There are many addedvalue pages to ensure

a one-stop shop

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NEWS

Tygerberg Animal Hospital Group:Durbanville: 021 9763015;

Bellville: 021 9191191;Goodwood: 021 5912571;

Kenridge: 021 9140886;Parow: 021 9397102;

Sonstraal: 021 9751870;After Hours Clinic: 021 9191191

www.tah.co.za.

Clients are invited tocheck out our new updated,21st century website onwww.tah.co.za. Apartfrom a more modern lookand feel, there are manyadded value pages toensure a one-stop shop forall things pet-related.

On the Home page, wefeature special promotions,a noticeboard and newsflashes. Under About Us,there’s a new Virtual Tourpage to experience oursuperb facilities visually.

Then we’ve added GoodHusbandry, Common Diseases and Conditions,as well as Behaviour articles under the Dogs,Cats and Birds pages. In addition, usefulinformation is available about Good Husbandryfor Other Animals, featuring Fish, Rodents,Tortoises, Snakes and Dragons.

Strays will be updated weekly with any lostand found pets. For your convenience, we listKennels, Housesitters, Pet Medical Insurance

T Y G E R B E R G A N I M A L H O S P I T A L N E W S L E T T E R

7. Exercise – Daily exercise will keep your dogfit. Additional exercise can help with somebehaviour problems as well.

8. Don't let your dog get fat – Adjust foodintake for body type and life stage, providehealthy treats, and exercise regularly to avoidweight gain.

9. Understand your dog – Know his or herfavourite type of play and their favourite timeto play versus rest.

10. Be observant – Monitor everything yourdog does. For example, did he eat all his foodtoday? Has he been drinking water? Was hisurine and bowel movement normal? Is hisactivity level the same? How does he look? Ishis hair coat okay? Do you feel any abnormallumps? Have you seen any coughing orvomiting? Early recognition of symptoms cansave your dog’s life.

11. Visit your vet regularly – Maintain anappropriate schedule of wellness and healthcheck appointments. Your dog's needs maycontinue to change depending on his/her lifestage or health conditions.

and Main Food Suppliers, with links availableto most of these facilities/suppliers listed.

And most importantly, we have Online Shoppingfor those clients who like to ensure that theirpets have enough to munch on when time istight. If you have a Petpals card, just click onthe Online Shopping button to order pet foodconveniently and door - to -door delivery willtake place within 24 hours.

websiteSnazzy

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VOMITING HEALTH CHECKBUNNY BUSINESS

QUOTABLE QUOTESAHHH!

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DOG BREEDS: FRENCHBULLDOG

By being a good dog owner, you’ll havea happier and healthier dog. These arethe basics:

1. Spend time with your dog – Quiet timebefore and after work with your canine friendis important. Dogs love to be talked to andmade to feel important.

2. Play – Good for both you and your dog!Also, buy him/her a few entertaining, safe toys.

3. Groom – Most dogs enjoy grooming orbrushing. This also stimulates the skin and getsrid of dead hair. The bonus is less hair shedding,which means a cleaner house.

4. Supply plenty of fresh water at all times.

5. Feed a consistent diet – Use a high -qualityfood appropriate to your dog’s life stage.Supplement with healthy treats in moderation.

6. Provide a comfortable place to sleep –preferably indoors.

dog ownerBeing a good

health

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Vomiting

checkMost cats have a hairball problem and usuallyvomit them up. Grooming as meticulously asthey do, they're bound to ingest fur andsometimes bring up the resultant collection.This is a particular problem in long-hairedbreeds, but frequent brushing will help to limitthe amount of fur ingested when grooming.There also are proprietary treatments to helphairballs pass through the digestive tract andyour vet will advise on this.

If your cat vomits just after a meal it mightsimply be that he’s gobbled it too fast. If hetends to bolt his food give him smaller portionsmore frequently.

Another cause of vomiting or gagging is abone fragment stuck in the throat, particularlya chicken bone. Chicken bones are notoriousfor being brittle. When choking on thesefragments he’ll try to expel it by making himselfsick. Don’t ever give your cat bones!! Alsoensure that your cat doesn't swallow cotton,elastic bands or string. The latter two can gettrapped underneath the tongue while the restis swallowed. They can cause problems inthe intestine, which will lead to a digestivetract obstruction and resultant vomiting. Inthese cases he might need an operation toremove whatever he's swallowed.

There are many other reasons for a catvomiting which may be due to a number ofillnesses or conditions related either to thedigestive tract or other body parts. If he vomitsmore than on the odd occasion, he needschecking out by your vet.

Before deciding on a rabbit as a pet, beaware that these cute animals are NOT low-maintenance. It takes much work to care forrabbits properly. Do research and take noteof the points below.

Being social, rabbitsneed loads o finteraction with theirowners and/or otherrabbits to be happy.Daily playtime andexercise outside their encampmentare necessary.

Rabbit pellets alone aren’t asufficient diet - they need roughagein the form of grass, goodquality hay sometimes anda variety of f reshvegetables. Grass isthe natural rabbit diet– good for their teethand gut.

