HOW OFTEN SHOULD MY DOG VISIT MY VET?
You should at least take your pet for an annual check up at your vet. Since dogs age much faster than humans e.g. depending on the breed 1 dog year could be equivalent to 3 – 20 human years, this means they are seeing the vet once every 3 – 20 years! When last did you see your doctor? It’s unlikely that it was several years ago. It’s best to have your pet’s health checked by your vet at least once a year. They will be able to detect any diseases in advance and this will save you a lot of heartache and expense in the long term.
WHY SHOULD I VACINATE MY DOG? Put simply – vaccinations save lives!
Vaccinations play a critical role in the maintenance of a healthy pet and vaccinations have saved millions of pet’s lives. It’s important to note that vaccines are preventative rather than curative. You should have your healthy pet vaccinated regularly so as to maintain a healthy status. Vaccinating a sick animal is not going to help and, in fact is not advised. Vaccinating your pet can save you a lot of heartache as they help prevent diseases. They therefore save lives and prevent unnecessary medical expenses on diseased animals which could have been prevented.
HOW DO VACCINES WORK?
Vaccines are used to help strengthen the immune system of your pet so that when they are exposed to certain diseases their body is able to fend off the infection totally or, reduce the severity of the disease.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO VACCINATE AGAINST ALL DISEASES?
It’s not possible to vaccinate against all diseases. Pets are vaccinated against common and/or serious diseases. It’s not possible to vaccinate against biliary/tick bite fever and adequate tick control measures need to be adhered to.
The following are some of the diseases vaccinated against:
DISEASE ................................................................................CLINICAL SIGNS (can include one or more)
PARVOVIRUS (Cat flu) Diseased intestines Diarrhoea, vomiting, dehydration, fever, loss of appetite, depression.
CANINE DISTEMPER Nasal discharge Eye or nose discharge, coughing, vomiting, Diarrhoea, seizures, muscle twitches, skin abnormalities.
PARAINFLUENZA (Adenovirus 2) Diseased lung Mild fever, nose discharge, coughing.
INFECTIOUS CANINE HEPATITIS Diseased liver Loss of appetite, fever, jaundice, diarrhoea,
(Adenovirus 1) vomiting, coughing, severe depression, abdominal pain.
LEPTOSPIROSIS Diseased kidney Depression, dehydration, loss of appetite, muscular stiffness, vomiting.
BORDETELLA (Kennel cough) Trachea and lungs Coughing, gagging, retching, fever.
CORONAVIRUS Dehydrated puppy Diarrhoea, vomiting, dehydration, fever, loss of appetite, depression.
RABIES Rabid dog Abnormal behaviour (excessive aggression or calmness), dropped ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,dropped lower jaw, excess salivation, no co-ordination.
Certain of these diseases can be transmitted to man i.e. they are known as Zoonoses. Examples include rabies and leptospirosis. Rabies is fatal in man and vaccinating your pets protects not only your pets, but your family too.
WHY DOES MY PET REQUIRE MORE THAN ONE VACCINATION?
As a young puppy, your pet is most susceptible to disease. When a puppy is born it has a certain degree of protection which it receives via antibodies transferred in the mother’s milk. These maternal antibodies are short lived and it then becomes necessary for the young animal to develop its own immunity. A series of vaccines are vital in the young animal to help reduce the period when the maternal antibodies are waning but the animal’s own immune system has not yet fully developed. Puppies are normally given 3 initial vaccinations at 3 – 4 week intervals, starting at 6 weeks of age. As an adult your pet will require booster vaccines which aid as a ‘reminder’ to the immune system to keep the levels of protection up so that your pet is able to fend off disease.
DEWORMING IS ESSENTIAL FOR YOUR PET’S HEALTH
Regular deworming against roundworm, hookworm, whipworm and tapeworm is essential for the continued health of your pet.
WHY SHOULD I DEWORM MY PET?
Worms are internal parasites which can cause ill health to your pet. Some worm infestations can result in vomiting, diarrhoea and dehydration. Other signs can include blood loss via the stool, intestinal obstruction, pot bellied appearance and weight loss.
