Moulting is a natural process that happens in all birds, as birds are the only living things with feathers. During a moult new feathers replace old, damaged feathers. Some birds moult gradually throughout the year and owners do not even notice any changes. Others have a heavy moult every other year, but most parrots generally […]
How to manage moulting birds Read More »
I came across some crazy stats on how cancer is the cause of death in 50% of pets. In my experience, and as sad as it is to say, I would tend to agree with this figure. While it is not only limited to older dogs and cats, the majority of its victims are over
Cancer is no longer a death sentence Read More »
What we call ‘fat’ is medically referred to as ‘white adipose tissue’, but until recently we thought fat stored excess energy and just made your pet ‘big’. The idea was that fat was physiologically inert. But then scientists discovered that fat plays an enormous role in the body as producer of hormones and inflammatory agents.
Is too much fat bad for our pets? Read More »
In 2011, South African pet owners were struck with fear when at least 12 dogs died of aflatoxicosis after eating contaminated pet food. Serious incidents like these raise questions about the safety of pet food and how companies test their products. Why testing is important The choice of pet food is a personal one. You
Should all dogs and cats receive booster vaccinations every year for their whole lives? I have heard people talking about so-called titre tests that vets can do to determine if a pet really needs a booster vaccination. Are these readily available in SA and what are the logistics involved? Puppies Puppies need to be vaccinated
Annual Vaccinations Read More »
The truth is dogs and cats do not need any protein in a healthy state at all. What they do need is the building blocks of protein. Even if animals ingested their exact daily requirements of protein, their alimentary tract would still break the proteins down to individual amino acids through the process of digestion. There
Essential Amino Acids Read More »
Diabetes in pets can be controlled through veterinary care and by following a strict diet, much like humans need. The causes and resultant symptoms of diabetes are similar, although not the same, in humans and pets. Dogs usually have type 1 (insulin-dependent) while cats typically have type 2 (non-insulin dependent) diabetes. What exactly is diabetes and
Internal parasites may take up residence in your pet’s intestines or other organs and cause serious health complications. We look at how deworming products are formulated and manufactured to provide a safe and effective way to control them. Endoparasites or internal parasites live inside the body of the host and feed off partially digested food
Worms and deworming Read More »
Why do dogs dig? Confinement stress and lack of mental and physical stimulation Dogs who are confined to a yard, rarely taken off the premises, and provided with little or inadequate mental stimulation, are far more likely to dig and be destructive. For yard dogs, often the only way that they can express their frustration and
