Pet Questions?

Should expats bring their pets to China?

The Chinese are rapidly becoming a population of pet lovers. As with all social changes this change is painful and the speed of change varies with the city or province.

I have read posts that suggest that bringing your beloved pets to China should be avoided at all costs; I disagree with this strongly and if your pet could talk then I think they would too.

China is a country where they have strong laws that they enforce firmly, and whilst I may not agree with their methods of enforcement as long as pet owners satisfy the regulations then they will not fall foul of the authorities.

Each province has their own regulations; in Beijing import quarantine is 4 weeks, in Shanghai its 7 days. In Beijing vets that have government approval can give the Rabies vaccination but in Shanghai only the government vets can give this vaccination.

Hence it is important that the client has a thorough understanding of these local regulations before arrival and this may include where you live! In Beijing to live within the 5th ring road one’s dog has to stand less than 35cm at the shoulder.

Throughout China dogs need to be registered yearly with the local police and this process is routine, however owners do often complain that in those areas where the government officials give the vaccinations the procedure can be a little rough and unhygienic.

Some of the vaccinations that we take for granted in the west are not available for our dogs and cats in China but generally the health liability is still low even though this is the case; the multi-vaccinations and Rabies are available.

Veterinary care in China is understandably at a lower level than in the West however in Beijing and Shanghai this is changing with western veterinary consultants helping drive this improvement, just as Western doctors helped develop the medical profession.

Clients often think that such international standard medical services are especially expensive in China, be it human or veterinary, but I’d suggest that its their cost perspective that may have changed as so many other products and services are actually a lot cheaper than in their home countries.

Also before you arrive give a thought to where you maybe going after your time in China! China is a non-registered country from an export perspective, hence the EU will require a rabies antibody titer blood sample before your return, as will many other countries; the Americas do not.

Hence if you are coming form the EU, get this blood sample and a pet passport before coming. This blood sample aside, the export process has the same steps as the export process from all other countries i.e. an export health certificate and permit from an approved veterinarian, though there is a little bit of blood sampling that this author deems unnecessary.

During my time in China, whilst dogs and cats were predominantly the pets that I have treated, iguanas, chameleons, parrots, terrapins, turtles, and all of the small furries found their way though my door. It should be noted that the export of all these exotic species from China is becoming increasingly complicated and in certain instances prohibited e.g. birds, hence I would recommend leaving your more unusual pets at home.

Obviously China isn’t presently as pet friendly as many other expat destinations, however it is getting there and if we wanted the familiar and risk-free we would have stayed at home.

Hence whilst the countries we visit may well have rules and regulations, beliefs and perspectives that we may find frustrating or unacceptable I think we should remember that in their society we are the oddity. If a local stares or grimaces at us as we walk our 30kg dog down their street I think we should swallow a big dose of humility and accept that in our world experiences vary and mature over time.

responsible pet ownership is a new concept in China

That's a bit of a general statement for a massive country with an estimated 5000 years history, isn't it?

there is a lot that we can do to raise the level of responsible pet ownership and pet health care in this country.

We? Who are we?  In my country it's customary to hunt down and kill the rare Haggis, although we don't usually dye its hair beforehand.

No offence to anyone here intended, but the Chinese have been keeping pets for longer than most western nations have existed.
And seriously, you must try dog and microchips (McCains) - very, very tasty. Good for your healthy, as my students would say :-)

I have a question. The gf and I recently acquired this little dog, which I think is a Maltese. Now, she has a lot of hair in front of her eyes. The local vet says not to groom her but I can't help but feel it would make her able to see more. Is it inadvisable to groom a dog slightly?

A more serious question: she is making a strange coughing sound, sounds like a cat coughing up a hairball, usually in the morning and late evening and right after some rough-n-tumble playing. She is currently being treated for kennel cough with some shots the vet gives her. Apart from keeping her warm, her surroundings clean and giving her the cough medicine the vet said I should buy, is there anything else I can do to make this coughing go away?

