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Behaviour, dogs
Dog Behavioural Therapists and Trainers
Behaviour, rabbits
Rabbits which are not handled regularly or properly
are likely to react by biting their owners. Teach children
to pick up their rabbits with adequate support for the
hind quarters and to hold them gently but firmly so
they don't kick around.
Lack of mental stimulation when kept in solitary confinement
in a small hutch (and most hutches sold in pet stores
locally are too small) are likely to lead to behavioural
problems. The psychological welfare of rabbits is much
improved by keeping them in groups in an outdoor run
or as house pets; however in both situations owners
should provide them with "bolt-holes" to allow
them to escape from potentially stressful situations.
Birds
Links
to lots of sites on birds
Boarding
Kennel and Cattery Association (NZ)
Cars, dogs in
Harnesses are available at the clinic which attach to
the seatbelts in your car, to keep your dog secure-these
help prevent your dog being thrown about in the event
of an accident or under heavy braking (and possibly
injuring yourself if they hit you!). Seatbelts also
stop dogs from jumping about the car, and distracting
the driver.
Remember that dogs die in hot cars! Temperatures rise
rapidly in parked cars, so don't leave your dog unattended
in the car. Leaving windows open a couple of inches
is not adequate.
Take care to ensure that young children don't shut your
dog in the car at home also (it happens!).
Cat Aids
See FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus)
Cats
New
Zealand Cat Fancy - cat clubs and breeders/cats
and kittens for sale
Feline
Advisory Bureau (UK)
Chinchillas
Dental care, cats
One of the most common conditions we see in the surgery
is periodontal (gum) disease. Plaque and tartar build
up on the teeth, causing inflammation of the gums (gingivitis).
Gingivitis is painful and results eventually in periodontal
disease and tooth loss.
Make it a part of your healthcare routine for your cat
to look after his/her teeth. The ideal situation is
for you to brush the teeth 3-4 times a week (although
this is difficult) or to give your cat biscuits (e.g.
Hills Oral Care) to chew on.
Regularly inspect your cat's teeth - lift the gums and
look at all the teeth, especially those at the back.
If you think they need attention, see the vet - before
periodontal disease becomes so advanced that we cannot
save the tooth.
Tooth care is VERY important for the health of your
cat - bacteria can enter the bloodstream through damaged
gums and set up infections in the heart, liver or kidneys.
Elderly cats with bad teeth requiring urgent attention
present more anaesthetic risk - so look after your cat's
teeth - right from the start!
Dental care, dogs
One of the most common conditions we see in the surgery
is periodontal (gum) disease. Plaque and tartar build
up on the teeth, causing inflammation of the gums (gingivitis).
Gingivitis is painful and results eventually in periodontal
disease and tooth loss.
Make it a part of your healthcare routine for your dog
to look after his/her teeth. The most ideal situation
is for you to brush the teeth 3-4 times a week, and
to give your dog beef hide chews or biscuits (e.g. Greenies,
Hills Oral Care) to chew on. Regularly inspect your
dog's teeth - lift the gums and look at all the teeth,
especially those at the back. If you think they need
attention, see the vet - before periodontal disease
becomes so advanced that we cannot save the tooth. Tooth
care is VERY important for the health of your dog -
bacteria can enter the bloodstream through damaged gums
and set up infections in the heart, liver or kidneys.
Elderly dogs with bad teeth requiring urgent attention
present more anaesthetic risk - so look after your dog's
teeth - right from the start!
Dental care, rabbits
We see a large number of rabbits at the St Martins Vet
Clinic with dental disease.
Most cases could have been prevented by feeding the
correct diet.
We do not recommend feeding any more than quarter of
a cup of commercial pellets per day to your rabbit -
these contain concentrated nutrients and so the animal
spends less time foraging than it would in the wild.
Rabbits teeth grow continuously and if not worn down
at an equal rate, dental problems are inevitable. In
extreme cases , the tooth roots will push back into
the orbits (eye sockets), producing painful abscesses,
for which the prognosis is grim.
Remember, that in the wild - rabbits eat grass!
We recommend a diet containing grass, hay, and vegetables
(but not lettuce). Plenty of fresh water should always
be available.
Rabbits also like to chew on branches from fruit trees
(eg apple trees) which provide not only things to play
with, but also exercise and wear for the teeth.
