Anxiety in dogs is more common than we think. Though there has been a huge upsurge in mental health awareness in humans (especially because of Covid), as vets we see many cases of anxiety and other mental health conditions in dogs that owners haven’t detected. Few...
Rabies kills more than 60 000 people a year worldwide with more than 95% of deaths occurring in Africa, and is endemic to South Africa. It is 100% fatal but also 100% preventable through vaccination. It has the highest case-fatality rate of any infectious disease...
Milk fever in dogs that are nursing puppies is a potentially fatal illness but it can be successfully treated by a veterinarian if caught on time and it is easily prevented
Noise phobias, especially of storms or fireworks, are common in dogs. These dogs will act out by hiding, pacing, panting, trembling, peeing, pooping, drooling, and destroying things. Some dogs will even take it to the extreme of hurting themselves jumping through...
Eye contact teaches your dog to focus attention on you and check in with you regularly. When you teach your dog to look you in the eye, you're making you more interesting than his environment and are therefore more easily able to control his behaviour, especially when...
Cherry eye may sound like something cheerful but is in fact an eye condition that can harm a dog's long-term sight. Certain breeds are at higher risk. Cherry eye is the common name for the prolapse of the third eyelid gland. Most animals, including dogs, have a tear...
Entropion is an abnormality of the eyelids in which the eyelid rolls inward. This results in the hair on the surface of the eyelid rubbing against the cornea. When this happens the dog experiences pain, possible corneal ulcers, perforations, or pigment developing on...
Epilepsy in dogs causes seizures or fits. Typically these seizures occur when the dog is resting. There is often a behaviour change a few hours before the seizure, followed by the seizure and a period of recovery for a few hours afterwards where the pet appears dull...
Distemper (known as 'hondesiekte' in Afrikaans) is a viral disease that is completely vaccine-preventable. By making sure your puppy is up to date with all their vaccinations and thereafter their annual vaccinations, he/she will be protected against the distemper...
Household poisons can be useful for a variety of household pests and problems but they can also be deadly to pets. It is important to know what the risks are before introducing them into your home; and to know what to do if your pet accidentally ingests one. Household...
Bee stings are a common scourge with dogs as they like to chase buzzing, flying insects but bee stings can be deadly. It's part of a dog's nature to be curious about insects but unfortunately some dogs can be highly allergic to stings and if your dog shows any of the...
Fearful dogs show a range of behaviours - from hiding when there is thunder to attacking other dogs they meet on a walk. Understanding what causes their fear will help you to help them overcome it. Rule number one: never, ever punish a dog that is aggressive or...