I would have thought trimming the hair and grooming her is fine;  I think the vet maybe concerned that if she’s very small and bathed in an uncontrolled and cold manner then she may catch a cold. How old is she and what is her weight? Please note when drying small pets they should be thoroughly towel dried first as using a hair-dryer initially will cool them far too much. Using the hair-dryer to dry the last remaining dampness is ok.

Assuming this is the same pet then just trim the hair at home; Kennel cough is a bacterial viral complex and antibiotics will help treat the bacteria but not the virus so the recovery is often protracted being 10 days or more. Ensuring that the symptoms are alleviated during this time is essential . Please note daily injections are favored by Chinese vets but there are antibiotic tablets available.

I have a question about what's involved in taking a pet 'home' to one's own country when leaving China. This is one of the main reasons I haven't adopted a pet in China.

Assuming we are talking about a dog or a cat going back to United States then the procedure is quite routine; these pets will need to have their annual vaccinations up to date plus a rabies vaccination, and ideally dogs should be registered with the local police. These are all routine pet owner procedures in China.

Besides this all you need to do is to get an export health check performed by a government official (or approved vet depending on the province) and then paper shuffle the export permit. These procedures need to be done approximately 10 days before export.

Please note that pet regulations are province specific however nothing I have heard makes me believe that the export process varies between provinces though obviously you should check. However the point is that the US has rabies just like China so its easy to export pets there.

Hence whilst the countries we visit may well have rules and regulations, beliefs and perspectives that we may find frustrating or unacceptable I think we should remember that in their society we are the oddity. If a local stares or grimaces at us as we walk our 30kg dog down their street I think we should swallow a big dose of humility and accept that in our world experiences vary and mature over time.

Or just tell the 30kg dog, "Sic'em boy!"   (kidding, just kidding - far better to teach the dog to jump up and lick people's faces on command  )

Personally, I'm always amused at the utter terror most of my Chinese friends have of even the most friendly little dogs.  Not sure what they'd make of a 100+ pound rottweiler or doberman.

If only I could get a house with a decent sized fenced yard so I could have a couple of nice big doggies again.

Assuming we are talking about a dog or a cat going back to United States then the procedure is quite routine;

Thank you 

And seriously, you must try dog and microchips (McCains) - very, very tasty. Good for your healthy, as my students would say

We? Who are we?  In my country it's customary to hunt down and kill the rare Haggis, although we don't usually dye its hair beforehand.

Ahem.    This is meant to be a serious thread and it's in the ON-TOPIC area of the Saloon.

Yes, please keep on topic.   

We have several teachers here (Dalian) with pets.  Some brought their cats from America.  Some have adopted dogs.  Some have gone through the paper work to take their pets home from China.

Some airlines allow you to take your pet into the cabin with you.   This is a really good point for people to know.

So the USA no longer has the long heartbreaking quarantine requirement? If so that's good news...the prospect was one of many reasons I didn't have a real pet in China.

The gf and I recently acquired this little dog, which I think is a Maltese. Now, she has a lot of hair in front of her eyes. The local vet says not to groom her but I can't help but feel it would make her able to see more.

Don't be fooled by this load of farfel. Squirrel-Boy here is Danish, so naturally he's actually asking about his own eyebrows.
(Uh, he has also been known to cough up hairballs, but I think that's just him... )

Speaking of Danish...I was, as always, quite right: Our official spokesfriend here IS Danish. What can I say...I can detect the herring- and aquavit-breath from miles away.
Anyway, please feel free to pelt him with rocks and garbage.  

I've slowly been introducing my fiancee to the concept of dogs (other than for food ) and cats as pets.  I think a cat is a distinct possibility when we get a bigger place.

Ahem.  I grovel at your feet, Ma'am.
I promise not to mention dogs or microchips ever again in your presence. And certainly never again in a dog and microchip thread. 

However,

there are dogs, good

there are microchips,   good


and there are sneaky commercialists,   (bad)

in my simple sphere of living.

