Feeding your Parrot

When making a decision to get a parrot as a pet, you should be aware that you are making a long term commitment, since parrots can live in captivity for a few decades!  Of course, lifespan is longer if the proper care is given.  All animals have a right to enjoy the five freedoms outlined in animal welfare literature.  These include:

(1) freedom from hunger or thirst,

(2) freedom from pain, injury and disease,

(3) freedom from distress,

(4) freedom from discomfort and

(5) freedom to express behaviours that promote well-being.

In this blog, we will be talking about the proper diet for pet parrot, since a lot of their illness or lack of thriving can be attributed to poor diet.

When domesticating an animal, it is important to research the diet that is available in the wild.  If this is not studied properly and foods that are needed are not provided, or foods that are toxic are given quality of life will significantly reduce and in severe cases death may result.

In the wild, parrots eat a variety of fruits, seeds, nuts and insects, so we must attempt to provide a healthym varied diet that is as close as possible to the one that nature intended.

Pet parrots will generally thrive on the following:

(a) A complete pellet or seed mix.  PLEASE do not provide sunflower seeds only, since they are high in fat and low in nutrients!! your parrot will not thrive!  If your parrot is already hooked on this diet, do not give up!  Introduce the proper diet gradually, mix small quantities in with the familiar diet and consider providing a vitamin or mineral supplement (these can be added to the drinking water).

(b) Fresh fruits and vegetables.  Wash produce carefully, and remember to remove uneaten food regularly.  Some ideas to feed include apple, orange, banana, pear, cooked potato, carrots, brocolli, peas in pod, tomatoes, soaked channa/dhal.

(c) Sprouted seeds and beans

(d) An occasional piece of animal protein such as a cooked chicken bone with a little meat on it or a little piece of cheese.

(e) UNSALTED Nuts such as walnuts, peanuts in the shell, hazelnuts.  Please note that nuts are fattening and should be fed sparingly as a snack.

Please note that Avocado and Chocolate are POISONOUS to parrots and should not be given to them under any circumstances.

We hope that this has helped you understand that dietary requirements of your pet parrot.  Please do indepth research before making the commitment to take care of one.

For more information, please speak to your veterinarian.

Should I get a cute small furry pet dog?

We've all fallen in love at some point with a cute little furry puppy.  If you've seen one, you've probably exclaimed "Oh how cute! I want one!!"  They really are quite adorable to have as companions, but there are a few considerations to be met before a decision is made to acquire one as a pet.

The main points to be made here seek to make you aware of the fact that (1) these dogs are quite "high maintenance", requiring a great deal of time commitment and (2) they live longer than their larger breed counterparts so the commitment is for a longer period of time.

It is a fact that longer fur would become tangled easily and quickly.  Therefore, owners must be aware that brushing daily is a must.  The fur around the eyes sometimes grows enough to physically irritate the eyeballs and cause medical complications.  Even with daily brushing, grooming (trimming of the fur) should be done at least every 3 months.   If these duties are not performed, and the fur is allowed to tangle, it eventually becomes matted.  At this stage it can no longer be brushed, the dog will suffer from added heat stress, generalized discomfort and skin irritation that may lead to redness or even bruising.

With longer fur dogs it is much more difficult to observe ticks and fleas on the skin.  These parasites hide more easily, causing skin irritation and transmitting diseases.  Unless the dog is brushed everyday and the skin examined everyday, the problem will not be noticed until they are already so copious in number that treatment becomes more complicated and difficult.

Purebred small dogs are not widespread in our country.  Because of this and their high demand, breeders often inbreed (females and males that are related are lined to produce offspring).  These can lead to birth defects and malformations in the puppies that are produced and can also make them more susceptible to other problems such as skin rashes.

Breeders also sometimes line purebred small females with slightly larger males, creating a cute little puppy that would eventually grow up to be larger than expected.  In this case the cute puppy fur may even change with age to something the owners never desired and these pups may become abandoned or ill-treated.  Also, owners of the small breed female will encounter problems if a larger male accidentally lines with her.  In some cases, the pups will be too large to be delivered vaginally and a c-section will have to be performed which would be costly.  If the dog goes into labour and encounters difficulty and too much time passes before a c-section is performed, the pups may die in the mother and she herself may become ill.

Smaller breed dogs live longer than larger breed dogs.  Because of this they are more likely to experience medical issues associated with age, such as breast cancer.  The likelihood of dealing with this problem reduces significantly if the female is spayed before her first heat cycle, but most times owners are not aware of this and spaying is done later in life, if at all, when it no longer helps to prevent the condition.

Lastly, the temperament of the breed must be considered.  Some small dogs are as lovable and cuddly as they look.  However, a lot of them are quite noisy, barking at seemingly nothing.  At times, this causes problems with neighbours or even family members who may complain about the noise.  They sometimes become aggressive and territorial as well, so they may not be suitable for children.  Keep in mind that not all are aggressive, and part of this behaviour may be attributed to their upbringing.

The purpose of this blog is not to deter you from your dream of owning a cuddly little companion, but rather to make you aware of the commitment you are making by bringing some points to your attention that you may or may not have been aware of.  For any further advice please feel free to contact your veterinarian.

Importance of Spaying

Most dog owners are of the impression that the only reason for spaying is to prevent pregnancy.  However, there other reasons to consider.  Spaying involves the removal of the ovaries which release reproductive hormones that control the heat cycle.  Therefore, the decision to spay your female dog may be based on the benefits associated with removal of this hormone control.

