HOW CAN I HELP KEEP MY PET'S TEETH CLEAN AT HOME?
HOW CAN I PROTECT AGAINST HEARTWORM DISEASE?
HOW OFTEN DOES MY PET NEED TO BE VACCINATED?
WHAT CAN I DO TO PROTECT MY PET FROM FLEAS AND TICKS?
WHAT SHOULD I FEED MY PET?
WHAT TAKES PLACE DURING A SPAY OR NEUTER PROCEDURE?
WHAT VACCINATIONS DOES MY CAT NEED?
WHAT VACCINATIONS DOES MY DOG NEED?
WHY DOES MY PET NEED REGULAR VETERINARY DENTAL CLEANINGS?
WHY SHOULD I SPAY OR NEUTER MY PET?
WILL SPAYING OR NEUTERING AFFECT MY PET'S PERSONALITY OR CAUSE WEIGHT GAIN?
| AT WHAT AGE CAN MY PET BE SPAYED OR NEUTERED? [Top] |
| Spaying and neutering are generally performed three weeks after a pet’s final set of puppy or kitten vaccines at approximately six months of age. The surgeries can be done through adulthood as long as the pet is healthy. |
| HOW CAN I HELP KEEP MY PET'S TEETH CLEAN AT HOME? [Top] |
| The abrasive action of chewing on hard rubber toys, nylabones, booda bones, Greenies and tartar-control treats can help scrape tartar from your pet’s teeth. However, brushing your pet’s teeth at home is the best way to maintain oral health in between your veterinarian’s cleanings. Try to brush your pet’s teeth every other day or at least twice a week. Use a toothpaste formulated especially for animals. It’s enzyme-enhanced to help kill bacteria, will not upset your pet’s stomach, and comes in flavors such as poultry, beef, and seafood. Special toothbrushes made for cats and dogs have extra-soft bristles to ensure gentle application of the toothpaste. Stop by the hospital to receive tips on brushing your pet’s teeth and pick up a kit containing everything you need to get started. |
| HOW CAN I PROTECT AGAINST HEARTWORM DISEASE? [Top] |
| Heartworm disease can be devastating to your cat or dog. Spread by mosquitoes, it is a potentially fatal condition where worms reside in your pet’s heart and blood vessels. A pet that contracts heartworm will die unless it undergoes a series of uncomfortable treatments. Thankfully, heartworm disease is preventable. Pet owners have several preventive measures they can take. Interceptor is a flavored chewable tablet that is given orally once a month. Sentinel, another chewable, once-a-month heartworm preventive, also stops flea eggs and larvae from developing, breaking the life cycle and controlling the flea population. Revolution, an easy-to-use liquid that is squeezed onto the skin between your pet’s shoulders once a month. Using the oils in your pet’s skin, Revolution spreads over your pet’s entire body, protecting it against heartworms, internal parasites, and fleas and ticks. Finally, Proheart is an injectable form of heartworm prevention that is given every six months by your veterinarian. Proheart is a solution for those who have trouble remembering to give their pet a pill every month. |
| HOW OFTEN DOES MY PET NEED TO BE VACCINATED? [Top] |
| An adult cat or dog requires annual updates on all vaccines. A policy of yearly vaccination combined with a physical examination is the best way to prevent disease. If you own a kitten or puppy it will require vaccinations on a three week interval from six weeks to eighteen weeks of age. Young animals are born with antibodies received from their mother. A high level of maternal antibodies blocks the effectiveness of vaccines in puppies and kittens. Therefore, it is important to give several boosters to ensure the effectiveness of the vaccine. |
| WHAT CAN I DO TO PROTECT MY PET FROM FLEAS AND TICKS? [Top] |
| There are several very effective and easy to use products designed to protect your pet from fleas and ticks. One of these products is Frontline, which is a liquid that is easily applied to the skin between the shoulders of your pet. One application kills fleas and ticks on your pet for a month or longer. Revolution is another product which is a liquid application applied between the shoulders. It also kills fleas and ticks for one month. A new product to the market is K-9 Advantix. This is also a liquid application that kills fleas as well as kills and repels ticks and mosquitoes for one month. K-9 Advantix is only labeled for canines and is not safe for use on felines. All of these products are very safe, veterinarian approved, and much stronger than flea collars or powders purchased from the grocery or pet store. |
| WHAT SHOULD I FEED MY PET? [Top] |
| Your cat or dog needs to be provided with a balanced diet that contains just the right amount of nutrients. Feed your pet a premium-brand food, it contains higher-quality ingredients than the store brands. Some economy-brand foods contain low-quality ingredients that your pet can not digest and are not as nutritious as the premium brands. Science Diet, Iams, and Eukanuba are examples of high-quality pet foods. When choosing a diet consider your pet’s specific needs; age, health status, activity level, and environment. Change your pet’s diet as your its nutritional needs change. Your veterinarian can offer you advice on adapting your pet’s diet to its specific needs. Do not feed your pet table scraps. A human diet is not nutritionally adequate for a pet, is often too high in fat, and encourages begging. Also, do not feed your dog cat food or vice versa. The nutritional needs of dogs and cats differ. When choosing a cat food, look for a diet low in magnesium (no more than 20g of magnesium/100 kcal). This will prevent the incidence of Feline Urologic Syndrome (FUS) in which obstruction of the urethra occurs. |
| WHAT TAKES PLACE DURING A SPAY OR NEUTER PROCEDURE? [Top] |
