Welcome to my blog. Essentially this is an extension of my column in the Walkerville News where and  I can share further information with my readers and answer their questions regarding the health and welfare of their pets and livestock without concern for the space restraints necessitated by the column. All opinions expressed here are my own although I thoroughly research each topic before I commit anything to print, as well as consult with experts in the relevant fields. However advice is given in good faith according to normal circumstances and without the luxury of examining the animal and I accept no liability if results do not match expectations. Questions can be posted directly to this blog or sent by sms to 073 22 88 982 or by e mail to ronvannessa@yahoo.com

Aint she just too adorable

We Looove Champs dog food



Mother and Son

We are grateful for the rain and the burgeoning new grass, however there is much about this time of the year that makes things tough for us old farmers. New grass has little to offer in the way of nutrients, and contributes to mass diarrhea, one still has to supplement feed. We opt to provide cattle fattener and privot leaves to see our goats through the tough times, which is both costly and labor intensive. Grass for bedding is non existent due to rampant veld fires, so shavings have to be bought and laid to soak up the urine that doesn't run off.. Fortunately that will all change in a few weeks and several months of abundance lies ahead. Yippee!

Animal Identification Act, 2002 (Act 6 of 2000)

A comprehensive booklet issued by the Dept. Of Agriculture And Fisheries on this topic is available and covers all aspects of marking from registration to application. E mail me at ronvannessa@yahoo.com and I will send it to you.

Caring For Senior Dogs

What are some of the things to expect as your dog ages? Your dog may develop arthritis or other degenerative diseases that cause him to slow down. He may not be able to walk as far or play as long. He may tire more easily. He may have difficulty getting up or finding a comfortable position to sleep in. He may become reluctant to go up and down stairs or have difficulty getting into and out of the car. Without proper care, dental disease can pose a problem, particularly for older pets. If nothing is done to care for your dog’s mouth, by the time your dog is a senior, he may even have lost some teeth. Dental disease can be painful, causing your dog to avoid or have difficulty eating his meals. This may result in weight loss and an unkempt hair coat. Dental disease is certainly not the only disease that can lead to weight loss. Senior dogs frequently suffer from kidney disease, liver disease, heart disease and other conditions that may result in weight loss. On the other hand, some senior dogs may have the opposite problem. Some dogs will become less active with age, essentially becoming couch potatoes, and will gain weight as a result. Obesity in a major health issue in dogs of all ages and senior dogs are no different.
For tips on how to deal with senior dog problems go to my blog at petandanimalhealthcareblogspot.com and click on “caring for older dogs”

What can you do to help your senior dog? Here are some tips:

Schedule regular visits with your veterinarian. Your dog needs to be examined at least yearly if it appears healthy, as many diseases are hidden and not apparent.  Remember it is much cheaper to prevent disease than it is to treat it!
 Ask for a body condition evaluation during each vet visit. Body condition is crucial to determining whether your senior dog is overweight, underweight, or at an ideal body weight. In fact, you should also ask your veterinarian to show you how to evaluate your dog's body condition at home.
 Feed your older dog a high quality diet. Also, learn to read the dog food label and choose a diet that is appropriate for your dog’s age and lifestyle.
 Use food to keep your senior dog at his ideal body weight. Overweight dogs have a higher incidence of diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, skin disease, even cancer. Your veterinarian can help you choose an appropriate diet for your dog, especially since overweight dogs must be fed carefully to ensure that all nutrient needs are met while still allowing for weight loss. For instance, specialized diets that are lower in calories as well as those that are high L-carnitine are available for obese or overweight dogs. A diet with a carefully chosen carbohydrate or carbohydrate blend can also help keep your overweight dog feeling satiated.
 Consider fortifying your senior dog’s diet with fatty acids such as DHA and EPA. They have been shown to be useful for dogs with mobility issues due to arthritis or other joint diseases. Supplements such as glucosamine and chondroitin are also beneficial for senior dogs.
 Consider a special diet if your older dog has heart or kidney disease. For example, diets lower in sodium are sometimes advocated for dogs with heart disease, while diets which help control phosphorus, calcium and other electrolyte levels are given to dogs with kidney disease. Your veterinarian can help you choose the best food for your dog based on your dog’s individual situation.
 Take care of your dog’s mouth. Brushing your dog’s teeth may seem like a silly idea but it can help keep your dog’s mouth healthy. If you cannot brush, consider dental treats and toys that help keep the teeth clean.
 Exercise your senior dog. It can help keep your older dog lean and maintain healthy joints and muscles. However, tailor your dog’s exercise needs to his individual requirements. For a large breed dog, walking around the block is probably just getting started but for a tiny Chihuahua, a brisk walk around the block may be a long trek. If your senior is not used to exercise, start slow and gradually increase the intensity — and only after you’ve consulted a veterinarian. Also, be careful with short-nosed (brachycephalic) dogs on hot days.
 Provide plenty of toys to keep your senior dog occupied. Food puzzles, for example, are not only useful for entertainment but for weight loss purposes as well.
Provide your older dog with special accommodations too. For instance, dogs with arthritis might benefit from soft bedding in the form of a special dog bed or towels/blankets on which to sleep. Ramps can be used to make stairs easier to navigate if they cannot be avoided. Even providing carpeting or rugs over hard-surface flooring can help your arthritic dog gain his footing and make it easier for him to get around.

Randvaal/Midvaal House Rentals

Do pet pigs require vaccinations? Questions from readers

Should your pet potbelly pig or any pig for that matter, be vaccinated?

That is a question I get from almost every person I meet who has recently aquired a potbelly pig as a pet, as did Steven and Tammy from Walkerville.
I have a friend who had his house pigs vaccinated yearly for their first six years then stopped.
They are pets and no longer do any traveling, nor do they come in contact with any other pigs.
Many pet pig owners have never had their pigs vaccinated,if your local laws require it, then they must be vaccinated.
The vaccines are made for farm pigs and don't seem to have much value to the potbellies since the vaccines are made for one particular strain of a disease that potbellies rarely, if ever, get.

If you must vaccinate, the recommended vaccinations may vary depending on where you live.
Vaccinations should include Erysipelas, Bordatella, and Pasturella on a yearly basis after initial double dose
at 6 -10 weeks and 12 -14 weeks.

Be careful: Reactions to lepto vaccinations are common. As of this writing, rabies vaccine is not approved in pigs. Pigs are resistant to rabies
and are very unlikely to contract the disease.

Vaccinations can be given either in the butt muscle or in the neck about 2-3 inches behind the ear.

Worming:

Your pig should be wormed twice (or four times a year if you have other farm animals) a year. This can be done with a shot, but given orally
is easiest and best. If giving orally, it is not necessary to have a vet do the procedure.
The antiparasitic of choice is Ivomec 1% solution. An oral(like Panacur) is  also available.,
If your pot belly pigs dry skin has a somewhat red tint to it you may have mange mites.
You can get the Ivomec at some feed stores, the local chemist or ask your vet to give you enough for two doses.
Tell your vet you want to give it by mouth instead
of in shots and he needs to give you a little more than what would be in the shot.
Everyone has their own way of giving Ivomec. If you go to the vet he or  she will want to give a shot. Pigs don't handle shots very well so ask if it can,  
it to be given orally. Ivomec is safe and very hard to overdose so don't worry.
If your pig will sit nice for a treat then you can just squirt it into the side of their mouth. (Make sure it is the side of their mouth,
not straight in, so it doesn't go down the wrong tube in their throat.) Or you can dampen his food just a little and squirt the Ivomec on the
food and stir and they will usually eat it. If you have more then one pig keep them separated so that you make sure each pig gets his full dose.
Also remember that the pigs can build up an immunity to Ivomec so it is good at times to alternate.