So, Ma'am, I must insist:  (this include you too, Duke)


the topic is dogs and microchips then I'll damn well talk about dogs and microchips unless it's flagged "serious, no humour allowed".

How to feed pets

Pets become part of our family and our life, however it is important to remember that they are still animals and before domestication they roamed free in the wild. Over 10,000 years their appearance may have changed but the way their body works has not.

First of all, responsible pet owners should feed their pets a balanced pet food. They should not feed human food from the table.

Many of the food items found in human food are either poisonous or at the very least can cause vomiting. Whilst the list is long, here are some of the common products that should not be fed to our pets:  avocados, chocolate, grapes, raisins, macadamia nuts, mushrooms, onions, garlic, persimmons, rhubarb leaves, and yeast dough.

Milk, eggs and dairy products are commonly fed food products, but all can cause specific health conditions. As with humans, too much of a good thing can be a problem; too much fat can cause pancreatitis, sugary food can cause diabetes mellitus, and whilst bones may seem a good idea they can easily get stuck so that a vet needs to remove them.

It is very common to find that the teeth of dogs that are fed from the table are very bad and need to be removed, and whilst no-one want to waste food, raw, old or moldy food can cause infections in our pets.

High quality pet food companies have produced balanced diets that satisfy the food requirements of your pets. Whilst home cooked food can be fed to our pets, it is very difficult to accurately satisfy your pet’s health needs.

Very significantly, it is also very hard to know how much food to feed to a dog; the commercial diets are calorie assessed and there is usually a feeding scale on the packet. Obesity is a very common problem and most commonly occurs because owners give their dog treats and snacks. If treats are to be fed please remember that the calories of that treat need to be taken away from the total calorie intake you pet is consuming.

A good policy is to take some of the dry food you are feeding from your dog’s normal diet, keep it in a bag and give this as the treat, Your dog will still be happy without gaining the extra weight.

In the wild our cats and dogs are designed to eat irregularly. Many dogs appear to always be hungry as their ancestors would hunt and scavenge, eating once a week, so they were conditioned to eat all the food they find when they find it.

At most, adult dogs should be fed twice daily, though once is best. Cats are a lot better at eating only what they need to, but some cats will eat out of boredom if the food is available, so it is best not to leave food out all the time.

For cats and dogs it is best to put the food out and take it away after 30 minutes. Medium to large breed dogs should not be walked within 1 hour of feeding as it is possible to get a twisted gut; walk them first.

Dogs can learn bad habits quickly; feeding dogs from the table teaches them that this is normal for their lifestyle, and if an owner starts doing this they will have to repeat this behavior in the future.

The owner is also teaching the dog that it is a very important member of the dog pack. In the wild the top dog will bite another dog if the other pack member acts badly. To live a happy family-dog life, the dog has to be taught that it is subordinate to all the family members. If the dog is firmly taught this message, and if it is unhappy with one of it’s pack members, i.e. you and your family, it will never bite a family member.

Remember a dog is not a human; it is an animal and will act like one when it needs to.

When owners are going on holiday, the lifestyle of their pet needs to be maintained.  As long as the food will not go bad it is quite reasonable to have someone to feed your cat and clean their litter every other day.

However dogs need daily attention and feeding; they should not be left alone without daily visits. If unavoidable they should be sent on their own holiday to a professional kennel.

Keeping pets is a life long pleasure and a learning experience for both pets and owners alike. The pet and their owner both need treating and educating.

Warm regards

Tony

Dr. Anthony David Beck, BVetMed, MRCVS
Doctors Beck & Stone Pet Health Care Center
www.vetinChina

Seems all the posts here are about dogs. I read the last post and it maybe mentioned cats twice just in passing. I have two cats and with the size of apartments here in China and the fact that yards here are rare as ducks teeth I'd never consider keeping a dog.
Most of the expats I know here keep cats and a few have smaller breed dogs. So how about some posts regarding our feline friends??

Pet vaccinations explained!