The removal of the heat cycle directly reduces the possibility of breast cancer later in life especially if the surgery is done before the animal's first heat.  To achieve this, spaying can be scheduled as early as 5 months of age.

The procedure prevents the possibility of another relatively common reproductive condition called pyometra, which refers to an infection in the uterus that can become life threatening if left untreated, or if treated too late.

In homes where animals who are related are kept together, spaying removes the possibility of inbreeding.

Another reason for spaying deals with unwanted male attention.  Even if a yard is secure and there are no males on the premises, a female in heat can attract males outside the gate/fence that may harass her, make unwanted noise or even fight and become aggressive.

Once the decision is made to have your female spayed, it is recommended that an appointment should be made when the dog is not in heat.  If, however, you have already decided to spay and the dog went into heat and you are adamant you do not want a litter of pups then the surgery may be carried out at a slightly higher fee due to the increased difficulty of the procedure.  Opting to carry out the procedure while in heat, while not routinely recommended, still ensures that no accidental pregnancy and hence no unwanted puppies are produced.  Talk to your vet about the right approach to your situation.

When your appointment is set, it is important to understand and follow the pre and post surgery instructions set by your vet, since disregard for these instructions may result in unnecessary life threatening consequences.

Before surgery, your vet will recommend that you fast your pet from food for a certain number of hours.  If disobeyed, your pet may vomit while under anesthesia and can suffocate.  So even though it may be difficult to intentionally withhold food, it is crucial.

After surgery, your pet must be confined to a kennel and rested until stitches are due to be removed.  If not, your pet's normal level of activity may cause stitches to burst, internal structures to protrude, and may cause death in severe cases.  If your pet is seen biting at the stitches or kicking it incessantly, a cone shaped E collar should be put on.

It is important to follow post op care such as cleaning of the wound and application of topical medications and tablets since this would ensure quick healing time.  Do not give your pet any human drugs such as pain killers or any other medications that were not prescribed.  In the event of any concerns or abnormal findings please contact your vet as soon as possible.

Tick and Flea Control

Ticks and fleas are nuisances that seem to be frustrating for both pets and their owners. Aside from the obvious need to eradicate them based on their unsightly nature, there are a number of reasons to address tick and flea infestations.

Often times, the first indication of an infestation is the incessant itching it causes. Dogs and cats alike would start to spend the majority of time scratching and in severe cases biting at their skin. More careful inspection would reveal the presence of ticks, fleas or both. They would even be seen in the environment, thriving in cracks in walls, floors and even in bedding.

Once an infestation is detected there are a number of reasons to consider eradication. Both ticks and fleas suck blood and in high numbers they can cause anaemia.  They also cause great discomfort to pets,  transmit diseases, fleas transmit intestinal tapeworms that cause pets to not thrive & cause scooting  (rubbing the anus on the ground to relieve itching) and pet owners can get flea and tick bites, resulting in skin rashes.

Ticks and fleas spend time on their hosts,  our cats and dogs,  drinking blood. Engorged females then drop off and lay their eggs in the environment. Once hatched they seek a host to start the cycle all over again.  It is therefore crucial that eradication efforts target not only our pets but their environment as well. 

It is recommended that your pet be treated,  and at the same time your yard,  kennel and environs be treated once weekly for a month.  The chemicals that are used for the environment do not kill eggs.  By repeat spraying over the period of a month, newly hatched larvae will be killed and the cycle will be broken.

When treating pets,  a number of options exist which must be considered before you can make the right decision for your situation. 

Flea collars may be used which gradually release pesticides to kill adult ticks and fleas on the animal. They are economical but not very effective against heavy infestations.

Shampoos and soaps are used by some owners, but they seem totally ineffective.  Physical removal of the ticks and fleas is not practical for fast moving fleas and cause skin damage for ticks whose mouthparts are embedded in the hosts' flesh.

Chemical concentrates to be added to water and applied topically are effective and affordable.  However they are poisonous and may cause toxic effects and even death in animals if mixed too strongly and have no residual effect when used correctly,  meaning the parasites present on the host at the time of application are killed but new parasites are not prevented.

The safest treatment is the application of commercial preparations of Fipronil (found in Frontline, Proline and a couple other brands).  It is a bit more costly but worth the investment since it provides residual protection against the parasites once used correctly.  It may be purchased in one of two forms: a spray to be applied to the entire body or a "topspot" presented as a vial of liquid to be emptied on the skin between the animal's shoulder blades.

In households with more than one animal, it is recommended to treat all animals once an infestation is present, even if one animal appears to be more affected than the others. Also, if both dogs and cats are present it is important to note that dogs can transfer ticks to cats and that cats an transmit fleas to dogs.

It is important to note that the chemicals used to treat ticks and fleas on your pet and in the environment are poisonous and some precautions must be taken:

(1) Do not use chemicals meant for the environment alone on your pet.

(2) Do not mix chemicals for your pet or the environment any stronger than recommended. 

(3) Ensure that chemicals are stored away from children and pets in clearly labeled containers. 

(4) Do not use chemicals more frequently than recommended. 

(5) Do not use chemicals in powder form on pets or in their environment as it is much harder to uniformly dilute or apply.

(6) Do not use chemicals meant for a particular species of animal in one that it was not cleared for use on. (A chemical meant for dogs may be harmful to cats).

(7) If any adverse reactions to chemicals are observed (increased salivation or frothing, seizures,  vomiting, lethargy) contact your vet immediately. 

For further information or advice on tick and flea control please contact us at Aminalz Vet Clinic by sending us a private Facebook message or by calling us at 474-9750 or 693-1721