Prince Albert Dieresorg/Animal Welfare, a tiny organisation made up of volunteer residents of this small Karoo town, recently completed the EberVet Training Academy's Animal Welfare Assistant training course. The course, hosted by veteran veterinary nurse Sr Hilda...
The risk of rabies in South Africa is particularly high. It is endemic in our country. Rabies is the deadliest disease on earth. It’s fatality rate is 99.9%, with more than 95% of deaths occuring in Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Dogs, and not farm animals as we...
Pigs as pets may seem like the best idea in the world when you're confronted with a tiny pink bundle of snout and hooves just a few days old. But pigs are not the easiest animals to handle, says our veterinarian Dr Adri Rossouw, so consider very carefully the...
Raw food diets may be all the rage but are they good for our pets? We live in an age of intense nutritional awareness with more of us than ever before trying to make informed choices about what we eat in order to stay healthy and live longer. Given that our pets are...
Pet ownership remains one of the most important sources of mental, emotional and physical health for the elderly yet it is often overlooked or ignored as a benefit. Few residential homes for the elderly allow pets yet global research shows that pet ownership not only...
Animal hoarders hit the news headlines from time to time, usually when an animal welfare organisation raids a home that has multiple pets living in appalling conditions. The pets may be confiscated and sometimes there is court action against the owner. But how...
Pregnancy and pets are not mutually exclusive, despite some scare stories. If our vets are prepared to have babies while living in homes filled with pets, you can be assured the dangers are minimal. Here’s what our vet moms, Dr Susan van Niekerk of EberVet Pet Clinic...
Betty's Bay fires severely injured a young Grysbok, who was found by Wynland firemen and brought to EberVet's Country Animal Clinic for emergency treatment. The tiny Grysbok, who has not yet reached adulthood, was handed over to paramedics Wardi de Wet and Riaz...
Parvovirus, a highly contagious and often fatal viral disease that affects dogs, is spreading like wildfire through the Cape. One hospital which usually treats around 14 parvo cases a month, has already seen 45 patients this month. The disease is prevented by...
Every pet owners wants a hassle-free holiday but not every pet travels well. If you want, or need, to take your dog or cat with you this holiday break, early planning is essential. Here's what to consider: Are you travelling by car or by plane? Different modes of...
If you’re planning to take your dog along on your next holiday, there are some important preparations that need to be made before you leave home. Protect your dog against parasites. Your own garden may be parasite-free (or so you think) but if your holiday includes...
Canine distemper virus infects dogs and other mammals, including ferrets, but does not infect cats. Dogs of all ages are susceptible if not previously immunised, although infection is most common in puppies less than 16 weeks of age. Vaccination is your dog's best...