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www.thevillagenews.co.za
26 August 2020
MY PET
Spring-clean your pets! By Dr Hilldidge Beer
T
he weather is warming and that means we’ll soon be gripped by spring-cleaning mania, turning our homes upside down in a rejuvenation frenzy. This is also the perfect time to take a look at our pets and their paraphernalia and do the same for them. Spring-clean their beds Your pets have probably spent more than half of every day lounging in their beds during the cold winter months and, because it’s been cold and wet, the beds probably haven’t been washed as often as they should. Now’s the time to give them a good scrub. Take special care to scrub in the seams as this is where flea mites hide and if they’re not eradicated, they’ll soon infect your pets. If the bed has tears or is wearing thin, it’s probably time for an upgrade as flea mites have in all likelihood already colonised it. Remember that only 5% of fleas can be seen with the naked eye,
so just because you can’t see them doesn’t mean they’re not there. Spring-clean their fur A wet dog is a smelly dog; a wet and muddy dog wreaks havoc on furniture and floors. It’s time to haul out the grooming kit. You’ll need dog shampoo (human shampoo, even baby shampoo, strips the oils from your pet’s skin and can cause irritation and inflammation); a brush and comb; scissors and nail clippers. For a shinier, sleeker coat, ask your EberVet Vetshop about VetsBrands Shine & Shed oil which is high in Omega 6, helps reduce shedding and gives your dog’s fur a gorgeous shine. Be super strict about parasite control It’s easy to forget about ticks and fleas in winter because you don’t see them much and because your pet spends less time outdoors, but the moment the weather warms, these nasty critters come out in droves. Tick-bite fever kills more South
African dogs than any other illness, yet so many pet owners neglect to protect their pets. And it’s so easy. There are so many parasite control options to choose from: spot-ons, powders, chews, dips, sprays and collars. Ask your EberVet Vetshop for a recommendation; not all pets can tolerate all parasite control. Pregnant and lactating bitches and tiny kittens and puppies must be handled differently, so it is important to get the right advice. Deworm You can’t see them so you think they’re not there, but the reality is that all pets should be dewormed every three months. Pets are easily infected by eating worm eggs from contaminated soil or stool, or by eating infected rodents. In puppies, worm infestations can be fatal. Ask your vet or EberVet Vetshop for advice. Toss out old collars Worn collars or harnesses harbour bacteria and this can lead to nasty
skin infections which may be difficult and expensive to treat. If there’s wear and tear, it’s time for an upgrade. Get to the vet It’s quite possible that during lockdown you neglected your pet’s annual check-up or vaccinations. There’s no excuse now. The longer you wait, the greater the risk of
disease and the higher your vet’s bill could be by the time you do get there. An annual check-up allows your vet to spot diseases early, so treatment is more successful and less costly. Spring is about to blossom in all its glory. Share the joy with your pet; their care is your responsibility.
