Flea Treatment Options

It isn't easy to keep on top of your pets flea problem and choosing a flea treatment is no easy task with new products constantly coming onto the market. This month we look at the difference between the old favourites and the newbies!

THE NEED FOR CHANGE - RESISTANCE!

Like most species of animal and insect the flea is a survivor. It has the ability to adapt its biological make up in order to counteract environmental changes that may threaten its existence. These changes do not happen overnight but they do happen. For many years the flea products available to us contained the same old insecticides, which eventually became useless.
Drug companies have constantly tried to come up with new ways of combating this problem whilst ensuring the safety of your pet.

CHEMICAL WARFARE!

Many modern fleatreatments contain chemicals that attack the nerve cells of fleas causing hyperactivity, disorientation, paralysis and death. Some products include an insect growth regulator that also interrupts the flea breeding cycle.

These products are rigorously tested for efficacy and safety before they can be registered. It is probably safe to say that the newest flea products are going to be the most efficient as they will have been developed using the latest research. Here are some of the new products worth investigating.

ACTIVYL
active ingredient indoxacarb that was specifically developed to overcome insect resistance uses enzymes inside the flea to activate it.

• Indoxacarb has not been used for flea control before.
• It is effective at killing adult and developing stages of fleas no known resistance - yet!
• 4 weeks of efficacy against adult fleas on the pet and developing stages of fleas in the pet's environment spot on treatment safe for dogs and cats from 
• 8 weeks of age or more than specified weight waterproof and remains effective after shampooing and bathing 
• does NOT kill ticks

NEXGARD

• active ingredient afoxolaner
• oral systemic treatment
• tick and flea control for 1 month
• safe for pups 8wks and older
• dogs can swim
• NOT FOR USE ON CATS
• safety in pregnant or lactating bitches has not been tested

BRAVECTO

• active ingredient Fluralaner
• Fluralaner is a potent inhibitor of parts of the arthropod nervous system kills adult as well as juvenile ticks (larvae, nymphs).
• Newly emerged fleas on a dog are killed before viable eggs are produced.
• chewable tablet
• acts systemically so dog can be bathed and can swim safe for puppies over 8 weeks old 
• NOT FOR USE ON CATS LASTS FOR 12 WEEKS 
• Can be used in breeding, pregnant and lactating dogs.

SERESTO COLLAR

• imidacloprid & Flumethrin
• prevents tick and flea infestation for up to 8 months repels ticks and fleas
• immediately frequent swimming or shampooing should be avoided safe for use
• in cats over 10 weeks old safe for puppies over 7 weeks old safety in
• pregnant or lactating animals has not been tested.

Things to consider before purchasing your flea treatment:
how bad is the flea problem? You may need to start with a combination of products including environmental insecticides to get on top of your pets fleas.
does your dog swim? If so choose a product that will withstand your dog being wet
will your pet tolerate a collar?
how easy is it to dose your pet or apply spot treatments?
how good are you in remembering to treat your pet every month?

Unfortunately, one of the main reasons flea treatments fail is pet owner compliance! The months go by so quickly it is not always easy to remember when last you treated your pet. Using a product that lasts for more than a month has huge advantages in this instance and some even come with a buzzer
to remind you when the next treatment is due!

If you have any questions regarding flea control speak to your Veterinarian!

Kenilworth Veterinary Hospital
47 Kenilworth Road, Cape Town, Kenilworth, South Africa
Tel: 021-671-5018
www.facebook.com/kenilworth.vet

Additives and their 'E Numbers'

Additives are substances that are added to foods to preserve, flavour or enhance their taste and appearance.

Some additives have been used for centuries - for example, using vinegar to preserve food by pickling, or
using sulfur dioxide to preserve wines. With the  increasing use of processed foods in the second half of the 20th century, there has been a great increase in the use of food additives (both natural and artificial) of
varying levels of safety.

To regulate these additives (and inform us consumers) each additive is assigned a unique number, an 'E number', which is used in Europe for all approved additives. Countries outside Europe often use only the number. These additives are listed as 'generally recognized as safe' or GRAS.

Safety: Mistrust of food additives in the 1950's led to the precautionary principle to be put in place - only additives that are known to be safe should be used in foods. This led to the adoption of the Delaney clause stating that no carcinogenic substances may be used as food additives.

There has been much controversy associated with the risks and benefits of food additives. Some artificial food additives have been linked with cancer, digestive problems, neurological conditions, attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), heart disease or obesity. Natural additives
may be similarly harmful or be the cause of allergic reactions in certain individuals.