| Spaying, also called an ovariohysterectomy, is performed on female animals. It involves the surgical removal of the uterus and ovaries through an incision in the abdomen. Neutering, or castration, is performed on male patients. A small opening is made in front of the scrotum and the testes are removed. During a spay or neuter your pet will be under general anesthesia. The surgery is a sterile procedure: All instruments are sterilized and the doctor wears a gown, cap, and sterile gloves. Sutures are usually internal and dissolve over time. Surgical glue is used to hold the skin together. After the surgery your pet will rest at our hospital for one night and is free to return home the next morning. Running, jumping, and vigorous play are discouraged for the following week. Your pet may return to its normal routine gradually to ensure a healthy recovery. |
| WHAT VACCINATIONS DOES MY CAT NEED? [Top] |
| Listed below are the diseases cats and kittens are commonly vaccinated against. Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis - Feline viral rhinotracheitis is a respiratory disease spread by the coughing and sneezing of infected cats. Symptoms include sneezing, discharge from the eyes and nose, fever, lethargy, and loss of appetite. Kittens and old cats are more susceptible and the disease is usually more severe in these cats. Death is not common from feline viral rhinotracheitis but it can permanently damage the nasal passages causing a lifetime of sneezing. Calcivirus – Calcivirus is another respiratory disease spread by the coughing and sneezing of other cats. Symptoms include oral ulcers, cold-like symptoms, fever, and loss of appetite. Calcivirus may also lead to pneumonia. This disease is usually not fatal but can be dangerous to kittens. Panleukopenia – Sometimes known as “feline distemper”, Panleukopenia produces similar symptoms to canine distemper but is not caused by the same virus. Symptoms include loss of appetite, vomiting , and diarrhea which may be bloody. The disease is spread by contact with the urine or feces of an infected cat or by contact with contaminated objects such a food bowls, shoes, and litter boxes. The disease is almost always fatal in kittens and is very dangerous to adults as well. Chlamydia – Chlamydia is a bacterial upper respiratory disease. The main symptom is conjunctivitis, an abnormal eye discharge. Other symptoms include coughing, sneezing, runny nose, and difficulty breathing. Chlamydia is spread by direct or indirect contact with the upper respiratory secretions of infected cats. Although the disease is not usually severe, complete recovery may not occur. The five vaccines above are commonly combined and given as one. This combination of vaccines is frequently referred to as the feline distemper combination. It is also known as FVRCPC for the letters in each disease it protects against. Rabies – Rabies is a very serious disease transmitted through the saliva of infected animals, usually through a bite wound. Although any mammal can contract rabies, raccoons, skunks, foxes, coyotes, and bats are the main reservoirs of the disease. Rabies affects the central nervous system, producing symptoms such as erratic behavior, aggression, seizures, inability to swallow, and paralysis of the jaw and throat. Eventually paralysis spreads to other parts of the body and the animal enters a coma and dies. This fatal disease is contagious to humans so it is very important to vaccinate yearly for rabies. It is Georgia law that all dogs, cats, and ferrets receive a yearly rabies vaccine. Feline leukemia – This disease is responsible for more feline deaths than any other disease. The virus is transmitted through infected saliva and spreads to the lymph nodes, bone marrow, and intestinal tissue. Feline leukemia inhibits the immune system leaving cats open to secondary diseases and cancers which they will eventually die from. There is no cure for feline leukemia and it is difficult to predict how long an infected cat will live. The life span of a cat with feline leukemia may be weeks or even years. 50% of infected cats remain alive after two years while only 15% of infected cats remain alive after four years. Outside cats are particularly susceptible to feline leukemia. |
| WHAT VACCINATIONS DOES MY DOG NEED? [Top] |
| Listed below are the diseases dogs and puppies are commonly vaccinated against. Distemper – Symptoms of this deadly disease include discharge from the eyes and nose, high fever, and convulsions. Distemper is spread by contact with bodily secretions of infected animals and by airborne viral particles. A dog that does not die from central nervous system complications may suffer a lifetime of neurological problems. Hepatitis – Hepatitis is a highly contagious virus spread by either direct contact with an infected animal or contact with contaminated objects such as food bowls and feces. Hepatitis affects the liver and kidneys causing fever, lethargy, decreased appetite and jaundice. There is no cure for canine hepatitis. Although a dog may recover from the disease, it may be left with serious organ damage. Leptospirosis – This disease is caused by an organism called a spirochete. It is transmitted by contact with the urine of an infected host. Symptoms include fever, loss of appetite, vomiting, and joint pain. The organism reproduces in the kidneys of its host, leading to eventual kidney failure. This disease is contagious to humans also, producing the same symptoms seen in canines. Parainfluenza – Although usually not life-threatening, this highly contagious disease causes upper-respiratory distress. The parainfluenza virus is