NEWSLETTER Year 2 - Volume 6,
Dubai, June 2010

In this issue of our monthly newsletter, we would like to inform you about the hazards the Dubai summer heat poses to your furry family members and what you can do to protect them and keep them safe. We would like to introduce to you our new clever multiple pet food regulator. In our cat and dog special we give you information on Siamese cats and the Saluki. Of course you will find our monthly promotion and lots of information that may be of use to you.

Your pet(s) and the summer heat
Temperatures are rising again. People are feeling uncomfortable due to the humidity. AC’s are running on high. No more lazy evenings in the garden. The next few months will be spent indoors. Everybody tries to stay cool as much as possible. Keep in mind that besides people, your furry friend(s) suffer from the heat as well. If they are exposed to too much sun, it can cause heatstroke and can cause a pet’s skin, particularly delicate areas such as the nose or ears, to become sun burnt, eventually leading to skin-cancer just like it does for us.  Dogs are particularly prone to heat stress, especially the snub-nosed breeds like the Bull Dogs, Pugs, Shih Tzu’s, Boxers and Pekinese for they have difficulty breathing/panting. Cats can also suffer from heat stress.

How to keep your pet “cool”
Keeping your pet cool during the summer is a matter of planning and alertness! Since every home in Dubai has air-conditioning, it should be possible to prevent overheating. Unfortunately we see quite a few pets suffering from heat stroke throughout the year but mostly in summer in our clinic. This is mainly caused by lack of sufficient knowledge by the owner or caretaker of the pets. Click here if you want to read what you can do to keep your pet safe and cool.

Signs of heat stress / stroke
It is important to be able to identify the symptoms of heat stress/overheating/heat stroke.
First of all, if you think your pet is suffering from heat stress start cooling it down! It is vital that you take immediate action since heatstroke can be fatal. While cooling your pet down call the vet and bring your pet as soon as possible but keep cooling him/her down. Spray your pet with cool (not cold) water, put cooling packs (cold soda cans/ frozen vegetables or whatever available in the inguinal area and armpits) and transport him/her in your car to the clinic with the AC turned on high. Waiting too long before you seek professional help may be fatal to your pet. (Cold blankets should be regularly refreshed otherwise they work as an isolation and do not help to cool down your pet!).
Click here if you want to read what the symptoms of over-heating are.

In case your Air-Conditioning breaks down
Not a scenario you would like to happen, but you never know, especially with current electrical cuts we see in the UAE. Click on the animal of your choice, it will give you  some tips to keep your pet cool without the help of AC, since this is a time that they need extra attention.

Dogs and cats: click here

Small mammals: click here

Special Promotion for July;
We have a variety of products available in our clinic to keep your pet comfortable during the summer. In July we have a special promotion on all Aqua Coolkeeper bandanas and Aqua Coolkeeper mats. Aqua CoolKeepers keep your pets cool the entire day! Just immerse for just 5 – 10 minutes in cold water.

This promotion is subject to stock availability

Make your own doggy ice-cream
If you would really like to treat your pooch to something cool and tasty, please click here and you find some delicious ice cream recipes that your dog will love.
One of the recipes contains yoghurt. It is true that dairy products aren’t good for dogs, but yogurt contains much less lactase than regular milk and the live cultures are great for your dog’s digestive system.
If your dog has a food intolerance or food allergy, you should not give them these treats!!

Only available at Al Barsha Veterinary Clinic !!
As the only clinic in the U.A.E., Al Barsha Veterinary Clinic introduces the CZAM-D4, the 1st Smart Pet food Dispenser.
You have several pets in your household and you want to give them specific diets adapted to their age, sex, size, exercise regime and health condition; or one of them needs to follow a course of treatment or needs an additional food supplement. With the new smart automatic dispenser CZAMD4, we now have the solution to make sure your pets eat the correct food! If you would like to read more, please click here.

Lost and found and re-homing
We have a request from our Front Desk staff to send all e-mails relating to lost/found and re-homing of animals to reception@abvc.ae. This way they will be able to respond to your questions sooner.

Rabbits and mites
Is your rabbit scratching a lot? Does he have wounds or small infections from scratching, and does he shake his head or tilt it to one side? If the answer to one of more of these questions is “yes”, then your rabbit is possibly suffering from mites. If you click here you can read about the different kinds of mites, their clinical signs and how to get rid of them. Please note that the information given is only informative. If you suspect that your rabbit is suffering from mites, you should always contact your veterinarian.

Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease in Parrots
If a parrot is losing feathers that are not recovered after a few days or weeks but leave bold patches on the skin, it may be infected by a virus infection called PBFD.
Hiding behind the abbreviation PBFD is Psittacine Beak and Feather Disease (you also could call it "Parrot’s Beak and Feather disease"). Usually bigger parrots, cockatoos etc. are affected by this infection caused by the so called avian circovirus. If you would like to read more, please click here.

Siamese
The Siamese cat has fascinated people around the world since they were first officially exported from Thailand, and known then as the Siam, in the late eighteen hundreds. Their sleek lines, striking color contrast, finely chiseled aristocratic heads, deep blue almond eyes, and short silky coats make them living art. Combine this beauty with acute intelligence, inquisitive personality and a loving nature and you have the essence of the Siamese cat. If you would like to read more about the Siamese, please click here.

Trusting you have enjoyed another newsletter full of interesting information,

Kind regards,
Ellen Kruijning
Partner

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