Author: team dotsure.co.za

South Africa’s been on a high ever since the 18^th of September 2018, when the private use of dagga was legalised. Social media has been buzzing, and opinions spreading like weeds.

Here are some quick facts on marijuana:

• Marijuana comes from the dried flowering tops, leaves, stems, and seeds of the Cannabis sativa (hemp) plant.
• Humans have used marijuana for hundreds of years for fiber (hemp), seed oils, seed, medical treatment, and recreationally.
• Marijuana plants contain 80 different cannabinoids, including THC (tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive component) and CBD (cannabidiol, the medical component).
• The most common way to take marijuana is to smoke it but it can also be baked into food (edibles), such as brownies or cookies, or brewed as a tea.
• Some people use medical marijuana to treat chronic pain, muscle spasticity, anorexia, nausea, and sleep disturbances.
• Some of the common discomforts found when using marijuana include dry mouth, swollen eyelids, bloodshot eyes, loss of coordination, and an accelerated heart rate.

So, we’ve established there are some risks and rewards. But we need to know a bit more…

To feed or not to feed?

Since it’s now legal to use and grow dagga at home, what happens when your four-legged friends ingest the “herb”? Whether you use it for medical reasons or recreationally, is it safe to be sharing your “greens” with your fur-friends? Let’s investigate…

The effects of cannabis on pets

First things first, let’s ask the simple question of whether cannabis has the same effects on pets as on humans?

Our research shows that, just like us humans, dogs can also get “high” from ingesting marijuana depending on the amount of THC in the product. It is also dependent on the size of the dog and the amount of cannabis consumed. Ingesting marijuana could cause your doggie to become paranoid, sleepy, have problems with their breathing, drop in their blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythms, loss of balance or problems managing their bladders.

Although no human has died from an overdose of marijuana, it can be life threatening if your pooch ingests too much. If you suspect an overdose, take your fur-kid to the vet immediately. An overdose can be identified by hyperactive, disorientated and unusual behaviour. Your pup’s pupils will also be dilated, and excessive drooling might appear.

According to Dr. Gary Richter, medical director of Montclair Veterinary Hospital in California,

life-threatening risks for dogs from medical cannabis are exceedingly rare. Richter says that toxicity more often occurs when a pet has eaten an “edible” product of marijuana that also contains chocolate, coffee, or raisins. “Even if the THC toxicity is not excessive, they can sometimes have problems due to these other ingredients.” Like any medications, overdosing can lead to potential risks for pets. “The most significant is THC toxicity, meaning, essentially, they are high,” Richter says. That said, ingestion of large amounts of marijuana has been fatal in a number of dogs so preventing overdoses with medical cannabis is still extremely important, warns Dr. Jennifer Coates, a veterinary advisor with petMD.

Any benefits of cannabis for dogs?

Feeding your doggo weed brownies isn’t a great idea. You know sugar and chocolate isn’t good for dogs and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) can have negative effects on your pup’s health. Moderate amounts of cannabidiol (CBD) however can be great for treating dogs with anxiety, arthritis, cancer and other common health conditions.  It’s better than other pain medication and doesn’t damage the kidney, liver and GI tract.

Please note: Consult a qualified vet before you give your doggo cannabis.

Final thought

The use of marijuana carries risks and rewards in both humans and our four-legged friends. What we do know is that it’s best not to feed your canine companion any sweet treats containing marijuana. You should in fact never feed your pets anything with elevated levels of sugar and cocoa. If your dog suffers from medical conditions, medical cannabis can be a great alternative medication but it’s important to consult your vet before you give them medical cannabis. Your vet knows best! Also keep in mind that data regarding marijuana products for pets is still very limited.

We’d like to hear your thoughts on this topic. Hit us up on social media.

Animals serve us in so many way ways, from providing companionship and protection to sustenance and direction. How can we return the gesture? By treating them right and recognising their rights.

Being kind is nothing new, right?

Nope, it’s not a new idea. Ancient Greek and Roman philosophers promoted kindness to animals way back when, and science later added its insight to the idea when Charles Darwin published “On the Origin of Species” in 1859. We are not merely sharing the earth with our furry, scaly and feathery friends, Darwin proved; we are genetically related to them.

A gradual but global movement

It has taken the rest of the world some time to cotton on to the fact that non-humans also have feelings and vulnerabilities and deserve basic rights, but we’re getting there.

International principals on animal welfare are constantly being assessed and updated and countries across the world are responding positively, if slowly.

What’s in a word?

A lot, if you’re talking legalese. Here’s a glimpse of the progress different legal systems have made in the way we perceive and define animals:

1822 – Parliament passes an act to prevent the “Cruel and Improper Treatment of Cattle” making the United Kingdom the first country in the world to implement a law protecting animals.
Germany, Switzerland, France and Sweden follow with their own versions in due course.

1911 – the United Kingdom passes its first general animal protection law, the Protection of Animals act. A slew of more specific acts (e.g. cockfighting) have since been passed in the country.

1962 – South Africa passes its animal protection law. The law has not been updated since.

1992 –Switzerland sees animals as ‘beings’ rather than ‘things’, a major shift in its national consciousness and its constitution.

2002 – Germany is the first European Union (EU) country to give every animal the legal right to be respected and have their dignity protected[1].

2014 – France is the first country to recognise animals as sentient beings (not property).

2015 – Quebec, Canada, also legally endorses animals as sentient beings (not goods).

2016 – Colombia legally endorses animals as sentient beings (not possession).

Here’s a map from World Animal Protection that shows how each country develops animal welfare, protects animals using legislation, and recognises animals’ emotional and cognitive abilities. You can compare one country against another, overall, or drill down into the nitty gritty. For example, how does Spain treat animals in captivity or kept for scientific research, how stringent are Brazil’s laws against animal suffering, how well is Japan reporting on progress in animal welfare? Which country is better at what?

Find out here: Animal Protection Index

How animal-friendly is South Africa (really)?

South Africa hasn’t legally recognised animals as sentient (yet), but we have many dedicated independent, non-profit animal welfare organisations at work in the country.  South African Police Services and the National Council of the Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA) are legally active on behalf of animals and often collaborate, on the ground and in the courtroom, to protect animal rights. The law is outdated, however, and what we have is largely open to interpretation.

Section 2.1 of the Animal Protection Act 1962 says that causing animals “unnecessary suffering” (includes terrifying and infuriating them) is punishable with fines, imprisonment, confiscation and banning animal ownership. It can be hard to understand an animal, thought, even if it’s your best friend. This article on a dog’s body language might reveal some surprises. Oddly enough, as much as you love your koi, the act does not extend to fish (anywhere) or, for a country so supportive of conservation, to wild animals in their natural habitat. That said, the South African National Standards – an evolving guide which supports the act – addresses zoos, aquaria, transport of animals as well as care and use of animals for scientific purposes.

What can you do to support animal welfare?

Improving animal care at every level of society is a big job that takes individual and collective energy.

As an individual, you can:

• help encourage best practise by supporting organisations that care for animals, be it your local shelter or a rhino orphanage.
• volunteer to walk doggies awaiting adoption, or cuddle kitties awaiting new homes.
• stay up to date with animal rights news and get involved in public events, rallies and marches
• become an online animal rights advocate by sharing respectful, non-graphic, age-appropriate and factually-accurate news about animal rights campaigns. (To help you gauge how genuine an article is, check out how to tell fake news from the real thing and its handy tools here).

Mike Baker, CEO of World Animal Protection says, “governments must take action to protect animals and to recognise that the welfare of animals is inextricably linked to people health.”

In a democracy like ours, government is guided by its citizens. As an engaged voter, you can:

• put pressure on people in power to support animal rights and welfare,
• encourage council members in your district and region to focus on animal rights in their work,
• find out the positions of the various political parties on animal rights and welfare and put your cross where it’ll make the most difference to the cause.

Dogs are more than humanity’s best friend. Did you know that certain service dogs can be of great help for people dealing with clinical depression?

