Your pet is your ‘furbaby’ and their health is important. We sat down with Dr Teena Joseph from the Dubai-based Lucky Veterinary Clinic to learn about the most common afflictions she sees and what we, as furparents, can do to avoid illnesses. Dr Joseph says it boils down to three main groups of problems:
Skin
Tick fever is prevalent in the UAE as weather conditions are ripe for ticks and other parasites to breed. Check your pets often for ticks and use a tick repellant, collar or gel, regularly.
Allergies are very common. These can be caused by food, sun or grooming products. Pets with skin allergies can be miserable, scratching and licking all day. It is best to head straight to your vet, who can help determine the cause and the changes that must be made to prevent it from recurring.
Ringworm
Contrary to what most people think, ringworm is not a worm at all, but rather a fungal infection and this highly-contagious affliction can cause real health challenges in pets and people. It spreads rapidly when dogs are exposed to each other, even if they never come face to face. Dr Joseph explains, “one very common method of transmission is at the groomers. If the groomer fails to correctly disinfect surfaces, ringworm travels from one pet to the next like wildfire”. It shows up about two weeks after exposure, so pet owners often do not make the association. De-worming pills should be given every three months. Children and adults with weak immune systems living in homes with pets should consult their physician to take de-worming pills regularly as well.
Viruses
Parvo in puppies and the equivalent FIE disease in kittens is extremely dangerous and often fatal. Distemper and rabies are also a risk for your pet. “With these viruses, they are highly contagious and treatment does not always save the life of the pet. We always stress the importance of prevention by vaccination to significantly reduce the occurrence rates,” says Dr Joseph. Puppies and kittens require vaccination starting at two months of age. There is then a schedule to follow for the first six months. Adult pets should then be vaccinated annually thereafter.
Dr Joseph also stresses the importance of healthy food choices for pets. “Brands such as Royal Canine and Eukanuba may cost a little more, but that is because they are full of quality ingredients,” she advises. Some of the grocery store brands use fillers, by-products and unidentifiable cuts of meat. These can cause allergies, indigestion and internal organ afflictions. It is similar to eating fast food versus high-quality cuisine. And the extra money you spend on food will likely pay off down the road with reduced veterinary expenses.
Dr Joseph concludes, “the most important things we can do to help keep our pets healthy are regular vaccinations, de-worming and feed them good food. A little bit of prevention goes a long way”.
With thanks to Heather Vandevoorde, Ph.D.