Pet Care FAQ Prior.htm

Prior FAQS

Heartworm Disease in Pennsylvania
Sweet Taste of Anti-Freeze Hides Deadly Poison
Home Alone: How Your Pet Handles Time Without You

Pet Care FAQs #1

Heartworm Disease in Pennsylvania

Originally found in the South and Southeast, heartworm has spread with an increasingly mobile dog population. It is now found in every county in Pennsylvania and is particularly heavy in the central and southeastern counties and along the Susquehanna River.

Transmitted by infectious mosquitoes, heartworm larvae make their way to a dog's heart and pulmonary arteries where they can grow up to 14 inches. Left untreated the disease can be fatal. Signs of heartworm include a chronic cough, loss of appetite, weight loss and fatigue. Unfortunately, these symptoms usually appear in well-advanced disease

Prevention is the best way to safeguard your canine pet from this disease. The first step is a simple blood test your veterinarian can perform annually. If the test is negative, you have the option of a monthly or daily chewable tablet. The medication kills the microfilaria before they develop into adults.

Pet owners can reduce the risk of this disease somewhat by eliminating standing water near the house or yard where mosquitoes can breed. Check empty cans, barbecue grills, buckets, and flowerpots.

With annual testing, preventive medication, and reducing your dog's exposure to mosquitoes, you can play an essential role in making sure your dog is not infected with heartworm.

If you have questions about this week's topic or would like to suggest a topic, contact us at Doctors@Alphavet.com. The topics covered are informational and do not take the place of a physical examination by a qualified veterinarian.

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Pet Care FAQs #2

Sweet Taste of Anti-Freeze Hides Deadly Poison

The number of antifreeze poisonings goes up every winter. Part of the problem is a sweet taste that’s very attractive to pets. Puddles or open containers in garages are irresistible to curious animals. And in subzero temperatures, animals who live outdoors sometimes find that antifreeze is the only unfrozen liquid available.

Antifreeze contains ethylene glycol which is actually odorless and colorless. It can be absorbed from the digestive tract within 20 to 30 minutes, causing vomiting, depression, lack of coordination and weakness. If not treated immediately, kidney damage may occur or the pet may lapse into a coma and die, all within 24 hours.

Whether a pet can be helped depends on how much poison was ingested and how soon a veterinarian begins treatment.

For you pet’s safety, store antifreeze properly, and dispose of any used product safely. Thoroughly clean all surfaces where antifreeze was in contact. If you believe your pet has consumed antifreeze, get immediate help from your veterinarian.

If you have questions about this week’s topic or would like to suggest a topic, contact us at doctors@alphavet.com. The topics covered are informational and do not take the place of a physical examination by a qualified veterinarian.

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Pet Care FAQs #3

Home Alone: How Your Pet Handles Time Without You

Pets appreciate routine in their daily lives and in their living environment. Routine is comforting and reassuring to animals. Changes in the routine, such as work schedules or travel, cause disruption. Some pets respond with increased anxiety and negative or destructive behavior. Barking, clawing, housesoiling, and chewing are some of the results. Some pets have negative reactions to a suitcase being packed. Left to their own devices, some pets indulge in investigating everything in sight -- trash cans, cabinets, bags of food -- in other words, the whole house is fair game.

There are several things you can do to ease your pet’s fears. Slowly adjust your pet to spending time without you over a period of several days or weeks. Have it become used to being cared for by another trusted person.

While you are away, it’s a good idea to have someone check on the pet each day. Accidents and illnesses can happen and become life-threatening very quickly. A friend or a reliable pet-sitter can ease your mind and give your pet the personal contact it needs. If this is not an option or you plan a lengthy stay, check out local kennels and catteries. Get references, check out the facility and be sure your pet has all the immunizations required for boarding.

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Pet Care FAQs #4

Food Fit For You Makes Sense For Your Pets Too!

You are what you eat, they say, and so is your pet. The high-fiber, low-fat diet and exercise program you follow for good health have the same benefits for your pet. Over half of all pets are obese, too many calories and too few walks. Unfortunately, the flavor pets love is in the high-fat foods. But you can change your pet’s diet by gradually introducing a high-fiber diet over several weeks, This pet food, which is nutritionally balanced and complete, is generally available through veterinary hospitals and has the 15 to 30% fiber content required to change the weight of an obese pet.

