What medical problems, if any, can be caused by fleas on my pets?
Left untreated, fleas can cause anemia and even death in young and weakened pets. If swallowed, fleas can also transmit tapeworms. Flea bites frequently produce allergic reactions in pets causing a skin disease that can be painful and difficult to cure. Flea allergy is the most common allergic skin disease in pets.
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Return to the primary "Questions?" pageMy pet was recently diagnosed with intestinal parasites. How serious is this, and should my pet be treated?
Intestinal parasites can be a very serious problem. They are extremely common and threaten your pet's health. Large numbers can cause intestinal blockage, bloody diarrhea and even premature death in young or weakened pets. Certain types can also infect you and your family. We strongly recommend that you have your pet treated if intestinal parasites have been diagnosed.
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Return to the primary "Questions?" pageShould I wait for my cat or dog's first heat before spaying?
No. It is much easier on your pet to be spayed before going through a heat cycle due to the smaller size of the reproductive tract.
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Return to the primary "Questions?" pageWhy are some pet foods more expensive than others?
There may be a difference in the quality of the ingredients used in making the foods. While some brands use high quality sources of protein and carbohydrates, less expensive brands may use lower quality protein sources and fillers.
These highly digestible and tasty foods may cost more per bag, but they provide superior nutrition, less waste and a comparable cost per serving, Superior nutrition may result in fewer health problems for your pet.
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My pet has been misbehaving lately. What could be causing this?
Sometimes a change in behavior could indicate a medical condition. For instance, a cat that suddenly begins to urinate outside the litter box might have a urinary tract infection. Likewise, a well-trained dog that suddenly begins to urinate in the house may also be experiencing a urinary tract infection. In both cases, the pets should be checked by your veterinarian.
If physical ailments are not the source of your pet's bad behavior, your veterinarian may be able to recommend appropriate training techniques, devices or even medications to help correct the abnormal behavior. Sometimes a change in the home environment, such as a new type of cat litter or a new location of the litter box, is the answer. In some instances, referral to a professional trainer or veterinary behavior specialist might be appropriate.
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Do these new topical flea treatments really work?
In a word , Yes! Frontline's Top Spot and Advantage are the two most common products available at The Blue Ravine Animal Hospital to add to your arsenal against flea and tick infestation on your pet.
These products are applied to your cat or dog by gently parting the hair between shoulder blades and/or rump (on larger dogs) and squeezing product onto the skin. The product then dissolves in oils in the skin. In just 24 hours after application, the product spreads over the entire pet through the oils on its skin by a process called translocation. When a flea or tick comes in contact with the pet's skin its nervous system becomes impaired and the flea or tick dies.
This product is applied infrequently, no more than once a month, and stays effective for up to 3 months. These products are not absorbed into the skin so they are safe and effective on most pets even if they are receiving other medications.
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My dog and cat have been licking and scratching excessively lately. Can pets have allergies?
Yes. Dogs and cats can have allergies. Pet owners are becoming increasingly aware of the presence of allergies in their pets. Allergies are frequently suspected when your pet scratches and/or licks excessively, and no infectious agents are found. It is very important to identify the type of allergy to treat it adequately. The types of allergies that are important are atopy, food hypersensitivity, bacterial hypersensitivity, and flea allergy.
Allergies may be treated with antihistamines or steroids, but that is far from all that can be done. If your pet is a candidate for intradermal skin testing, it may offer you a safe, cost-effective alternative through hyposensitization versus chronic usage of antihistamines or steroids.
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My pets are getting old. Is there some special care I should be giving them?
The aging process brings about a gradual reduction in your pet's physical capabilities. While dogs and cats begin to undergo these changes starting at about age five to seven years, different pets will show the various signs of growing old at different rates.
To increase the length and quality of your pet's life, it is important to begin a process of Risk Factor Management involving both you and us here at the Blue Ravine Animal Hospital.
Ways to manage the risks at home:
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Should I have a blood test performed on my pet before his/her upcoming surgery?
Because your pet can't tell you what symptoms it may be experiencing, there are four important reasons for testing your pet's blood before surgery.
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Why should I spay or neuter my pet?
Your veterinarian should initiate a discussion about spaying or neutering at the time of your first appointment, months in advance of the actual surgery. If he or she doesn't, then inquire. It's a good time to start thinking about whether you want to spay or neuter your pet for preventative health care, birth control and to avoid some potentially undesirable behavior.
Possibly the best reason to have your female spayed while she is young (most veterinarians recommend six months of age) is for its health benefit. Mammary gland cancer is much more common in an unspayed (intact) female. If your puppy is spayed before her first heat (at six months, for example), her risk of developing breast tumors is substantially reduced. The odds are still in her favor, though diminished, if she is spayed after her first heat. But if you wait until she reaches maturity, say after her second or third heat, the operation will not reduce her risk of breast cancer. That is why it is important to have her spayed early in life.
