, thereby causing (only in certain very sensitive individuals) severe irritation. Flea bite allergy is the most common skin problem found in pets – it is an allergic response created by the body, in reaction to the complex proteins found in the fleas saliva. It is characterized by severe scratching, rubbing and biting – causing raw inflamed and infected areas typically on the lower back, base of tail, inside thighs and stomach area. Sometimes, if animals are heavily infested by fleas, they may become anemic and can even die from this. Pets infested with fleas will probably also be infected with tapeworms, as fleas play an important role in the tapeworms life-cycle. So, if you need to get rid of fleas, target them in various stages:

* treat your pet with a reputable product (discuss your needs with your vet)
* treat the pet’s environment (inside and outdoors)
* deworm your animals.

2. Ticks.

Ticks are blood-sucking parasites, that survive usually under hot conditions. Controlling the numbers on your pet, should be each pet owner’s basic responsibility, as these parasites can trans
mit lethal diseases, i.e. (a) Biliary and (b) tick-bite fever, to your animal; for which there is no prevention or vaccine. Some ticks (specially the “bont-poot”) , inject a poison into the animals skin, when biting, thereby causing that piece of skin to die off and leave a large open wound.

a. Biliary: is likened to malaria which humans get from mosquitoes. Parasites are transmitted from the tick into the animal’s system. Symptoms don’t appear immediately, but only after 2-3 weeks, when the parasites start multiplying in the red blood cells, causing them to break open. Red blood cells are important to sustain a healthy individual, therefore it is of utmost importance to have this disease treated ASAP!! The sooner it is treated (on untreated animal will surely die), the less life threatening it is, less complications (like liver failure) arise and the less expensive it is! Typical symptoms include pale gums, high fever, inappetance and listlessness. Biliary in cats is at this stage restricted to certain areas in Natal.

b. Tick-bite fever: is similar to the disease human’s (often chronically) contract from ticks. It affects more the white blood cells and blood platelets. It is not unusual for an animal to be infected with both parasites. Typical symptoms include fever, muscle aches and bleeding tendencies. Treatment is quite long-term with a specific antibiotic. Some breeds (e.g. German shepherds) may contract it in a chronic form, where the owners notice that the pet is not quite sick, but also not quite healthy. In cats this disease is known as haemobartonella.
About one in fifteen ticks are carriers of these diseases. Even if your pets are tick-free and their environment clean, don’t forget that birds (classically Hadidas) can infect your area. Even if one doesn’t see ticks on one’s pets – regular application of a tick product is advised. The diseases can not be infected from one animal to the next, they are solely transmitted by ticks. The onus is on the owner to prevent ticks biting their pets in the first place. Treatment of both diseases should be administered by a veterinarian, as each individual patient needs a different treatment regime!! Diagnosis is made by examining a drop of the patients blood under a microscope.

3. Worms: Probably one of the most commonly neglected preventative health measures pet owners take, is that of regularly deworming their pets – it is easy to overlook a pet’s worm infestation until it is already in an advanced stage. Most puppies and kittens are born with worms and if not corrected, this infestation can be deadly – anemia (loss of blood by blood-sucking worms), diminished immune system thereby opening up the body to more severe diseases like gastro and in severe infestations – total blockage of the intestinal track. Adult animals riddled with worms show one or more symptoms of tiredness, weight loss, diarrhea, skin infestations, nervous symptoms, coughing and respiratory problems, internal organ disorders and even blindness. Are 3 main types of worms, which have different life-cycles and different ways of infecting animals – roundworms, hookworms and tapeworms.

Guide to deworming your animals

1. Puppies & kittens: As early as 2 weeks of age; and then again at 4, 6, 8 & 12 weeks of age and then monthly until they are 6 months old.
2. Breeding dogs: Deworm at mating, bitches – 2 weeks prior to giving birth and 4 weeks after giving birth.
3. Healthy adult dogs: At least twice a year, but if kenneled or in high risk contacts – such as at shows or training schools – step up to 4 times a year.

Remember to deworm all pets in the household simultaneously to prevent them re-infecting each other. A good dewormer from your vet may be slightly more expensive, but keep in mind that it will be more effective, will treat more types of worms, have less side-effects and last longer (about 4-6 months.) Regular deworming is an essential health routine for the protection of your pets and your family!

A Life – long commitment: responsible pet ownership already begins, before you bring home your new pet – by choosing the right pet! Consider your life-style – have you got time, energy and patience to care for a pet; have you got enough space; can you afford it? If you can answer “yes” to all these prerogatives, then you are probably ready and willing to be a responsible pet owner.

Food and water: Pets need fresh food and water every day. Keep your pet healthy by making sure, it receives the right nutrients it needs – in its diet. Cats and dogs can acquire a taste for many of the delicacies humans indulge in – chocolate seems to be a winner – but keep in mind that this “treat” could harm your pet. In both dogs and cats, certain foods are known to cause health problems and should be avoided e.g.  onions, chocolate, (too much chocolate can actually poison a dog) milk and table scraps. Dog food is also harmful for cats and cat food is too high in protein for dogs.

