A few tips to take good care of your pets
Vaccination : to protect your pets against infectious diseases
Puppies and kittens should ideally get vaccinated and dewormed at 6, 9, and 12 weeks of age, and receive a vaccination certificate to keep a record of injections for their whole life. The dogs vaccine, called 5 in 1, protects them against life-threatening diseases: distemper, parvovirosis, kennel cough, hepatitis and leptospirosis. Parvovirosis and distemper are often lethal to puppies in Botswana. When you buy a new puppy, remember that it should be at least 6-8 weeks old to be weaned from its mother and its vaccination status must be up-to-date with a vaccination certificate to prove it. After the first 3 primo-vaccinations they only need to be vaccinated once a year with 5 in 1 + rabies. The cats vaccine, called 3 in 1, protects them against rhinotracheitis, panleucopenia and chlamydiosis. Cats must also be annually vaccinated with 3 in 1 and rabies.
Deworming : to prevent wasting nutrients feeding the worms
Puppies and kittens must be dewormed when they receive their first 3 vaccinations. Thereafter, they should be dewormed 3 to 4 times a year (every 3-4 months). You can buy large-spectrum deworming pills at veterinary clinics, and remember that dewormers sold at supermarkets have a very limited spectrum of action (hence many worms can survive the treatment).
Protection against fleas and ticks
In Botswana, ticks can transmit life-threatening diseases such as babesiosis (“biliary”) and ehrlichiosis (“tick bite fever”), and prevention is cheaper than cure! Fleas can transmit worms and can cause itchiness and hair loss. Several products are available, and they must be used every month (spray, pour-ons, dips) or every 3 months (tablets). Ask your veterinarian for more information on available products.
Microchipping : the only way to link you to your pet
In Botswana, many dogs get stolen and/or lost, and the only way for a shelter or a veterinary clinic to trace a "stray" animal back to its owner is if he/she is microchipped. Microchipping an animal is a simple injection that can be done during the vaccination visit. The number of the microchip is entered in a database with all your contact details, which can be retrieved with a simple sms ! Imagine how great you'd feel to receive a phone call from the vet saying "I have your dog at the clinic" when your dog has been missing for months ? Finally, if you're thinking of going overseas with your pets one day, microchipping will be compulsory.
Food : you are what you eat !
The most convenient and healthiest option is to feed your dogs and cats pellets from veterinary clinics or pet stores. Matshwane Vet Clinic tries to accommodate the various budgets and stores a medium (Montego) and medium to high (Eukanuba) range of dog food, and advise you against buying supermarket pet food (many animals have been brought to the clinic with kidneys and bladder stones as a result of their supermarket pellets diet).
Because cats are at high risk of developing kidneys stones if not fed good quality pellets, we only store medium to high range IAMS pellets, which can be bought in large bags (10-15 kg) and remain a really good compromise between quality and cost.
Sterilisation (to prevent the dog from having puppies)
Dogs and cats should ideally be sterilized at 6-8 months of age before their puberty for a healthier and longer life. The longer you wait to have your animals sterilized, the less efficiently sterilization will prevent these conditions mentionned below. Sterilized dogs make excellent pets and will still guard your house. Talk to your veterinarian for more information.
You can download the sterilization consent form here :
mvc_sterilization_consent_form.pdf | |
File Size: | 153 kb |
File Type: |
Here are 4 good reasons to have your pets sterilized :
· Overpopulation : In Botswana, too many puppies/kittens become strays as there aren't enough homes for all of them, resulting in many animals starving on the streets, or hit by cars, or euthanased. The BSPCA counts over 100 dogs and 50 cats and sadly cannot keep all the stray animals brought to the shelter.
· Overpopulation : In Botswana, too many puppies/kittens become strays as there aren't enough homes for all of them, resulting in many animals starving on the streets, or hit by cars, or euthanased. The BSPCA counts over 100 dogs and 50 cats and sadly cannot keep all the stray animals brought to the shelter.
·
Behavior :
While looking for a mate, your pet will tend to escape your house and
take the risk of being run over, or simply never come back home. Driven by hormones, pets get into fights,
are particularly hyperactive and can potentially be aggressive.
Territorial markings with urine by tom cats can spoil your furniture and leave
unpleasant smells indoors.
·
Health :
Sexually transmitted venereal tumors (TVT) can affect males and females,
resulting in bleeding from the genital orifices, infections and severe discomfort.
Infection of the uterus in females, called pyometra, is potentially
lethal if untreated and can only be avoided by spaying. Vaginal prolapse
in bitches on heat causes both pain and inability to mate, and can lead to
serious urogenital infections.
·
Cancer and lifespan : Intact females run a much higher risk of developing fatal
mammary glands cancer, or uterine and ovarian tumors which are
rapidly spreading and life-threatening. Intact males can also develop testicular
or prostatic cancer, only preventable by castration.