Rabbits need to chew for around 4 hours a day to produce
adequate tooth wear (and up to 6 hours for dwarf rabbits,
as they have disproportionately large teeth).
Overgrown incisors (the front teeth) can be trimmed
using a high-speed dental bur - this can be done at
the clinic with the rabbit awake but restrained. Trimming
with nail clippers is cruel, causes pain, serious damage
to the tooth structure and possible tooth root abscesses
- it is rare that this form of trimming even produces
flat surfaces for the animal to use effectively anyway.
With long-standing or severe malocclusion of the incisors,
it may be better to remove them completely - which then
allows the molars (back teeth) to work against each
other and wear better.
Molar malocclusion results in sharp spurs on the back
teeth which cut the tongue and cheeks and results in
the rabbit stopping eating and often slobbering.
Lack of exercise and sunlight also contributes to dental
problems, through osteoporosis producing weak jaw bones,
and a poor foundation for the tooth roots.
We have special equipment at St Martins for performing
rabbit dentistry, and take referrals from local vets
for incisor trimming, incisor extractions and molar
trimming.
Desexing, cats
If you are not wishing to breed from your cat, s/he
can be neutered from 5-6 months of age.
The operation, for both males and females, is done under
general anaesthetic and requires staying a full day
at the clinic to allow time to recover from the anaesthetic,
before going home in the evening.
Castration in males involves removal of both testicles,
while spaying a female cat involves removing both ovaries
and the uterus. The operation takes longer in the female,
and usually requires them to come back to the surgery
after about 10 days to have sutures removed. The males
will not have sutures.
Spaying female cats reduces the number of unwanted kittens-it
is an old-wives-tale that female cats make better pets
if they've had a litter-they make lovely pets regardless.
Unwanted kittens become strays that prey on native wildlife,
and produce more unwanted kittens. Consider what you
will do with the kittens produced before you consider
allowing your cat to have a litter.
Neutering males reduces their urge to wander and to
spray and mark their territory with urine. They get
into less fights, so decrease their chances of contracting
diseases such as FIV (cat Aids) and Feline Leukaemia,
transmitted by cat bites.
Desexing, dogs
FEMALES: Most bitches reach puberty when they are 6
months old-this is variable however and larger breeds
can take longer. The first signs seen when the bitch
comes into 'heat' are swelling of the vulva and a blood
stained discharge-this usually lasts about a week. The
discharge then becomes straw coloured during the second
week and the bitch will accept being mated by a dog.
In unmated bitches the "heat" then subsides
and the next heat will usually be seen in around 6 months
time (also variable). The whole cycle takes about 3
weeks.
Complications in unspayed bitches can include:
False pregnancy
1-2 months after the heat the bitch may produce milk
and undergo "nest-building" behaviour.
Pyometra
An accumulation of large amounts of pus in the uterus,
typically 1-2 months after heat. This is extremely serious
and life threatening due to the toxaemia produced. Although
usually seen in older bitches, we have seen it in bitches
at their first season. The most successful treatment
is surgical removal of the uterus and its contents-note
this is done when the bitch is seriously ill and presents
a large risk. Other treatments are now available, though
are expensive.
Mammary Tumours
Growths in the mammary tissue ("breast cancer").
Some of these tumours can be malignant (i.e... spread
to other parts of body) hence are life threatening.
Bitches spayed early in life have a significantly reduced
chance of developing tumours.
Unwanted pregnancy
If an unwanted mating occurs ring us within 1-2 days
if you want to take steps to avoid a pregnancy.
We can spay your bitch from around 5 -6 months of age,
but we will not operate while they are in heat.
MALES: Castration of males can be performed any time
after 6 months of age. Castration tends to reduce aggression
toward other dogs (especially males), and prevents roaming
associated with seeking out bitches in heat.
Castration also prevents many health problems we see
in older dogs-e.g. Prostate hypertrophy/testicular tumours/perineal
hernias.
Neutered animals (male and female) have reduced metabolic
requirements and so to avoid weight gain, should have
their diets adjusted accordingly.
Desexing, rabbits
We advise neutering male rabbits to reduce territorial
marking (urine spraying), aggression, and unwanted sexual
behaviour (I recently neutered the local kindy rabbit
because it was mounting all the children - creating
obvious embarrassment for the teachers!).
