Since coming to live in the Algarve I have noticed that a lot of questions come up about Pets on the forum, in local rags and chatting with friends and people you meet etc. So it's got me thinking that maybe, it would be helpful to have a Pets Corner and was wondering what other animal owners/lovers (correction as we all know they own us ) thought of such an idea? For starters this was in the The Algarve Resident last week to the Editor:-

I got my dog nearly three years ago. He was a stray of around six-months-old at the time. Recently, he started to lift his leg and poop in the house when I’m not there. Can you help? Joanne Silva, Vila do Bispo

Firstly, go to your vet and get a DAP diffuser, which is a plug-in device that fills the house with a scent that will calm your dog. Secondly, don’t give him any attention 20 minutes before you leave the house or when you return, so that leaving isn’t anything to be over-excited about. Finally, wear coats and carry keys around at irregular intervals around the house so he no longer associates them with you leaving. Obviously, walking your dog approximately 30 minutes before you leave would be common sense advice, though try to walk him and go out at the same time to keep that routine. S.M.
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My Highland terrier has just been diagnosed with diabetes and I have to inject her every morning. The problem is that the dog yelps terribly and sometimes tries to bite me. The vet has reassured me that there is no way I’m hurting her, but is there anything you can suggest that I do to calm her down before her injection? Charles Goulding, Albufeira
The needles used for insulin injections are very fine and should not be painful. My best suggestion is to give the injection at the same time as the dog is being fed, so that her attentions are elsewhere. Using treats and toys when injecting may also help, though as you get more confident giving the injections, you will be less stressed, leading to the dog being calmer. Re-visit your veterinary practice if the problem persists, so that the vet or nurse can ensure that the animal is being injected correctly. S.M.

I’m having great difficulty getting my six-month-old kitten to use her litter tray. She poops at the front door all the time, even though I have put down towels soaked in bleach or vinegar, sprinkled coarse black pepper, used sprays from the pet shop and recently tried pellets used for keeping cats off garden plants (she used the pellets to cover up her mess)! I live in a flat and would rather keep her as a house cat. I have moved her tray into the kitchen next to her food and she uses it to wee, but goes straight to the front door for the rest. Can you help? Filomena Stone, Silves
It may be that you need to use the litter tray at the front door, if you do want to keep her as a house cat. Slowly, you can try to move the litter tray away from the door, so that you don’t trip on your exit. Try not to use too stronger smells to clean up, as it may be another reason why the cat wants to poop there again. Place a bowl of food near the door, as cats will tend not to defecate where they eat. S.M.
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My Rottweiller regularly gets wax in his ears, especially in the summer. How can I prevent this? Andy, Faro

There are many ear cleaners you can buy to remove the wax build-up from your dog’s ears, so ask your vet for advice. It may be that your boy suffers from a mild allergy that is worse in the summer months, or that he likes to swim, getting water in his ears that can lead to infection. S.M.
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Hi, Just a thought re injections, make sure you inject into the loose skin around the shoulders and and not into the flesh, keep the needle horizontal to the skin. Distract the dogs attention ie. Squeaky toy.
JB. m.b.i.p.d.t.

From time to time I come across people who arrive in the Algarve with pets from the UK who ask about what protection they need for their Dogs (and Cats):-

We have 2 G Shephards Weight 45kg and 38kg and we use PER DOG:-

SCALIBOR Protector Band (thin collar) this protects against SAND FLY and TICKS we change it every 6 months. Price Approx 16.50€uros.(Size for our dogs 65cm).

INTERCEPTOR protects against HEART WORM, 1 TABLET every Month. 8 Tabs in a box. Price Approx 37€uros. The tabs are at different strength according to the weight of the dog. (The tabs we use have a range of weight between 23 - 46 Kg).
(The other weights are between 4.5-11kg and 11-23kG9:

ADVANTIX we also use between around 1 March - 31 October for TICKS,
FLEAS ans MOSQUITOS as a back up for the collar i.e. we live in the countryside so we have to think about sheep etc. However, my friends who live in urban areas do likewise. 15.31€UROS.4X4 Sachets

Prior to arriving in the Algarve, we had a very good UK vet, who advised me whilst in England to commence Yogi on Stronghold and Frontline, but I have found that the above products are better.