Maintaining a healthy weight in your pet will pay off later. It can prevent serious problems, such as diabetes in older cats, urinary tract problems, diarrhea and general poor health due to obesity. And it’s less expensive than emergency surgery or medication for a chronic condition. If you purchase food at a grocery store or pet store, check the labels for high fiber content, at least 20-30%. For cats, also consider a lower magnesium level. Feed cats more meat and less vegetable to keep urine acidic.

Pet birds also need a proper, balanced diet. Be sure your bird gets a variety of foods, not just a seed diet. A seed-only diet can lead to malnutrition, poor feathers, increased susceptibility to illness and a shortened life span. A bird gets the best benefit from a diet including the major food groups.

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Pet Care FAQs #5

CPR Can Save Your Pet’s Life

When a pet suffers cardiac arrest, or loses consciousness and stops breathing due to injury, trauma or smoke inhalation, CPR can save its life. The small animal version of CPR uses the same artificial respiration and heart massage techniques as the method used for people.

Approach the pet with caution. Fear and apprehension may cause it to bite or scratch as an involuntary reflex. Speak quietly and slowly to convey a sense of calm. Restrain the animal by wrapping a cat in a towel or muzzling a dog. Use a cloth or a wrapped instrument -- never your fingers -- to clear objects or mucous from the mouth.

Inflate the lungs by blowing into the animal’s nose, not the mouth, until the chest expands. Blow 15 times per minute. The air passageway through the nose creates a closed system that allows the lungs to expand. You may use a handkerchief if you wish. At the same time, apply heart massage 60-80 times per minute. Continue until the animal begins breathing and the heart is beating or until you are sure there is no chance of survival.

CPR is an emergency measure only and should be followed up immediately with a visit to your veterinarian.

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Pet Care FAQs #6

Healthy Teeth, Healthy Gums, Healthy Pet

Good dental hygiene contributes to your pet’s overall health. Regular dental care, professional cleaning and routine brushing keep teeth and gums in good condition. Dental problems, such as periodontal disease, cavities below the gemlike, and abscesses, can cause heart and kidney disease. Home dental care should include brushing your pet’s teeth 3 times per week. Introduce teeth cleaning gradually to your pet using the following technique:

1. With gauze or a washcloth wrapped around your finger, wipe all the teeth, front and back, stroking from the gumline to the tip of the tooth. Do this for a few weeks until your pet gets used to having the teeth and gums rubbed.

2. Use a very soft toothbrush and some plain water. Clean the teeth using the same technique. After about a week, add some dog or cat toothpaste. Don’t use your own toothpaste; it will cause gastric upset.

3. Brush the front teeth first, then the upper and lower teeth in the back. Hold the bristles at a 45° angle, moving in an oval direction. Pay attention to the area where the teeth and gums meet.

Symptoms to watch for include: swollen, red or bleeding gums, persistent bad breath, loose teeth or the loss of teeth, broken teeth or unusual growth in the mouth. Behavior which may indicate a problem includes a reluctance to eat, play with chew toys or drink cold water. Basically the same kind of dental care you give yourself will also keep your pet’s teeth healthy.

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FAQs #7

Chocolate is for Lovers Not Dogs

Starting with the Christmas holidays through Valentine’s Day and Easter, America enjoys its love affair with chocolate to the hilt. And they like to share their treats with their pets. But lurking in all that cocoa butterfat and sugar is theobromine, an ingredient that can cause vomiting, restlessness or death in your pet. The toxicity of theobromine can be much worse than if the dog ingested rat poison.

The lethal dose of theobromine depends on the size of the dog and the type of chocolate. Baking chocolate has six to nine times as much theobromine as milk chocolate. Lethal amounts are estimated at 4 to 10 ounces of milk chocolate or one-half to one ounce of baking chocolate for small dogs. At the other end of the scale, the lethal dose is estimated at 2 to 4.5 lb. of milk chocolate and 4 to 8 ounces of baking chocolate for large dogs.

