Animal Health
There is no reason your pet should be left out of your natural lifestyle. We cover common conditions and give advice on behavioral and health concerns to keep your pet in top shape.
How to stop cats from scratching
Cats are fluffy and fun, but they do love to scratch. Here are some tips on how to keep your most prized pieces of furniture away from those claws
Holidays, travel and fireworks – how to care for our pets
The holiday season is traditionally a joyous time, but it can be a very stressful one for our pets. Paul Jacobson gives some hints on how to handle the situations that can arise.
How to Introduce your Cat to a New Cat
When introducing a new cat (or cats) to a resident cat’s household, it is very important to be realistic when doing the introduction. Take into consideration the breed, age, socialisation history and temperament of both cats.
Is your Pet at Risk for Sunburn?
Summer is here and we are all spending more time outdoors with our four-legged friends. This means that we must make sure they do not get too much sun and run the risk of sunburn or, worse, skin cancer.
Joint Disease in the Working Animal
Joint disease causes severe pain and limitation of movement in many working dogs and horses. Homoeopathic treatment offers a humane, non-toxic and economic approach to the maintenance and restoration of function. Dr Alex Niven describes some basic joint problems and indicates which remedies should be considered in their alleviation.
Why Do Dogs Bite?
Discipline begins at home. That’s a familiar saying when we discuss disciplining our children, but the same really applies to our four legged friends. Globally, millions of people suffer from dog bites and many of these are children. According to Cesar Millan, there are five reasons why dogs bite.
Why do Dogs Eat Grass?
No one really knows why dogs eat grass. Theories range from behaviour to nutrient deficiencies to illness or simply because they like it. Read on to find out more about why your pooch prefers the green stuff.
Allergies in Dogs & Cats
Just as with people, allergies are not uncommon in our pets and any cat or dog can develop allergies at any time during their lives. However, some dog breeds are more predisposed than others.
Our Allergic Pet Epidemic
More dogs visit the vet for skin allergies than for any other health problem. In fact, some vets have gone so far as to call it an allergy epidemic.
Every Dog Has Its Day!
Dog-lover Ann Gadd digs into what acceptable dog-walking behaviour on SA beaches entails, and offers advice on how to make your pooch a top (beach) dog.
Ear Disease in Dogs
Dr Alex Niven outlines the causes, symptoms and treatment of outer ear infection in dogs so that you can be prepared if your best friend is afflicted with this common condition.
Understanding Canine Epilepsy
Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological diseases in dogs. Understanding what causes seizures and knowing how best to cope with them and how epilepsy can be treated in the longer term will help you deal with the shock of discovering that your pet is affected.
Can I Own a Pet and Work all Day?
Dogs and cats are sociable animals when it comes to humans, and need your attention. Don’t think that having more than one pet will be enough to replace you. Also, not all dogs and cats like other animals, so getting a ‘friend’ for your dog or cat could make matters worse. Some do cope better than others being on their own for extended periods but this very much depends on what they have been taught at a very young age.