George Animal Hospital

Our hearts go out to everyone who has had to put down a pet.

It's heartbreaking to have to say goodbye, and we aren't always sure what to expect. Clients are often unsure of what happens to the body.

There are three possibilities. You may be able to take home the body, in case you wanted to bury your pet. Your vet practice can also arrange for the body to be cremated (this often costs a small fee). Another option is for the vet practice where your pet was put down to bury the body.

It's never easy to say goodbye, but knowing a bit more about the process helps you find closure.

By the time your children are out of the house and you have a bit more time away from the pressures of a working life to have some fun, you may well want to have the joys of a fur baby in your home. But you probably learnt a few things over the years about pet ownership and your own needs. Now is not the time to rush into a decision. Take a moment to read this helpful article before you choose the best pet for you at the point in your life where you have a few life lessons under the belt. https://ow.ly/MnUT50SeYlW

When you are going away, be it on holiday or on work, it's important to find the right boarding facility for your pet (if you choose to board them).
Here are 5 quick tips on how to evaluate a boarding option:

Step 1 - Get in your car and visit the place. You want to see the actual enclosures where animals are housed.
Step 2 - Check if the facility has a vet on call and who that is.
Step 3 - Do they offer extra services like interactive playtime or grooming?
Step 4 - Check what health requirements they have for accepting pets. If they are not too worried about vaccines chances are your pet will pick up something nasty while there.
Step 5 - Talk to the staff. You will quickly get a sense of what they think of the boarding facility and you will get an idea of the type of people who will look after your darling.

Although it may not yet be the case in South Africa, many airlines across the globe allow small pets to travel with their owners in the airplane cabin. How cool is that!

Fluffy must travel in a special pet carry-on bag and must be stowed under the seat in front of you for the duration of the flight.

We think this is something to root for with your favourite airline. It will reduce the stress of travel considerably for those pets small enough to make it into the cabin.

Want to read a bit more - try this interesting article highlighting the airlines that are so pet friendly. https://ow.ly/CCKK50SeYhR

When your pet roams outside dangers are a thing you can't ignore. This is even more worrying if your pet leaves your property and wanders off where you have no control over them.

Often the other animals that your pet encounters poses the greatest dangers, as this picture points out.

Here are some of the 'stranger dangers' we have to deal with at the practice every now and again:

1. Attacks by other cats or dogs
2. Snake bites
3. Scorpion or spider stings and bites
4. Wounds from encounters with wild animals like rats or even caracal
5. Tick bites.

It is always safest to make sure your fur baby stays on the property. If they do manage to go off by themselves, please inspect them when they return and if you notice any injuries bring them in for a check.

Worried that your pet may suffer from a chronic disease?
This is why regular health checks are so important!

Chronic diseases are more common than you might think, but can be managed effectively if caught early.

When you find a lost pet, there are a few steps you can follow to help it to safety:

1. Check it's collar for owner details/a name - only do this if the animal approaches you, is friendly and lets you pet it, not if they are cowering from you or seem aggressive. You might not be able to do this if the animal is inaccessible, such as on a highway.
2. Call a local shelter to pick it up - they will also be able to help locate the animal's owner or prepare it for adoption if it doesn't have a home yet.
3. Take the animal to a vet - they can check whether it has been microchipped, which will provide them with owner details. Only do this if a local shelter approves or you have not taken the pet to a shelter yet.
4. Keep an eye out for missing posters - you might recognise the animal on the poster and be able to contact the owner.
5. Phone local vets to tell them about a missing pet and any details you have about it.

Ask them to share the info on their social media, as it could reach the owner!

We are always so happy when a lost pet is reunited with its owner and often all it takes is a concerned citizen getting in touch with us.

Well, what do you know? It's Call Your Doctor Day today.

We are your pet's doctor, so, go on, give us a call.

You can call to say "hello", and we can have a lovely chat about what your pet wants to ask us.

From experience we know pets are very interested in these questions:

When can I go for my health check?
When last did I get my tick, flea and worming meds?
Am I due for a dental check - remember, clean teeth can keep me from developing a surprising list of health issues?
Any new treats in the shop?

The list goes on, believe us!

We'll be waiting for your call today.

Did you know that your pet can get tapeworm by swallowing a flea infected with a tapeworm larvae?

Yikes!
This is one of the reasons why you must remember to treat your pets for fleas!

Curious puppies often nibble on objects which could actually pose serious choking hazards!

For example, puppies are known to chew on rocks when they go on walks or tumble around the backyard.

Be sure to keep an eye on what pup has between their teeth!

Cats are know for their interesting behaviors... ask any cat owner.