contracted by direct contact or airborne transmission. It is frequently contracted at kennels, grooming facilities, and dog shows. When parainfluenza works in combination with the Bordatella bronchisepticum bacteria, a disease commonly known as Kennel cough can develop. Kennel cough is characterized by serious nasal secretion, coughing, and fever. Parvo – The parvo virus is transmitted through the feces of infected dogs. It is easily spread by the hair and feet of infected dogs, contaminated cages, and people’s shoes. The parvo virus attacks the intestinal lining, causing it to slough off. Symptoms include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite, vomiting and diarrhea. The diarrhea is often fluid and bloody. Dehydration and electrolyte imbalance occur quickly in a dog with parvo. Bacteria can also enter the bloodstream through the weakened intestinal lining causing septicemia, or blood infection. Puppies under six months of age are especially susceptible to this fatal disease. Corona – The corona virus usually presents as a mild version of parvo. Although most dogs respond to treatment, Corona can cause significant vomiting and diarrhea. The six vaccines above are commonly combined and given as one. This combination of vaccines is frequently referred to as the Distemper combination. It is also known as DHLPPC for the first letter of each disease it protects against. Rabies – Rabies is a very serious disease transmitted through the saliva of infected animals, usually through a bite wound. Although any mammal can contract rabies, raccoons, skunks, foxes, coyotes, and bats are the main reservoirs of the disease. Rabies affects the central nervous system, producing symptoms such as erratic behavior, aggression, seizures, inability to swallow, and paralysis of the jaw and throat. Eventually paralysis spreads to other parts of the body and the animal enters a coma and dies. This fatal disease is contagious to humans so it is very important to vaccinate yearly for rabies. It is Georgia law that all dogs, cats, and ferrets receive a yearly rabies vaccine. Bordatella – Bordatella, or Kennel Cough, occurs when the parainfluenza virus and the bacteria Bordatella bronchiseptica work together. Your dog does not have to visit a kennel to contract bordatella. It can be transmitted through the air or by any object an infected dog has come in contact with. The vaccine is administered as nasal drops that can protect your dog for a year from the dry cough and nasal discharge that characterizes bordatella. Lyme – Lyme disease is spread by deer ticks that attach themselves to a dog. A tick must remain attached to a dog’s skin for two days in order to transmit Lyme disease. Symptoms include swollen lymph glands, lameness, inflamed joints, loss of appetite, heart disease, and kidney disease. The Lyme vaccine is suggested for those dogs that live in areas in which the disease is endemic. |
| WHY DOES MY PET NEED REGULAR VETERINARY DENTAL CLEANINGS? [Top] |
| Just as humans visit the dentist, cats and dogs also need dental care. Regular dental cleanings provided by a veterinarian remove disease-causing plaque from teeth before it hardens into brown, foul-smelling tartar. Left unchecked, the bacteria in plaque can seriously damage teeth and gums. Bacteria can even travel through the blood stream causing serious infection in your pet’s other body systems as well. If your pet has symptoms such as an inflamed gum line (gingivitis), bad breath, bleeding gums, tooth loss, or a brownish-colored crust along the gum line it may be a sign of gum disease (periodontitis). Surprisingly, eighty percent of dogs and seventy percent of cats over the age of three have some form of oral disease. Don’t wait for symptoms to surface before placing your pet on a dental program. Remember, pets who receive regular dental cleanings live longer, healthier lives than those that never receive dental care. |
| WHY SHOULD I SPAY OR NEUTER MY PET? [Top] |
| Spaying and neutering are an important part of responsible pet ownership. Having your cat or dog spayed or neutered benefits you, your pet, and your community. Spayed or neutered pets live healthier, happier lives, they are more affectionate, and have fewer behavior and temperament problems than animals that aren’t sterilized. If your pet is spayed or neutered it will not feel the need to wander from home in search of a mate and is less likely to bite and get into fights with other animals. By choosing to spay or neuter you are also helping to control the pet population, easing the burden on already overcrowded shelters and reducing the amount of strays roaming the streets. Spaying your female pet eliminates the risk of pregnancy and uterine cancer. Spaying also reduces the threat of breast cancer and skin conditions related to hormonal imbalances, especially when spayed before going through several heat cycles. In males, neutering eliminates the occurrence of testicular cancer and decreases the incidence of prostate disease, perianal tumors, hair loss from hormonal imbalance, and spraying urine. |
| WILL SPAYING OR NEUTERING AFFECT MY PET'S PERSONALITY OR CAUSE WEIGHT GAIN? [Top] |
| Myths exist that spaying or neutering your pet will cause personality changes and weight gain. These stories are untrue. While spaying and neutering create a less aggressive pet, they do not change its basic personality or its instinct to protect its home and family. Weight can be managed by a healthy diet along with plenty of exercise. Too much food and too little exercise are the main contributors of weight gain. |