Dietician's opinion: There certainly are people who are sensitive, intolerant or even allergic to some additives, and in those cases precautions must be taken, but for the general population the additives have been strictly regulated and are safe to use.

Also, with our existing hectic lifestyles, removing additives from our diets entirely is pretty much impossible. It IS possible to use more natural products that contain less/no additives but they do require more preparation time, which becomes a matter of choice and a decision that each individual
needs to make according to their lifestyle.

In terms of the foods that contain the most additives, it tends to be the 'treat' food. These foods should be eaten occasionally (generally my advice is 3 times a week) and in small quantities. If you eat lots of fruit and vegetables, have wholegrain starches at most meals with a small amount of low fat protein and/or unsaturated fat, you won't be able to introduce many additives into your diet, so the best is to eat as healthy as possible most of the time!

Take a look at the table at what the different E numbers represent:

E Numbers	Group	Examples
100-199	Colours	100-109 = yellow 110-119 = orange 120-129 = red
200-299	Preservatives	210-219 = benzoates 220-229 = sulphites 240-249 = nitrates
300-399	Antioxidants and acidity regulators	300-305 = vitamin C 306-309 = vitamin E
400-499	Thickeners, stabilizers and emulsifiers	410-419 = natural gums 440-449 = natural emulsifiers 470-489 = fatty acids and compounds
500-599	pH regulators and anti-caking agents	500-509 = mineral acids and bases 510-529 = sulphates
600-699	Flavour enhancers	620-629 = glutamates
700-799	Antibiotics
900-999	Miscellaneous	900-909 = waxes 910-919 = synthetic glazes 950-969 = sweeteners
1100-1599	Additional chemicals	new chemicals that do not fall into standard classification schemes

Kim Hofmann
56 1ST AVENUE
021-674-4666
kimh.rd(at)mweb.co.za

The HVCID and Recycling

We all want to help the environment - the best way to do this is to recycle as much as possible.
The best way to do this is to separate out your paper plastic and metal and take this to one of the local recycling places.

The two recycling facilities closest to Harfield are:

* Oasis - www.oasisrecycling.co.za - they are on Imam Haron road opposite the woodlands Mica 2 blocks down from Rosemead ave.
* City of Cape Town - www.capetown.gov.za - they are off Rosmead road after the horse race course, over Wetton road and past the fire station.

* And if you are not able to drop off recycling why not take advantage of Recycle Rachel, who lives nearby in Lynfrae, and will collect your recycling twice a month for R100. - www.harfield-vllage.co.za/recycle_rachel

If the above is done, the only left over waste should be food waste, and the best thing to do in this regard is a womery - www.fullcycle.co.za

Apart from the above helping the environment it also reduces the land fill, and stops dumpster divers from invading you bin every bin day!

In addition to recycling, we should also look out for our fellow neighbours. The best way to do this is make sure you know all of your direct neighbours, exchange contact details, and know when they are away so you can keep an eye out or know who to contact when an annoying alarm goes on endlessly.

The HVCID has an initiative to do the above with street captains who are responsible for spreading security information and connect neighbours. You can find more info at www.hvcid.co.za.

We also have a Hub manager - Colleen Luiz who is full time involved in making Harfield Village safer and more secure. If you are a member of the HVCID you can contact her at admin@hvcid.co.za or call her at 081-412-6109 for all security related issues in the Village, that are not house break-ins. For House break-ins please contact your security service provider. (ADT, Princeton etc.)

HVCID
www.hvcid.co.za

Taxing Trusts: Changes in the air

The Davis Tax Committee's first interim report on estate duty was released for public comment on 13 July 2015 and caused ripples for those using trusts to minimize estate duty obligations. It is a draft report and therefore still open to public input, comment and revision.

In terms of so-called 'attribution provisions' in the Income Tax Act, a trust is allowed to pass through any taxable income to the trust donor or beneficiaries that are natural persons for the income to be taxed in their hands. The benefit of doing this lies in the fact that the income tax rate for individuals is lower than that for trusts.

In order to generate more funds for the fiscus, the Committee recommends, amongst other things, that the provisions in terms of which trust income is taxed in the hands of beneficiaries or the donor at their lower marginal rates, as opposed to the flat higher rate of tax in a trust, are to be removed. This means that it is envisaged that trust income will always be taxed at the higher rate applicable to trusts, being 41% at present. It has been proposed that this flat rate should be maintained at its existing level.