They need to chew,so many safe chewtoys should be provided.

A relatively large enclosure is needed. Spaceswhere the rabbit is allowed to run must berabbit-proofed.

They’re also better off indoors at night tobe social with their family as well assafe from predators (even in the city) andextreme weather.

While they’re generally quiet pets, rabbitsaren’t a good match for active young childrenwho may not be careful when picking themup or playing around them.

Rabbits like to be near theirpeople, but they would

rather not be held.

They possibly mayrequire veterinarycare, which can be

expensive. It’s essential to havethem spayed or neutered

by a vet experiencedwith surgery on rabbits.

Rabbit urine can havea strong odour soexpect to changethei r l i t te r boxfrequently (spayingand neutering helpreduce the odour). Inaddition their urineis high in calcium so

can leave a chalky residuewhen it dries (vinegar is quite effective).

Please consider adopting a rabbit from ashelter. There are many perfectly good petslooking for homes. When buying from privatebreeders make sure the breeder takes goodcare of the animals and that the babies arewell socialised.

"If you pick up a starving dog and makehim prosperous, he will not bite you;that is the principal difference betweena dog and a man." - Mark Twain

"Thousands of years ago, cats wereworshipped as gods. Cats have neverforgotten this." - Anonymous

"Cats are kindly masters, just so long asyou remember your place."- Paul Gray

"The more I see of the representativesof the people the more I admire mydogs." - Alphonse de Lamartine

"There is no psychiatrist in the worldlike a puppy licking your face."- Ben Williams

quotesquotable Ahhh!Ahhh!

businessBunny

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lumps are easily evaluated through a fineneedle aspiration done at the vet's surgery.

Painful legsA highly aggressive form of cancer mostlyseen in large to giant dog breeds such asRottweilers is osteosarcoma, better known asbone cancer. This type of cancer easilymetastatises and often leg amputation isnecessary to relieve pain and provide the dogwith a few more weeks or months of life.

Limping, pain and unexplained fracturesshouldn’t be ignored.

Sudden bleedingBleeding may be internal or external -in other words visible or not. Cases ofin te rna l b leeding such as inhemangiosarcoma of the spleen causesdogs to develop pale gums (indicativeof anaemia), weakness, wobbly legsand even collapse. External bleedingincludes for example frequent nosebleeds,which may be squamous cell carcinomaof the nose.

But, take noteTAH’s Dr Ian Campbell warned,“Numerous types of cancer can affect

many different organs. The problem is oftenthat cancerous lesions are internal and developinsidiously. Therefore, the rule of thumb is totake your pet for at least two health checks ayear. Should there be any concerns, your vetwill recommend one or maybe more of thefollowing: blood tests, scans or X-rays.

“Regrettably, even with the utmost vigilanceand check-ups it is possible to miss signs ofcancer until the disease is too far developed.That’s why it’s called a dread disease.”

Reference: http://dog-care.suite101

Caused by an organism with characteristicsof both bacteria and viruses Chlamydophilapsittaci, psittacosis is better known as avianchlamydiosis. It’s sometimes called parrot fever.C. psittaci can infect other mammals as well.

Signs of psittacosis can include any of thefollowing: discharge from the eyes or nares,difficulty breathing, diarrhoea, lethargy,decreased appetite, weight loss, weaknessand depression. Although the disease couldbe fatal, some birds can be C. psittaci carrierswithout showing any signs. Carriers maybecome ill if they become stressed and theymay pass the organism to their offspring.

There’s no single definitive test for chlamydiosisalthough several screening tests are availablefrom your vet. A combination of history, clinicalsigns, blood work and tests can be used fordiagnosis. Your vet will decide the besttreatment course. Usually the disease istreatable, but treatment success depends onthe bird’s overall health, age and species, aswell as the presence of other disease. Treatmentis long term and should be combined withthorough disinfection of your premises with avet-recommended disinfectant.

Disease transmission is via nasal dischargeand faeces, either by inhalation or ingestion.C. psittaci is resistant to drying so can survivefor a long time in the environment andreadily becomes airborne in dust particles.Shedding of C. psittaci by infected birds(including asymptomatic birds)increases in times of stress(shipping, overcrowding, envi-ronmental stress, presence ofother diseases, breeding, etc).

PreventionIf possible, purchase birds fromsources that pre-screen forchlamydiosis and have new birdsscreened for chlamydiosis by anavian veterinarian. If you alreadyhave birds at home, quarantinenew birds for at least six weeks.Should one of your birds be diagnosed withchlamydiosis, that bird should be isolated fromother birds. Any other birds that show signsshould be isolated immediately.

PrecautionsSince the disease can be passed to people(ie is zoonotic), the following precautions

All owners dread a cancer diagnosis intheir dogs. But, by recognising earlywarning signs, the prognosis might bebetter, plus your pet’s life could beprolonged while maintaining quality of life.