If your pet does accidentally eat chocolate, take it to your veterinarian immediately. Treatment may require inducing vomiting, stabilizing the heartbeat and respiration, controlling seizures and slowing the absorption of theobromine. If the dog is comatose, its stomach may need to be pumped.

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FAQs #8

Fun Fact about Cats

Cats are ‘digitgrade’ animals -- they run on their toes with their heels up.

Cats have a third eyelid -- a nicititating membrane. (Try to say that quickly!) It closes horizontally, unlike their regular eyelids, to give them more protection.

Cats require vaccinations against rabies, just like their canine counterparts.

Purring actually starts in the blood system. The sound is the vibration of the blood vessels in the cat’s chest. All cats purr, but some do it very loudly. Touch the cat’s throat to feel the vibration.

Cats require very little light to see objects that humans cannot. But not even a cat can really see in the dark.

Long-term memory seems to be fairly strong in cats; they remember former owners even after long separations.

Normal, healthy adult cats sleep about 65% of the time.

Catnip cravings are in the genes. Only two-thirds of domestic cats react to this herb, a member of the mint family. These cats seem to have a well-developed sense of smell. The effect only lasts about ten minutes.

Annual immunizations are as important for cats as dogs. There are a number of infectious feline diseases that can be prevented by making sure your cat is up-to-date on its inoculations.

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FAQs #9

Regular Testing and a Clean Environment are Key to Intestinal Parasite Control

Parasites, such as roundworms, tapeworms, whipworms and hookworms, can be dangerous to your pet’s health. When detected and treated early, these parasites can often be eradicated.

Symptoms include anemia, diarrhea, vomiting, appetite loss, weight loss, underdevelopment, constipation and coughing. Typically, a stool sample is analyzed under a microscope to detect the parasite or eggs. Specific medication for the type of parasite is generally given in pill form, but may require injections for advanced cases. It is important to have a follow up exam to be sure the parasite is gone.

Puppies and kittens should be dewormed before weaning. They often pick up parasites from their mothers. And parasites can kill a two-to-three week old pet very quickly.

Maintaining a clean environment, removing stools, and keeping your pet from contact with other small wild animals and mammals is extremely important in removing this threat to your pet’s health. Regular stool exams by your veterinarian are also good insurance.

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FAQs #10

Spaying or Neutering : a Caring and Humane Decision

Spaying or neutering your pet can actually benefit your pet’s long-term health and removes the need to deal with unwanted pregnancy and offspring. The procedure should be done as early as possible, around six months of age. In females, spaying before the first heat cycle is recommended.

Spaying eliminates heat cycles and significantly reduces breast tumors and cancer. Uterine infections common to older pets cannot occur. Neutering reduces prostate and testicular cancer and removes the strong urine odor of male cats.

The effects of spaying and neutering on a pet’s behavior are very positive. Many non-spayed or neutered animals exhibit behaviors such as roaming, aggression, urinating in inappropriate places and undesirable sexual behavior in males. The common misconception that your pet will become fat and lazy after this surgery has more to do with its diet and exercise program than the procedure.

Although there is always a risk associated with anesthesia and surgery, today’s veterinary surgical techniques minimize any danger. Ask your veterinarian to explain the procedure and the follow-up care required. Choosing to spay or neuter your pet can give you and your companion the option of a longer, healthier and happier life together.

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FAQs #11

Feline Leukemia is preventable not curable

Feline Leukemia (FeLV) is a form of cancer that is contagious, incurable and usually fatal. The most reliable solution is a special vaccine that must be administered before infection occurs. Annual boosters will maintain that protection. A blood test can detect this disease. The existing treatment for FeLV is expensive, causes severe side effects and is usually ineffective.

FeLV causes cancerous tumors, infects the bloodstream, affects the bone marrow and shuts down a cat’s immune system so it cannot fight off other infections. Symptoms to check for include weight loss and weakness, poor appetite, vomiting, mouth ulcers, diarrhea and fever, and chronic bacterial infections. When a cat is infected with FeLV, it often develops many other disorders since it cannot fight off infection. Many cats die of these complications rather than the cancer itself.

