by Albert | Jul 14, 2019 | Services
Pet Nutrition
Your pet’s nutrition, just like our own, is a fundamental component for a healthy life.
Proper Nutrition
There is much debate on which diet is best, which ingredients are acceptable, and what form is syuperior to the other. Raw versus commercial versus home cooked, ‘all natural’ versus grain free versus ‘no by-products’.
- What do these actually mean in regards to pet food?
- Are the claims made by pet food companies able to be substantiated as fact?
Proper adequate nutrition leads to healthier, happier canine and feline companions.
Proper nutrition is not just feeding a balanced trusted diet. There are many factors that need to be taken into consideration. That is why your veterinarian and the team of animal health professionals you entrust your pets’ care with are the best source for this information.
A diet recommendation is not about selling food. Nutritional consultation is about ensuring your pet receives an individualized take on what diet would best suit the conditions and lifestyle of the individual. Whether it is to support an active growing dog, the senior years of a feline friend, weight loss, a skin condition, dental health, gastrointestinal issues, or kidney disease for instance, we can help choose the right diet for your friend.
Cnr Van Wijk & Giraffe Street
by Albert | Jul 14, 2019 | Services
Dentistry
Dental disease commonly affects 80% of all dogs and cats over the age of 5 years.
Prevention of Dental Disease
Many dental problems can be prevented by instituting a preventative health program from an early age. At Van Wijk Street Animal Hospital we recommend starting this preventative health program as early as 3-4 months of age for your kitten or puppy. As “babies” we want to gain their acceptance of examining the mouth and teeth. Simply lifting the lips and touching the teeth is all that is required prior to 6 months of age when they have only their deciduous (baby) teeth.
Make it fun
It is important to make sure this is as fun and pleasurable as possible. You can reward your pet for allowing you to touch their teeth by giving them a treat or playing a game right after examining their mouth. Once past 6 months of age, when the adult teeth are all present, then it becomes crucial to begin brushing their teeth even if it is only once weekly. Make sure you maintain the treat or game to keep this a fun or at least well tolerated activity.
oral health diets
We have specific approved oral health diets, which has helped many of our pets. Hills, Eukanuba end Royal Canin have such approved diets, available to both cats and dogs. This diet provides both a mechanical action and an ability to prevent mineralization of plaque to hard tartar/calculus. These dental diets can be transitioned as the next diet stage following the puppy/kitten development diet. It is an excellent aid in maintaining not only oral health but a healthy skin, coat, and digestive tract.
annual examinations
A key component of maintaining good oral health for your cat and dog is a annual physical examination by your veterinarian. This annual examination not only evaluates the status of your furry friends oral health but also all other body components such as ears, eyes, skin, heart, lungs, abdominal organs as well as many joints. If your pet has significant tartar build up and or gingivitis, your veterinarian will recommend a proper dental cleaning (above and below the gum line) and evaluation of all their teeth while under a general anesthetic. At Van Wijk Street Animal Hospital we try to encourage a dental cleaning before significant periodontal disease occurs which is often a stage where your pet will require tooth extractions to remove sore and/or abscessed teeth.
Clinical signs indicating severe dental/oral disease in cats and dogs may include:
- Bad breath
- Loose teeth or teeth significantly covered in tartar
- Bleeding from the gums or mouth
- Drooling or dropping food from their mouth
- Shying away from you when you touch particular mouth areas
- Loss of appetite or loss of weight
Please note that these signs can be an indication of other serious health problems as well. If you see any one of the above signs in your pet, you should seek the immediate attention of your veterinarian.
Cnr Van Wijk & Giraffe Street
by Albert | Jun 28, 2019 | Services
About Endoscopy
We are equipped with a rigid and flexible endoscope which enables us to achieve the precision needed for advanced diagnostic and and surgical procedures and treatments.
Cnr Van Wijk & Giraffe Street
by Albert | Jun 28, 2019 | Services
Radiology
The Van Wijkstreet Animal Hospital’s equipment and faculty ensure high-quality images every time.
About Animal Radiology
Our diagnostic imaging systems consist of a Carestream Direct View CR Radiology unit for rapid interpretation and two ultrasound units.
Although most of our services are provided in-house , we also offer an equine portable service to the regional equine owners of the Lowveld.
Cnr Van Wijk & Giraffe Street
by Albert | Jun 28, 2019 | Care Guides
WHAT IS CONSTIPATION?
Constipation is the infrequent or difficult passage of faeces.
WHAT CAUSES CONSTIPATION?
There can be various causes for constipation. Dietary, behavioural, environmental and medically related causes may result in your pet becoming constipated. Below are some of the more common causes of constipation:
Behavioural or environmental causes:
• • • Cats may become constipated if they refuse to use the litter tray due to it being soiled. Animals that are well house trained and are locked up all day, may become constipated as they will refuse to defaecate inside the house. Inactivity will often result in constipation; older animals that tend to sleep most of the day may be inclined to suffer from constipation.
Medically related causes:
• • • • • Pain in the rectal area may prevent your pet from defaecating. Inability to assume the position to defecate as seen in dogs and cats that have orthopedic problems e.g. spinal problems and fractures, as well as in animals that have neurological problems. Colonic obstructions that may be caused by tumours, granulomas, abscesses or enlarged prostate glands. A weakness of the colon. Megacolon is the enlargement of the colon. The colon becomes dilated and flaccid and is no longer able to contract properly, often leading to chronic constipation. These animals require constant veterinary care.
Dietary causes:
• • • • Abnormal diet, which includes too little fibre in your pet’s diet or not drinking enough water. Feeding bones to your pet may cause an obstruction or severe constipation. Both long and short haired cats may ingest a considerable amount of fur while grooming, resulting in hairballs which could cause your cat to become constipated. Some animals are inclined to swallow foreign objects such as toys and plastic bags. This may cause an obstruction in your pet’s bowel, resulting in either constipation or vomiting. This is very often a medical emergency
HOW WILL I KNOW IF MY PET IS CONSTIPATED?
Signs of constipation may include the following:
• • • • • • • • Intermittent straining with no production of faeces. Cats may be seen scratching around in their litter trays with intermittent straining; this sign should be distinguished from urinary tract infections which your vet will be able to determine on examination and further tests. Your pet may pass small amounts of hard, dry faecal matter or mucous after repeated attempts to defaecate. Defaecation may be painful and there may be redness and swelling around the anal area. Should the straining be severe enough, it may result in a prolapse of the rectum, which is a medical emergency. Anal scooting, which may also be a sign of blocked anal glands or worm infestation. Animals who are constipated will often show no interest in food and may even have intermittent vomiting. Weight loss (especially in animals that suffer with chronic constipation). Lethargy
HOW IS CONSTIPATION TREATED?
Mild constipation can be treated with laxatives available from your veterinarian. It is however advisable to take your dog or cat to the vet for a thorough examination to ensure there are no other underlying conditions causing the constipation. Some diseases may be easily confused with constipation and will require a veterinary examination to rule these out. Severe cases of constipation will require that your pet be placed on a drip and once fully rehydrated, enemas may need to be administered under veterinary supervision. Depending on the severity of the constipation, your veterinarian may send your dog or cat home with a laxative and a special diet for a few days.
