Whether you’ve recently adopted a pet or you’re considering it, one of the most important health decisions you’ll make is to spay or neuter your cat or dog. Spaying-removing the ovaries and uterus of a female pet-is a veterinary procedure that requires minimal hospitalization and offers lifelong health benefits. Neutering-removing the testicles of your male dog or cat-will vastly improve your pet’s behavior and keep him close to home.
Not convinced yet? Check out our handy-and persuasive-list of the top 10 reasons to spay or neuter your pet!
As always the Portarlington French Festival Dog show was a huge success, the day was as fabulous as all the beautiful doggies who were all so well turned out...heres some photos from the day, well done to all participants and organisers
What is Kennel Cough?
Just as human colds may be caused by many different viruses, kennel cough itself can have multiple causes. One of the most common culprits is a bacterium called Bordetella bronchiseptica m-- which is why kennel cough is often called Bordetella. Most dogs that become infected with Bordetella are infected with a virus at the same time. These viruses, which are known to make dogs more susceptible to contracting Bordetella infection, include canine adenovirus, canine distemper virus, canine herpes virus, parainfluenza virus and canine reovirus.
Dogs "catch" kennel cough when they inhale bacteria or virus particles into their respiratory tract. This tract is normally lined with a coating of mucus that traps infectious particles, but there are a number of factors that can weaken this protection and make dogs prone to kennel cough infection, which results in inflammation of the larynx (voice box) and trachea (windpipe).
These factors include:
Symptoms of Kennel Cough
The classic symptom of kennel cough is a persistent, forceful cough. It often sounds like a goose honk. This is distinct from a cough-like sound made by some dogs, especially little ones, which is called a reverse sneeze. Reverse sneezes can be normal in certain dogs and breeds, and usually only indicates the presence of post-nasal drip or a slight irritation of the throat.
Some dogs with kennel cough may show other symptoms of illness, including sneezing, a runny nose, or eye discharge.
If your dog has kennel cough, he probably will not lose his appetite or have a decreased energy level.
Treating and Preventing Kennel Cough
Kennel cough is contagious. If you think your dog might have the condition, you should keep him away from other animals and contact your veterinarian.
Although some cases of kennel cough will resolve without treatment, medications may speed recovery or minimize symptoms during the course of infection. These include antibiotics that target Bordetella bacteria and cough medicines.
You may also find that keeping your dog in a well-humidified area and using a harness instead of a collar, especially for dogs that strain against a leash, will minimize the coughing.
Most dogs with kennel cough recover completely within three weeks, though it can take up to six weeks in older dogs or those with other medical conditions. Because serious, ongoing kennel cough infection can lead to pneumonia, be sure to follow up with your veterinarian if your dog doesn't improve within the expected amount of time. Also, if your dog at any time has symptoms of rapid breathing, not eating, or listlessness, contact your vet right away, as these could be signs of more serious conditions.
There is a vaccine available for kennel cough, one that is delivered as a nasal mist, this vaccine is typically given to dogs once a year, but sometimes are recommended every six months for dogs at high risk for kennel cough.
We had a great day at the Rathangan Men's Shed dog. There was a huge turnout and picking the pooches for the top places was very difficult. Well done to all who attended and those who helped organize a great day.
Although it’s not officially harvest time yet we are seeing an increasing number of dogs presenting to us with grass mite infestations. Dogs will be going frantic, scratching or biting at their paws, and developing red lumps. Have a close look at the itchy areas – usually where the skin is thinnest or near to the grass. Your dog could be suffering from a harvest mite infection.
Most common places are the tummy, groin, and around the paws. See if there are little raised lumps usually with a little hard crust on top. Sometimes there may be small oozing spots with intense irritation. These little pests also affect humans, and you may also find you are itching around your legs with these same little red lumps.
There are several mite species that may annoy animals and humans directly, especially during the late summer and autumn. They tend to be found in areas of grassland and cornfields.
The minute, reddish larvae, which are the size of a pin head, suck the lymph and blood of humans and other mammals. They puncture the skin and inject a substance that dissolves the skin tissue to form a kind of feeding-tube. Their bites produce small spots that itch intensely and are often called ‘heat-spots’. Dogs may be considerably annoyed by these larvae, which attack them between the toes, on the tummy and the groin areas. The itching can last for days to weeks. Once fully developed the larvae turn into nymphs, which later become adult mites. Neither the nymphs nor the adults suck blood and both these more mature stages are quite harmless.
Prevention is the best treatment for harvest mites, keeping your dog off grass will be impossible, we recommend keeping your pet covered with a Bravecto parasite treatment which comes in a tablet form and lasts for three months.”
If your pet has a bad infestation already he may need to see the vet where further treatment may be necessary
Visit the vet for a spring or early-summer checkup.
Infectious diseases once killed thousands of pets each year.
But then we started vaccinating. Vaccination became one of the greatest success stories of veterinary medicine, saving countless lives and gaining universal acceptance. Back then, of course, few people cared how long vaccines worked - they were just grateful that they worked at all.
The world moves on. These days - thanks to vaccination - infectious disease is much less obvious.
Should we vaccinate our pets at all?
It’s worth remembering that many of the pet diseases we vaccinate against are killers. Whereas a child with mumps will almost certainly get better, an unvaccinated dog that contracts parvovirus can easily die.
Only vaccination can prevent these diseases in animals exposed to infection. Even those who question the need for annual boosters are strongly supportive of vaccination overall.
But are these diseases still a threat?