Spaying female rabbits not only removes the unwanted
pregnancy risk when housed with male rabbits, but also
removes the risk of developing uterine adenocarcinomas
(cancer) as they get older (this is a common occurrence
in middle-late aged females). Though more difficult
than a cat spay, they normally recover quickly, and
we provide plenty of post-operative pain relief.
Dogs
New
Zealand Kennel Club Breed clubs, breeders and contact
details
All
about safety with dogs - good advice on keeping
children safe around dogs (both your own and others).
Christchurch
City Council Animal Control - For details on dog
exercise areas, animal control, the Christchurch Animal
Shelter, Dangerous Dogs, Dog registration, and lots
more.
Registration
- Service centre contacts. Download application forms.
Update your details.
Dog
Training – details of training clubs throughout
New Zealand.
Dogs and slug bait
See Slug bait, dogs and
Exercise, dogs
Until your pup is fully vaccinated you should not exercise
him in public parks or on beaches or walkways which
potentially unvaccinated dogs may use. Parvovirus can
survive in the environment for months.
Do not over exercise your pup until s/he is fully grown
as this may damage developing cartilage in joints and
cause long-term problems-this is especially important
in the larger, heavier breeds. Ask for further advice
if you are unsure.
Feeding, cats
We recommend you feed your kitten on a premium Growth
Formula. These foods provide the correct levels of all
nutrients and minerals for growth (especially important
for bone growth).
Hills, Eukanuba and Whiskas Advance manufacture quality
foods which meet these requirements.
Kittens need to be on a Growth Formula until they reach
one year old (and then on to an Adult Maintenance Formula).
Supplements are not required with these diets.
Because many cats have intolerance to cow's milk (causing
diarrhoea) we do not recommend giving them milk-water
is sufficient.
Feeding, dogs
We recommend you feed your puppy on a premium growth
formula. These provide the correct levels of all nutrients
and minerals for growth (especially important for bone
growth).
Hills, Eukanuba and Royal Canin manufacture quality foods
which meet these requirements.
The majority of your pup's diet should consist of quality
puppy food but "extras" such as table leftovers
and treats are all OK too, in small quantities (but
don’t give chocolate!).
Don't forget to provide lots of tasty things to chew
on (eg rawhide bones), as your pup will be getting lots
of new teeth through over the first few months.
If giving your pup bones, only feed large bones that
cannot be splintered up or swallowed.
Always provide plenty of cool fresh water.
Pups are normally fed on puppy diets until they are
12 months old, then they are changed onto Adult Maintenance
Formulas.
Feeding, rabbits
Please see Dental care, rabbits
FIV Vaccine – protection
against cat AIDS
The Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (a viral infection that
attacks the immune system of cats) has become widely
spread around the world since it was first identified
in 1986. It is continuingly on the rise here in New
Zealand and has become a very common diagnosis in ailing
cats.
As most cats are allowed to roam outdoors in our country
the disease has a 30 times higher chance to spread than
in housed cats. Transfer is by cat bites and initially
may cause an episode with fever and enlarged lymph nodes.
Then usually no symptoms maybe seen for several years
but the cat will be infectious already to other cats
during this period. Eventually infected cats will become
clinically symptomatic and will die from various diseases
resulting from the virus’ immunosuppressive action,
e.g. lymphosarcoma, a form of cancer.
For the first time ever, a vaccination has been released
to prevent cats from becoming infected with the FIV
Virus.
The Fel-O-Vax vaccine is now available from the St.
Martins Veterinary Clinic. It can be incorporated
into your annual vaccination program but requires 3
initial doses (2 weeks apart) to become effective.
We also recommend those cats that are going to be entered
into the FIV vaccination program to be tested for the
virus first. We can perform the test at the clinic at
the time of your first vaccination.
Fleas, cats
Fleas not only cause irritation and scratching, but
can result in serious allergies (from flea bites) with
skin disease (flea allergic dermatitis) in some animals.
An article has been published in the December 2004 edition
of the New Zealand Veterinary Journal, which describes
three gram-negative bacteria which can be transmitted
from cat flea bites to infect both pets and humans.