Dogs are more than humanity’s best friend – they’re indispensable to our lives.  Working dogs come in all shapes and sizes, doing everything from rescuing hurricane victims to guiding visually challenged people through the streets and comforting kids with cancer.

Did you know that certain service dogs are officially recognised by the medical profession as a support for people dealing with clinical depression? Once a qualified mental health professional has diagnosed a human patient with depression, a dog can be ‘prescribed’ as part of the treatment.

What do you mean, depression?

Life is full of adventures, ups and downs, and while we may suffer defeats, like losing a job or a relationship breakup, we usually recover after a time. For some people, just waking up is difficult and it’s difficult every time. Those with the condition suffer a range of tricky symptoms from persistent and overpowering anxiety to disabling antipathy and emotional instability, sleep loss, lethargy, disillusion, self-loathing and low self-esteem. Trauma, abuse and neglect can contribute to the condition. Depression compromises one’s ability to work and play but luckily it is medically recognised and treatable. If you have been medically diagnosed with depression, a dog may be just what the doctor ordered!

What do you mean, ‘prescribed’?

It’s not only pills that can be prescribed to help a human get well. Pooches can be, too. Dogs help humans with mental and emotional struggles in three ways:

1. Therapy animals – help comfort patients in places like hospitals and schools.
2. Psychiatric service animals – specially trained dogs who help humans whose mental state puts them in danger or prohibits them from leading a normal life.
3. Emotional Support Animal (ESA)– these dogs are officially recognised and recommended by a medical professional. They provide companionship and comfort. Although they have no special training they are an amazing support for patients with clinically-recognised depression.

How Emotional Support dogs help with depression

• Having a dog means it needs feeding, exercising, and grooming. Regularly. Their presence helps instil structure and structure can help facilitate recovery.
• Having an ESA makes a person feel necessary, important and loved. The pooch can’t fetch groceries, drive to the vet or open the door alone, after all, and we all know the power of a good canine cuddle. The responsibility of caring for a canine can help a human feel more empowered, and its company can help a patient feel less isolated.
• Having a service dog of this sort can have a positive effect on a person’s health. Petting a dog lowers blood pressure and heart rate, and releases a feel-good chemical called oxytocin; walking a dog regulates metabolism which can improve one’s psychological outlook.

But Can a dog get depressed?

Oh yes. It goes both ways, and upbringing and environment have a lot to do with it. Just like humans, doggies can experience trauma from neglect or abuse, and they have brains prone to chemical imbalance, too. If you notice your hound has lost her appetite, lost interest in playing and sighs a lot, she might be depressed. She might also be physically ill, so…

Get to a vet for a clear diagnosis quick-quick.  If your pup is more bored than borderline, there are a few simple ways to raise her happiness quota and yours.

• Get social. On the ground, not online. Dogs are pack animals and need community. If you can’t keep more than one at home, regular visits to the park to sniff and bark and make new tail-wagging friends can help. You might also make new friends of your own species!
• Don’t leave your hounds home alone all day – that might result in separation anxiety, boredom and infighting. Get a trusted neighbour to visit with treats to break the monotony, a dog sitter to take them walkies on leash, or a family member with free time to keep an eye on them and toss a toy or two. There are also various toys and tools to help with boredom.
• Take them walking/running daily, cuddle them as often as you can, affirm their presence and contribution with your voice and hand signals, and give them clear boundaries through consistent training.
• Feed them the right food.

What other conditions can dogs help with?

Dogs can help humans facing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Schizophrenia, anxiety, Bipolar Disorder, suicidal tendencies and phobias. In all instances it is essential that a qualified medical practitioner give an accurate and verifiable diagnosis.

It’s World Rhino Day! Today we celebrate one of Africa’s most majestic animals and raise awareness about the brutal massacre of these limited-edition giants. African rhinos have been poached at the shocking rate of three a day and it’s only getting worse. Thousands of innocent rhinos have endured attacks with terrifying endings.

Poachers are everywhere these days. Luckily some pay for their brutal behaviour. According to News 24 a police constable from Mpumalanga and six other suspects (some former police officers) were arrested on the 18^th of September for allegedly being behind the “massive trafficking” of rhino horn poaching. Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said that during the swoop members found and confiscated luxury vehicles and motorbikes, trucks, an undisclosed amount of money, animal skins, properties, lots of suspected stolen items which include amongst others; trailers, generators and various electronic equipment.

3 Agendas behind rhino poaching

Rhinos are slaughtered for the following reasons:

1. Money Monsters

You could have guessed it! The reason behind every cruel act is usually money. Money makes monsters out of people.  A Rhino horn is similar to the street price of cocaine in the UK. There have been reports of prices as high as US$ 50 000 for a KG of rhino horn. That’s insane!

2. Sexual Satisfaction

There is a belief in Western countries that rhino horn is used as an aphrodisiac and sexual stimulant. This however is far from the truth and has been misinterpreted by the Western media. To be honest, it does NOTHING for your intimate encounters.

3. Traditional Medicine

There has been a recent surge in demand for rhino horn in Vietnam, where it is being advertised as a hangover cure and treatment for terminal illnesses plus many more uses.

Some shocking stats about Rhino poaching:

Will our next World Rhino Day be a Memorial Day?

If we don’t stand up for our rhinos, this time next year we might only see rhinos in pictures. Luckily, the International Coalition of Rhino Protection (ICORP) is hard at work to protect Africa’s iconic animals. ICORP is an awesome non-profit organization who is currently establishing a Counter-Poaching Unit at the SanWild Wildlife Sanctuary in South Africa to stand between wildlife and the criminal poaching gangs. The organization consists of a group of people who risk their lives to patrol and protect rhinos, elephants and big cats from poachers. ICORP is also dedicated to law enforcement, research, education and the training of service dogs to help track rhino slaughters down.

How can I help? 

You can volunteer at ICORP. Find the details by clicking here: VOLUNTEER

OR

Donate and make your contribution towards the training of dogs for tracking down poachers.

Click here: DONATE

“It is every man’s obligation to put back into the world at least the equivalent of what he takes out of it.” ―Albert Einstein

Emigrating with your pets? It’s a big move that involves more than finding a safe, comfortable carrier. Read our guide and be prepared.

Is it best for your babies?

Relocation is a huge change. It can be exciting and alarming, and it’s important to weigh up the pros and cons for pets. You want them with you, but is it best for your babies? Consider the:

Emotional cost

Moving without warning or explanation can be traumatic for an animal. The psychological strain of a big and unexplained change could have a lasting effect on their well-being. They may think you’ve abandoned them and fear for their lives. And then there’s all the other dogs and cats in the carrier hold, and these strange humans in uniform who keep saying hello kindly. That said, thousands of pets are transported safely every year and adjust to homes in new countries and climates with ease. Young or adult animals are resilient and adaptable and generally manage the translocation without long-term effects. Especially if you prepare them well in advance (more on this further down).

Physical cost

While healthy individuals usually manage, ill or much older animals may travel less easily. That’s because older dogs tend to be less adaptable and take more physical strain. Care should be taken with the decision to relocate them. A check-up at the vet can help you decide; tell your trusted animal doctor that you’re thinking of relocating your pet abroad and ask for a medical assessment to help make the choice.

Quarantine time

Some countries require animals from South Africa to be held in quarantine for a time till the authorities are sure they aren’t carrying any diseases (especially rabies). This could be days, weeks or months[1]. Will your cat be okay surrounded by strangers and so many other displaced and confused felines for six weeks? Will you be able to visit your old boy at the holding facility/pet hotel? The answers might help you with the decision.

Other considerations: financial cost

While your pets are priceless, emigrating and relocating are not cheap. Taking your furry, scaly or feathery friends along is no exception. Import permits, paperwork, agents, travel equipment, flight tickets, custom fees, taxes like VAT-on-arrival, insurance – it all adds up. Research the likely cash outlays for the country you’re going to so that you aren’t surprised by hidden costs that could jeopardize your plans. And remember that cheaper does not necessarily mean better. International travel is complicated and you want the best service providers on board.

