Blog | Wendywood Veterinary Hospital

The Geriatric Pet

The advancements in veterinary medicine, the quality of scientifically formulated pet foods, the increase in devoted ownership and modern city dwellings where animals are far more restricted has improved the longevity of companion animals to

Canine Good Citizenship

A “canine good citizen” is a well-behaved dog, around people, as well as amongst other dogs, at home and in public. Everyone should want to own or strive for the nature of such a companion

Principles Of Home-Schooling Dogs

In the enormous number of behaviour consultations I attend to on a monthly basis the majority of the problems in pets is based on the lack of structured schooling in the early impressionable years which

Phobic Dogs And The Owners' Roll

An alarming percentage of city dog owners complain to veterinarians regularly about the phobic panic behaviour exhibited by their pets during thunderstorms and fireworks displays. Thunderstorms are obviously the most severe and frequent in the

Establishing Leadership Over A Dog And Modifying Behaviour Without Force

What most people desire is the ability to influence their dogs to eagerly perform acceptable behaviour patterns by showing positive leadership skills without expressing dominance or control over all types of resources. We might want

It Takes A Family To Raise A Pup

When a family takes on the raising of a puppy it is not a simple process. Puppies are complex, highly impressionable creatures with a very short window period wherein the best possible effects can be

Doggie Day Care

Dog day-care centre or puppy crèche are not really novel concepts internationally but a time has arisen in this country for considering the implementation of these necessary facilities for the owners of canine companions. There

Benefits Of Crate Training Puppies

Crate training is not a novel concept in dogdom yet it is a highly important, underestimated, underutilised and fundamental education system for a long-term and short-term practical benefit for pet owners and their dogs. Many

Dogs That Pull And Lunge On Leash

It has often been found humorous, yet disconcerting, by people in-the-know watching a dog take its owner for a walk. It is also found to be humorous by ignorant pet owners when they see dogs

Puppy Basic Coping Skills

Every puppy and every pup owner should complete a basic course of training so that the ten to sixteen year relationship is based on mutual understanding, meaningful communication and the animal has the required life

The Behavioural Effects and Health Benefits of Castrating Dogs

Castration is the same surgical procedure as neutering or sterilization where both testes are removed. In technical terms it is referred to as an orchidectomy and is a minor operation carried out only by a

Bitchiness (Rivalry between female dogs is very serious business!)

The conflict between two rival bitches meets all the definitions that this term, bitchiness, describes which is being “bad-tempered” or “spiteful”. Although this word does not exist in the Oxford dictionary it is used as

Much Ado About Nothing

From the experiences and perspectives of reputable canine obedience instructors, animal behaviourists and veterinary ethologists one of the most difficult messages to communicate to dog owners as a basic rule of human-canine interaction is to

Pocket Money Pets

In this category one considers rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, mice and hamsters which parents often bestow upon children as a foundation and grooming in the pet-owning responsibilities department. These creatures are mostly regarded in nature

Introducing a second dog to a single dog household

Often a situation arises where a dog owning family or single pet person decides to introduce a friend for companionship. Reasons may include the readiness of the person in charge to acquire a second responsibility;

Does your dog come to you when it is called

Dogs That Jump Up At People

Any dog that jumps up at people is regarded as having bad manners, is a downright irritation and has never been recognized by its owner as a public nuisance. In most cases the individual dog

Bite Inhibition

Bite inhibition is a very modern term, used initially in veterinary behaviour circles, for a learnt or inherent ability in a pup to bite an opponent without inflicting damage. The opponent may be another animal

Dogs Eating and Begging at the Table

It will always remain a sensitive personal and social issue when dogs are found loitering around, begging or eating at the breakfast, lunch or dinner table. As recent as five decades ago it was almost

Pet Urban Legends

Mutt myths and feline fables abound in society. Are urban legends so mysterious and anthropomorphic that they are accepted as gospel above scientific proof? It seems so easy for people to believe nonsense above common

Heat-related stress with pet dogs

When a subject such as heat-related stress is raised, concerning companion animals, one has to specify and confirm that the heat referred to is by no means the attractiveness of a bitch in season, or

Teaching Pets Life Skills

Puppy socialization classes has been in the media and on the lips of everyone involved in canine activities for over two decades. While those pet owners who fail to socialize, let alone train, their dogs

The hierarchy system of dogs

Dogs live in a linear hierarchy system similar to army rankings or the human caste system of certain cultures. Dogs are, instinctively, not adapted to the democratic approach meted out by most pet owners. Doting

What it involves in being white

White animals seem to engender an aesthetic attraction of purity and cleanliness amongst pet owners. Nature does bestow on white animals an alarming beauty. Lovely to look at these animals are, by nature, absent of

Pets As Social Catalysts

Very few people fail to respond in an emotional way to the approach, presence or playful antics of a friendly companion animal. An interesting social phenomenon is the effect pet animals frequently have on the

Canine Car Companion

There are numerous considerations when travelling around with your canine companion in your vehicle –it could be a prized pooch as a passenger in a Porsche or a “brakkie” locked up at the back of

Cats are not small dogs

There is an impression that cats are nothing more than small dogs when it comes to the public consideration for nutritional requirements, behaviour and medication. Although cats and dogs are both carnivores, cats are at

