Animal Talk

HAVING PROBLEMS WITH YOUR PET’S HEALTH, BEHAVIOUR,

OR JUST HAVE A QUESTION? Write to our panel of experts who will

endeavour to answer as many questions as possible.

Send your questions and a photograph of the ailment, if possible, to:

Animaltalk Vet’s Advice, Private Bag X4, Kyalami, 1684 or

Q A email: [email protected]

&

Q

What are the symptoms of feline urinary tract infection (UTI)

and can I treat it at home?

A

Cats will have a range of symptoms from being more vocal

and frequently licking themselves over the genital area, to

sitting in litter boxes and straining without urine coming out.

Occasionally drops of blood can be seen, especially in male cats

at the tip of the penis and in the litter box. Urine often have an even

more distinct and strong odour due to the infection in the bladder.

It should not be treated at home because there

are different causes of lower UTIs and

this should be diagnosed and treated at a

veterinary practice. Blockage of the urinary

tract, especially in males, can be life-threatening.

Dr Marius Louw, veterinarian

Urine trouble

Q

What are the ideal number of pet friends that we should invite to our

dog’s birthday party?

A

A birthday party is an exciting, stimulating and novel experience for

most dogs. Which means it can be tremendous fun! But it also means

that there can be added pressure on the dogs to cope with all the activity and

stimulation, and stress can lead to some nasty behaviours popping up. Dog

parties should be reserved for dogs who are well-socialised, generally calm

and have experience with such situations. If the party is going to be at your

home, keep your guest list short: dogs who are familiar with each other, and

well-matched in both size and temperament.

A party in a park means you could invite a few more, as there is more

space and opportunity for the dogs to avoid each other should things become

a bit tense or overwhelming. A good number for a house-party would be a

maximum of five, and for a park-party, I wouldn’t go above eight to 10 – and

this is assuming that all the dogs can cope with this type of event! Make

sure to keep the party calm and relaxed, and any dogs who choose to avoid

the shenanigans should be allowed to do so. If any of the dogs appears to

be tense or distressed in any way, they should be taken home immediately.

Every dog-parent should keep a careful eye on their dog to ensure that they’re

enjoying themselves at all times. No dog should be forced into an activity!

Katherine Brown, behaviourist

Party time!