TIP: if your animal is a registered companion, emotional support or service animal, it may reduce or cancel the government tariffs.

A year before

Check if the destination country will allow pets from South Africa, and if they do, what they require. You can usually search for this on the respective government’s website. There is no single resource for each country’s rules and no timeline, either. Pet carriers, for example, frequently contact embassies and consulates for the latest and last-minute changes.

Visit the vet to find out more. S/he can provide your Veterinary Health Certificate and advise on other requirements like inoculations, microchips, rabies antibodies (RNATT). “Make sure you get the right microchip for the country to which you will be moving,” says We Move Pets, “since the radio frequencies and encryption codes vary.” In some instances, vaccinations need to date back up to a year.

Initiate regular changes of location, scenery and company, with frequent and appropriate visits to new environments and people. Why? Because while they travel abroad, your animals will deal with all of these… without you. For your rat, it might be a “holiday home” in the next room; for your kitty, a fortnight at your best friend (who doesn’t have dogs, right?). For your doggles, a weekend at the kennels once in a while will help adjust to the unfamiliar. Are your furry friends okay with nice strangers feeding them? Will your kitty be prepared to poop on travel-approved litter?

Three to Six months before

Identify a qualified agent to help. For a fee, a Pet Travel Expert can help you with the paperwork and administration like State Vet Endorsements, flight bookings, airline documents and Veterinary documentation, with customs clearance services, kennelling and delivery. Ask your vet to recommend the right one, and/or look for those with IPATA membership . That’s Independent Pet and Animal Transportation International – a global organisation that supports the humane transport of animals. Yes, you could do it all yourself, but, as Friends of the Dog point out, this “could well result in your pet being sent back to the country of origin due to incorrect paper work”.

With the help of your agent, choose your travel dates and type. Many airlines will not take pets during very hot or cold months. This is for the pets’ well-being.

NOTE: Many airlines will only take pets through registered, certified Intermediate Air Carriers (IACs)/pet shipper.  

Find a pet shipper you’re happy with. The agent can probably advise or supply the pet transporter service directly, but be sure to #CheckTheRep with friends, on social media, and on consumer watchdog websites like Hello Peter. You could also visit the company’s headquarters and find out what your pets will experience. Make friends there – they’ll be looking after your best friends when you can’t, after all!

Remember, professional pet shippers:

• do not make the rules
• do not fly the plane
• do not control the weather (or flight delays!)

but they do everything else they possibly can to protect your pets every step of the way, like finding the shortest route with the most reliable airline.

Collaborate with your chosen pet transport company to install an IATA-approved pet box (to be used during the international travel) at home. It can help your animal become accustomed to the crate container that s/he will travel in. If your pets are mammals, keep old clothes that smell like you inside to create positive associations. This familiar ‘outer shell’ will help calm them in transit.

TIP: Go for quality for your precious pet. This excellent slide show demonstrates why…

3 weeks before

Make a vet appointment to get a pet passport – a verified record of vaccinations and health – and other paperwork.

IMPORTANT: some documents’ dates need to be within 2 weeks of the departure date. Check with your agent on this to avoid last-minute rushes that stress you out.

3 days before

Give your pets lots of exercise. They’re going to be cooped up in a climate-controlled, pressurised aeroplane hold …with very little room and no in-flight exercise, which equals stiffness and cramps. Adequate exercise in the days prior will also help them relax more quickly on the plane.

REMEMBER: Healthy, well-adjusted animals are designed to adjust to new environments once they’ve realised it is safe. Depending on their character, and their definition of “safe” (flights can be noisy, other animal smells can be scary) they will usually settle down soon after take-off. Hold thumbs for no turbulence.

On the day

Explain the process to your pets. They may not understand but you’ll be calmer talking through the steps and they’ll respond to your calmness.

Do not feed them before dispatching them to the carrier. They can eat later when they’ve calmed down. Not nice to start a journey with a tummy ache or vomit-in-the-box…

Consult your vet about medication to keep your pets calm on the trip. Many resources suggest that tranquilisation is not safe. Trust a professional opinion on this important issue.

LAST-MINUTE TIP: easy way to get pets into the travel box? Place them with their rear facing the box opening. Close your hands over their eyes, nose and mouth and push them backwards… straight into the crate! Clever pets will be onto you long before, so also consider the “naughty snackies” trick – put their favourite food inside the travel box, and when they succumb to the temptation, quietly and quickly secure them in.

On the other side

If you can’t be there, customs and vet clearance can be overseen by a professional. A good pet travel expert will organise a qualified local to meet-and-greet on the other side and oversee vet examinations and more, which is especially helpful if it’s a country whose language you do not speak.

More detailed advice in this article from Friends of the Dog.

Earlier this year, two fishermen, filmed and carried out a brutal attack on an innocent seal! Why, you may ask? We ask the same question. What human, whether you love animals or not, would commit such a heinous crime…because it is a crime!

Did you know?

Seals are naturally curious, they have super expressive eyes and are highly intelligent animals. Just like us, they are mammals and give birth to their young. On average, a seals livespan ranges from 15 – 40 years. They are highly sociable and live in large groups called colonies.

They have several natural predators including sharks, orcas and polar bears, but the biggest threat to seals, humans. They have been commercially hunted for their pelts, meat and blubber for years and we’re not even talking about other unthinkable things we threaten their lives with like oil spills and apparently now we can add to this long list – assault and battery!

Below, the recorded video of the assault. Please note – not for sensitive viewers. Contains graphic scenes and harsh language.

“We need to be the voice for all animals, great or small, whether they live in our homes or the ocean,” says David Roache, MD of dotsure.co.za. “Cruelty against any animal should not be tolerated!”.

How can you help?

You can help by speaking up and making people aware of brutalities like this and many others that go unnoticed and unheard. Sharing is caring and together we can make a difference and shed light on these heinous crimes against innocent animals and bring those responsible to justice.

Reporting Animal Cruelty to the AACL is easy! Just click here: Report Animal Cruelty

“Monsters aren’t real BUT humans are” – The Monsters Among Us

It’s Sweetember! This month we celebrate National Honey Month and pay special tribute to our flying farmers. We know they sometimes buzz a little too loud, steal our soda and force us to go into flight mode, but they’re actually pretty damn special and vital for our survival.

Why bees are VIPs (Very Important Pollinators)

Bees have the important job of making sure that our summer crops grow and flourish into delightful fruits and veggies. Without the buzzing beauties our plates won’t be filled with healthy nourishments.

Bees transfer pollen from the male part of the flower (the anther) to the female part (the stigma). As bees move from flower to flower in search of nectar, they leave behind grains of pollen on the sticky surface, allowing plants to grow and produce food.

The honey kings pollinate billions of plants every year, including millions of agricultural crops. In fact, bees play a key role in one of every third bite of food we eat. Without them, not only would humans starve to death, but also animals which depend on plants for survival.

3 Bee-killers (excluding you)

If you squash a bee with your flipflop or destroy a hive, you’re contributing directly to a future food shortage (and killing a panda*).

*Maybe…

Other bee-killers include the following:

1. Crazy Pesticides

A pesticide is a chemical similar to nicotine.  The chemical is toxic to bees and causes confusion. The bees go insane and can’t find their way back to the hive due to the toxic chemical. It’s almost like they are given a form of Alzheimer’s. WTF?

2. Deadly Parasites

Honey bees are dying from parasites like the Varroa mite. These tiny red-brown parasites mainly feed and reproduce on larvae and pupae in the developing brood, causing malformation and numerous viruses. Some bees completely lose their wings and legs. The poor flying farmers eventually die from the lethal parasite.

3. Climate change

Climate change is causing habitat loss as bees fail to migrate to cooler areas to build new hives. As temperatures continue to rise, flowers bloom earlier in the spring, creating a potential problem with the production of pollen and when bees are ready to feed on that pollen.

How to save a bee?

Some things we can’t control, but we can educate ourselves and make a few changes to help our buzzing buds.

