Dr Tanya hosts talk at NDDF
Veterinarian and hydrotherapist Dr Tanya Grantham gave a talk on domestic animal ailments, at the Namaqua Dog and Donkey Foundation meeting, on October 12.
She discussed the various ailments, from head to toe, from which domestic pets are most likely to suffer.
She advised owners to brush their pets’ teeth at least once a day, because the bacteria from the tartar build-up can enter the animal’s body.
“Nutrition plays a vital role; poor nutrition can cause teeth to rot quicker, but rotting teeth can also be caused by genetics,” said Grantham.
“A dog that is constantly shaking its head could have an otitis externa, ear infection.
Grantham added that pets that are constantly itchy and scratch a lot could be allergic to something, such as the food they are eating, or pollen.
She added that if your pet suffers from heat stroke and you can’t take it to the vet you should take it out of the sun, put its paws in cold water and put on a fan.
Grantham advised owners to take their pets to the vet as soon as possible if the animal’s eye has prolapsed, it suffers a gastrointestinal torsion (where the stomach twists), or if it suffers a seizure that lasts longer than four to five minutes.
“These are all emergencies;, don’t wait till the morning to take your pet to the vet, do it immediately, it’s a matter of life and death,” she said.
She added that pets must be vaccinated when they are three months, at nine months, and they must receive another vaccination dose after another nine months and then a booster every three years.
She urged owners to have pets vaccinated against rabies once every three years, because this year, alone, there have been 11 cases of rabies in humans reported in Gauteng.
For more information about the Namaqua Dog and Donkey Foundation contact Sharon Roe on 082 839 5087.