So it appears that fleas cause a much wider variety
of problems than you may think, and we recommend control
programmes to prevent not only pruritis (itching) and
tapeworm in pets, but also to prevent infections with
these flea-borne bacterial pathogens.
We have products which are safe to use even on 2 day
old kittens.
Effective control is important to keep your pet comfortable,
and keep your home free of fleas.
Just as important is the safety margin of the chemical
you use on your pet.
Products such as Advantage, Revolution and Frontline
Plus have very high safety margins and are also highly
effective against fleas.
Fleas have not become resistant to these products (as
they have to many others).
Ingesting fleas while grooming infects your cat with
tapeworm, so regular worming is also important.
Fleas, dogs
Fleas not only cause irritation and scratching, but
can result in serious allergies (from flea bites) with
skin disease in some animals.
We have products which are safe to use on 2 day old
puppies.
An article has been published in the December 2004 edition
of the New Zealand Veterinary Journal, which describes
three gram-negative bacteria which can be transmitted
from cat flea bites to infect both pets and humans.
So it appears that fleas cause a much wider variety
of problems than you may think, and we recommend control
programmes to prevent not only pruritis (itching) and
tapeworm in pets, but also to prevent infections with
the new flea-borne bacterial pathogens.
Effective control is important to keep your pet comfortable.
Just as important is the safety margin of the chemical
you use on your pet.
Products such as Advantage and Frontline plus have very high
safety margins and are also highly effective against
fleas.
Fleas have not become resistant to these products (as
they have to many others).
Grooming, cats
Regular grooming is important to remove loose hair,
dirt and debris from your cat's coat.
Long haired cats will develop dense hair mats and knots
in their coats if they are not groomed.
Hairballs form in the cat's stomach from swallowing
loose hair and will result in vomiting and reduced appetite.
Special 'hairball' diets are available for cats which
are prone to forming hairballs.
The fibre content in these diets is designed to gradually
draw fur through the cat's intestine preventing it building
up in the stomach.
"Cat Lax", is an oily gel which can be used
to remove existing hairballs.
Guinea
Pigs
Hairballs, cats
Please see 'Grooming, cats'
Insurance
We recommend pet insurance as a way of ensuring you
have the financial security your pet needs in the event
of accident or illness.
Ellenco Enterprizes Ltd, is a Christchurch based insurance
company offering comprehensive medical cover for your
pet. A range of policies is available from which you
can choose the level of cover needed. Contact Ellenco
on 03 332 3648 or 0800 738 752.
Ellenco
Pet
Medicare
Microchipping
A microchip is a small implant placed under the skin,
which will transmit an identification number to a scanner
device.
The number is unique to your dog/cat and along with
your details including your contact phone numbers; it
is placed on a database which we can access
to find owners of lost dogs/cats.
We recommend microchipping as a safe, inexpensive, humane and effective
method of permanently identifying your dog/cat.
Consider also how you would actually PROVE that your
dog/cat belongs to you if it ever gets stolen without
having a microchip implanted.
Pet
education
Pet Food Manufacturers
Hills
Science and Prescription Diets - click on Veterinarian
tab for full details on Science Diets and Prescription
Diets.
Eukanuba
and Iams Pet Foods - select New Zealand from the
dropdown location list to enter the local site.
Waltham
and Royal Canin Pet Foods
Pet Products, Sites for
Greenies
Merial/Frontline
Bayer/Advantage
Pfizer/Revolution
Puppies and babies
We frequently receive requests for advice and help on
either introducing a new puppy into a house with a baby,
or on what steps need to be taken when there is a baby
expected in a house where there is a dog already in
the family.
Too often people leave it too late to ask for help-until
they realise the dog is not coping, or has attacked
the children. Too many dogs still get put to sleep because
of their behaviour around children. We can provide a
leaflet entitled: "Guide to a successful relationship
between your new baby and the family dog". Please
ask for a copy-do it as soon as you are aware that there
will be a new baby in the house, and begin to prepare
your beloved pet. Do not leave it until the new baby
arrives.
It is important that your dog associates the new baby
with as few disruptions as possible.
And remember:
NEVER leave any baby or child unattended with ANY dog.
Make sure also that your dog cannot harm other people's
children while out walking.
Let's give dogs some good press!