When you go to the vet do you actually know what your pet is getting? The viral infections your pet is being vaccinated against are indicated by the letter, though do you know what the letters mean? Below is an explanation.

Pet vaccination intervals
The immunity response provided by a vaccination lasts longer than 1 year and over-vaccination can lead to certain conditions such as skin cancer or certain immune-mediated disorders.

Kittens and puppies are vaccinated at least 2 times at 3- 4 week intervals so that the immunity is boosted; the antibodies that the kitten or puppy may have gained from their mother hinders this immunity from being generated, hence the repeat vaccinations.

This is why vaccinations are recommended at 8 and 12 weeks. To ensure excellent immunity is attained, a third vaccination at 16 weeks is advisable. The rabies vaccination is often given at this time or at 20/24 weeks.

However in adult pets one vaccination will provide sufficient immunity. If your pet has missed a couple of years of vaccination at this time, then a course of vaccination is NOT required; one injection for each vaccination is sufficient.

Yearly health checks
Regardless of vaccinations, yearly health checks are advisable; your pet cannot tell you if they are feeling ill or ‘not quite right’. It is a good idea for you to give them a yearly check up.

At this time you can decide whether you want to give your pet a vaccination booster for any of the infectious diseases listed below.

Pet vaccinations and the law
However under Chinese law both dogs and cats need to have the rabies vaccinations yearly; this should be adhered to.

We are officially authorized by the government to give pets vaccinations and to issue the certified “Vaccination Red Books”. This official “Vaccination Red Book” is needed by owners to take their pets out of China, move pets to other Chinese cities, and to renew dog registration licenses.

For all owners of dogs in Chaoyang and Shunyi Districts, we provide the annual rabies vaccination and the official “Vaccination Red Book” free of charge to all dog owners who register their dog with us.

Routinely the authorities register dogs during the month of May, and this is one reason why the rabies vaccination is routinely given at this time, however if your dog has an up to date rabies vaccination in the official vaccination book then this should not be necessary.

However please note in other cities such as Shanghai only government vets are allowed to give the rabies vaccinations. This regulation appears to have been applied at registration here in Beijing, however at this time this is not the official regulation.

Cat vaccinations
The routine injection contains protection against 3 infections:

FVR = Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis
This is a horrible upper respiratory infection that is airborne and highly contagious among cats. It causes sneezing and coughing with discharge from the eyes and nose. Infected cats will have loss of appetite and a fever. Young kittens and senior cats are more susceptible to this infection and many require hospitalization to recover.

C = Calicivirus
This is another upper respiratory infection with symptoms similar to feline viral rhinotracheitis. These infections account for 95% of upper respiratory infections in cats. The disease is spread through direct contact with an infected cat or objects, for example a food dish or toy.

P = Panleukopenia
This is also known as feline distemper. It is highly contagious and deadly among cats. It is similar to the parvovirus seen in dogs. Symptoms include vomiting and diarrhea, weakness, dehydration, tremors, and loss of coordination. A low white blood cell count is also common. Cats with feline distemper need to be hospitalized and have intensive care. Mortality rate is high.

Dog vaccinations
The routine injection contains protection against 6 infections annotated by DHPPi/L.

D = Distemper
Distemper is a nasty virus that is highly contagious, occurs world wide, and at one time was the leading cause of death in puppies. Young puppies are more susceptible to the virus then adult dogs. You may see signs of an upper respiratory infection with a high fever. The dog may also have neurological signs. This disease is usually fatal.

H = Hepatitis, Adenovirus-1 or -2
Vaccines either contain Adenovirus-1 or -2. There is cross-protection between the viruses i.e. a vaccine containing Adenovirus-1 protects against Adenovirus-2 and vice versa.

Adenovirus-2 causes Infectious Canine Hepatitis. This is spread by contact with the urine and feces of infected animals. The virus causes liver and kidney damage. Animals that survive may have chronic illness. Symptoms include but are not limited to: fever, lethargy, anorexia, abdominal pain, and bloody diarrhea.

