Immunization Questions
Q: How
old does my pet have to be for a rabies shot?
A:
The
doctor normally gives the rabies shot at 4 months of age. We
recommend vaccinating against canine distemper and
parvovirus (feline distemper and feline leukemia).
Q: How
old should my puppy (or Kitten) be to start its shots?
A:
We recommend starting the vaccinations at 6 weeks of age.
We give them in a series 3 weeks apart so that your pet will
have good immunity.
Q: Why
does my dog need shots other than the rabies shot?
A: There are several highly contagious diseases that
we can protect your dog from through vaccination. Because
most of these diseases are fatal, we want to give your pet
the best protection.
Q: Can I
catch Lyme disease from my dog?
A:
Studies show that the disease is not directly transmitted
from dogs to humans. Lyme disease is transmitted by ticks.
If your dog has ticks, you may run a risk of being bitten by
one, too. You can catch Lyme disease from a tick only, not
from your dog.
Q: Can I
catch feline leukemia from my cat?
A:
To date there have been no documented cases of feline
leukemia being transmitted to people, nor any higher
incidence of leukemia in people with cats. However, if your
cat tests positive for feline leukemia, we recommend that
you talk with the veterinarian.
Q: We
adopted a stray cat. Should I do anything special before I
let it play with my other cats?
A:
You should have the new cat examined by the veterinarian
before exposing it to your other cats. The new cat should
be tested for FIV and feline leukemia—two deadly diseases
that could be transmitted to your cats. Also, we strongly
recommend that you have your new cat vaccinated as soon as
possible.
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Internal Parasite
Questions
Q: What
is a Parasite?
A:
A parasite is an organism that lives at the expense of
another living being. In our pets, these usually take the
form of intestinal worms (internal parasites) and fleas and
ticks (external parasites).
Q: How
can I tell if my pet has worms?
A:
Some parasites, such as tapeworms, are visible to the naked
eye, but others must be detected under the microscope. If
you will bring in a stool specimen, we will be glad to
examine it microscopically to see if your pet has worms.
Q: What
are heartworms, and how do I tell if my pet has them?
A:
Heartworms are parasites that live in the animal’s heart or
in the large blood vessels on the lungs. To test for
heartworms, we draw a small blood sample and examine it
under the microscope or run a special test. (Ask your
doctor about your clinic’s protocol.) Heartworms can be
prevented easily using medication, but we have to be sure
your pet tests negative before beginning the prevention.
Q: What
causes heartworms?
A:
Heartworms are transmitted by mosquitoes. If a mosquito
bites a dog that infected with heartworms and then bites
your cat or dog, your pet could become infected with
heartworms. We highly recommend that all dogs take
medication for heartworm prevention to keep this from
happening. Heartworm preventive medications are also
available for cats.
Q: Can I
catch anything by cleaning out my cat’s litter box?
A:
Toxoplasma
oocysts pass out in the feces of cats and can cause problems
if transmitted to pregnant women. That’s why pregnant women
and immunosuppressed individuals should not clean out litter
boxes. With normal sanitary precautions, litter boxes pose
no problem for the other people.
Q: Where
so adult pets get worms?
A:
Most intestinal parasites are transmitted in the pet’s
stool. When a dog steps in contaminated stool or ingests
the egg, the parasite enters his body. Keeping the yard
clean and having your pet checked for worms regularly will
prevent most parasites infestation. Heartworms are
transmitted by mosquitoes. Testing your dog for heartworm
infection and keeping him on heartworm prevention will
prevent heartworms from becoming a problem.
Q: My dog
has been scooting its behind on the floor. Does that mean it
has worms?
A:
Scooting can be a sign of tapeworms. We recommend that you
examine your pet closely for signs of tapeworm infection.
Tapeworm segments pass out of the pet’s rectum and often
catch in the fur on the legs and tail. If tapeworms are not
the problem, the doctor will look for another cause, such as
impacted or infected anal glands.
