BLog

Paws in the Overberg: Julie Berkman- Fluckiger’s Guide to Stanford BY BRIAN BERKMAN Julie Berkman-Fluckiger sniffs out a remarkable stay at a fire-restored Stanford home – Die Kuierhuis – and reports back. My humans call it a road trip. I call it the greatest olfactory adventure of my life. When Brian Berkman and JP Fluckiger loaded the car and pointed it east along the coastal road, twenty minutes beyond Hermanus

“Behind every healthy pet is a caring vet with a heart full of compassion.” I’ve been a veterinarian for 29 years. If you hadtold me during my first four years in practicethat I would still be here today, let alone deeplyin love with my job I probably wouldn’t havebelieved you. Fresh out of university, I was released into theworld with a head full of medical knowledge butcompletely unprepared for the

Your pets spend majority of their lives at home, soit is important to ensure their home environment issupportive. By making small changes to their everydayliving, you can protect and preserve your dog’swellbeing and improve their joint health. As veterinaryphysiotherapists, we identify things in homes that are notsupporting your dog’s joints or overall well-being By Megan Klaasen Here are some major tips we usually recommend: Step It Up! Did you know?

By: Jenni Davies Every home has a heartbeat. For Marié de Klerk, that heartbeat has a glossy caramel coat, four paws, and enough energy to power the whole dorp. Nine-year-old Zoey, a Hungarian Vizsla from Kimberley, greets Marié with a wide smile every morning and dances like popcorn whenever she returns home. Whether Zoey is welcoming clients at the veterinary clinic where Marié works, swimming laps in a farm dam,

There is something incredibly special about the relationship between humans and their pets. Long before science confirmed the emotional and psychological benefits of companion animals, people already understood it in their hearts: pets make life better. BY TRACY MCQUARRIE A house may provide shelter, but it is often a pet that transforms it into a home. The gentle sound of paws following you from room to room. The excited greeting

By: Jenni Davies Our furry family members don’t all enter our lives at the same stage. We welcome some as roly-poly babies or gangly juveniles; others as fully fledged adults or frosty-faced seniors. Wherever the journey begins, our lives together are a story of constant growth and development. One thing’s for sure: every stage of life brings different needs. And the care we give them now helps shape their futures

BY TRACY MCQUARRIE Understanding the Changing World of Pet Care and Animal WelfareOver the past few decades, the way we care for our pets has changed dramatically. Dogs and cats are no longer just animals who live in our gardens or guard our homes, they are family members. They sleep on our couches, travel with us, and hold a place in our hearts that is deeply personal. And because of

COCO’S IVDD RECOVERY STORY Coco, a lively French Bulldog, suddenly lost function in her back legs. Her owners immediately knew something was wrong. She was rushed to the vet, where the diagnosis was confirmed: Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD), a spinal condition commonly seen in chondrodystrophic breeds like French Bulldogs and Dachschund. Coco underwent spinal surgery to relieve pressure on her spinal cord. While the procedure was successful, recovery would require

By Bryony Van Niekerk Finding a property to rent or buy that fits your needs is hard enough. Add pets into the mix and suddenly the challenge becomes ten times more complicated. These days it feels like more and more places are either not pet-friendly at all, or they come with a long list of restrictions; size, breed, number of pets… you name it. It doesn’t seem to matter whether

“Behind every healthy pet is a caring vet with a heart full of compassion.” My patients can’t tell me where it hurts. Some of them hiss, bark, squeak and even squawk, and a surprising number attempt to bite me. Every day brings a new cast of characters, from nervous cats and enthusiastic Labradors to the occasional patient who sees the examination table as a wrestling ring. As a small animal

It’s a fresh new year – and, if you’re like many of us, you’re sorting, spring cleaning, and goal setting like a Collie herding its flock. But, amid the organised chaos, take a moment to think of your furry family members. When last did you take a look at their first aid kit? Now’s the perfect time to give it a refresh. That way you’re prepped for whatever adventures the

By Tracy Mcquarrie There’s something magical about a fresh new start. Whether it’s the beginning of a new year, a new season, or simply a new chapter in your life, the feeling is the same, renewal, possibility, hope. And no one embodies the spirit of fresh beginnings quite like our beloved dogs. Every wagging tail, every morning biiiiig stretch, every joyful zoomie, reminds us that life is best lived with

Think adoption fees are excessive? Here’s the truth… You’ve found The One – the perfect shelter pet who speaks to your heart. But then you spot the adoption fee. Wait… Isn’t getting them out of the shelter enough? Why do they want you to pay for a pet nobody else wanted? Is this some kind of money-making scheme? Fair questions. But the answer, while simple, needs a tweak in perspective.