Puppy playschool
This is a great way to learn about basic obedience,
house training, caring for your dog, and dealing with
problems.
Run by Colleen Fry and Anne Benson - NZQA Certified
Dog Trainers.
This is a great chance for your pup to socialise with
other pups, (and for you to meet other dog owners).
For pups 8 to 16 weeks of age, with current vaccinations.
Contact Anne or Colleen directly for bookings:
Telephone: 328 7440 (Colleen), or 388 0951 (Anne).
Rabbits
New
Zealand Rabbit site - breeders/rabbits for sale.
NZ rabbit club.
British
House Rabbit Association
House Rabbit
Society
Rats
Registration, dogs
You need to register your puppy with the Christchurch
City Council when s/he reaches 3 months of age.
There is an annual registration fee, and you will be
issued with a new disc for your dog's collar each year.
Contact the Council directly to arrange this - you can
use the link to the City Council website to arrange
this also.
RSPCA
Slug bait, dogs and
We still see a number of poisonings each year when dogs
eat slug bait, intended for eliminating slugs and snails
from the home garden. Poisonings usually occur when
the dog gets hold of the whole box of slugbait, rather
than a few pellets sprinkled in the garden, so take
extreme care where you store the box - to a dog it is
just like a box of muesli, and they will eat the lot!
Most slug baits claim to have pet deterents coated on
them to stop your dog eating them - they do not work
and the dog will eat them regardless.
Ingestion results in rapid deterioration of the pet
and they begin to seizure, and will die if they don't
receive veterinary treatment. If noticed early enough
it will help if you can make your dog vomit, or get
it to the clinic quickly enough so that we can do this.
There is currently only one pet-safe slugbait on the
market in New Zealand and it is called QUASH.
Toilet training, cats
Cats are naturally clean animals, but you do need to
show a kitten where the toilet is, and encourage him/her
to use it.
Provide a litter tray, filled with commercial cat litter
(don't use clumping litter if your kitten is eating
it, as it can cause serious digestive tract problems).
Keep the tray in the same place and make sure it is
cleaned regularly. Put the kitten in the tray after
meals and when s/he wakes up after sleeping.
Move the tray gradually outdoors when you want your
kitten to start using the garden. Punishing your kitten
for going in the wrong place is useless and will confuse
and stress him-positive reinforcement always works faster
and more effectively than negative.
Toxoplamosis
Toxoplasma gondii is a widely distributed protozoan
parasite which infects many mammals and birds. This
organism is of significance because it can cause disease
in cats, dogs, sheep, goats and humans.
The cat is considered the most important host for Toxoplasma
and acts as a reservoir for the disease.
Humans can become infected through eating contaminated
meat, or less commonly, by ingestion of cat faecal material
(e.g. on unwashed garden vegetables).
The disease causes flu-like symptoms in humans and is
more severe in immune-compromised humans. The highest
risk is when the disease is contracted during pregnancy.
In pregnant women previously unexposed to the organism,
disease may lead to abortion or fetal abnormalities.
Hygiene is extremely important in preventing infection
in pregnant women-ideally they should not be handling
cat faeces or cleaning litter trays.
Wear gloves when gardening (cats defacate in the garden
and infect it), wash hands well after handling raw meat,
and make sure that all meat is well cooked through before
eating. Wash all vegetables thoroughly before eating
(especially those eaten raw- e.g. salads.)
If you are pregnant you should discuss this disease
with your doctor or midwife.
DO NOT assume that you are immune from infection just
because you've always had a cat.
Vaccinations, cats
Vaccinations are essential to ensure your cat is protected
against some serious infectious diseases. If you intend
to put your cat into a cattery when you go on holiday
it is mandatory that s/he is fully vaccinated.
Kittens require 2 injections 3-4 weeks apart starting
at around 8 weeks of age. Thereafter cats are given
a booster injection once yearly.
Vaccination protects against:
1. Feline Upper Respiratory Disease (cat flu) - caused
by feline herpes virus and feline calicivirus. Infected
cats which recover often become carriers and suffer
relapses when stressed.
2. Feline Enteritis - an often fatal disease, with severe
diarrhoea.
3. Chlamydia - which causes chronic conjunctivitis and
sneezing.
