Dr Marilie van der Bank shares the health problems that show up the most at their practice, and how pet owners can deal with these issues.

She is a small animal Veterinarian, treating cats, dogs, and the occasional exotic pet. Her real passion is to work with cats, and she strongly believes in adopting strays that need special care.

We asked her a few questions on your behalf. Keep reading to learn helpful tips on avoiding and managing common health issues in pets.

 

What are some of the most common problems pet owners face?

“The most common problem we see at our practice is digestive problems such as gastroenteritis, often caused by a pet eating something that did not accommodate with them. We also see a fair share of itchy skin due to allergies.”

 

Do you have any recommendations for pet owners on dealing with said problems?

“It is important to feed your pets a high-quality diet and not feed them scraps from the table, especially bones. It is important to see a veterinarian about itchy skin as it can indicate various conditions such as food or environmental allergies, or parasites. A treatment plan can then be made to determine the cause of the allergy and get a solution.”

 

8 Tips to avoid/manage digestive issues and allergies:

  • A high-quality diet will ensure your pet gets the necessary nutrients.
  • Vet-approved pet food is specially formulated to contain only ingredients that pets can safely consume and easily metabolise.
  • Don’t feed your pet table scraps and restrict their access to trash bins.
  • Adding pumpkin and coconut oil to their diet is an effective way to combat digestive issues.
  • Have an allergy test done at your nearest Veterinary practice.
  • Restrict access to particular grass or plant types, depending on the determined allergies.
  • Regularly treat your pet/s for ticks, parasites, and other pests.
  • Natural remedies, such as the topical application of buchu or bee’s wax, are a healthy option for itchy skin and inflammation.

 

Learn more about our Vet of the Month (VOM).

Dr Marilie qualified from Onderstepoort in 2018, after which she completed her Compulsory Community Service (CCS) year in Port Saint Johns, working for the Transkei Animal Welfare Initiative (TAWI). During that year she sterilised over a thousand dogs and cats and treated multiple species, including monkeys. After the CCS she returned to Gauteng and worked in private practice in the East Rand for 2 years.

Dr Marilie, do you have pets?

“I currently have four fur-kids. Mbalenhle is my eldest. She is an Africanus dog and was rescued as a very malnourished puppy from the natural forest in Sicambeni village, close to Port Saint Johns. Lika, another Africanus, was found beside the N12 highway in a plastic bag when she was just 3 weeks old. I raised her with a bottle, and she is a real mommy’s girl. Khanyisa is my oldest kitty and is a calico domestic shorthair brought in to Roodekruin vet as a stray kitten. She takes a while to warm up but is absolutely gorgeous. Luthando is the newest member of our little family, he is an 8-week-old domestic shorthair kitten, which a client found as a feral kitten. He is taking a while to warm to humans and other animals alike, but I believe he will be a friendly and happy cat soon.”

What made you want to become a vet?

“I grew up on a smallholding with all sorts of animals surrounding me and I have always known I want to work with animals. I also have a keen interest in medicine and surgery, and I believe this is the perfect profession to work with both of these passions. (I decided as a naïve 4-year-old and never changed my mind).”

 

Last word from our Vet of the Month.

“I think that all pet owners should seriously consider having an insurance plan for their animals as it makes sudden veterinary costs less stressful when they inevitably get hurt or ill.”