An exclusive diet of any single food will create health problems, because it will not provide the balance of nutrients needed e.g. cats fed solely on fish develop a vitamin A deficiency, which will eventually lead to liver damage and weak bones and joints.

Proper nutrition is an important part in preventing many diseases and most modern pet foods, have been scientifically formulated to meet in your pet’s nutritional and dietary needs – check the feeding guidelines on the packet and ask your vet to advise you.

Nutrients that could be harmful to your pet’s health include:

• Magnesium: too much, may  contribute to fatal urinary diseases in cats by forming crystals or stones in the urinary tract.
• Phosphorus: too much can cause bone problems and may contribute to kidney disease in both cats and dogs.
• Calcium: excessively it may cause skin problems, retard growth and lower normal quantities of zinc, phosphorus, iron and copper, which will then cause health problems.
• Sodium: excessively it may contribute to heart disease, kidney disease and hypertension.
• Protein: too much protein can cause the kidneys to work overtime to rid the body of waste products – thereby contributing to kidney failure.
• Fat: in inactive or obese-prone animals it can cause obesity, it is however important to supply the calories needed in active cats and dogs.

~ pet owners should realize, that they are faced with the responsibility of their pet’s health.

Health care

Take your pet to a veterinarian immediately if it looks ill. Signs of illness include: loss of appetite, change in behaviour, listlessness, vomiting, diarrhoea…. If in any doubt – consult your vet. Preventative health-care measures can also be taken to keep your pet disease free e.g.  Regular vaccinations and deworming and health-checks for older patients; as well as keeping your pets “pest-free” i.e. Free of ticks, fleas and worms – which all in their own right can cause severe disease/debilitation in your pet.

Sterilisation.

Every year thousands of neglected, unwanted and homeless animals are put to sleep – make sure you are not also responsible for the death of innocent animals by having your pet sterilised.

General tips.

• Regular exercise is important for your animal’s welfare.
• Trained pets are much more comfortable companions.
• Regularly washing and combing your pet’s hair/coat/feathers will leave you and your pet feeling happy to associate with each other.
• Never leave your animals to fend for themselves  if you should be away from home for long periods.
• Take your pet to the vet regularly for routine  health checks.
• Prevent cruelty to animals!!!

What to look for when choosing a puppy:

•  Do the puppies in the litter appear healthy and vigorous?
• Do other dogs that have contact with the pups appear healthy and friendly?
• Is the mother friendly and trusting or fearful and aggressive towards strangers? Timidity in the mother is  a bad sign, it may be inherited by the puppies or learned through example.
• Are the pups being raised in an environment that provides stimulation and exposure to different objects and people?
• Are they being handled regularly? Early handling is of crucial importance in the puppies socialization.
• Have the pups been separated from the mother? If so, when?
• How old is the litter? Before 6 weeks the pups are too young to leave the mother, from 12 weeks they may be too old.
• What food is the puppy getting, has it been vaccinated and dewormed?
• Does the puppy and the litter appear healthy and is the environment hygienic?

Your new puppy will need:

1. A place to eat – its own feeding and drinking bowls, placed in a quiet corner away from the family dining area.
2. A place to sleep – a big cardboard box will do – lined with washable bedding and placed in a draught – free corner or a dog bed. Hint – the first few nights away from its mother and litter might be slightly traumatic for a puppy – on old – fashioned tick-tock alarm clock works well, some soft blankets and a wrapped hot water bottle could help to make up for the absence of its litter mates.
3. A thorough check-up – from your vet during the first week. Ensure it completes the full programme of immunisation shots. Continue with its deworming treatment, groom your puppy regularly – check the coat for fleas and ticks and the ears for redness and other signs of irritation, inspect the teeth to make sure they are developed properly.
4. A collar and i.d. tag – make sure the collar is not too loose or too tight (generally two fingers space between collar and neck is a comfortable fit). You may consider having a micro-chip implanted for permanent identification. P.s. if you don’t have an id tag immediately, write your telephone number on the inside of the collar with a permanent marker.
5. A strong leash – a shorter one for walking your puppy, a longer, flexible one for training.
6. The right food – no sudden change from what the breeder was feeding – to what you would like to feed. A puppy has different nutritional requirements to an adult dog and should therefore be fed puppy food.
7. A safe environment – fence of out of bounds areas e.g. the swimming pool.
8. A variety of safe toys to play with.

Taking in a rescue dog: Rather than buy a puppy from a breeder, you may decide to give a home to an abandoned dog from a animal shelter. You may successfully acquire a perfect companion, but pleasure can sometimes turn to disappointment when a dog is found to have unforeseen behavioural problems and cannot adapt to family life.