Okay, so now you know how you can save our black and yellow buds. You can make a difference!

Here are some sweet facts about bees:

We BEElieve that together we can save our honey bees from going completely extinct.  Next time a bee annoys you and you want to squash it with the sole of your shoe, think of their farming skills.

Show your dogs some love. EmBARK on a culinary journey and try this new pet treat recipe! You only need 5 ingredients and almost zero skill! This combination is guaranteed to get tails wagging.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Purity pumpkin puree
• 2 egg
• ½ cup oats
• 3 cups whole wheat flour
• 3 tbsp Xylitol FREE peanut butter
• ½ tsp cinnamon (optional)

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 160°C
2. Mix all the dry ingredients together in a medium bowl
3. Mix all the wet ingredients together in a medium bowl
4. Slowly combine the wet and dry ingredients together
5. Mix until a dough forms
6. Roll out the dough on a floured surface
7. Cut into shapes
8. Place onto a greased oven tray
9. Place tray in a preheated oven and bake for 30 – 35 minutes
10. Remove from oven and allow to cool
11. Serve and enjoy

Enjoy fur balls!

Jessica and Chris Van Dyk joined the dotsure.co.za pet insurance family on the 22^nd of December 2016. We’re so glad they did!

We invited them to share their story with us:

“Our boys are our blessings. Life would be so dull without them. I am not a mommy to humans but my fury, 4-legged kids are my children. I love them to the moon and back, and only want the best for them and would do anything for them. That is why they are insured with dotsure.co.za.”

– Jessica Van Dyk

Want to share your story?

. We’d love to meet you!

Are cats purrrfect companions? In many ways yes; but it’s fair to say that they have their moments:

• They scratch, paw and claw

• They talk to us

And sometimes, they “do their business” on our things. We often get questions about this from our family of pet owners, so we decided to ask Mr Google to help us clear the air.

Here are 5 (not so nice) cat waste related questions with answers:

1. Why does my cat poop everywhere in the house except in his litterbox?

Cats sometimes have Obsessive Cat Disorder (OCD) when it comes to hygiene. Your kitty won’t do his business in his litter box if it’s not clean and filled with copious amounts of sand and stones. The litter box needs to be deep and fresh enough to keep your purring royalty satisfied with his bathroom environment.

Solution: Clean your cat’s litter box daily and refill it with some sparkling stones every 3 days.

2. What’s up with the yellow puddles on the carpet and bedding?

Jokes aside, if your cat’s using your personal space as a restroom, there might be something seriously wrong.

Your feline friend might be experiencing the following:

• Anxiety due to separation
• Medical issues (urinary tract infections, diabetes or arthritis)
• High litter box standards (we’ve already spoken about this)
• Relationship problems (marking their territory)

Solution: See a qualified vet and make sure your cat’s litter box is clean. Don’t punish your pur-machine for peeing. It’s not their fault that they’ve got to empty their tanks.

3. Why do cats bury their poop?

Turns out cats have a thing for cleanliness, something doggies could learn from their nemesis. Humans flush, cats cover. It’s that simple!

According to Dr. Jurgella, author of the “Cat Language Bible”, the act of meticulously burying their waste stems from cats’ long history of using urine and faeces to mark their territory. Cats can tell their waste apart from another’s thanks to unique chemical scent markers called pheromones, which are present in their discharge.

Your cat’s careful burying habits are also her way of saying that she respects you and sees you as the dominant person in the house.

4. How do I treat diarrhoea?

It’s best not to give your fury friend any solid foods for 12-24 hours while he’s experiencing diarrhoea, but do provide plenty of fresh, clean water to prevent dehydration.

Call the vet immediately if severe (watery or “explosive”) diarrhoea continues for more than 24 hours or if it worsens, is bloody, or is accompanied by other symptoms such as vomiting, fever or difficulty walking. The cause could be anything from worms to something more serious like panleukopenia (feline distemper).

5. How do I treat constipation?

You might notice your kitty-cat fidgeting in his litter box or simply just walking around with a swollen belly and a lack of appetite. This could be a sign of the dreaded constipation.

There are many reasons why your cat may have trouble letting go:

• Dehydration
• Hairballs/excessive grooming
• Enlarged prostate gland
• Tangled hair on the buttocks
• Ingestion of foreign objects such as string, cloth, bones, etc.
• Side effect of medication
• Tumour or other intestinal obstruction
• Neurologic disorder
• Obesity
• Abnormal colon shape or motility

Solution: Take your kitty to the vet where he/she will receive a laxative or another diet plan. Don’t feed your fur-ball human remedies like prune juice. Things might end messy…. #enoughsaid

Okay, we’re done with the feline faeces fact-finding.

Love your cats, they are complex creatures, and although they can be full of $*** sometimes, there might be a good reason.

So, the vet said it aloud. Your dog is a senior now. Did you know she probably also needs a special diet? We aren’t talking about the yummy, healthy treats you give her (because they’re included in her daily caloric count, right?). We’re talking metabolism, rheumatism and the like. Old dog? New tricks at mealtime.

Wait, WHEN is a dog a “senior”?

Although you’re probably familiar with the adage that one human year equals seven dog years, it’s misleading, especially when we’re talking retirement. Different dogs develop at different rates. Some breeds live longer than others, but age faster. Smaller breeds reach adulthood more quickly than larger ones, but age slowly. And it’s difficult to predict when mixed breeds will saunter into their senior years.

Saunter might be the wrong word, ne? Gallop, maybe. Because you’re having so much fun playing every day, neither of you may notice. Or, hobble, even. Because despite the wagging tail and shiny eyes, his breath is shorter, and his rests are longer, and his hips are hurting.

The rule of thumb is seven years equals senior in a dog. But a healthy, long-term relationship with a good vet – or a full medical history if you’ve switched vets – is also part of assessing life stage and health. The vet is the best person to estimate your animal’s age and life stage.

What does an older dog need from her daily meals?

• Dogs in their golden years need food with lots of fibre, less fat and carbohydrates, and adequate protein.
• They may have health problems that modern pet food can help address.
• If your older dog has diagnosed medical issues, a vet can advise on an appropriate senior dog food.

Watch out for WEIGHT GAIN

A slower metabolism means they burn less energy. It also means that excess energy from food stays on the body as fat.

Watch out for weight LOSS

Some dogs LOSE weight as they get older and this may be a sign of disease. They will need a food that helps restore their mass without malnourishing them or causing them to become overweight.

Watch out for age-related ills

Older dogs are prone to a range of complaints that the right food can help relieve. Certain specialised pet foods contain carefully tested supplements. Hills C/D alleviates the symptoms of urinary inflammation, for example, and can reduce the chance of painful bladder stones forming in the future. It’s only available from qualified veterinary practises.

Even if your pooch is perfectly healthy, you should take her to the vet every six months for a physical.

While we’ve got cover for her medical and wellness needs, it’s up to you to feed her right.

Puppies! Your life overflows with cuteness, cuddles, yellowy puddles – ugh – and – hey, stop eating the couch!

Puppy probs to puppy PRO

Give little pups lots of love, patience and guidance now and you won’t need to scold them (as much) later.  This quick introduction will help.

“Small dog, small problem”? Big mistake!

Be warned: Innocent habits that are not curbed now become patterns that are hard to undo later.

If you understand a fluff-ball’s physical and emotional needs when they’re a baba, you’ll be a happy alpha human to well-trained, well-adjusted adult dogs.

Puppy Guidance Cheat Sheet

Here’s a quick overview of what a puppy wants (and needs). They’re not always the same thing…

Wants Attention, needs direction (and protection)

Your bundle of love needs to engage with you and other dogs, but she may not think your hand is a chew toy or not realise that the escaping lawnmower can maim her. Her excitement and confusion make her impulsive, so be vigilant. Don’t be afraid to instil healthy boundaries that will help keep her safe and happy. She needs to learn where she ends, and the rest of the world begins.