Picking Up A Stray Dog

When any dog is noticed wandering in the street or on the pavement there are numerous factors to be taken in to serious consideration. Are you driving in a rabies endemic area? Will the dog

Animal Behaviour Charlatans

Over the past three decades there has been an emergence of a wide variety of animal behaviour and animal-related charlatans. There used to be a national roving dog psychologist who diagnosed every behaviour disorder of

Disease Prevention in Aviaries

In order to prevent disease and death amongst birds kept under high density in aviaries the aviculturist needs to understand certain basic principles of how the avian species falls ill and the best way to

What Dog Owners Do to Make Their Pets Aggressive

There is one characteristic that prevails with canine aggression and that is people lack the knowledge and ability to communicate effectively with dogs. The constant miscommunication is unfortunate considering that man has lived alongside their

Hamsters

Hamsters originate from Syria and other parts of the Middle East where their existence is threatened by destruction of their habitat and predation by owls. In the Middle East they are known as the “originator

The Lifestyle of the Modern Pet

The rate at which the human population is expanding in cities throughout the country has created a high density development bonanza. While property developers, architects, architectural designers and builders are reaping the harvest pets are

No-Kill is a No-Care, No-Brain Animal Welfare Policy

Intermittently one reads or hears an animal welfare organization, particularly the new kids on the block with politically correct intentions, claiming to have a no-kill policy. Any organization making this claim is doing it purely

Pigs may be Disgruntled but cannot be taken for Grunted

Pigs, as individuals and as a species, have an enormous number of people and cultures who detest them or adore them. While most pigs are observed from a distance and there is a common slanted

The Rabbit – An exotic pet with behaviour problems

The rabbit is a species which has, traditionally, been regarded as a suitable pet for children. The rabbit has subsequently proved to be accepted and appreciated by all ages and has even been utilized as

Pets best suited for high density dwellings

Pets best suited for living in townhouse, cluster complexes, apartments. The steady progressive contemporary migration of people into high-density dwellings over the past four to five decades for reasons of practicality, security, economics and spatial deprivation

Introducing a new cat to a resident cat

There is no guaranteed formula in predicting how a resident cat will respond to the introduction of a new cat. When the idea is first considered one has to understand numerous factors that may play

Sounds sensitive hounds

Sound sensitivity is one of the most alarming phobias experienced by dogs and their owners. How far back in the modern human-animal relationship this goes, no one knows. Although dogs have an incredible hearing ability

Does your dog come to you when it is called?

People often complain to their veterinarian, pet-groom, kennel owner, dog trainer or personal friend that they cannot understand why their pet will not respond to their call by using a command or the name. Come

Can you handle your dog?

One of the basic ingredients for a positive owner-dog relationship recipe is compatibility. Being able to handle your dog. This implies a broader concept and application of being in harmony with the type of environment, other

Acquiring two puppies at the same time

A new pup is one of the most irresistible creatures and experiences imaginable. Only a cold, hard heart does not get all mushy over puppy’s expressions, habits, soft pink puppy pads, puppy breath and the

How to introduce dogs to each other

Owning more than one dog is regarded as pack ownership. More than one dog in the pack automatically creates an instinctive hierarchy system where rules of leadership come in to play. Dominance may be exhibited

How to manage food and feeding dogs

Carnivores may be cooperative hunters but are certainly not cooperative feeders. There are no friends where food is concerned. Take any two dogs on the planet, place them in a confined area, offer them food

How to make the driveway safe for dogs

Learn how to make the driveway safe for dogs and cats. The design of modern homes allows for driveways to be a dog’s main limited visual access to the outside world. The gate, whether manual

How to introduce a new baby to the dogs

Preparing your dog for the eventuality of an introduction to a new baby begins long before baby arrives. It begins when the dog is 8 weeks old and with puppy socialization classes.Any single person contemplating

Doctor Platzhund’s Pet Pointers:

A practical guide to human / animal interaction

Author: Dr Platzhund (Dr Melvyn Greenberg)

Sponsored by: Scientific Veterinary Diets (SVD)

In aid of: South African Guide Dog Association

A must have for all new pet owners from South Africa’s first and only Specialist Veterinary Ethologist (Specialist in Animal Behaviour).

From housetraining and litter-training to car chasing and scent-marking. You’ll find the basics on human and animal interaction, why animals behave the way they do and how to manage it.

Proceeds from the sale of this book will be donated to the South African Guide Dog Association.

ISBN: 0-620-22277-8
Price: R50.00
Available at reception.

Telephone: 011 802 1164/5

Address:
90 Cavendish Street
Cnr Western Service Road
Wendywood
Sandton

PO Box 178, Wendywood, 2144

Hours:
Monday – Friday:
Reception: 8am – 6pm
Consulting: 8am – 12pm and 3pm – 6pm (First come first served)
House Calls by appointment or in Emergency, at a fee.
Saturday:
8am – 12pm
Sunday and Public Holidays:
10am – 12pm

Emergency numbers out of normal consulting hours:

Fourways: 011 705 3411
Bryanston: 011 706 6023
Ridgemall: 011 792 6442
Parklands: 011 788 4748