Do’s and don’ts of adopting a dog:
Do’s:

• …Decide if you want a puppy, adolescent, adult or older dog before contacting the centre. Consider your own circumstances – always busy? – don’t choose a dog that needs daily grooming. Getting older? – avoid an athletic type. Got children? – make sure the dog is used to them.
• …take your time, find out all you can about the dog’s background and personality. Take it for a short walk. Watch how it behaves with other dogs and people. Have it checked over by a vet when you get it home. Make sure it has had all its shots.

Don’ts

• …choose a rescued dog because it may be a cheaper option – you must be prepared to give it plenty of time and patience.
• …make an over-hasty decision – spend time with the dog before committing yourself.
• …expect to find the perfect dog the first time you go looking.
• …choose a dog solely on the basis of its appearance – it is more important to see how the dog behaves.
• …smother it unnecessary with love and affection. Allow it time and space to adjust to its new home.

Cross breeds vs. pedigrees.
Pros:

• Hybrid vigour (stronger gene poole) produces a robust, healthy dog with fewer genetic diseases.
• a cross-breed will give as much loyalty and affection as other breeds.
• it is usually cheaper to buy.

Cons:

• there is no guarantee of what size or type of dog you are acquiring.
• no guarantee of temperament or behaviour.

Choosing a cat.

What to look for in a kitten:

• Does it have a lively, friendly personality?
• Is its mother (and father if present) friendly, outgoing and trusting with people?
• Is the coat glossy, with no sign of flea dirt?
• Are the eyes clear and bright, with no “third eyelid” visible?
• Is the nose damp but free of discharge?
• Does it have white teeth, sweet clean breath and healthy pink gums?
• Are the ears clean, with no wax or discharge?
• Is the area under the tail clean?

Your kitten’s basic needs:

• a safe environment.
• a calm atmosphere.
• it’s own space.
• continued socialisation.
• the right food.
• a litter box.
• vaccinations and deworming.

Advantages of a cross-breed:

• usually a huge selection to choose from.
• you will not need to contact a breeder.
• they cost very little – are often given away.
• cross-bred cats are robust and live longer.
• they suffer from fewer inherited health problems.

Adopting a homeless cat.

• is the cat healthy? Has it been vaccinated and sterilised?
• what is the approximate age?
• is it a stray or has it been living wild? Why did the first owner’s give it up?
• does it have any behavioural problems (these can take long to overcome)
• is it house trained?
• is it friendly and outgoing, or does it show signs of timidity or aggression?
• did it live indoors -was it allowed out?
• is it used to children and other pets?
• if a long-hair, does it tolerate grooming?

Choosing a dog: Before choosing a dog, ask yourself why you want one. Is it for companionship, protection, exercise or for the sake of your children?

If you choose a cross-breed (mongrel), you may have difficulty predicting the hereditary physical and behavioural characteristics, but cross-breeds can make supremely reliable, friendly, healthy and long – lived pets. If however you are looking for dependable characteristics, choose a pedigree breed. Don’t pick one on the basis of appearance alone – find out as much as you can about the different breeds and choose one that will fit in with your particular lifestyle. Some breeds are not suitable for living in a flat. Many need daily grooming. Big dogs have big appetites, so you will face large food bills. Some are not suited for first – time owners – weigh all the factors, then decide. A dog will not only make changes in a families everyday life – it will also, at times, cause problems. A dog is a living creature that needs its owner’s presence and care -it’s owner must accept responsibility for it on a permanent basis – in return the dog will provide much joy as a loyal, affectionate and faithful companion. You must determine whether you are in a position to cater to the animal’s various needs for as long as it lives – which is generally from 10-15 years. You must also consider the other expenses involved apart from the purchase price – food, grooming, veterinary care. Your life – style, your activities and your age should influence your choice of a dog. You must also decide what you intend the dog to be: a pet, guard dog, hunting dog or companion. City dwellers are advised to choose a medium – size animal, since a big dog is likely to become frustrated and unhappy and cause damage! On the other hand, even small dogs can make poor urban pets – any type of dog that has been bred to hunt whether for rodents, birds or foxes – needs to run regularly. An owner’s presence is also vital to a dogs psychological well- being, therefore one should not acquire a puppy if it needs to stay alone all day. The age and disposition of a pet owner should also be taken into account.

Breed information concerning choice of dog.

This table shows the chief characteristics of some of the most popular dog breeds. Decide which are most important to you, then use the table to find the breed (or breeds) that suits you best, bearing in mind that the behaviour of any adult dog depends as much on the way it was educated as a puppy as it does on it’s genetic inheritance.

Notes
5—1 = Highest level to lowest level of characteristics.

Size of dog
Adult height at the withers.
5 = more than 64cm (25in)
1 = less than 25cm (10in)
Poodles straddle three categories: Standard, miniature, toy.

Amount of grooming
* Indicates that professional grooming is optional for these breeds.
** Indicates that professional grooming is advisable for these breeds.

Trainability
Responsiveness to training
for obedience, agility trials
and work.

Excitability
Reactivity stimuli such as noise, crowds, etc.