(Note that taxation of "special trusts" is treated differently. Special trusts are those that were established for the benefit of disabled adults, or minor children. These trusts are taxed at the income tax and capital gains tax rates that apply to individuals. The committee recommends that, as at present, special trusts continue to be taxed as natural persons.)

Due to the far reaching implications of the suggested changes if they are to be implemented, the committee further proposed that it would be in the interests of equity and certainty that the repeal of the attribution provisions be announced in the 2016 Budget Speech and to be implemented with
effect from 1 March 2016.

The report further clears up a common concern that there is a legislative intention to do away with trusts. This is not correct. Rather, the report states that "taxpayers must be allowed to make use of trusts when it makes sound sense to do so in the pursuit of a commercial benefit. However, as is
the case with present company tax rates today, the taxpayer must accept any potential adverse tax consequences. Taxpayers who pursue the postponement of estate duty through the use of trusts will remain at liberty to do so. But upon sale of the assets of a trust, a higher rate of tax will be imposed,
thus compensating for the estate duty loss."

As the saying goes, "watch this space" for news on developments in this regards and consult with Martin Sheard, Director at STBB Smith Tabata Buchanan Boyes at martins@stbb.co.za for assistance.

STBB Claremont
2nd floor, Buchanan's Chambers, cnr Warwick Street & Pearce Road, Claremont
021-673-4700 or 083-700-8659

Crime Terminology

Understanding crime is a difficult task, however this can be made easier if you understand the terminology that is used. When you are reporting a crime to SAPS, it also helps if you give the correct information. What you think is a robbery, could be a burglary, and the two are very different!

So here are some of the most common crimes we experience in SA:

Murder consists in the unlawful and intentional killing of another human being.

Attempted Murder consists in the commission of an unlawful act with the intention of killing another human being but which does not result in the death of that human being.

Sexual Assault: This category of crime replaces the former categories of rape and indecent assault.
The new definition is contained in the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences and Related Matters) Amendment Act, Act 32 of 2007.

Common Assault is the unlawful and intentional - A) Direct and indirect application of force to the body of another person,
or
B) Threat of application of immediate personal violence to another, in circumstances in which the threatened person is prevailed upon to believe that the person who is threatening him has the intention and power to carry out his threat.

Culpable Homicide consists of the unlawful, negligent causing of death of another human being.

Common Robbery is the unlawful and intentional forceful removal and appropriation of movable tangible property belonging to another. Note: The decisive factor is the use of force or violence.

Burglary at residential premises: Housebreaking (residential premises) is committed by a person who unlawfully and intentionally breaks into a building or similar structure, used for human habitation, and enters or penetrates it with part of his or her body or with an instrument with which
he or she intends to control something on the premises with the intention to commit a crime on the premises.

Crimen Iniuria is the unlawful intentional serious infringement of the dignity or privacy of another person.

Theft: A person who unlawfully deals with someone else's property with the intention of depriving the owner of it.

A simple break-down:
ROBBERY: The victim is directly involved unlike a
BURGLARY when no one is home.
COMMON implies that belongings were forcibly taken from your person without the use of a weapon.
ARMED implies these belongings were forcibly taken from your person and a firearm was involved.
WITH ANOTHER WEAPON implies these belongings were forcibly taken from your person and a weapon other than a firearm was used.

There has been quite an increase in Theft cases in the Harfield Village area. The most commonly reported is that of items left inside your yard, but not in the house; which have been taken. It is important to remember to keep your possessions within a lockable area.

There are many facets to securing your property and yourself. The first and most important part is that security starts with you. Make sure you are doing everything in your power to reduce your risk of becoming a target.

Princeton Armed Response

MOIST MEAT BALLS

This recipe is so quick and easy.

INGREDIENTS

500gms mince
1 cup (250 mls) full cream yogurt
1 pkt oxtail soup (I used brown onion soup as it was in my cupboard).


METHOD

Mix all the ingredients together
Form into balls

Place in a greased baking dish and bake at 180 degrees for about 35 minutes.

Delicious served hot or cold.


"I have been an agent for over 30 years and have an excellent track record in the Southern Suburbs area. I am professional, love what I do and put my heart and soul into every aspect of my work."

Lyn Staples - Estate Agent
Cell: +27 (0)82 846 0739 | Office: +27 (0)21 674 1120 | Fax: +27 (0)21 774 4927
Email:lyn@norgarbproperties.co.za
Focus Areas: Kenilworth & Claremont Village