Wants to chew, needs a toy

Chewing is part of growing and it’s your job to show a pup what to test her teeth and jaw muscles on. Avoid wood that splinters and buy approved toys. By giving her items she is allowed to mangle, you’ll avoid letting furniture and possessions become her dental aids.

Wants to ‘go’, needs to know where

When she needs to relieve herself, accompany her to the place you would like her to make her “eliminations”. She’ll probably want to toilet immediately after sleeping eating, drinking, playing, training (and up to 15 minutes after any other excitement). Take her outside once an hour if none of these happens. If she’s needing to go every 15 minutes, tell your vet.

Wants to ‘talk’ to mom, needs to keep ‘mum’

Barking is natural to dogs and is one of the ways they communicate. Do you know if your fluff puddle is saying, “hello, I love you!” or, “who are you, scary stranger? Don’t scold; guide. Premium pet food, Hill’s, suggests you “let your dog bark two or three times, praise him for sounding the alarm, then say, ‘stop barking’ and hold out a treat in front of him.” After a few seconds, give him the treat. Then, slowly increase the gap between silence and reward and you’ll be on your way to a good (and quiet) understanding.

TIP: There’s so much to learn and puppy school is a great investment for a long and wonderful relationship.

Got your own ways that work? Show us on Instagram! We love learning with you.

We received over 345 entries of super cute fur-kids snoozing. WOW! Thank you for all the PAW-some snaps on Instagram. Looks like our pets enjoy sleeping just as much as we do (even more). Choosing a winner was sooo difficult, that’s why we narrowed it down to the below TOP 15 finalists.

Our Facebook judges voted for their favourite snoring pooch/pussycat. It was a difficult task, but one special doggy managed to melt hearts with her great set of pearly whites and adorable pink snout.

AND the lucky winner is…NUMBER 10 with 244 of the total 892 votes received. The runner-up was NUMBER 14 with a total of 181 votes.

Congratulations Michaela Kirsten! Your doggy is the lucky winner of a stylish bed and blanky. We hope Misha enjoys endless days and nights of glorious snores.

But wait there’s more…we’ve randomly selected a voter who walks away with a R500 Takealot voucher. Congratulations goes to Natalie Kirsten. Thank you for voting.

Thanks again for all the awesome entries and for all of you who made our jobs much easier by voting for your favourite.

To view all the awesome entries, click here.

Stay on the lookout for our next competition.

Paws crossed!

A first pet is like a first love…

Others may come, but you never forget the first furry faces you fell for.

You probably remember the major milestones in your life like your first kiss and your first proper job. What about your first pet?

You might relate to memories like this:

“Stoffel was an overweight Pomeranian who often pooped in obscure places.”

“Max couldn’t help himself! You opened a packet of biltong within 10 miles of him, and he was all over you!”

“Cleo used to curl up into a ball of fur and sleep in an underwear drawer.”

“Lilly always jumped over the fence to get a treat from the neighbours.”

Here are genuine first pet stories from BuzzFeed:

Punto – the Nervous Doggo

“My family had a dog and two cats when I was born (winners, all!) but the first authentically NEW pet in my life was an Airedale terrier puppy named Punto. On the day we went to pick him up, we knew which one he was because of the ribbon around his neck. It was purple, a noble colour. He was very small and curly, and peed on my mom’s lap on the way home, which we all optimistically interpreted as an expression of his deep sense of comfort and belonging. We named him in honour of a previous fox terrier my mom had had as a kid. He grew up to be fairly large and unfailingly sweet. He was once tied by his leash to the leg a garden chair, at some point tried to get up and run after a tennis ball or something and was TERRIFIED to find that the chair was CHASING HIM. From that point on, he was always nervous around furniture, thunderstorms, and arguments. I loved him with all my heart.” —Rachel Sanders

Two Cats for Christmas

“My parents told me and my brother we were getting a surprise Christmas present and hinted strongly that it was going to be going to see a play. My brother and I both dressed up in our little suits for the theatre, and we drove to the ‘play.’ My parents had us put on blindfolds, apparently so we wouldn’t know what play we were seeing until the last minute. Why I believed all this, I have no idea, but I did and was thus very surprised when I took off my blindfold to discover that we had in fact arrived at an animal shelter, where we met brother cats subsequently named Hodge and Alan, who would become my pride and joy and the lights of my life for the next 18 years. That one belongs right up there with the happiest days of my life.” —Jack Shepherd

The “Floating” Turtle

“My parents didn’t want to have a dog as long as we lived in an apartment. Much to their disappointment, my first word was ‘dog.’ They tried to avoid getting one by getting me other pets. When I was about 4 I had a turtle named Manuelita that lived in a fish tank during the week and we would take with us on weekend road trips. Manuelita was really smart; she would tap her head against the fish tank when she wanted to be walked. I remember my mom tying a red balloon to the turtle and letting her explore the ‘wild.’” —Conz Preti

Do you have a special first pet story to share with us? Please send us a message on Facebook. We’ll share it with the rest of the dotsure.co.za family.

RIP fur-balls of the past. Your paw prints are FUR-ever printed in our hearts.

xoxo

P.S. Want more real stories? We’ve got one from a dotsure.co.za clients here.

Most of us have been told that we’ve got a doppelganger – one out of the billions of people walking the earth that looks exactly the way we do. What are the chances, realistically speaking, of it being true?

According to research by Australian Scientists, finding a pair of matching faces is nearly impossible (excluding identical twins who have the same DNA). Sure, you might have matching hazel-brown eyes, the same pointy nose or a few similar facial features, but studies show that the chances of seeing your twin casually strolling the streets are one in a trillion. The slight possibility, however, is spine-shivering. Ancient Egyptians believed that an encounter with one’s double is a bad omen and that meeting two of your doubles meant death. Whoa!

What if you met your dog double? Would you touch noses or roll over, belly up? Maybe you already have. If you have a dog, you might be surprised to discover that he or she does, in fact, look like you.

Why doggie doubles?

 We sometimes choose pups with similar facial traits and personalities without even knowing it. Dr Kate Adams from Bondi Veterinary Clinic, Australia, says, “it’s definitely something I’ve noticed in my profession and it can happen on many levels: the blonde with a blonde dog, an anxious owner whose pet is also anxious, or the fit person with an active dog”. American psychology professor and neuropsychological researcher, Stanley Coren, believes the truth may lie in the principal of familiarity, which means we choose what is familiar to us because it’s likeable and safe. This explains why people like to see movies from their childhood – it’s familiar and comforting

Psychologists also believe that we may subconsciously choose a partner who looks like us because their genes are compatible with our own. Thanks to this imprinting, it’s possible that we prefer anything that looks a little like us because we secretly love our own looks.

The Studies: DOGGLE-gangers

Michael Roy, a psychologist from the University of California, went to three dog parks. There, he took images of pooches, and of their owners. Afterwards, he asked a group of participants to match the pictures up. The group was given no insights at all.

The Result: By only looking at facial features, the group matched dogs and their humans with reasonable accuracy.

 Coincidence? We think not, since science backs it up.

In another study by Kwanesei Gakuin from a University in Japan, participants also matched pictures of dogs and their humans. Participants “sniffed” out the doubles with surprising accuracy.

The Result: A whopping 8 out of 10 of participants correctly identified the dog/human pairs!

Okay, so now that we’ve got the answer, we want to see if you and your pooch are twins. Even if all you share is a matching hairdo or the same goofy smile. Send us your pic by Instagram Direct Message or upload it to your public Instagram account and tag us @dotsure_pet and we’ll share it with the world. Remember, we can’t see it if your account is set to ‘private’.

The Garden Route SPCA has made a bold move and changed the law. Humans who leave their dogs untended in the car in the Eden district can now be fined up to R1000. Why the strictness?

It’s because cars can kill dogs even when they’re stationary and switched off. How? Heat. Sit in a closed car on a 26-degree day.  How does it feel when the temperature rises to 32 in ten minutes? A panting dog can’t cool herself if the air she’s breathing is getting hotter and hotter! This is probably the last thing that a hurried human who’s “just popping into the supermarket for five minutes” thinks about. Problem is, life is unpredictable and five minutes often leads to 55 minutes, by which time the car is boiling. Boiling cars can lead to swooning dogs who can die from heatstroke in minutes.