Non Essetial Vaccines For Dogs

In the May edition of The Walkerville News, I  dicussed the essential vaccines for dogs. There are however non essential vaccines as well, although these would be applied only on the advice of a veterinarian.




 Parainfluenza virus
 Give at 6 – 8 weeks then repeat 3 – 4 weeks later until 12 – 14 weeks
 One dose
 Every 3 years
 Non-essential; kennels and breeders

Bordatella bronchiseptica
 Varies with vaccine; discuss with your vet
 n/a
 n/a
 Non-essential; kennels and breeders

Leptospira vaccines
 Give at 12 weeks, repeat at 14 – 16 weeks
 Two doses 2 – 4 weeks apart
 Annual
 Non-essential; only on veterinary advice

Herpes virus vaccine
 -
 Bitch vaccinated at oestrus or after mating, next two weeks prior to welping
 Unknown
 Non-essential; breeders with herpes virus problems

Corona Virus
 Combined with Parvo and distemper and given as for these
 Two doses 3 – 4 weeks apart
 Annual
 Non-essential; usually dog colonies with diarrhoea problems

Mia Feeds And FarmSupplies

Kalahari Red cross Boerbok Ram for Sale

Excellent for stud. Perfect conformation, vaccinated and dewormed R2500

Stockists of all types of animal feeds, dips and dewormers, pet products and

general farming and household requisites

Livestock- Buy-Swop or Sell



Kalahari Red cross Boerbok Ram for Sale. Good worker, perfect conformation. Vaccinated and dewormed.2 years old. Excellent for stud R2500

                                                      Contact Vanessa on 0732288982

Registere dStud Ram For Sale. Inoculated and dewormed. !8 months old. Good worker. R8000. contact Vanessa on 0732288982

 

Adoptions and Rehoming Irwin Animal Rescue

Peter is a gentle old man, who came into the centre as a stray. He had such bad knots that he has sores on his body. Peter is social with other dogs, we just aren't sure about cats. Please phone Tanya on 0796185522 or tanya.Sequeira01@gmail.com to meet him. Adoption fee is R550 which includes sterilisation, vaccinations and deworming.

 

 

 

Troy is a beautiful staffie x, he is 3 years old and loves water. He is very social with other dogs, he loves kids and loves to play. He walks well on a lead. Please phone Tanya on 0796185522 or tanya.sequeira01@gmail.com to meet him. Adoption fee is R550 which includes sterilisation, vaccinations and deworming

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Pet Pics

Shadow on the lookout

My wife Vanessa with foal

Baby meets baby

 

Cat that lives down the road, but knows where to come for a square meal

Vaccination schedules for sheep, Questions from readers

                                           

The first question was sent in by Mr.T.J. Riley from Apple Orchards via sms who wrote

"I came across your column in the Walkerville News today, excellent article. I recently
bought a number of sheep and a neighbour suggested I have them vaccinated. Is this necessary, where do I get the vaccine and how often must I do this?"

Answer: Quite simply Mr. Riley, yes, very necessary. Sheep need to be vaccinated against several deadly diseases which could pose a risk to your entire flock. Vaccinations are carried out annually

These include

• Clostridial Myositis (Gas Gangrene, Malignant oedema, Black quarter, Sponssiekte, Necrotic hepatitis)
• Enterotoxaemia (Redgut, Bloodgut, Pulpy kidney, Haemorrhagic enteritis)
• Tetanus

Fortunately there are vaccines available which cover all of these diseases such as Coglavax or Multivax,

These are available at several outlets such as Mia Feeds and Farm supplies in Walkerville,
Hi Performance Feeds Henley On Klip, the co op in Vereniging, or even our local chemist can
order it for you. However I do not recommend you attempt to inoculate them yourself, I strongly suggest you employ the services of a trained person who is familiar with the procedure.
Mia feeds and farm supplies offer such a service (ref to their ad on this page) 

It is recommended that these vaccinations are carried out annually.