Other reasons? The surgery itself, complete removal of the uterus and both ovaries, is ordinarily quicker and less hemorrhagic in immature females, so the risk of complications is reduced. Owners are spared the stress of having to confine the female who, when she comes into season, sends out enticing messages to male dogs in the vicinity. Furthermore, because the reproductive organs are gone, spaying eliminates the possibility of unwanted pregnancy as well as the regular heat period when dogs leave blood-tinged stains on carpets and furniture. Lastly, the potential infections, cancers and other problems involving the uterus and/or ovaries are eliminated along with these organs.
Diseases of the male reproductive organs related to the presence of male hormones are not unknown, either. Although neutering represents an advantage as far as prevention is concerned, this is not usually the primary reason owners have their dogs castrated.
Most people want their dog to be neutered because they think it helps make him a better pet. this may be true, for the following reasons: Intact male dogs can act aggressively toward other dogs and people because they are trying to protect and control their territory. In the male mind, "territory" may be your property, its toys, females in heat, a bowl of food and so on. this type of behavior is unacceptabel to most people and may be strongly influenced by the dog's male hormones. Neutering a dog with agressive tendencies at an early age may reduce these problems. Castration is also recommended for aggressive older dogs, although its chance for success is less certain.
A neutered dog has less temptation to roam, too, as well as fight. He probably won't embarass you at important dinner parties by seeking romance with your company's legs. Just as important, he won't contribute to the already burgeoning population of homeless puppies, something we should all be ashamed of.
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Why should my pet receive a regular physical examination?
Many clients do not think about the benefits, to their pet, of a professional veterinary examination on a regular basis. The most convenient time is when the pet receives its vaccinations. We like to ensure the pet is healthy in all aspects before it receives its vaccines due to the potential harmful effects when vaccines are given to ill or subclinically ill animals.
Preventive health care is extremely important to your pet's longevity. Many times we can identify problems that if treated early can save the pet undue pain and the owner undue costs of advanced illness.
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Do pets need dental care? If so, what can I do at home to help?
Yes. Plaque will accumulate on your pet's teeth as easily as your own. Plaque should be removed every day. You should use a special toothbrush and toothpaste designed for pets since toothpaste for people may cause stomach upset. Consult your veterinarian about the procedures for brushing. Severe dental disease can lead to other problems, such as the heart, kidney, and liver.
Your veterinarian must monitor the progress of your pet's preventive program, so regular dental checkups are essential, just as twice yearly checkups are for people.
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What's a good reliable method for finding my lost pet?
Obviously, prevention is the key. However, if you inject the AVID® FriendChip you will stand far better chances of recovery. Developed by a Veterinarian, the FriendChip is the profesional way to identify your pet and it's proven safe and effective. A tiny microchip that contains a personal, one-of-a-kind identificatin number distinguishes your pet as a special member of your family.
The FriendChip is so tiny that it fits through a hyperdermic needle. Just like a vaccination, it's injected under the skin of you pet where it remains safely for life.
With the FriendChip your pet can't leave home without his identification. If your lost pet is found by a participating shelter, they'll check him for a microchip with a special scanner. When the shelter finds the chip number, they call AVID's 24 hour hotline at 1-800-336-2843. After a quick search of the PETrac database, you, your veterinarian or your alternate is contacted.
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I've heard that many common house and garden plants are poisonous to pets. Is this true?
Yes, especially during the Summer and Fall growing seasons. The National Animal Poison Control Center (NAPCC), a non-profit, cost recovery program at the College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois in Urbana, IL provides the following information and list of toxic plants. If you suspect your pet has been poisoned, you should call your veterinarian or the NAPCC.
This list is not all inclusive, so you should contact the NAPCC for a more a complete list.
Aloe Vera Dragon Tree Oleander Amaryllis Dumb Cane Onion Apple (seeds) Easter Lily Poinsettia (low toxicity) Asparagus Fern Elephant Ears Poison Ivy Azalea English Ivy Poison Oak Buckeye Foxglove Sago Plam Caladium Geranium Scheffelera Calla Lily Heavenly Bamboo (Nandina) Tomato Plant Carnation Hibiscus Tulip Castor Bean Holly Wandering Jew Chinaberry Tree Hosta Yew Christmas Cactus Hydrangea Yucca Christmas Rose Iris Chrysanthemum Jade Plant Clematis Lily of the Valley Corn Plant Marijuana Daffodil Mistletoe Daisy Morning Glory Day Lily (cats) Narcissus Dracaena Norfolk Pine
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I live next to an open field and subsequently have many mice that enter my house. Is it safe to apply rodenticides in or near my house?
Absolutely not. Nearly all rodenticides are extremely poisonous to cats and dogs. It is highly recommended that other means be used for elimination of rats and mice, such as traps or other mechanical means. If you suspect that your pet has been exposed to a rodenticide please visit your veterinarian immediately. Some products, and depending on the quantity ingested, can cause death even before you arrive to the animal hospital.
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