A healthy pet is a happy pet

Dogs are prone to ear infections. These are mostly caused by allergies, yeast, ear mites, bacteria or hair growth deep in the ear canal. When your dog starts shaking or tilting his head, scratches vigorously, struggles to balance or makes unusual back-and-forth eye movements, he might have an ear infection. It’s best to take your dog to the vet as soon as possible. Normally cleaning and medication will do the trick, but when your dog battles with chronic ear infections, the vet will probably insist on surgery.

Another common pest in dogs is worms. These internal parasites include tapeworms, roundworms, hookworms and whipworms.  If your dog has picked up worms he may suffer from diarrhoea, lose weight, show changes in his appetite, have a dry coat and scoot on his bottom.  You can prevent this problem by worming your pet regularly. Most vets recommend worming at least every 3 months.  If your dog shows any signs of illness you should go to the vet who will prescribe the best medicine and if it’s necessary, arrange a follow-up visit.

When fleas find your dog, it takes just three weeks for one to turn into an infestation of 1,000 biting bugs. They’re easy to pick up, but luckily even easier to treat. Talk to your vet about the right flea treatment for your dog – these are normally topical liquids or oral medicines..

Most common cat health problems

Dental disease is one of the most common health problems cats face.  It is caused by a build-up of plaque and tartar and can lead to more serious diseases if bacteria from the mouth get into the blood stream. Brushing your cats teeth can help prevent this problem. Your vet may recommend your cat undergoes a professional dental cleaning which must be done under an anaesthetic.

If your cat strains to urinate, has bloody urine, urinates in unusual places, cries when urinating or shows a loss of appetite, she might have a feline lower urinary tract disease. Both male and female cats are susceptible to this illness and it occurs more often in cats that are overweight.  Make sure you call your vet immediately if you suspect your cat has a urinary tract problem as a urinary tract blockage is potentially life threatening.

Fleas are also very prevalent in cats. These little pests can live for more than a year and your cat risks anaemia if the problem persists. Talk to your vet about the best form of flea control for your cat.

Happy, healthy pets

To help keep your pets in tip-top shape, it’s important to feed them a complete and balanced diet to make sure they get all the nutrients they need. All high quality pet food should have the right amount of fats for energy and healthy skin, protein for muscle tone and development, as well as fibre to support their digestive health.