Entries by Bronwyn Hayes

Pica in Dogs & Cats – Does Your Pet Eat Weird Things?

July 17, 2019 in , , , , , /by

Working in an emergency room for almost two decades, I’ve definitely seen my fair share of patients who’ve ingested some weird things – rocks, plastic, feminine hygiene products, hair ties, etc. Sure, dogs and cats love to chew on things, but actually ingesting them is problematic. This unusual habit of consuming objects is called pica. This week I’ve dedicated some time to explore this topic in greater detail. Happy reading! Pica – What is it? Pica is simply defined as the ingestion of objects with no nutritional value that confer no benefit to the animal. I think we can all […]

New Law Allows Pets To Be Buried Alongside Their Humans At Cemeteries

July 15, 2019 in , /by

By Christine Humans who were looking to be buried with their pets used to have very few options available to them. If they wanted to be buried with their fur babies, they were relegated to the pet cemetery. Those who had been monitoring the situation always found this interesting. If humans had the chance to be buried at a pet cemetery, why shouldn’t animals be able to reside in human cemeteries? The state of New York has decided to put a stop to this practice. A new law has been passed that finally allows pet owners to bring their fur babies […]

Durban pet owners warned to be vigilant as eagles find a taste for furbabies

July 12, 2019 in , /by

A local expert says he has come across a number of incidents where crowned eagles have mistakenly targeted smaller pets. Pet owners have been warned to be vigilant, especially for smaller animals, after a number of crowned eagle attacks in the greater Durban area, reports Northglen News. Although Sunningdale’s Jason Arnold specialises in reptiles and snake rescues, the local resident said he had come across a number of incidents where crowned eagles have mistakenly targeted smaller pets. “They also don’t hunt pets, but are usually looking for food. I just would like to warn residents in the north Durban area and […]

Pet owners warned of spike in sale of non-compliant food

July 10, 2019 in , /by

By: Yolisa Tswanya Cape Town – The Pet Food Industry Association of Southern Africa has warned pet owners of a spike in the sale of non-compliant, mixed and decanted pet foods. The association said sales had been noted in very informal settings, often on the side of the road, where large buckets or skips of food were being decanted into smaller packets or containers.  There had also been an increase in sales via social network platforms, such as Facebook Marketplace. General manager Dominique Kuhlmann said: “In tough economic times, we’re always on the lookout for ways to make more money […]

Vets issue urgent warning after cat is nearly killed from licking a Himalayan salt lamp

July 11, 2019 in , /by

A vet has issued a warning for pet owners after a cat was nearly killed from licking a Himalayan salt lamp in New Zealand. Maddie Smith noticed her cat, Ruby, was acting strangely, and assumed it was due to the cold weather. After returning from work that evening, Ruby’s condition had deteriorated and she was unable to walk, eat or drink and was struggling to see and hear.  Ms Smith took her to a vet who said she was suffering from brain swelling due to sodium poisoning. Sodium poisoning can be life-threatening for pets, with symptoms including seizures, vomiting, diarrhea and […]

Why you shouldn’t bury your pet in the backyard

July 9, 2019 in , /by

By: Rachel Allavena Companion animals are part of our families, but inevitably the time comes for us to say goodbye to them due to old age or disease. Many pet lovers opt to bury their pets in the backyard. However, there are some hidden risks to this, and there are other options that will help other pets, and even the owners who love them. Donating their body to science, for research and veterinary training, can potentially help hundreds of pets. Why the backyard isn’t best Backyard burial may seem like the easiest way to respectfully take care of your pet’s remains. […]

‘The Attenborough Effect’: 53% of people report using less plastic

July 8, 2019 in , /by

Over half of consumers say they have reduced the amount of disposable plastic they are using in the last year, according to a report which praises the ‘Attenborough effect’. The report claims that awareness raising initiatives over the last 12 months, including ‘David Attenborough’s acclaimed TV series Blue Planet II and Our Planet, released on Netflix on April 5th’, are having a positive impact in changing people’s behaviour. According to the study of 3,833 consumers by GlobalWebIndex into sustainable packaging in the UK and US, 42 per cent of consumers say products that use sustainable materials are important when it […]

It takes just six minutes for a dog to die in a hot car

July 5, 2019 in , /by

By Jan Hoole Lecturer in Biology, Keele University The soaring temperatures in Europe and North America have seen a rise in reports of dogs being rescued from hot cars. Police across England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Ireland, and Canada have all saved dogs from certain death. But in the US, a Great Dane in Juneau, Alaska, a Pitbull Boxer mix in Trussvile, Alabama, and three Rottweilers in Long Island, New York were not so lucky. Over the years, animal welfare organizations have raised public awareness of the risks: The RSPCA and other UK charities launched the “Dogs Die in Hot Cars” campaign in 2016; the ASPCA message is “It’s hot out! Don’t leave your pet in […]

Two children have died in SA this year from rabies – NICD

July 4, 2019 in , /by

Cape Town – The National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) has reported that there have been five confirmed cases of rabies in humans in South Africa to date in 2019; three from the Eastern Cape Province and two from Limpopo Province. These have resulted in the deaths of two children. Commenting on these rabies fatalities and cases, which were reported in the NICD’s latest Communicable Diseases Communiqué, Dr Pete Vincent of Netcare Travel Clinics and Medicross Tokai, said that they reiterate the importance of educating South Africans about this vaccine-preventable infectious disease, which is invariably fatal if it not managed […]

Iconic desert-adapted elephant ‘Voortrekker’ killed by trophy hunter in Namibia

July 1, 2019 in , /by

In yet another blow to big elephant genes, the iconic desert-adapted elephant bull known by millions of fans worldwide as ‘Voortrekker’ was killed by a trophy hunter after being declared a ‘problem-animal’ by Namibian authorities. The surgical removal of Africa’s big-gene animals by trophy hunters continues, and Namibia’s desert-adapted elephants now rely on a small population of mature bulls after two were killed in 2016. In their announcement on Facebook, Namibia’s Ministry of Environment and Tourism (MET) said “the elephant bull concerned was put down after it was declared a problem. The animal alongside others have been destroying properties and […]