Q: What
are these little white segments I’ve been noticing on the
fur on my pet’s legs and tail?
A:
You are most likely seeing tapeworm segments that are
becoming stuck in the hair when they pass out in the bowel
movement. We recommend that you bring us a sample segment,
if possible, so we can determine which kind of tapeworm your
pet has. We can then deworm your pet and help you prevent
them from getting them again.
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External Parasite
Questions
Q: My pet
scratches constantly. Does it have fleas?
A:
Constant scratching can be a sign of flea infestation, but
it might also mean your pet has dry skin or possibly even a
medical problem, such as an allergy. If the scorching
continues in spite of careful flea control, we recommend a
visit to the doctor to determine the cause of the itching.
Q: Can I
catch ringworm from m cat? And how should I cure my cat of
ringworm?
A:
Ringworm is not really a worm at all---it’s a fungus. And,
yes, it is contagious to humans. At the first sign of
ringworm in your cat, bring it in so the doctor can
prescribe medicine, shampoo, or ointment. Call your family
doctor to ask how to prevent or cure the problem in
yourself.
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Reproduction Questions
Q: Won’t
my pet get fat and lazy if I spay her?
A:
The spaying operation does not contribute to obesity
in dogs or cats at all. If you watch her diet and give her
plenty of opportunity for exercise, you shouldn’t have a
problem.
Q: At
what age can I have my pet spayed?
A:
The doctor recommends spaying your female at 5 months of
age. It’s best if she completes one heat cycle first.
Before we can do the surgery, she must be current on her
vaccinations and test negative for worms and heartworm.
Q: Will
my female still come into heat after spaying?
A:
No. The spaying operation will eliminate heat cycles.
Q: Will
she be able to get pregnant after spaying?
A:
No. The spaying operation removes the ovaries and uterus.
Therefore she will be infertile and won’t be able to get
pregnant.
Q: How
soon after my dog/cat has puppies/kittens do you recommend
that she be spayed?
A:
As soon as the puppies or kittens are weaned and the
mother’s milk has dried up, she can be spayed.
Q: Why
should I have my pet spayed?
A:
Spaying id the best form of pet population control. In
addition, it eliminates messy hest cycles and prevents
unwanted litters. Other important reasons to spay your pet
are that spaying lowers the chance of breast cancer later in
life and eliminates the chance of pyometra, a
life-threatening uterine infection.
Q: How
often does a female dog come in heat?
A:
Female dogs usually come in heat twice a year.
Q: How
long does a female dog stay in heat?
A:
The heat cycle usually takes about three weeks to complete.
Q: How
often does a female cat come in heat?
A:
Cats come into heat seasonally. They cycle at approximately
21-day intervals during the spring, summer, and fall.
Q: When
can I first breed my female dog?
A:
For a planned breeding, we recommend you wait until the
second or third heat cycle.
Q: How
long does a female dog stay pregnant?
A:
The gestation period for a female dog is about 62 to 63
days.
Q: How
long does a female cat stay pregnant?
A:
The gestation period for a female cat can be from 59 to 68
days but is usually about 63 days.
Q: How
soon does a cat come back in heat after she’s had a litter
of kittens?
A:
Cats can sometimes come back into heat while nursing a
litter, so it’s important to keep them away from male cats
until they can be spayed.
Q: If my
registered female dog is bred by a stray dog, will this
affect her future litters?
A:
No, each litter is separate and there is no carry-over
between litters. However, care should always be taken to
prevent unwanted puppies.
Q: How
long will it take my dog (or cat) to give birth to her
litter?
A:
The length of time varies from animal to animal, but if your
pet is in hard labor for an hour with no sign of a puppy (or
kitten) being born, she may be having a problem. Call the
doctor if this happens.
Q: Is it
possible for a litter to have different fathers?
A:
Yes, if there are five offspring, it is possible there could
be five different fathers.
Q: What
is false pregnancy?