We also take our dogs every year on the dot for their Rabies and Paro etc boosters.

It would be extremely helpful to hear from Cat Owners what they use etc and any Do's and Dont's and any advice with regard other animals (inc of horses), fish, reptiles, birds etc..

It would also be interesting to hear what other Dog owners think of the above products, or have found others etc.

Also prior to Christmas I promised that I would give some thought to trying to find out how many people in the Algarve/Portugal would be interested in my writing to a UK based Insurance Company to see if they would consider if there was enough interest, to set up a Pet Plan Insurance Cover here in Portugal.
N.R.

Hi,
I use both Stronghold and Frontline and have never had any problems, but I live in the town so NR is quite right to be doubley sure being out in the country side.
With regards to pet insurance, I tried all the big insurance company's in the UK. only interested in holday pet insurance, and will not insure your pet if you reside out of the UK. I have not been able to find a company in Portugal who will insure my dog.
So good luck NR I hope you have more succes than I.
JB.

TICKS are out and about:

and

Also those damn CANTERPILLARS (around pine trees) remember don't let your skin come into contact with them.
I have never thought to ask my vet if they can harm dogs and other animals? Does anyone know the answer to this?
N.R.

The Pine Processionary caterpillar can be dangerous to animals especially cats due to the chemicals in their hairs. There is an article about them in one of the free Algarve newspapers for tourists. Apparently if you put them in a circle they will follow each other and eventually die....
There is a lot of information on these caterpillars on google.

Many Thanks Emma....I'll track the article down with regard dogs etc.
I am aware of these canterpillars it was the animals that I was unsure of.... again many thanks.
Regards N.R.

just a couple a few of these caterpillars can kill a medium size dog and they have!
The hairs from these nasty creatures get into the airways and the animal can literally suffocate. Keep your pets away from pinewoods where these caterpillars nest!
It would probably only take 1 of these pests to kill a curious cat

gueste wrote:just a couple a few of these caterpillars can kill a medium size dog and they have!
The hairs from these nasty creatures get into the airways and the animal can literally suffocate. Keep your pets away from pinewoods where these caterpillars nest!
It would probably only take 1 of these pests to kill a curious cat

Hi Gueste,
Thank you very much indeed, for taking the trouble to post this very important information.
With Very Kind Regards
Nightrider.

Found all this information very useful, we had brought a stockpile of medications out from our vets in the UK but are coming to the end of it so the information on the different products is very helpful.
As far as pet insurance is concerned we certainly would be interested, maybe if there is enough of us an insurance company would think it worth their while. I think that is what nightrider had in mind.

On the caterpillar front I now have a mental image of these poor creatures being arranged into circles & going round & round like some sort of hairy wagon train By the way what do they turn into?

Anyone know of a good antiseptic ointment for small wounds & scratches, I've just noticed that our GS has a nasty scratch on her nose, she has obviously been bothering our elderly Burmese cat & sticking her hairy snout where it's not wanted . I'll clean it with a saline solution but if anyone can recommend anything else it might be quite handy to have around .

Betadine is a very good antiseptic solution, you can get it from the vet.

Thanks kteee, by the way Nuno is coming to sort our dog out next week so thanks for that too. I was in two minds about having him clipped, I thought I might enter him into SCRUFTS this year (is it happening?),he'd have a really good chance of winning looking at the state of him at the moment, but the weather has turned so warm now I don't think he can last that long.

As well as the products already mentioned we comb a little tea tree oil through our 2 dogs coats and down their legs, our dog groomer recommended it as a preventative to parasites targeting them particularly in grass areas.

I was just about to call Nuno to arrange for him to come and groom Barney again - but think we'll have to wait till his leg is better!

kteee how do I access your newsletter?
I get the impression that Nuno's really busy it might be an idea to book him now for when Barney's better, which will be soon I hope.

I put a little teatree & lavender essential oil in the saline solution I used to clean my dogs scratched nose, she's now gone off & isn't talking to me, I'm sure she'll forgive me when she hears the biscuit tin .