DOGS IN SPAIN

All dogs have to be microchipped and vaccinated.
VACCINATIONS - Distemper, Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus and Rabies are normally required.
Dogs need to have boosters every year. Some kennels insist on a vaccination against Kennel cough.

MICROCHIP - this can be done by your local vet.

It is also important to worm and use flea control regularly.

DANGEROUS DOGS

Spain has been bringingin regulations to control the keeping of certain breeds of dogs regarded as dangerous.
Here is some information wehave come accross - it may vary from region to region:
Owners of dangerous dog breeds, and their crosses, such as a Pitbull Terrier, Doberman (which applies to Andalucia only) Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and Rottweiller, to name only a few, must have them registered in the Town Hall and have an appropriate licence which needs to be renewed annually.
Handlers and walkers must also be licensed. The dogs must be muzzled and also be restrained by a non - extendible lead when outside of the home. Owners must be 18 years old or over and have proof of an Insurance Policy with liability coverage of at least 120,000 euros and they also need to take a Psychological Test to show that they are capable of looking after the dog.
Properties housing dangerous dogs must have clear signs, high walls or fences, and strong doors to ensure the dogs can't get out, otherwise they need to be chained up. Owners not adhering to the law can be fined up to 115,000 euros.

DOGS adapt very well to a life in Spain but there are certain diseases that we need to be aware of that don't occur in the UK.

LEISHMANOSIS which is caused by the sandfly. They bite a dog carrying the disease and will then go on to bite a healthy dog injecting the leishmania with the saliva into the skin. These sandflies are active between April and November and will then disappear in the winter. It hides during the day and comes out late afternoon with the highest period of activity occuring between 2am - 4am when the temperature is over 20 degrees Celsius. August is the worst month.
SYMPTOMS are weight loss, prolonged nail growth, ulceration of the ear tips and bald patches on the skin. There will be signs of chronic diarrhoea, lameness and nose bleeding.
DIAGNOSIS is only by a blood test.
TREATMENT needs to be started as soon as possible with the vet either giving a series of injections or by prescribing tablets. Unfortunately there isn't a vacination available at the moment but investigation into this is underway.
PREVENTION is very difficult but by keeping dogs in at night, helps - never let them sleep out, and windows in the house should be covered with fly netting. Take dogs out for a short walk before going to bed. Provide them with a Scalibur collar which can be bought at any veterinary centre - start in March and keep on until the end of November. Finally a yearly blood test is important to see if they have become infected during the summer so if necessary treatment can be started immediately.

TICK DISEASE . The tick season starts in March and lasts until November. There are two species Ixodes Ticinus (black tick) and hipicephalus Sanguinens (brown tick) The latter is responsible for the disease.The mild summers are an ideal breeding ground, especially when there is a lot of humidity. They hide in well watered gardens, bushes and shrubs especially in areas frequented by sheep and goats This is where the dogs collect ticks. The female tick can be the 'carrier' of tick disease by carrying in her saliva some bacterias known as Ehrlichia canis. Whilst sucking blood from the dog, the tick can infect it with this bacteria and after a variable incubation period Ehrlichia reach certain white blood cells (monocytes) which flow in the blood stream and can affect the whole body.
SYMPTOMS are high fever and complete weakness after tick infestation, eye and nose discharge, loss of appetite, loss of weight,serious anaemia, sudden haemorrhages, bleeding from the nose, mouth,intestine, subcutaneous bleeding.
DIAGNOSIS by having a general check and a blood test.

TREATMENT if caught in the early stages is by a course of a special antibiotic for 10 - 14 days. In some cases a blood transfusion might need to be carried out. If the disease is not detected early enough a dog can die.
PREVENTION It is necessary to examine your dog for ticks regularly. If you find one remove it immediately as the longer the tick sucks the blood the more likely it is for an infection to develop.The ticks can be removed by soaking a cotton bud in alcohol and dabbing it on the tick and then using tweezers grasp it and twist with a rotating action or spray with Frontline, which is obtainable from your vet, causing the tick to remove itself and fall off. The dog can also be protected by wearing an anti - tick collar or by using a special repellent which comes in the form of a liquid also provided by your vet. Never pull a tick off your dog always use a clockwise turning movement.

PROCESSIONARY CATERPILLARS. Another thing to be aware of when visiting or living in Spain. These caterpillars are found in places where there are pine trees as this is where they make their home. The nests are very easy to recognise as they look like white cocoons similar to candy floss. During the months of October through to March and April they come down from their nests in search of food and form a long line to look for another pine tree. These caterpillars are covered in lots of irritating, poisonous, brittle hairs and have a bittersweet smell and taste that attracts dogs, encouraging them to eat them, which can cause fatal results. It would only need a dog to eat a few, to kill them. The reaction to the poison causes a necrosis to the tongue. Dogs can also have an allergic reaction by just sniffing these caterpillars and inhaling the poison.
SYMPTOMS are white spots on the tongue and mouth, excessive drooling, irritation around the mouth, nose or eyes causing intensive itching and noticing that the tongue has become black and swollen.
TREATMENT - take the dog to the vet immediately.
PREVENTION is to avoid walking the dog anywhere near pine trees during the months from October to April, or if you do, put a muzzle on.

CATS IN SPAIN

CATS also appear to adapt well to life in Spain and enjoy sleeping in the sun! If it is too hot for them they soon find a cool place to lie. It is important to have water available at all times. It is also wise to keep them in at night as the foxes are likely to catch them. As in the UK, vaccinations are very important which are mentioned in the following list.

VACCINATIONS Feline Influenza - Cat Flu, Feline Enteritis, Feline Leukaemia, Rabies and Typhus

It is also necessary to have the cat microchipped.

WORMING needs to be done on a regular basis which your vet will advise you about and also how to prevent FLEAS and TICKS.

HORSES IN SPAIN

HORSES are usually kept in a smaller space in some areas of Spain, unlike the UK where they are able to graze in a sizeable paddock. Shade is very important so unless there are trees it is necessary to erect a shelter of some type.
Their feeding routine is also different and they are usually fed on Paja, Alfalfa and Sugar Beet Pulp with an added amount of cereal depending on what they are being used for.

FARRIERS are not easy to find in some parts of Spain, also a VET, as equine vets are far and few between so enquire at a local Riding Stables or Veterinary Clinic and I am sure they will be able to help.

Horses need to be MICROCHIPPED and registered with the local Agricultural Office. A card has to be stamped once a year and a large fine is imposed if it isn't!

VACCINATIONS are important too, as in the UK, such as Flu and Tet.

WORMING needs to be done on a regular basis and advice should be sought from a vet.

To TRANSPORT a horse in Spain a MOVEMENT LICENCE has to be obtained from the local Agricultural Office.