What to do if you see a dog left untended in a car

1. Make sure it is, in fact, a dog – not a crumpled hoodie or an empty dog box. You’d be surprised.
2. Keep your distance – if you approach the car rapidly, the doggie may feel threatened which could cause upset that makes the situation worse.
3. Watch the dog for a while – are there signs of heat distress? Is his condition changing? Does the dog need water?
   Signs of heatstroke in a dog include: restlessness, excessive thirst, heavy panting, dark tongue, rapid heartbeat, fever, vomiting, lack of coordination.
   Can you safely get her water without trespassing? E.g. In the case of an open bakkie. Do it. Carefully. (Read this for how to approach a dog you don’t know more safely).
4. Can you shade the car? A flattened cardboard box will help. Ask nearby shops for assistance.
5. Try find the human carer by talking to people nearby e.g. security guards. If there’s an intercom system on the nearby building, ask them to call for the owner and include the number plate and a description of the dog and the vehicle.
6. Look for a telephone number on a sign or piece of paper inside the car or on the windscreen. Sometimes concerned owners leave their numbers visible.
7. If the dog is in distress, call your local SPCA immediately. They care about all animals, stray, wild or homed. Describe the dog’s exact condition to them and get their advice. If they’re coming to inspect, find out how soon they can arrive. Ask them how you can help the dog immediately.
8. Very important: Don’t leave the scene. If you must, ask someone else to stand in for you and take notes.
9. Take your own notes. Record what’s happening: when you first noticed the dog, how long it’s been, a description of the dog, her symptoms, and the car registration. If you have a smartphone, take video, otherwise, write it down – you might not remember it later. This will be useful if the authorities like the SPCA or SAPS or the owner ask questions later.
   Garden Route SPCA, George branch – 044 878 1990/1993
   Garden Route SPCA, George, emergency after hours – 082 378 7384
   Garden Route SPCA, Mossel Bay branch – 044 693 0824
   Garden Route SPCA, Mossel Bay, emergency after hours – 072 287 1761
   SAPS Garden Route – 10111 (landline)
   SAPS Garden Route – 112 (mobile)
10. If you meet the owner, be nice. That could be you, you know…

It’s not always possible to plan ahead. You can’t schedule emergencies or holdups. These tips will help your dog stay safe in the car.

If you are forced to leave your dog in a car, follow these ten tips:

1. Take a friend with to stay in the car with your pooch or ask someone nearby to stay with the dog. Maybe there’s an entrepreneurial car guard nearby looking for a good tip.
2. Give your dog something to settle the nerves. CalmEze is a popular, non-prescription choice.
3. Leave the aircon on with the car locked. Some newer cars can do this.
4. Or, if you can’t leave the aircon on safely, attach a battery-operated fan to the window. Your dog needs to be familiar with it and know not to eat it, though.
5. Leave multiple water sources inside the car. A secured, upright water feeder is better than an open bowl which can be tipped over.
6. Make sure the water you’ve provided is cool. Add an ice cube that won’t cause overflow.
7. Park in a quiet, heavily-shaded or covered area e.g. well-ventilated, underground parking. Light shade is often not enough cover to prevent heat stroke.
8. Put sun shades up in the window. It will help keep the interior of the car quiet and cool.
9. Leave your contact details in the window. Concerned citizens can let you know if something is wrong. It may also prevent panicking humans from breaking your car window to ‘save’ your dog.
10. NEVER, EVER LEAVE YOUR DOG IN THE CAR WITH THE WINDOWS CLOSED. It could cost you a lot more than R1000.

Despite progress with the law, the issue is widespread and ongoing and thousands of people don’t realise the very real risks. If we work together, we can help dogs suffer less.

What else can I do to protect dogs from dying in hot cars?

1. Educate your friends and family about the serious risks of leaving animals in the car.
2. Approach local business to support an awareness drive. They could post signs in summer pointing out the risks and/or ask people to leave their dogs at home. Progressive malls might even consider a dog-sitting service.
3. Start lobbying for the local law to be changed to support animal rights more. You’ll be surprised what a survey and a word with a judge can do for animals all around you.

Kitty wakes up, stretches, eats a pellet or four and makes her way straight back to bed less than 5 minutes later. But why? She’s just spent 10-hours catching Z’s, she can’t still be tired after that…could she? Strange behaviour is part of her DNA – her Doing Nothing Attitude. You can’t blame a feline for being comfortable in her own fur. Let your purr-machine snooze and don’t be green-eyed because she is free to dream whatever cats dream about while you face reality.

Wait, do cats really dream?

Just like us humans, cats go through multiple sleep stages. They experience Rapid Eye Movement (REM), which is the stage at which dreams are made. Kittles dreams about her daily life, just as we do. She dreams of chasing butterflies, nibbling on fishy dishes and getting loving cuddles from the one who gives her treats.

According to Matthew Wilson of MIT’s Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, the part of the brain “that controls memory is called the hippocampus and it is wired very similarly from one vertebrate or mammal to the next”.

This means that your kit-cat not only dreams, your other pets do, too. Doggo probably dreams about chasing kitty while kitty probably dreams of running away from him. No wonder Bruno growls during a visit to dreamland. Hmm…makes PURR-fect sense now.

Cats and movement during slumber

According to a behavioural consultant, Amy Shojai, a kitty’s senses remain active during 70% of her snooze time. She remains alert to react quickly to sounds and smells. The other 30% of the time, she’ll sleep deeply and wake up slowly – blinking, yawning and stretching, then grooming – to keep the fur coat shinny.

During REM’s deep sleep, the body also turns off the feline friend’s large muscles. These control the arms and legs and prevent her from acting out in her dreams. Almost. The off switch doesn’t always function properly, which explains the twitching, kicks, sweet-soft meows and murmurs in her sleep.

As pets age, the off switch becomes less productive, resulting in more physical movement during sleep. Sometimes the movements can wake Snowball up from his dreams, causing him to be startled and a little confused. Luckily cats recover quickly and go back to their normal purring selves in just a few minutes.

So, cats do funny stuff during sleep, but can they sleepwalk?

Okay, we know some humans sleepwalk. It happens when two parts of the brain are “awake” at once, usually about half an hour before REM sleep. People twitch and flex during sleep because the nervous system is doing its job. A neurotransmitter called Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, or GABA, limits the activity in the motor cortex so that major movements are impossible. When there is a lack of GABA in the system, lots of moving happens during sleep. That’s when your inner vampire emerges and makes you walk around at night without you knowing about it.

Although cats move their paws and whiskers during their dreams, they don’t sleepwalk like some humans do. Usually, only cats with brain damage can sleepwalk. In a study done by professor Michel Jouvet from Claude-Bernard University in Lyons, France, cats with lesions around the locus coeruleus in the brainstem can act normal when awake, but they are no longer able to go into a hyper-relaxed mode. The felines in the study would crouch low and act as though they were stalking mice. Or they might go looking for food or play with make-believe toys. And all the while, they were “sound” asleep.  Who’d have imagined?

The Verdict

Felines sleep a lot and they dream often. They have some sweet dreams and some not-so-sweet ones. Although your kitty dreams and moves her paws and whiskers during sleep, if she’s alright upstairs, she won’t sleepwalk. If your fur-ball is healthy and happy, she’ll spend more time in her dreams than in the sandpit or in the trees. You needn’t worry about your snoozing fur-heads. Let sleeping cats lie or prepare to be scratched.

Sweet dreams to all the Snowballs out there. Happy twitching!

Zzzz…

We care about our clients and their fur-babies. Here is the evidence.

Symptoms include: weakness, nausea, skin infection, lack of coordination, stiffness, fever, diarrhoea, and/or lethargy. Dogs might not have all these symptoms. If your pup’s showing more than one, please consult your vet immediately. Depending on your doggo’s immune system, Listeriosis can be fatal if not treated fast enough. Prompt treatment could save your best four-legged buddy’s life.

