Vet recommends monthly checkups

JAKARTA (JP): To make sure that your pets are safe from any disease, regular checkups are essential, veterinarian Wiwiek Bagdja, the director of the Jakarta Pet Hospital, advises.

"At least, once a month a checkup should be performed. If you doubt that your pet is healthy, a blood test can be demanded. It is one of the quickest ways to know if there is something wrong," Wiwiek said. Vaccinations are also a must.

There are some signals that will tell you if you should be taking your favorite pet to the vet. First, if your animal loses its appetite. Second, if its feces have deeper color or are more liquid than usual. The feces of healthy dogs or cats should be hard and of a light color. Third, if your pet has an unusually wet or runny nose. Fourth if it vomits.

Giving medicine prescribed for human beings to your pet is not recommended. This is especially true with ailing cats.

"If you notice something wrong with the pet, asking for a veterinarian's advice will be wiser," said Wiwiek.

She said an owner of a dog once was alarmed to see that his pet suddenly had a runny nose. When the dog was brought to the hospital, the veterinarian saw that there was something strange inside its nose.

"Then, we put a bowl of ice right in front of its nose, and a big leech crawled out. We found out that the dog had been taken to Puncak, where it played freely near a watery area, which apparently had a lot of leeches," Wiwiek said.

She said currently there are more and more cats in Jakarta having problems with their urine. Up to now veterinarians have little idea what the cause is, "but, it may be caused by the water in Jakarta..." Wiwiek said.

Skin problems are also common. A dog which is losing hair usually has a skin problem. The sooner you treat the pet, the better it will be. If you are late, the dog might lose all of its hair and transmit the disease to other dogs. (als)