Adenovirus-1 causes respiratory tract infections.

P = Parvovirus
This virus attacks the intestinal tract and causes severe vomiting and diarrhea. Parvo is highly contagious and dogs contract the virus through contact with an infected animal’s stools. Without treatment dogs become dehydrated and weak and often die. This virus is very common and puppies who are not properly vaccinated are often afflicted.

P (or Pi) = Parainfluenza
This is a virus that causes an upper respiratory infection. Dogs usually contract the disease through contact with nasal secretions of infected dogs.

L = Leptospirosis
This disease affects the liver and kidneys and is deadly. Animals with this disease are contagious to other animals and humans. A positive dog should be isolated and the caregiver should wear protective clothing and gloves. The disease is spread through contact with urine of infected animals. Dogs with leptospirosis may show signs of lethargy, dehydration, jaundice, and fever.

The vaccine against Leptospirosis is not license for use in China and as such is not available, however Leptospirosis is very uncommon in China.

Bordetella or Kennel Cough
This is an upper respiratory infection also known as kennel cough. This infection is usually not fatal but is a pain to get rid of. The infection can spread quickly through boarding and grooming facilities and any place dogs congregate. The vaccination can be in the form of a nasal spray or injection.

The vaccine against Bordetella is not licensed for use in China and as such is not widely available.

Rabies
Rabies is a fatal disease that can infect humans. The classic symptoms include apprehension, anxiety, biting or snapping at random, and frothing at the mouth. The virus is passed in saliva typically acquired through a bite wound or by eating an infected animal. Cats and dogs show clinical signs but many other mammals can carry the virus without showing clinical signs.

Heartworm
Heartworm is a worm of the heart. Typical dog heartworm symptoms are exercise intolerance, cough, breathing difficulties, enlargement of the liver, temporary loss of consciousness due to poor blood flow to the brain, fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity, weight loss, loss of stamina and death.

The signs are far less severe in cats and the treatment simpler.

Whilst there is a yearly injection against Heartworm it is not actually a vaccination. The injection is a large dose of parasiticide that lasts for a year. In this case the ‘vaccination’ has to be given yearly to maintain protection.

There are monthly treatments that also prevent both heartworm and other parasites.

Heartworm is not prevalent in Beijing as the winter period is too cold for the infectious parasite to survive. However the infection is seen in southern China.

Vaccinations in the exotic species
Generally vaccines are not required in the other commonly kept exotic species e.g. hamsters or chinchillas, excepting rabbits.

There are 3 vaccines that maybe used in rabbits; Myxomatosis, Hemorrhagic Gastro-enteritis and Rabies.

Both Myxomatosis and Hemorrhagic Gastro-enteritis are man made viruses not seen in China; neither are the vaccinations available.

However it is a reasonable precaution to vaccinate your rabbit against rabies if the rabbit stays outside, though please note that the rabies vaccine is not licensed for use in rabbits.

Please contact me for further information concerning vaccinations and preventative health care for your pet.

The owner is also teaching the dog that it is a very important member of the dog pack. In the wild the top dog will bite another dog if the other pack member acts badly. To live a happy family-dog life, the dog has to be taught that it is subordinate to all the family members. If the dog is firmly taught this message, and if it is unhappy with one of it’s pack members, i.e. you and your family, it will never bite a family member.

Do you sanction giving the dog a smack?

Another question relates to what to do if your dog is attacked by another dog when you are out walking. As a matter of interest,my little dog was about to be attacked by a red cattle dog (Australia) I was carrying my large umbrella (folded up) at the time. This animal was usually kept behind an electrified fence,but it escaped. The owners were unable to call the dog back. I only had time to stand in front of my little dog and as the red dog charged, I smashed it across the face with my umbrella. The dog made a return attack,but had me in its sights, so I again belted it in the face. Fortunately, the dog ran back in its yard and the owner captured it. I was later told, quite sternly, that one should never hit a dog! Any thoughts on that and I do understand that circumstances alter cases?