What’s the treatment?

Your fur ball’s treatment depends on the severity of the infection. If Bruno is throwing-up or has a runny tummy, the vet will probably only prescribe gastrointestinal and pain medication. If the virus is more aggressive, your pooch will need to be hospitalized for immediate treatment. IV fluids and antibiotics will be given to the sick pup. The antibiotics include penicillin, amoxicillin, ampicillin and other meds with names that medical Einsteins find easy to pronounce.

Dogs can recover completely from Listeriosis but, in some cases, death may result from vicious infection. Before the infection leaves your hound’s tail hanging, consult a vet and give pooch lots of TLC and the correct medication. Follow the veterinarian’s treatment plan to the T and finish all prescribed meds to ensure the best chance of a complete recovery from a Listeria infection.

Can dogs pass Listeria on to humans?

According to the Ontario Veterinary Medical Association, “it is highly unlikely that a dog that has eaten contaminated meat would pass the infection on to humans. Only a small percentage of healthy pets can shed Listeria in their stool at any time” which wouldn’t easily infect humans, unless the poop comes into contact with your hands.

Listeria symptoms in Humans:

• Fever
• Diarrhoea
• Nausea
• Muscle aches

*In more serious cases people can develop meningitis, brain abscesses and ultimately pass away.

*NOTE: Pregnant women, new-borns, cancer patients, people with diabetes, and people with HIV/AIDS or compromised immune systems are at a higher risk of suffering severely OR from the disease and are more likely to die from it.

How to prevent Listeriosis?

1. Don’t eat meat (from Enterprise)!

Enterprise polony is the source of the South African outbreak. 85% of 109 patients with the disease reported eating Enterprise processed meats like viennas or polony.

2. Clean your fridge

Your fridge is Listeria’s home. You might think it’s clean and cold, but this is where the infection multiplies and spreads to ready-to-eat meats and dairy products. Clean your fridge with a bleach solution to kill the infection (10 ml bleach for every 500ml water).

3. Eat cooked meat

Heat food above 70 degrees Celsius to eliminate the Listeria bacteria. Raw food should be kept separate from cooked food to prevent cross-contamination.

Now that you know more about Listeriosis, you can prevent it and identify the symptoms (for both you and your doggo). Take care of your health and make sure your pal is happy and healthy. Defeat the Listeria bacteria polony-lover by being cautious and educated. Remember that our Superior Plan covers your pets for up to R10 000 per illness claim.

Adios Listeriosis!

From Top Chef to the bottom of the bowl, humans are spoilt for choice when it comes to what we chew. There’s everything from Yotam Ottolenghi’s cuisine to your mum’s magical cooking. But what about dogs? If you spent your life loving and protecting the people who put food on your doggy plate, would you really want the same food, day after day? No wonder they wander off and eat things out of dustbins when they can or worse. To honour canine taste buds, and kitty ones, too, we are launching a series of recipes designed for dogs and cats (and maybe a few other animal friends). We’ll be digging around the office and the internet over the next months for suitable recipes to make your mutt howl with happiness.

In honour of Dog Biscuit Appreciation Day (Feb 23^rd) – and because we believe in biscuits EVERY day –  swap tedium for taste bomb and get the ol’ canine teeth snapping in antici-

pation with this recipe.  It’s one for early-adopting, health-conscious hounds (and humans can have a taste, too).

Yummy Dog Biscuit Recipe

• Vegan
• Sugar-free
• Yippee
• Don’t wolf them all down at once

WHAT YOU NEED:

• 1 cup Rice Flour
• 2 mashed Bananas
• ¼ cup unsweetened Peanut Butter**Make sure your dog is not allergic to peanut butter. Some pooches are very sensitive to nuts.

WHAT YOU DO:

1. Mash the banana and peanut butter.
2. Combine the flour and mash.
3. Preheat the oven to 160 C.
4. Chill the dough for 20 minutes
5. Place the dough on a well-floured counter.
6. Roll the dough to 85- 130 mm thickness.
7. Cut shapes using a cookie cutter (or improvise).
8. Poke 4 fork holes into the cookies and place onto a baking tray greased with coconut oil*.
9. Bake for 30-35 minutes.
10. Allow to cool.
11. Serve to a deserving pooch or person.
12. Place the rest in an air-tight container.

*It’s rare but do make sure your pooch is not allergic to coconut oil. Dogs at risk of pancreatitis and hyperlipidaemia are hypersensitive to it.

We’re thinking gold pooch bombs or kidney-kind meals for kitty next. Got an idea? Or a recipe to share? Tell us about it on Facebook and maybe it’ll go into a real book…

Woofer warning: Do NOT feed your doggle snacks containing any of these foods – they are dangerous for dogs.

We’re all familiar with the soft, moist buttons on our pooches’ faces. It’s the cherry on top of a fluffy face, it’s cute, and it can do some serious sniffing. Dogs’ sense of smell is over 100 000 times better than human’ and they can smell things we can’t. The nosy sniffers can snort out bedbugs, diabetes, even the C word…. cancer! WOW!

Turns out that your doctor doesn’t have to be human to diagnose cancer. Studies show that dogs can smell cancerous cells. A unique odour released by the cells are early signs of cancer.

It took humans thousands of years to figure this out; it takes a dog a split-second. Eventually, in 1989, doctors at King’s Hospital in London reported a case of a woman’s pup persistently snuffling a mole on her leg. Specialists ran tests which had some stinking results. The tests confirmed the early stages of malignant melanoma – a dangerous cancerous growth.

So, your doggo knows you’re ill, even before you’ve said a word about the removal of your mole or the nasty nail pricks you’ve had to endure for the confirmation of the deadly disease. Hello, DOG-tor! The only problem with DOG-tor detection is communication. Milly can bark, roll over, jump on your lap or look at you with tears in her syrup-brown eyes, but she’ll never be able to put her actions into words.

Dogs that go for specialized training at Penn Vet Working Dog Center at the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine become qualified DOG-tor translators. They receive top training and go through numerous tests, where A+ is the benchmark.

How training works

At the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine there are tables with extensions holding different samples of blood plasma, one of which is spiked with a drop of cancerous tissue. A fur-doc sniffs and identifies the sample with the cancer cells and gets a tennis ball from the trainer as a reward for the completion of the procedure. The doggie slides across the room and chases the ball across the floor to celebrate a diag-NOSES with a scent of success.

Introducing DOG-tor Lucy!

Dr Lucy is a cross between a Labrador, Retriever and an Irish Water Spaniel. She failed guide dog school because random scents distracted her from her master’s path. Eventually she was kicked out for her Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)… Ag shame.  Luckily this didn’t stop her from pursuing her medical career.  She enrolled in Medical Detection Dogs and was trained to sniff out bladder, kidney and prostate cancers.

Today Dr Lucy is a highly-qualified Oncologist with a diagnostic success rate of 95%. She’s awesome and she NOSE it!

Okay, so still not sold on the idea of dogs being able to smell cancer? Let research add an air of conviction.

3 PAW-some Studies

1. In a research study by the Pine Street Foundation, breath samples of 31 breast cancer patients, 55 lung cancer patients and 83 healthy humans were presented to five trained doggies. Dogs detected breast and lung cancer with 90% accuracy. They deserve a certificate.
2. According to U. News & World Report, a black Labrador named Marine was able to detect colon cancer in a study of 200 humans suffering from this disease with what seems a farfetched 97% accuracy. He was even more accurate than the blood tests were!
3. In Milan, Humanitas Research Hospital took urine samples from 320 men with prostate cancer and 357 healthy men. The sick men had different stages of the disease from low-risk to high-risk tumours. In the group without prostate cancer, some patients had other diseases, including other types of cancer. Two dogs were used for this study. Taken together, the dogs had an accuracy rate of 98 percent.