A:
False pregnancies occur in dogs, usually after a normal heat
cycle. The dog’s hormones trick her into thinking she is
pregnant when actually she is not. A female with a false
pregnancy will often make a nest in which to have puppies,
carry stuffed animals in her mouth, and even produce milk.
False pregnancy can be treated during an office visit, and
the doctor will explain more about it at that time.
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Questions About Males
Q: At
what age should I have my pet neutered?
A:
The doctor recommends neutering at 5 months of age.
Q: Why
should I have my pet neutered? Do you recommend neutering?
A:
Yes, we do recommend it. Neutering the male helps control
pet overpopulation. Neutering also helps prevent your pet
from fighting with other males, decreases his
aggressiveness, may help decrease his territorial marking
behavior, helps keep him at home, stops unwanted sexual
activity, and decreases the incidence of health problems
related to the reproductive organs.
Q: My dog
has become aggressive and rough. Will neutering help stop
that?
A:
Neutering has been shown to decrease aggressiveness in dogs
and make them better pets.
Q: If I
neuter my cat, will he stop spraying my furniture?
A:
When a cat sprays, he is exhibiting the male tendency to
mark his territory with urine. Neutering decreases his male
hormones and makes him much less likely to exhibit this
undesirable trait.
Q: How
old does my dog have to be to be used for stud?
A:
Dogs vary in the length of time it takes them to reach
sexual maturity. Generally a dog that is 1 ½ to 2 years old
is ready to be used for stud.
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Medical Questions
Q: What
is a dog’s normal temperature?
A:
A dog’s normal temperature sometimes varies but is usually
about 101.5 degrees Fahrenheit.
Q: What
is cat normal temperature?
A:
A cat’s normal temperature sometimes varies but is usually
about 101.5 degrees Fahrenheit.
Q: My
pet’s teeth are falling out. Is that normal?
A:
Puppies and kittens have “baby teeth” just like humans. It
is normal for them to lose these first teeth when they are
about 3 ½ months old to make room for their adult teeth.
Look inside your pet’s mouth and be sure a baby tooth has
fallen out wherever you see a new tooth coming in. If the
baby teeth don’t fall out, they may have to be pulled.
Q: It’s
going to be extremely cold tonight, and my dog stays
outside. Is there anything special I should do for him?
A:
Dogs need protection from extremely cold nights.
Shorthaired dogs need more protection than double-coated or
longhaired dogs. Light bulbs can be hung in the dog house
for heat, or you may want to bring your dog into the garage,
basement, or laundry room for the night.
Q: Why is
my dog scooting its rear end on the floor?
A:
Scooting can be a sign of anal-gland problems, or it may
mean that your dog has tapeworms.
Q: Why
does my dog have such bad breath?
A:
Bad breath can be a sign of gum infection and teeth
problems.
Q: My pet
has runny eyes, but I don’t see anything in the eye. Do I
need to bring him in?
A:
Yes. Runny eyes can be caused by allergies, illness, injury,
and infection. The doctor must examine your pet to
determine the cause.
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Emergency
Questions
Q: My pet
has licked up some antifreeze. Will this hurt him?
A:
Antifreeze is extremely poisonous to dogs and cats. Please
bring him to the clinic immediately for treatment.
Q: My pet
has gotten into rat poison. Will it hurt him?
A:
Rat
poison can cause serious blood-clotting problems in dogs and
cats. He should be brought in as soon as possible.
Q: My pet
was just hit by a car. What should I do?
A:
Make sure
it has an open airway and can breathe. If your pet is a
dog, secure its mouth to prevent biting---a stocking works
well as a temporary muzzle---and transport it to the clinic
on a board to control its movements and prevent further
injury. If it is a cat, put it in a box. Bring the pet to
the clinic as soon as you can, even if you think it is
fine. Sometimes an injury can cause internal problems that
aren’t readily apparent.
Q: My cat
goes to the litter box constantly, but little or no urine
comes out. What should I do?
A:
Your cat
may have a urinary tract infection or may have a blockage
that’s preventing it from urinating. You should bring him to
the clinic immediately.
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