How do I
know if my pet needs to see a doctor?
Why
does my pet have to come in annually if she got the 3-year rabies vaccine?
Why
can't I just pick up the same medicine that worked last time?
What is a microchip and how does it work?
Why does the hospital require blood testing before procedures requiring
anesthesia?
Why
do I have to keep my pet's bandage dry and what would happen if it got wet?
Why
does a dental prophy (teeth cleaning) cost more for my pet than for myself at my
dentist?
Why
won't my cat use the litter box?
Why
does my dog still have Giardia?
When
will my pet have her first heat?
I'm
moving-how do I find a new vet?
If your pet has experienced a significant decrease in appetite or activity
level, is vomiting, having diarrhea, coughing, sneezing, limping, itching or
losing hair, or his eyes look abnormal, he probably should be seen at our
Littleton Animal Hospital. Trouble breathing, trauma, bleeding, stumbling,
seizing, difficulty delivering puppies or kittens, and many eye problems are
emergencies. Sometimes it's hard to tell at home, but don't hesitate to call and
talk to one of our nurses or doctors if you aren't sure.
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Because she still needs an annual examination for the early detection of
disease, and other vaccines need to be administered. Only the rabies vaccine is
currently documented to protect for three years.
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In many cases, problems that seem the same may not be caused by the same
disease. For example, Rover might have an ear infection again, but last time it
was caused by bacteria, and this time by yeast, and different medications are
indicated. Also, it is illegal for a veterinarian to prescribe medication
without seeing the patient to formulate a working diagnosis, and the old
medication might be outdated.
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How do those microchips work? The ID microchips are about the size of a rice
grain. Implanted painlessly under the pet's skin, they show your pet's personal
ID number when he is scanned. This number is linked to your information in a
computer database, so that the data can be kept current. All the shelters in the
Denver area and many Denver veterinarian clinics have scanners. They would be
able to identify your pet and contact you immediately when the pet arrived at
the shelter or clinic. This can be especially important if your pet is injured.
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Pre-anesthetic blood testing allows us to evaluate your pet's basic
physiologic condition and will let us know if we need to take extra precautions
with your pet. It may indicate that we should avoid a procedure altogether
until a discovered problem can be corrected.
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Bandages serve to keep a wound clean and dry. Moist or dirty wounds are more
susceptible to infection, and heal more slowly. If the bandage gets wet, it
actually holds moisture against the wound, providing an ideal environment for
the growth of bacteria. If a bandage gets wet, you should call us immediately to
schedule a bandage change. Remember that the bag we send home to cover the
bandage when the patient goes outdoors is for temporary use only-it actually
holds paw sweat (pets' feet do sweat) inside the bandage, making it wet.
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Dogs and cats require anesthesia in order for your veterinarian to perform
dental procedures, which adds to the cost of the overall procedure. Our Denver
veterinarian clinic uses the same type of equipment your dentist uses on your
teeth for scaling and polishing.
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There are many different reasons for a cat to stop using the box. A bladder
infection should always be ruled out. Other causes include painful crystals or
stones in the bladder, and behavioral problems.
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Call us right away-many poisons do not show signs immediately. Do not induce
vomiting unless instructed to do so by us or another poison authority. Other
helpful resources include: Poison Control Illinois National Pet Hotline.
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Giardia is a microscopic parasite that lives deep in folds in your dog's
digestive tract. It is thought to be impossible to entirely rid an infected
patient of all the organisms (this is true in human medicine as well). When we
treat Giardia, we are hoping to lower the number of parasites and decrease the
patient's clinical signs. However, flare-ups of the clinical signs (soft stool
or diarrhea) will often occur again, especially if the dog is stressed (e.g.
boarding).
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Most cats and dogs have a first heat period between 6 and 12 months of age.
This heat cycle has the most profound influence on increasing her risk of breast
cancer. This is why, unless you are planning to breed her, we recommend spaying
at six months of age. If she has had a heat period, we recommend waiting 6-8
weeks before scheduling a spay. This allows her reproductive tract to return to
it's quiescent condition, making the surgery easier on her.
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Look for an animal hospital accredited by the
State by laws. Ask to tour the facility, and schedule a wellness check with the
veterinarian so you can meet him or her. Be sure to find a new vet you are
comfortable with as soon as possible, in case you have an emergency! Request our
Angel Animal Hospital at no charge to send copies of your record to the new
vet, so that your pet's healthcare can be as seamless as possible.
