My name is Dr. Ruan Bester, and my goal is to help you, the pet owner, improve your knowledge of your pet’s everyday needs and health care through a variety of pet services and veterinary resources.

I recently had someone ask me (over dinner) – what are the most common mistakes that pet owners make with their pets?

I had to think for a few minutes, but 6 major things came to mind. I thought I’d share them with you in hopes that we can prevent a problem with your pet.

Here are the most common mistakes many pet owners make:

1. Not having a yearly examination done on their pets. Yearly exams are important and can isolate potential health problems early while they are still treatable.

2. Don’t keep a current ID tag on their pet or embed microchip. Many pets don’t have a current ID tag or microchip. These two items provide the BEST information so your lost pet can be returned to you. At the clinics – we often see pets brought in without a tag or microchip for identification. Without Identification, many of these pets are never reunited with their owners and are either put up for adoption or in more sad cases, euthanized.

3. Allow their dog to run free. This is a problem for many reasons. Dogs that are permitted to “run free” often get into trash, ingest toxins or are traumatized by being hit by a car or in a fight with another animal. This can be prevented by keeping a dog within a fenced yard or on a leash.

4. Skimping on nutrition. A good quality food is important to dogs. Skimping on nutrition can be a problem. Dogs need a high quality balanced diet that is formulated to meet their life-stage needs.

5.  Don’t monitor their dogs and cats. It is important to monitor dogs and cats on a daily basis. They are so good at hiding their illnesses that often by the time we notice – the disease may be quite advanced. For this reason – it is important to look for early signs of problems.  Monitor your animal’s urinations, defecations, attitude and appetite every day.

6. Lastly, many pet owners don’t pay attention to toxins and medications that may be laying around and accessible to their dog. It is important to dog-proof your home to ensure your dog can’t get into common toxins such as rat poison, anti-freeze, medications (dog and human) or the trash.

I know that feeding a high quality diet costs a bit more, but in my opinion it is an investment in your dog’s well being. I know that in the current economy saving money is a top priority, so whatever you do, keep your dog safe. Most importantly, ensure your dog is being fed a good quality food, sees your veterinarian yearly. Also, make sure your home is “dog-proof”.

Dr. Ruan Bester, BVSc (UP)

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My name is Dr. Ruan Bester, and my goal is to help you, the pet owner, improve your knowledge of your pet’s everyday needs and health care through a variety of pet services and veterinary resources.

Is your dog or cat itching at the spot above its tail? Is your cat scratching around its neck? Even if you do not see fleas, if you find flea dirt, the pin-prick-sized residue of these pests, your pet has a problem. Do not take fleas lightly. Beyond their itchy bites, flea infestations can lead to skin infections, spread diseases, and even suck enough blood to cause a life-threatening anemia. Pets can catch tapeworms as they groom themselves and eat the fleas. The scariest aspect of the flea however, is its ability to survive and reproduce.

After mating, a female flea can lay up to 45 eggs a day, which hatch in four to 10 days. A flea can live up to 18 months, potentially producing 18000 offspring. If all of these fleas were to reproduce, the succeeding generation could total over 130 million (the next generation would be 9 million billion, or 2 million fleas for every person on earth). It is easy to see why a flea infestation can be such a difficult problem to eliminate.

Fortunately, recent advancements hold the key to solving this problem. Flea control medications like Frontline and Revolution have virtually eliminated this aggravation. Which medication is best for your pet depends on your individual situation. The amount of time they spend indoors or outdoors, the amount they swim or are bathed, and other parasite problems will contribute to the decision.

Revolution and Frontline are a topical spot-on that are used once per month. Both these products kill fleas that come in contact with your pet, so it is a very good product for animals with flea allergies in which one bite can cause great discomfort. Make sure you test your dog at the vet for heartworm before using Revolution.

In warm climates, it is recommended that you use flea products for all 12 months of the year. Although the cost may seem expensive initially, it is much less than the combined cost of repeated sprays, flea bombs, baths and dips. You may obtain these medications at your local vet. It is recommended that you talk to your veterinarian before using any new medication with your pet because, as with people, all drugs are not suitable for all pets. Inappropriate uses of prescription and over-the-counter drugs can cause major problems.

Fleas are not the only cause of itching. Allergies (to food, pollens, or bedding,) skin infections (by bacteria, yeast or fungi), parasites, and other metabolic problems can all cause dogs and cats to itch without fleas. If you have doubts about the cause of your pet’s scratching, it is best to have your pet checked by your local vet.

If you have any questions about fleas and flea bite allergies, please add your comment/questions below and I will do my best to help answer them.

Dr. Ruan Bester, BVSc (UP)

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