Vaccination has dramatically reduced the frequency of most of these diseases, but - unlike, say, smallpox in humans - none has been eradicated altogether. Sadly, apart from the rabies reporting scheme, there is currently no national reporting scheme for the diseases which affect pets.
Severe Disease, Often fatal
Currently no significant outbreaks in Ireland.
Severe disease, potentially fatal
Uncommon in Ireland but still exists.
Severe disease, potentially fatal
Exposure to infection is common, especially in areas prone to flooding. One form is carried in rat urine
Can be fatal, but may also be transmitted to humans, where it can cause a very serious infection called Weils disease.
Remains widespread in dogs, particularly those exposed to high risk environments such as boarding kennels, shows and parks.
Extremely unpleasant but rarely life threatening (except in young or very old)
No cases in Ireland
Required only for travel abroad
Viral cat flu
Extremely unpleasant and highly infectious.
Possibly fatal in young kittens: many infected cats will become carriers
Bacterial cat flu
Widespread, caused by Bordetella bronchiseptica
Possibly fatal in young kittens, highly infectious and can be transmitted from dogs to cats and vice versa.
Widespread, relatively common
Severe disease, potentially fatal
Relatively uncommon in Ireland
Severe disease, potentially fatal
Widespread in Ireland
Viral haemorrhagic disease
Widespread in Ireland
Are annual boosters really necessary?
To simplify the previous point: yes, annual boosters are still necessary against some diseases. Each year, on your annual visit, your vet will administer only those vaccines needed to maintain protection. These days the vet’s primary objective is to use the minimum number of vaccine components while at the same time maintaining the optimum protection for your pet.
Do I need a certificate of vaccination?
On completion of your pets primary course, you will be given a certificate providing a record of vaccination and advising when the next booster is due. Boarding kennels, catteries and training classed will most certainly require this before accepting your pet.
Can my pet take a reaction to a vaccine?
As with any medicinal product, whether for human or animal use, an adverse reaction is possible. But serious adverse reactions are exceptionally rare. Pet vaccines are tested thoroughly for both safety and efficacy.
• Vaccination has saved - and continues to save - the lives of thousands of pets
• Most vaccines protect against diseases that are potentially killers
• All of the diseases covered in routine vaccination are still present in the UK
• Boosters are necessary to maintain protection - just like human holiday jabs!
• There is no evidence to suggest that vaccination causes illness
• All licensed pet vaccines have undergone rigorous safety trials
The decision to spay or neuter your cat will be one of the biggest decisions you make regarding your cat’s health and welfare as well as the welfare of other cats. The pet overpopulation problem is devastatingly serious and animals are being put to death every day because shelters simply don’t have the room. Healthy animals are put to death because people don’t act responsibly.
Some people may feel as long as they keep their cats indoors there’s no risk to having them remain intact. Pet overpopulation isn’t the only reason to spay or neuter your cat. There are health concerns and behavioral implications as well.
What Happens if You Don’t Neuter Your Male Cat
If you’re under the impression keeping your male cat intact is the kinder choice, you’re dooming your cat to a life of frustration and being at the mercy of hormones. Intact male cats will spray. They will be on a mission to roam, increase their territory, find a mate and fight competitors. If your cat is an indoor kitty then that behavior will be directed at companion cats. The spraying will be directed at your furniture and belongings.
Don’t assume just because your cat lives exclusively indoors he won’t contribute to overpopulation or endure any of the suffering associated with life outdoors as an intact cat. Cats escape from their homes every day. Your cat could easily slip out the door.
If you allow your cat outdoors then you’ll put him at risk of injury or even death as he fights other males while in search of a female in heat. Intact males tend to roam beyond their usual territory to search for females. Your cat may enter into the territory of a rougher and tougher male and the end result of that fight could be tragic.
Cat fights often end with abscesses. A cat’s canine teeth are very sharp and if your cat is bitten, the wound may seal over, leaving bacteria trapped inside. This leads to infection and it’s very painful. With abscesses, it’s often necessary for the veterinarian to leave the wound open with a surgical drain while the infection clears. There is so much suffering involved with cat fights that could easily be avoided by neutering your cat and keeping him indoors.
An unneutered male will mate and the result adds to pet overpopulation. If the female with whom he mates is a stray cat then those kittens will likely also live an outdoor life and grow up intact where they will continue to mate.
The more your intact outdoor male fights and mates, the more he is at risk of contracting disease as well as spreading disease.
Intact males are at risk of developing certain cancers later in life. Neutering your young male will eliminate the risk of testicular cancer and greatly reduce the risk of prostate disease.
What Happens if You Don’t Spay Your Female Cat
As with the description above about life for an outdoor male, an outdoor female will endure fights and repeated mating. The feline mating process is not a pretty one – it’s violent and extremely stressful. It also puts the cat at risk of contracting disease as well as spreading disease. Giving birth, especially if your cat is very young, can pose a health risk to her as well.
An intact indoor cat will vocalize, try to escape and become a victim of hormones. Life for an unspayed adult female cat is filled with stress. It’s also very stressful for everyone else in the family. She will not be a pleasant companion to live with. She’ll also attract every intact male in the neighborhood. You may find yourself dealing with cats who are spraying outside your windows or fighting in your backyard because they know there’s a cat in heat close by.
Repeated heat cycles are also very stressful on a cat’s body. If your cat is spayed before her first heat cycle you reduce or eliminate the risk of mammary, ovarian and uterine cancer.
There is simply no excuse for not spaying or neutering your cat. If you haven’t already adopted a cat then consider adopting one who is already spayed or neutered so that won’t be an expense you’ll have to face.