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Q: Why is an annual
physical exam important?
A: It is important to have an
annual exam in order to detect preventable and/or treatable
conditions before they become problematic as well as to update
vaccinations when needed.
Q: Can I give my dog
or cat a cold?
A: No. Influenza viruses are highly
species specific and do not pass from humans to pets or visa
versa.
Q: What common food
items should I avoid feeding my pet?
A: Some common toxic foods are
grapes, onions, chocolate, macadamia nuts, raisins, mushrooms.
Q: Why is it
important to have my pet's teeth cleaned regularly?
A: Like people, pets need regular
dental cleaning to remove plaque and tartar buildup. If not
removed, this buildup can lead to gingival and periodontal
disease and more serious health problems relating to the spread
of infection from the mouth to other parts of the body.
Q: When should I
have my dog or cat altered? Will this change my pet's
personality?
A: Spaying or neutering for cats
and dogs is recommended at six months of age. This seems to be
the best time to prevent future reproductive organ related
health problems such as uterine, ovarian, and mammary infections
and cancers, prostatic disease and testicular disease and
cancer. Neutering will help prevent a pet's desire to roam
(looking for a mate) and may also decrease aggressive
tendencies, but will not change your pet in any other way.
Q: How long is a
normal gestation period?
A: For both cats and dogs it is 63
- 66 days or about 9 weeks.
Q: Why does my
neutered dog still mount?
A: Mounting is considered to be a
display of dominance. Many times dogs will still mount objects,
people and/or other animals even after neutering.
Q: Can Lyme disease
be very serious?
A: Lyme disease can cause many
problems including joint swelling, enlarged lymph nodes, fever,
lameness, and the most serious - kidney failure.
Q: What are anal
glands? Do all dogs need their anal glands expressed?
A: Anal glands are two fluid filled
sacs located in the anus of a dog or cat. They are a normal part
of an animal's anatomy and are usually emptied through
defecation. Some animals have difficulty with impactions or
swelling in or around the glands and need manual expression.
Signs of an anal sac problem are "scooting" or excessive licking
of the anal area.
Q: Can I get Herpes
or Feline Aids from my cat?
A: No. Influenza viruses are highly
species specific and do not pass from humans to pets or visa
versa.
Q: My cat has
chronic renal failure, is this curable?
A: In most cases, the diseases
resulting in renal failure cannot be cured but many cats respond
well to medical therapy for a long time.
Q: What
are Heartworms and how can I prevent my dog from getting them?
A.Heartworms are parasites that actually live in the dog's
heart. There is a blood test available to test for heartworm.
Heartworms are transmitted by mosquitos so dogs need only to be
treated in mosquito season (June to November). Heartworm is
endemic in the Okanagan, Winnipeg, Southern Ontario and the
Montreal area in Canada. There is a once a month tablet that is
used for prevention and can be given to your dog after she is
confirmed heartworm negative with a blood test. Phone your
veterinarian if you have any further questions about heartworm.
Q: Are
flea collars very effective?
A: Not really. Since they are placed around the neck of the pet,
they usually cannot kill any fleas which are around the tail of
your pet. The insecticide from flea collars is designed to be
absorbed into the pets blood stream and can be toxic. There are
much better forms of flea control such as Advantage and
Frontline.
Call us for more information.
Q:What
is a spay?
A:
Spay is the common term for a complete ovariohysterectomy, or
the removal of the entire uterus and ovaries. We recommend
spaying at 5-6 months but it can be performed any time after the
age of 8 weeks.
Q:What
is a neuter?
A: Neuter is the common term for castration, or the removal of
the testicles. We recommend neutering at 5-6 months.
Q:
When does a puppy or kitten start its vaccinations?
We recommend starting vaccinations at 8 weeks of age. We give
them in a series 4 weeks apart so that your pet will have good
immunity. A puppy would receive vaccinations at 8, 12, and 16
weeks and a kitten would receive them at 8 and 12 weeks. We give
Rabies vaccinations at the time of your pets final booster
unless you are planning a trip to the States. (Your pet then
needs a Rabies vaccination at 12 weeks). Vaccination boosters
are done yearly with Rabies being every 3 years after the
initial year booster.
Q: What is
Parvo Virus?
A: Parvo virus is a disease that causes vomiting and diarrhea in
dogs. This virus is deadly and can be contracted from any
substance, such as the soil or walking in the same area as a dog
which has been incubating the virus . We recommend vaccinating
your dog once a year for adequate protection.
Q: What
is Canine Distemper?
A:Distemper is a highly contagious disease among dogs. It is
almost always fatal. Although it is more common in puppies than
in adult dogs, all dogs are susceptible to it. We recommend
yearly vaccinations against this dangerous disease.
Q: What
is Kennel Cough?
A: Kennel Cough is a respiratory disease usually contracted in
areas where large numbers of dogs are housed such as a kennel or
a grooming salon. It is transmitted by nose to nose contact so
they can get it from any dog. There is a vaccination available
for protection against Kennel Cough.
Q: My
cat is going to his litter box a lot and seems uncomfortable.
What does that mean?
A:Cats are very prone to a condition called "feline lower
urinary syndrome". Basically, it is a urinary bladder infection
which can lead to urinary tract obstruction in male cats. This
is a serious condition and you should contact your veterinarian
IMMEDIATELY.
Q: My
dog licks his feet all the time. Why?
A: A dog that licks his feet, rubs his face, or scratches behind
his elbows may be showing signs of an allergy. Dogs can be
allergic to all sorts of things such as house dust, grass or
weeds. Consult your veterinarian about this, especially if your
dog is showing any hair loss.
Q: What
is a dog's or cat's normal temperature?
A: Cats and dogs have a higher body temperature than ours, which
is why they sometimes feel "hot" to the touch. Their normal body
temperature is 100 - 102.8 Fahrenheit or 38.5 + or - 1 degree
Celcius. The best way to see if your pet is running a fever is
to take his temperature with a rectal thermometer. If you notice
that your pet's temperature is above normal, you should contact
a veterinarian immediately.
Q: My
dog has diarrhea. What can I do?
IA: If your dog is acting normally other than the diarrhea, then
you can try withholding all food and water for 12 hours. After
that time period, you can introduce small amounts of food at a
time. However, if your dog is lethargic in any way, you should
call a veterinarian for instructions.
Q: Why
does my pet have to be dewormed?
A: De-worming your pet is important for
many reasons. First, some parasites that infect cats and dogs
can also be transmitted to humans. There are thousands of cases
each year where children have been infected with pet parasites.
In the most extreme cases these infestations can result in
blindness.
In pets, internal parasites can cause vomiting, diarrhea, weight
loss, anemia, perforation of the gut, intussusception of the
intestine and even death.
It is recommended that adult cats and dogs be de-wormed at least
twice a year. Younger pets and pets that hunt should be
de-wormed more frequently. A yearly fecal test is recommended to
test for the presence of giardia and coccidia , in addition to
the more common intestinal worms.
Q:
Is aspirin safe for my pets?
A:You should
never give your pet human medicine such as aspirin, Tylenol, or
acetaminophen.
While baby aspirin may not harm your dog, the dose depends on
your dog’s weight. Tylenol, naproxen and similar anti-inflammatories
can be fatal in cats, even in very small doses.
Q: Is chocolate OK for my pet?
A: Milk chocolate can cause
vomiting and diarrhea if ingested in large quantity. Baker’s
chocolate can be very poisonous to pets. Best to keep the sweets
stashed away where your pet can’t reach!
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