WHAT IS ZOONOSIS?
A zoonosis is a disease of animals which can be transmitted to man. Certain worms which parasite your pet can be transmitted to humans and may be particularly dangerous for families with small children. The larvae of certain worms can burrow into a human skin that comes into contact with soil contaminated with infected faeces. The larvae of other worms can get ‘lost’ in the human body and lodge in certain organs.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD MY PET BE DEWORMED?
Adult dogs should be dewormed 4 times a year (every 3 months). Puppies should be dewormed more frequently.
WHAT ABOUT OTHER PARASITES BESIDES WORMS?
FLEAS Fleas can cause intense irritation and can result in Flea Allergy Dermatitis (FAD). Fleas are also a major cause of worm infestation in animals.
TICKS Ticks can transmit vector bone disease such as biliary/tick bite fever (Babesia) in dogs. There are no vaccines against these vector borne diseases so adequate topical parasite control is necessary.
EAR MITES These tiny mites, which are barely visible to the naked eye, live within the ear canal and can cause severe irritation and intense itching.
OTHER MITES Other mites can parasite your pets. Mange mites (Demodex) can invade the hair follicle of your dog’s coat causing hair loss. Scabies mites (Sarcoptes) can also invade the skin layers causing intense irritation and itching. Scabies is also a zoonosis.
LICE Certain lice species are also able to inhabit and parasite your pet’s coat.
WHAT IS OSTEOARTHIRITIS?
Osteoarthritis is a disease of the joints and bones and is otherwise referred to as degenerative joint disease (DJD). It’s characterized by erosions of the smooth cartilage in the movable joints of your dog. The erosions result in bone rubbing on bone, which leads to pain and inflammation.
CAN MY DOG GET OSTEOARTHRITIS?
Yes, in fact a large proportion of the dog population is affected. Studies have shown that approximately 1 in 5 dogs have osteoarthritis.
WHAT CAUSES OSTEOARTHRITIS?
Osteoarthritis can occur as a result of normal wear and tear on the joints and is thus more common in older dogs. Dogs age much faster than humans and this means that a dog of 1 year old is already in its mid teens and a dog of 7 years old can already be regarded as a senior. Smaller breeds age slightly slower than larger breeds. Osteoarthritis may also result from congenital joint problems such as hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia or a slipping knee cap (patella luxation) Finally, osteoarthritis may result from a traumatic event such as a fracture involving the joint or a ruptured ligament e.g. cranial cruciate ligament rupture.
WHAT SIGNS DO I NEED TO LOOK FOR TO SEE IF MY DOG HAS OSTEOARTHRITIS?
All of the signs of osteoarthritis are associated with pain. Common signs can include: Slowing down or a reduction in activity Slow to rise, particularly in the hind quarters Difficulty climbing stairs Difficulty jumping into the car Stiff or altered gait Limping Muscle wasting in the affected limbs Changes in behaviour Dogs often do not vocalize or cry out in pain Osteoarthritis may be aggravated by cold weather and obesity
WHAT ABOUT MY PET’S DENTAL HEALTH?
Humans, on average brush their teeth at least twice a day. Pets are unable to do this and they too get gingivitis and dental disease. If left untreated poor dental hygiene can lead to loss of teeth, jaw bone infections and even heart and kidney failure. Have your pet’s teeth and gums checked at every annual check up and, if necessary book them in for a dental scaling/cleaning.
SHOULD I HAVE MY PET STERILISED?
As your pet can no longer reproduce, there will be no unwanted pregnancies. There will be no need to find good homes for puppies. You will further not be playing a part in the millions of unwanted dogs who face euthanasia as a result of indiscriminate breeding. Sterilised animals can not reproduce. Sterilisation may reduce unwanted sexual behaviours such as roaming, fighting and urine marking. Sterilisation may allow for a calmer pet. Sterilisation reduces/eliminates the risk of infections and cancer of the reproductive organs.
REFERENCE: PFIZER ANIMAL HEALTH |
