Pet care

What are routine check-ups for pets? 

Preventive check-ups are a set of basic routine examinations recommended at set intervals, which are decided on the basis of each animal’s individual needs. Some tests, however, should be done from time to time regardless of any additional advice from the veterinarian, because they allow any illness to be picked up sooner.

What do preventive check-ups involve? 

Preventive care differs for young, adult and senior animals.

Puppies and kittens have to go through the full vaccination course. This usually means three doses of vaccine against infectious diseases and one against rabies. Ideally, each vaccination should be preceded by worming about a week beforehand. It is a good idea to weigh your youngster yourself to check they are developing properly. In addition, predisposed breeds and dogs of their type should have their hips X-rayed. A dental consultation is very important for assessing the milk teeth and permanent teeth and picking up any abnormalities, such as a misaligned bite.

Neutering is increasingly regarded as a preventive procedure too. When it comes to timing, it is best to talk to the vet who looks after your pet so you can choose a convenient moment for the operation.

How often should pets have preventive check-ups?

Adult animals should have basic blood and urine tests, an ultrasound scan and an echocardiogram once a year. Dental visits to assess the mouth should take place twice a year. Older animals need more tests, repeated more often, because disease progresses faster in an ageing body. Blood and urine tests are recommended for dogs and cats here too, but with an extended profile. Ultrasound scans should be done as often as twice a year, and the same goes for cardiology consultations. In some breeds prone to heart disease, this examination is particularly important.

What can I do at home for my pet’s health? 

Some preventive measures can be carried out at home, including tooth brushing, regular worming and, for dogs, year-round tick protection!

All of the above matters a great deal in responsibly looking after our pets’ wellbeing – after all, that is exactly what we have in mind when we decide to buy or adopt an animal :))

How to look after your dog on hot days

Every dog owner has at some point wondered how to help their pet on hot days. Here’s the answer! The most important thing is to understand that dogs are more vulnerable to the harmful effects of high temperatures than people are, and there are several reasons for this that not everyone knows about.

What affects a dog’s comfort in hot weather? 

 Firstly, dogs simply don’t have as many sweat glands as humans, which makes it harder for them to cool down on their own. Those glands are found mainly on the paw pads! So when your dog is resting, it’s a good idea to cool their paws with water.

Secondly, dogs with a thick coat have an even harder time. Their fur is genetically designed to retain heat. In their case, regular brushing out of dead hair is a must!

Thirdly, brachycephalic breeds have a very particular structure of the muzzle and nose. Narrowed nostrils, a short muzzle and an elongated soft palate make coping with the heat considerably harder.

How does a dog cool down?
 

Our friends cool down mainly by panting. A dog opens its mouth and, with its tongue out, breathes in that distinctive way every owner knows. This lets dogs release moisture from the mucous membranes and tongue, and in this way shed excess heat from the body. This is where the muzzle deserves a mention. Veterinary muzzles must never be used on walks, because they stop the dog opening its mouth and therefore panting!

What can I do to help my dog on warm days? 

Make sure there is constant access to water and a shady spot. Setting up a paddling pool and wetting your dog down is a great idea. If your dog is indoors, let them rest on cool floor tiles. A cooling mat is a good buy. You can also offer chilled treats.

If your dog is drooling excessively, breathing faster than usual, reluctant to follow commands or to move at all, has an unnatural colour to the gums or mucous membranes, or even loses consciousness, go to the Zviropolis veterinary clinic immediately. 

Cats are born explorers when it comes to the things around the house! Sometimes we’d never think a particular object could catch their interest, and yet there they are. It only takes a moment and the cat is already at it. 

There are many substances and objects that are dangerous for cats. 

Which items are particularly dangerous? 

1. Plants. Some plants, such as lilies, philodendrons, azaleas, ivy, daffodils, tulips, peace lilies and schefflera, can be toxic to cats if eaten.
2. Chemical products. All sorts of chemicals, such as cleaning products, flea treatments, insecticides, fertilisers, paints and solvents, can be toxic to cats.
3. Medicines. Some human medicines, particularly painkillers, anti-inflammatories and antibacterial drugs, are toxic to cats.
4. Foods. Some foods considered safe for people can be toxic to cats, such as chocolate, onions, garlic, alcohol, coffee, macadamia nuts, avocado, xylitol and dairy products.
5. Wires and threads. Cats may be drawn to wires (curtain wire, for instance), cotton and threads, which can irritate their digestive tract or lead to serious health problems. Take particular care with threads that have needles attached!!! These can be swallowed too. 
6. Tick treatments for dogs. If you also have a dog, make sure its tick treatment stays well out of your cat’s reach, as it is lethally poisonous to cats. 
7. If there are children in the house, all small objects, such as Lego bricks, should be tidied away straight away so the cat doesn’t get to them first! 

Coat care and digestive problems

A less obvious threat to your cat’s health is its own fur, which it licks every day while grooming. This hair can clump into a ball in the digestive tract, and that is a serious problem. One of the most important parts of caring for your cat’s coat is regular brushing. It removes dead hair, prevents matting and stimulates the cat’s circulation. Choose the right brush for your cat, for example a soft brush for long hair or a nubbed grooming glove for short hair. Bear in mind that some cats need even more intensive coat care, so it is worth consulting your vet to work out the best brushing routine.

Contact with toxic substances 

 If you suspect your cat has come into contact with a toxic substance or object, contact the Zviropolis veterinary clinic immediately. It is important to know what to do in the event of sudden poisoning, so as to minimise the time toxic substances spend in your cat’s body.

To sum up, keeping your cat’s contact with toxic substances to a minimum is key to its health and safety. Provide a safe environment by keeping cleaning products, poisonous plants, medicines and harmful foods out of your cat’s reach. Remember, too, that regular visits to the vet will help monitor your cat’s health and ensure a quick response in case of poisoning.