Being A Pet Owner Is A Responsibility

When you become a proud pet owner, contact your local veterinarian who can advise you on pet health and general care. One of the most important reasons for establishing a close relationship with a veterinarian is that he or she will often be able to show you how to stop things going wrong in your pet's life, rather than just trying to fix them when they do.

Vaccinations are essential for kittens and puppies and should be continued every year throughout their entire life.

Complete health care includes flea control, heartworm prevention and regular worming for other internal parasites. See your veterinarian for the products that will best suit your particular needs.

Desexing/sterilisation can be done as early as 12 weeks of age and is usually recommended prior to puberty. Discuss this procedure with your veterinarian. Your pet will be a happier more contented companion and you can help prevent unwanted puppies and kittens.

Daily grooming is an important part of caring for your pet. As part of your grooming routine, wipe any discharge from around your pet's eyes with a soft cloth and clip nails. Every couple of months, check teeth for tartar.

A complete and balanced diet is necessary for optimum growth and bone formation. Prepared pet foods which have been formulated for the different stages of your pet's life provide excellent nutrition.

Heartworm Disease

Heartworms are found in the heart and the main blood vessels to the lungs of infected dogs and cats and are up to 30cm long. Infected dogs and cats may die unless heartworm infection is diagnosed and specifically treated, however the infection can be easily prevented.

Heartworms are spread by mosquitoes that bite infected animals and ingest tiny juvenile heartworms (microfilariae) in their meal of blood. These mature into larvae within the mosquito and can then be spread to other dogs and cats when the mosquito feeds again. The heartworms then migrate from the mosquito bite wound, through the skin, to the heart and lungs of infected animals.

All dogs and cats are at risk of heartworm infection. They can be bitten by mosquitoes soon after birth, so protection should start at 6 weeks of age and continue throughout the animal's life.

Heartworm Prevention

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Prevention of heartworm infection is straightforward. The best preventatives are given once a month, as a meaty chewable treat that your pets will actually enjoy eating. Even your cat! This chewable not only guards your pet's heart but also provides control of roundworm and hookworm, the most significant intestinal parasites of puppies and kittens.

You can be sure that your pet is protected and because it is available only from your veterinarian, you know that it will be very effective.

Intestinal Worms

Regular treatment for intestinal worms is essential, not only in caring for the health of your pet but to protect your family from the human health risks associated with some roundworms.

There are four major intestinal worms which infect dogs and cats; roundworms, hookworms, whipworms and tapeworms. See your veterinarian for their advice on programs to control these parasites.

There is a convenient, monthly treatment available that not only guards your cat's heart from the threat of heartworm, but is also highly effective in the treatment and control of hookworm.

To treat and control whip and tapeworm infestation, it is recommended that you treat your pet with a broad spectrum wormer every 3 months.

Fleas

Cats tend not to scratch excessively due to fleas. They often prefer to lick and groom themselves instead. As a result, we often do not recognise the flea burdens they carry. Cats therefore are silent flea carriers.

The eggs laid by fleas resident on cats through the winter period eventually hatch into larvae that contribute to the spring and summer pet and household flea populations. Control of winter flea burdens with FRONTLINE ® kills fleas to prevent the production of eggs and subsequent build up of larvae and adult fleas in the spring and summer.

FRONTLINE ® Plus breaks the flea lifecycle by rapidly killing existing flea infestations and killing any new adult fleas before they lay eggs. Monthly treatment with FRONTLINE ® Plus is sufficient to control all flea challenges. Treat all cats and dogs in your household for total flea control.

Nothing else works like FRONTLINE ® Plus

• Breaks the flea lifecycle
• Rapid and long lasting
• Water resistant
• Can be used on pregnant, lactating pets and puppies and kittens from 8 weeks of age

Infectious Diseases

Cats should be vaccinated to prevent feline enteritis and feline respiratory disease. Feline enteritis is usually fatal and feline respiratory disease can be debilitating and difficult to treat. Cats can also be vaccinated to prevent feline leukaemia. To protect your cat from these viral infections, your veterinarian will advise you on an appropriate vaccination program.

Oral Hygiene

Problems with teeth and gums can mean more than just brown teeth and bad breath for your pet. Both cats and dogs can suffer from serious problems resulting eventually in lost teeth, damaged gums and jaws, and suffering for the animal.

However, early attention by a vet, and some steps by the owners, can prevent these problems building up.

Gingivitis, which begins with a build up of plaque and tartar on the teeth, inflames the gums. If untreated, it can lead to infection and periodontitis in which the gum, roots and bone are destroyed.

Two types of bacteria (aerobic and anaerobic) contribute to these diseases, and a combination of two antibacterial drugs to attack both bacteria types is the most effective means of treatment, although surgery may also be necessary.

But prevention is better than cure. You can help reduce the build-up of plaque and tartar by providing uncooked chicken wings or legs for your cat. Alternatively, fish-flavoured chews may interest your cat.

Prescription diet foods specially designed to aid pets' dental health are available for cats and dogs, as are veterinary toothpastes (not human toothpastes - the peppermint may irritate their mouths).

Regular veterinary check-ups are recommended, and professional teeth cleaning at the clinic may be necessary. These visits will also allow any developing problems to be spotted at an early stage, and let your pet have a healthy mouth for years.

Other Responsibilities

• Register your cat with your local council
• Make sure your cat always wears a collar with an identification disc carrying your name and phone number and a council registration tag. Microchipping enables rapid and accurate identification of your pet in the event that it is lost, hurt or stolen and is now compulsory in some States. Ask your veterinarian about microchipping laws in your State.
• Pet health insurance is worth considering as it covers those unexpected events that may occur from time to time
• If your pet is missing, immediately contact your local veterinary practices, council pound and neighbours. Put up several signs with a picture of your pet (cover it with plastic, or laminate to keep out the rain) around your neighbourhood and in your local vet and pet shops. Take a picture of your pet to the local pound as descriptions over the phone can be very inaccurate. Organisations like Pet Search may be able to help.
• Have your very important phone numbers in a prominent place on your fridge e.g. veterinarian, food supplier, groomer, pet taxi and council pound.