 Frequenly Asked Questions
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: Does my pet need a multi-vitamin?
A: If your pet is being fed a good quality pet food, vitamins are not necessary. However, vitamins can be given once daily as treats. Animals with certain medical conditions may benefit from various vitamins/supplements.
Q: What is reverse sneezing?
A: It is the act of trying to suck an irritant backwards through the muzzle, rather than out the nostrils (as in a regular sneeze). Both dogs and cats can do this. The first time you may witness this, it may seem scary to you - the pet will extend its neck and repeatedly suck air in through the nostrils and out through the mouth with the chest and/or abdomen heaving in and out. It is usually a short episode or "fit" lasting 5 - 10 seconds. As bad as it may look - in general these reverse sneezes are harmless.
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: Should I get insurance for my pet?
A: As medical care for pets becomes more and more expensive it is a good idea to carry medical coverage for your pets. It is most helpful for catastrophic injuries or diseases which can easily run into the thousands of dollars for treatment.
 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: I feed my pet a dental diet, Isn't that enough to keep the teeth clean?
A: Dental diets can scrape off plaque above the gum line to varying degrees, but do little to remove plaque located under the gum line.
Q: Does my new diabetic pet require insulin injections?
A: On rare instances, cats can have their diabetes managed using diet and hypoglycemic pills but most need injectable insulin.
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: What do I do if my pet should get sprayed by a skunk?
A: First, rinse your pet's eyes with copious amounts of sterile eyewash or warm water. To treat your pet's coat here is our home remedy: use 1 quart of hydrogen peroxide; 1/4 cup of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of liquid soap. Mix all ingredients together and use immediately. Comb through the pet's coat. Rinse thoroughly. There are commercial products on the market such as SkunkOff that you can use as well.
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: Is it ok to give my dog a couple of treats while on a hypoallergenic diet trial?
A: No. You must feed ONLY the prescribed diet for at least 8-16 weeks; you can use pieces of the dry hypoallergenic diet kibble as a treat.
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 give my cat a bath?
A: Yes, but typically this is not necessary. Cats are very good at grooming themselves, and usually resent baths, but if they should happen to get particularly dirty, they can be bathed with an approved pet shampoo.
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: I cannot give my cat a pill and he hates liquid medication, what else can I do?
A: Some medications may be available in a transdermal form where you can apply a cream or ointment to the inside of the cat's ear. You can also crush the pill and mix the powder with a little hairball paste and wipe it on the foreleg; they will usually lick it off.
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.
|