FeLV is transmitted from cat to cat through saliva, urine and feces or through direct contact or contact from mother to kitten during birth. Contaminated food dishes and litter boxes are also a factor. Several cats living together can increase the chance of transmission.

Be sure you get your kitten vaccinated against this disease. If you take an adult cat into your home, have it tested to ensure it is disease-free. Talk with your veterinarian to be sure you’ve taken all precautions necessary to protect your feline companion.

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FAQs #12

Common Sense Care Helps Your Dog Age Gracefully

The care and treatment you provide your pet in its elder years can ensure that both of you enjoy its ‘golden years’. After about the age of 7, your pet may begin to exhibit some signs of age -- stiffness, gray hairs around the muzzle, a duller, drier coat, and cloudy eyes. And it may develop arthritis, or kidney, liver and dental problems. But you can help your pet stay healthy and prolong its life.

Following are some recommended guidelines for caring for a geriatric pet. Keep your pet sheltered from bad or cold weather, drafts or chills. Shorten exercise time. Keep your older pet on a leash; his slower response time may expose him to danger. Maintain daily feeding, exercise, play, rest and sleep routines to keep stress at a low level. Less food, but higher in quality protein and lower in calories and salt, will help maintain a safe, suitable weight. Ask your veterinarian about vitamins and supplements. Maintain other routine care: bathing, grooming, eye and ear care and annual immunizations.

Check with your veterinarian about a special examination to determine any specific

problems associated with aging that may be detected and treated early. Although heredity does play a big role in longevity, the care you and your veterinarian provide may be even more important.

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FAQs #13

The Older Cat: Make Them the ‘Comfortable’ Years

Keeping up the special care you’ve always given your cat can make its aging process more comfortable. Your pet’s biological clock ticks much faster than the human version. The average life span for cats is 12-14 years. After age 7, a cat may begin to experience the gradual onset of old age. Major symptoms may include constipation, anemia, dull hair, bad breath or sore mouth, rear leg weakness and fading memory.

Be aware of your cat’s diminished abilities and try to find a common sense way to accommodate them. Move food bowls or litter boxes to the lower level so it doesn’t have to climb stairs. Avoid drafts, chills, or any environmental extremes. Maintain routines for feeding, grooming, playing and sleeping. Slowing metabolism and a diminished sense of smell and taste in your cat may mean you should switch to a high quality protein food with fewer calories and salt. Vitamins and supplements may assist in keeping your cat healthy.

Ask your veterinarian to give your cat a complete exam with an emphasis on early detection of any problems associated with aging. The care you give your cat now is as important as when it was a kitten.

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FAQs #14

On the Road With Your Pet

Having a pet along for your travels can be a fun adventure for both of you. But just like traveling with small children, good planning and preparation makes the difference between a pleasant, safe trip and miserable one. Here are some tips you can follow to make sure you and your pet enjoy the experience.

Have your veterinarian examine your pet before the trip. Discuss the age and size of the pet and the time and distance of the flight or trip. Get feeding instructions.

Check the regulations for the flight, train, etc. in advance and make the required reservations. Consider direct and midweek flights to avoid stops and transfers.

Be sure you meet current health regulations: a pet must be at least 8 weeks old and be weaned. Have the health and rabies vaccination certificates available, especially if crossing state lines or international borders

Use the appropriate crate: large enough to permit standing and turning, no interior protrusions or handles, absorbent material should line a leak-proof bottom, cross ventilation with no obstructions.

Identify your pet with collar, name and license tags.

Take along some favorite toys, bowl, leash and dog food.

Travel in the evening during hot weather.

Consider the other cargo on a plane. Be sure there is nothing harmful to the pet.

Consider your pet’s temperament. Unfamiliar surroundings, sounds, and people make some pets very upset. Others seem to thrive on seeing new places.

It is rarely advisable to travel with physically impaired or sick animals. Consider placing them with a friend or relative or in a well-run kennel.

Taking the time to make your pet’s travel plans will pay off with a healthy, happy animal at journey’s end.

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