Dogs & Diabetes

Do you have diabetes? Your canine can very likely smell an abnormal drop in blood sugar levels which happens to type 1 diabetes patients. Low blood glucose — hypoglycaemia or “hypo” — can occur suddenly. As a result, charities like Medical Detection Dogs train dogs to act as “medical alert assistance dogs” that tell owners when they’re at risk of a hypo attack.

So, canines have natural life-saving senses. Bet you’re wondering what your fur-ball is sniffing right now? Hmm…hopefully the aromas of healthy blood cells. You know, the good stuff!

Doggos have natural furry jerseys to keep them warm during chilly winter nights. The coats look fur-tastic and stylish, but it gives the name “sweater” a new meaning…It makes the poor pup’s paw pads sweat. Yesh, drops of perspiration gather on their paws and noses when their bodies overheat. You can’t always see it, but it’s there and they can feel it. If you don’t give your dog liquids for a prolonged period they can dehydrate and even die. That’s why it’s super-important to keep your barking buddy cool during the flesh-frying summer days.

You can keep your canine watered by simply keeping their water bowl full or giving them a tasty PUP-sickle or three every day.

Here are 3 delicious pup-sickle recipes for your pooches’ delight.

1. Chicken-licking

Treat your pet with this mouth-watering, 3-ingredient ice lolly. It’s a burst of chickensy goodness mixed with a blend of peanut butter and parsley. YUM!

Ingredients:

1 cup chicken stock

1 cup raw, unsalted peanut butter

 2 tablespoons of chopped parsley

This lip-smacking munchie will not only hydrate your doggies but also keep their breaths fresh. So, no more stinky face licks for you, sir/ma’am.

Directions:

• Put the peanut butter and parsley into a small bowl and mix well.
• Fill a popsicles tray with the chicken broth and place in freezer for an hour.
• Spoon the peanut butter-parsley mix into the tray and place it in the freezer for 4 about hours.
• Offer it to the fur kids and watch them indulge.

2. Watermelove

You don’t need much for this one. All you need is a quarter seedless “watermelove” and a can of coconut milk. This lolly will leave drool hanging from your dogs’ cute little jowls ‘coz it’s succulent and sweet.

Please note: Watermelon is perfectly okay for dogs to eat if you remove the seeds first. The seeds can cause intestinal blockage.

Directions

• Scoop about ¼ of a de-seeded watermelon out and share the rest with your human pals.
• Blend the coconut milk and watermelon.
• Pour the mix into an ice cube tray, freeze and wait.
• Now the fun begins. You and your canine can experience a burst of melon bliss.

3. Banana and pumpkin paw-fection

Who’s up for a healthy, frosty treat? Cool your dog this summer with a pumpkin and banana pop which you can also nibble on if you feel like adding more flavour to your palate.

Ingredients:

1 cup plain, unsweetened yogurt *

1 can of pumpkin puree

1 teaspoon irradiated honey

1 ripe banana

* Use Lactose-free yogurt from Woolworths if your pooch is lactose intolerant, sensitive beast!

Directions

• Blend all the ingredients together.
• Spoon the mix into a silicone popsicle tray.
• Freeze overnight
• Pop out the moulds and serve on a hot day!

Hope you enjoy making these delicious treats for your fur balls. Remember, although it’s tempting to give your dog a scoop of vanilla ice-cream, it can make pooch sick, because there are high levels of lactose inside your favorite scoops of vanilla. Rather take 5 minutes out of your day and whip up a healthy lolly to make your pet jolly.

Happy lolly-licking, hounds!

Would you welcome a robot dog into your home? Do you wonder what else a robot animal might (be made to) do? We do, too. Here’s the second of our Furry Futures pieces, in which human’s best friend gets a mechatronics makeover.

Meet Spot
Spot can run, hop and open doors, and, in time, probably also kill on command. Spot is a system of springs, electrodes, metal and microchips, an autonomous machine that mimics a living, breathing, loving canine. Could you love a robot dog with mechanical paws?

Robots are hard; humans are softies
Robots have no hearts for the time being, yet those that mimic live, loving creatures like dogs or people, pull at our heartstrings.

and put fear into them and while they started out creepy and clumsy

they’re getting really good

and it doesn’t even have to be a real robot

It’s difficult to resist the characteristic wag of the electric tail even if you know there’s no known life in it. Try not to feel sorry for this poor piece of metal.

and behold a synthetic prairie dog entirely fooling his adopted wild family.

The capacity for empathy at both ends of the dog-and-human deal is what makes the human-canine bond so brilliant. It also leaves us open to manipulation when the canine is a can of electrodes and code, perhaps not by robots just yet, but certainly by their makers.

And that’s okay if it’s positive manipulation – it’s perfectly natural! Domestic dogs evolved to contribute to human well-being as a way of ensuring their place in a changing world. They’re nice to us and we feed, house and adore them. But they get lonely if left without company (don’t!) and need to be fed at certain times (there’s an app for that ). Furry bots don’t. No poop scooping! No 4am wakeup calls. If robots are making decent companions to the aged, could robot dogs be our new best friend? Could Frodo 2.0 replace your real-life pooch?

Maybe they aren’t quite the watchdog you want, but robot dogs like Spot are more real than Robo-Dog and could offer companionship of a sort.

Some real dogs are wary.

We think it’s when AI integrates into robotics and its technology begins to evolve of its own accord that the question really gets interesting. Wouldn’t it be weird if an AI dog did what the discontinued AI Twitter handle did? Dogs are a reflection of their humans, after all. We already have robot birds, scorpions, spiders, fish, salamanders, kangaroos and cheetahs (that look like a dog and sound like a fly). It’s the intelligent hybrids we’re waiting for. When robot dogs acquire drone functionality, they’re going to fly off the supermarket shelves and into our hearts. And then take over the world? Artificial intelligence is on its way in a real way, and we want to live in peace with the future, so maybe don’t name your robot dog Tay, K?

In the meantime, the odds are still stacked in favour of living loved ones… who can give you warm cuddles and soulful stares…

(just tolerate the copy machine; it has big dreams)

Be their voice

As a society we have a collective responsibility to protect our pets against cruelty. Don’t turn a blind eye to animal abuse, use your voice to stand for every pet in need. Report animal cruelty to your local SPCA. Include as much detail as you can possibly give the inspectors (including physical evidence of the neglect or abuse in the form of photos where possible). Report animal cruelty via telephone to your nearest SPCA. click here for a list of phone numbers of your nearest SPCA

Or

The Animal Anti-Cruelty League (AACL), which has been protecting and caring for animals since 1956, is another channel you can use to report animal cruelty. They are the second largest independent Animal Welfare Organization in South Africa and get involved with all aspects of animal welfare. They provide shelter for abandoned animals, promote an efficient adoption programme, prosecute animal cruelty cases, run welfare hospitals for lower income groups, visit underprivileged areas with fully equipped mobile clinics and regularly address schools and clubs on the challenges of animal welfare.

To report animal cruelty to the AACL, you can simply click here: http://www.aacl.co.za/report-animal-cruelty/ or alternatively phone them on 011 435 0672.

What happens after your report?

A trained inspector will visit the scene and investigate the complaint or report. Should it be found that there is a case of animal neglect or abuse, the owner will be issued with a warming to take corrective action. This will be followed-up with a second visit to check on the animal’s welfare. Within the parameters of the Animals Protection Act, no 71 of 1962, no animals may be confiscated without a warrant obtained from a magistrate. Should it be found that an animal is outright being abused or wilfully neglected, the inspector will instigate criminal charges against the owner.

We can make the world a safer place for animals, by coming together to combat cruelty against animals!

You have the power to protect vulnerable animals from abusive parents, but you also have the power to protect your own fur baby from illness and accidental injury. Don’t deny your fur-ball the veterinary care they deserve. Get a dotsure.co.za Pet Insurance quote today. Premiums starting from as little as R82p/m.*

* T&Cs and possible exclusions may apply and can be obtained by emailing u2us@dotsure.co.za. Risk profile and policy dependent. Limits and prices displayed applicable as at date of publishing and may be subject to change.