Great advancements have been made inveterinary medicine. Consequently dogsare increasingly living much longer thanexpected. While there are several formsof cancer in dogs, early diagnosis is oftenkey to a brighter prognosis. These warningsigns and symptoms that potentially maysuggest cancer could be either quite subtleor visibly apparent. However, it’s imperativenot to ignore them.

Sores that don’t healA sore or ulcer appearing out of the blue andnot healing in a timely manner may beindicative of cutaneous mast cell cancer. Thiscancer may take different forms and is oftenconfused with other benign tumor types orconditions. Therefore it’s often referred to asthe 'great imitator'.

Lumps, masses and nodulesThe dynamic is the same as in humans: tocatch something in its earliest stages. Lumpsthat get quite large in a short amount of timeraise a red flag. Even the most innocuous-looking lump types might be cancer. Most

Signs ofcancer

Psittacosis in pet birdsshould be taken if your pet bird is diagnosedwith chlamydiosis: thoroughly disinfect yourpremises and all the bird's belongings;exercise caution when handling birddroppings; keep circulation of feathers anddust to a minimum; don’t allow elderly,

pregnant, sick or very young people to havecontact with your bird; and reduce stress inthe bird's environment.

Dr Ater McDonald at TAH Bellville has aspecial interest in birds.

Reference: Lianne McLeod DVM, About.com

Adver t is ing Feature

Adver t is ing Feature

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Thought to be descendants of the BritishBulldog, the French Bulldog is smaller thanits English counterpart and has erect, bat-like ears on a large, square head. Thishappy-go-lucky chap with his expressivegaze makes a good loyal companion. Likemany other companion dog breeds Frenchiesrequire close human contact. They haveminimal exercise needs, but naturally needa daily walk.

Frenchies are born with short tails (sometimesalmost no tail) – they’re not surgically docked.Colours are brindle, fawn and pied. Dogsweigh about 12,7 kg and bitches 11 kg.

Happy-DOG BREEDS: French Bulldog

Editor: Mariette Greyling, Tomar Communications,Tel 021 5540442; fax 021 5540449; mariette@tomar.co.za

WHO'S WHERE BELLVILLE Dr Ater McDonald Dr Colin Levitan Dr Ian Campbell Dr Frank Kettner

Dr Nolan Moss Dr Sam Pillay Dr Michelle Adam Dr De Wet Barnard Dr Cicilia Muller Dr Kathryn Knipe

DURBANVILLE Dr John Adam Dr Izak van der Vyver Dr Bradley Hodgson

GOODWOOD Dr Paulina Crous PAROW Dr Pieter Human SONSTRAAL Dr Sophia Frick

KENRIDGE Dr Stephen Smith Dr Liesl Shaw Dr Franci Swart.

Although each branch handles all species, Kenridge is our exotics (reptiles, wild animals, etc) branch.

Not only does their calm nature make themexcellent choices for apartment dwellers,but also their usually sensible attitude towardsbarking. As a flat-faced breed, it’s essentialto understand that French Bulldogs can’t liveoutdoors. Their bulk and compromisedbreathing system make it impossible for themto regulate their temperature efficiently. Inaddition, Frenchies are top-heavy andtherefore aren’t swimmers.

French Bulldogs are essentially a bull andterrier breed; so canine aggression mayoccur – usually same sex aggression. Ownersconsidering adding a second dog to theirhousehold should choose one of the oppositesex. Spaying or neutering may curbaggressive tendencies before they begin.

There are several congenital diseases andconditions to which French bulldogs aresusceptible, although they’re consideredamong the healthiest of the bull breeds.Among the diseases and conditions are VonWillebrand’s disease, brachycephalicsyndrome, eye issues, back and spinaldiseases, as well as impaired thyroid functionwhich may be responsible for some of theskin conditions that afflict some Frenchies.

Barnard grew up in Pretoria and byaccepting the TAH After-Hours Clinicposition fulfilled his dream of living inStellenbosch. He qualified in 2009 fromOnderstepoort and said he would befurthering his wildlife veterinary studies intwo years’ time. “Wildlife is my passion,”he explained. As far as small animal workis concerned, he enjoys making difficultdiagnosis of rare diseases.

Still living the bachelor life, Barnard hasno pets at the moment, because with hiscurrent irregular working hours it wouldn’tbe fair to the animals. He is a keen kayakerand also enjoys birding, camping andgoing out. His other favourite pass-time isgeo-caching, a treasure hunting gameusing a GPS to hide and seek containerswith other participants in the activity.

Person who had biggest influence onyour life: My motherPhilosophy of life: Don’t be difficultSport (self): Kayaking, jogging

Sport (spectator): RugbyFavourite actor(s): Robert Downey Jnr,Zoe DeschanelFavourite time of day: DuskFavourite food & drink: Seafood &Captain MorganBest reading: SatireFavourite TV programme: HouseBiggest extravagance: My study loanHobbies: Birding, camping, geo-cachingBest holiday: The Kruger National Parkand birding trips with friends

go-lucky Goingwild

A love for wildlifeand outdoor livingprompted Dr DeWet Barnard to

choose a veterinarycareer path.