1/2 OUR PETS ARE DISEASED

SHOCK statistics from PDSA reveal that many of our adored family pets are at risk from potentially life threatening diseases, simply because they haven’t been vaccinated!  Over 50% of pets seen during one of the leading veterinary charity’s recent pet health surveys either weren’t vaccinated at all, or hadn’t had their annual boosters, making them vulnerable to killer infections.

Vaccinations are used to prevent often fatal diseases such as canine parvovirus, canine distemper, feline leukaemia (FeLV) and myxomatosis and viral haemorrhagic disease (in rabbits) plus many more.

“Vaccination is such an important part of pet ownership.  Every year PDSA vets treat hundreds of pets suffering from illnesses and infections that a vaccination could have prevented. It is heart-breaking for our vets and nurses, and for the owners, who in many cases simply didn’t realise the dangers facing their unvaccinated pets.” says PDSA Senior Veterinary Surgeon, Elaine Pendlebury.

To help owners learn more about vaccinating their pets, PDSA has produced a FREE vaccination leaflet offering advice and guidance on protecting pets from preventable illnesses.  Elaine continues:- “This free leaflet is full of useful information and we hope it will encourage pet owners to carry out a regular vaccination programme.”

Vaccination - the facts:-

• It is estimated that over 80% of puppies infected with the distemper virus will die from the disease.

• The highly contagious Parvovirus mainly affects dogs through ingesting (eating) the virus, but can be transmitted from the mother to unborn puppies via their blood supply. It is a very hardy virus, and can survive in the environment for over 6 months at room temperature!

• Some pet diseases can also affect us. Leptospirosis can cause serious diseases in people such as inflammation of the kidneys, pneumonia, and meningitis, which can prove fatal!

• In cats, feline leukaemia (FeLV) is now the most common infectious cause of premature death in cats in the UK. It has been estimated that 8 out of 10 cats infected with FeLV will die within 3 years.

• Rabbits don’t fare much better, either. Viral haemorrhagic disease (VHD) is very contagious and most forms are nearly always fatal. In the acute form, the rabbit can die within a day or 2 of first showing symptoms.

The Vaccination leaflet forms part of a larger range of Responsible Pet Care leaflets produced by PDSA. These leaflets cover a variety of pet care topics including, First Aid, Diet and Nutrition and Dental care. The leaflets are available from PDSA PetAid hospitals and charity shops nationwide. Further information can be obtained from www.pdsa.org.uk or by calling freephone 0800 917 2509.

KEEP YOUR PET AWAY FROM CHOCOLATE EGGS THIS EASTER

EVERYONE indulges in a little extra chocolate at Easter, but Bayer Animal Health is calling on all pet owners to be aware of the potential dangers of sharing an Easter egg with their furry friends.

Not only is chocolate high in calories and sugar, which can contribute to the development of obesity and tooth decay but, more worryingly, chocolate is also highly toxic to dogs and cats and if a large quantity is consumed, can even be fatal.

Chocolate, and other products made from cocoa beans, contains a chemical called theobromine which dogs and cats are unable to clear from their bodies, unlike humans. Theobromine is present in all chocolate, however the content is higher in plain varieties than in white and toxic doses vary according to the size of the animal and the cocoa solid content.

Symptoms of chocolate poisoning include excessive drinking, vomiting, diarrhoea, excitability, drooling, slow heart rate and in the later stages, convulsions. If your pet is displaying any of these symptoms it is important to contact a vet, as if caught early enough it is possible to treat.

Although dogs being poisoned by chocolate is rare there were 135 reported cases in 2004, with Christmas and Easter being the most common time.

Sabrina Stroud, product manager at Bayer Animal Health, commented:- “Not many people are aware of the dangers of feeding their pet chocolate. It is vital that pet owners keep their Easter eggs well away from their beloved friend. Some companies make special chocolates which are safe to give to your dog or cat but it is better for them if they have a healthy treat this Easter instead!”

If you can’t resist giving your pet a treat this Easter,  that isn’t chocolate, then it is important to make sure that you wash your hands and maintain high standards of hygiene when feeding them. Many people are unaware that their pet could pass on nasty diseases to humans. For example, Human Toxocariasis (which can cause blindness) can be contracted by swallowing worm eggs inadvertently picked up from the environment or by letting your pet share food from your plate.