Let us know in the comments how many out of the 9 bingo's you got!

Once you realise your pet has gone missing, it is important to act quickly.
This post highlights 6 steps which you could follow to help find your missing pet.

Always remember that prevention is better than cure, so take as many precautions to stop your pet from going missing!

Get them microchipped, give them a collar with identifying information on them, keep them on a leash when you walk outside with them and secure all doors/windows which they can escape through.

WEEK 8 IS HERE

It’s week 8 of the 12 Weeks of Freebies competition from Bravecto®. So far, our practice has given away 7 awesome prizes to reward you for keeping your pets pest-free for at least 12 weeks in just 1 dose with Bravecto®. Last week we rewarded Mr Henk De Jager.

Teaching your dog to respond to commands is a lot of fun, but did you know it is actually important for your dog's safety and mental stimulation too?

Teaching your dog to respond to your instruction to stay with you can keep them out of life threatening danger. If they know how to respond to a command to drop something, you may be able to keep them from swallowing something they should not. Even a simple command such as 'sit' can help your dog regulate their excitement and make them a much easier companion than a ball of fur that just follows their impulses regardless.

Taking your dog to dog school is a lovely way to bond with your pup. If dog school is not possible, then this article has helpful tips on teaching your dog 10 basic commands with explanations of why it is a good idea.

https://ow.ly/iJNL50RUm9W

Moving countries is stressful and taking your pets with you adds to the load.

There are companies that can help you create a plan with all the steps you need to follow to get your pets safely to the other side and using one of these services is a great plan.

If you are just starting to think about such a journey, this article about preparing your pet for the actual flight may help set your mind at ease. Did you know for instance that 'crate training' is one of the most important things you can do in preparation for a flight?

https://ow.ly/SlUk50RUm6q

If there are stray or neighborhood cats that come into your yard and terrorise your cat, here are a few things you could try to deter them:

- Use non-toxic deterrents around your yard, such as fresh orange or lemon peels, wet coffee grounds, bowls of vinegar and cat s**t mats

- Put a tight lid on your trash cans (so that cats aren't attracted by the prospect of stealing food)

- Block gaps in the foundation of sheds and porches, and close up dog houses that are in your yard (so that cats don't look for shelter)

- If you have a cat, consider getting a cat flap which is collar operated by only your cat's collar so that strays can't follow your cat inside and steal his/her food.

A FEW MORE TO GO

There are just a few more chances to win with the Bravecto® 12 Weeks of Freebies competition. You know that Bravecto® protects your pets against ticks, fleas and mites for at least 12 weeks in just 1 dose which is why we gave you 12 chances to win.

There are just a few prizes left so make sure you come and visit our practice to buy your favourite Bravecto® product and enter to win!

That’s what Zuastrid Deyce did, and they won a power bank.

Separation anxiety is one of the most common causes of destructive behavior, especially in those adopted from shelters or found as strays.

Dogs with separation anxiety display behaviors which indicate a very strong attachment to their owners, such as following owners from room to room, displaying almost frantic greeting behaviors, and reacting to owners’ preparation to leaving the house.

Factors which can induce separation anxiety problems include:
- A change in the family’s schedule which result in the dog being left alone more often
- A move to a new house
- The death or loss of another family pet
- A period at a boarding kennel

Separation anxiety can manifest as excessive vocalizations or house-soiling, along with destructive behavior. It is important to note that these behaviors are motivated by anxiety (not spite or revenge), and punishing them will only make it worse.

The issue can be resolved using counterconditioning and desensitization techniques under the supervision of a certified animal behaviorist.

It is extremely important to sterilise your dog and/or cat to prevent unwanted litters. But what happens if you didn't sterilise in time, and you end up with an unintended litter?

Instead of finding homes for the puppies/kittens yourself, it is best to take them to an open admissions shelter or rescue organisation, such as the SPCA.
If you were to sell or give away the animals, their new owners may never vaccinate, de-worm or sterilise them. The animals of the initial unwanted litter will then likely also have (or sire) unwanted litters, thereby repeating the cycle.

Rescue organisations such as the SPCA are committed to sterilising, fully vaccinating, dipping and deworming animals. Animals brought to them will also receive some form of identification such as a microchip or a collar bearing an ID disc. Furthermore, the animals who are later adopted from an SPCA are sure to go to good homes, as the SPCA ensures the prospective owners have the means to care for their new pet.

If your pet has an unwanted or unplanned litter, ask your vet about any respectable rescue organisations they may recommend you take your litter to.

We're all guilty of venting to our pets! It's a good thing they can't share what they've seen or heard with others...

Send this post to someone you know can relate!