Vaccinations are also available now to protect against
Feline Leukaemia Virus and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus.
Vaccinations, dogs, pups and adult
Vaccinations are required to protect your dog from serious
and potentially fatal diseases.
If you intend to put your dog into kennels whilst on
holidays, it is mandatory that s/he is fully vaccinated.
We use the Nobivac range of vaccines at St Martins.
Intervet, the company which manufactures these vaccines
actually offers a guarantee against the Distemper/Hepatitis/Parvo
portion - meaning that if your pup contracts these diseases
after having completed its vaccination program, the
vaccine company will cover costs of treatment. Kennel
cough is not covered by this.
The normal vaccination regime for puppies is:
1st vaccination at 6-8 weeks of age against: canine
parvovirus, canine distemper, and canine hepatitis.
2nd vaccination 3-4 weeks later: repeat of the 1st vaccination,
plus an intra-nasal Kennel Cough vaccine (a few drops
down the pup's nose).
Provided the 2nd vaccination is given at or after 12
weeks of age, no further vaccinations are required (otherwise
we will advise a third injection).
Vaccinations finish by 12 weeks of age, so you can get
your pup out and about as quickly as possible.
If your pup starts vaccinations at a different age your
vet will advise you on an appropriate course to ensure
complete protection.
Thereafter, booster vaccinations are required to maintain
high levels of immunity. The first one will be given
12 months after the completion of the puppy course.
This will cover DHP (distemper, hepatitis, and parvovirus)
and KC (Kennel Cough). The DHP vaccine is then given
once every THREE years, and the KC vaccine once yearly.
We have recently seen a much larger number of pups coming
into the clinic suffering from parvovirus, once again
reinforcing the importance of vaccination in preventing
disease.
Vaccinations, rabbit
A vaccine is available to protect your rabbit against
Viral Haemorrhagic Disease (VHD) – a disease caused
by the rabbit calicivirus, which rapidly causes death
in rabbits of all ages. This disease was introduced
into New Zealand several years ago, to control wild
rabbits on farmland in the South Island, but has recently
been diagnosed in the St Martins area (confirmed by
laboratory post-mortem samples), after one rabbit owner
lost several of her rabbits to it. We recommend annual
vaccinations to protect against VHD.
Veterinary
Massey
University Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical
Sciences - Massey vet school teaching hospital;
details on careers with animals and the veterinary school
New
Zealand Veterinary Nursing Association
Veterinary
Council of New Zealand
Veterinary
New Zealand Veterinary Association
Worming, cats
Cats and kittens are commonly affected by roundworms
and tapeworms.
Young cats and hunters are most at risk.
Kittens get infected with roundworms through their mother's
milk, and then as they mature, from grooming and eating
rodents, insects, and birds. Roundworms cause vomiting,
diarrhoea and lethargy, and affect growth and coat condition.
Cats are infected with tapeworm when grooming and swallowing
fleas, and also from eating rodents.
Kittens should be wormed from 3 weeks of age-every 2
weeks until they are 3 months old, then once monthly
until they are 6 months old. Thereafter cats should
be wormed every 3 months.
The number of tablets required depends on your cat's
weight, so remember to weigh him/her first and give
the correct dose.
Worming, dogs
Puppies are normally born infected with roundworms,
or become infected via their mother's milk. It is important
to ensure your puppy is treated for worms as infected
pups may show symptoms of coughing, vomiting, constipation,
diarrhoea or weight loss.
Worm eggs are excreted in dog faeces and provide a source
of infection for humans particularly children. Even
if you do not have children yourself consider the risk
of children playing in parks where your dog defacates
- always clean up after your dog.
Swallowing fleas while grooming infects your dog with
tapeworm so effective worm control also includes flea
control.
All flea and worm product dosages depend on the weight
of the animal -you are welcome to drop in and weigh
your animal regularly.
We recommend you begin worming your pup at 3-4 weeks
of age, repeating the dose every 2 weeks until they
are 12 weeks old. Then worm once monthly until the pup
is 6 months old.
Once dogs are 6 months old they should be wormed with
a good quality, broad spectrum wormer once every 3 months.
We stock quality worm tablets at the clinic, and you
can weigh your dog while there to ensure s/he gets the
correct dose.
WSPA
World Society for the Protection of Animals
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