Miss Debra Rae asked:


So you’ve moved to a new area or you have a furry family member addition and you need a Veterinarian. You want to choose your Veterinarian like you would a family physician. Call and/or visit a few clinics, ask a lot of questions, get a feel for the place and then make a decision. A great Veterinarian is an exceptional animal doctor and has terrific people skills. You want a Vet who listens to you, is caring, understands your dog’s needs and has extensive animal medical training and knowledge.

To help find a great veterinarian here’s a few tips:

When you see a well cared for dog on a walk, at the beach or at a dog park, ask their human who is the family Vet. Ask friends, neighbors & coworkers. Call your local animal shelter, Humane Society, or PAWS and get the who’s who in your town. These dedicated people see it all.

When you think you’ve found your Vet, visit the facility and ask yourself the following questions:

Is it clean, comfortable and well organized?

Are appointments required?

How many veterinarians are on staff?

Are there veterinary technicians?

Are dog and cat kennels in separate areas?

Is the staff caring, calm, competent, & courteous?

Do the Veterinarians have special interests like geriatrics, nutrition, or behavior?

Do the charges for services fit your budget?

Are discounts for seniors, military or multi-pet households available?

Are X-rays, ultrasound, blood work, EKG, and other diagnostics in-house or sent out?

What emergency services are available?

Do I like the location?

The answers to these questions will determine if this is the Veterinarian for you and your K9 family member. If you’re still not satisfied, visit another clinic and another until you find the place that suits you and your dog’s needs.

Once you’ve chosen your Veterinarian, take your dog in at least once a year for an annual examination. Some dogs really dislike this part of their life, but who enjoys getting poked and prodded? This minimum annual exam is to keep your dog updated on all their vaccines, check their heart, teeth, lungs, and test for worms. Make the appointment and spend the money. Your dog’s worth it.

The typical minimum annual vaccines are the DHLPP and Rabies (some areas allow 2-3 years between Rabies vaccines). This combo annual vaccine includes:

Distemper-This disease affects a wide range of organs.

Hepatitis-This targets the liver.

Leptosporosis-This bad boy causes kidney failure.

Parvovirus-This one goes for the intestines.

Para influenza-This affects the nasal passages, trachea & bronchi.

There are also additional vaccines available for such nasty things as Giardia, Canine cough and Rattlesnake bites. Consult with your Veterinarian to be certain your dog is properly vaccinated based on your dog’s age, health and your geographical area. An annual fecal exam is recommended even if your dog is treated monthly with “Heartgard” and “Advantix” as they can still get other types of parasites.

Dogs rely on their human to care for them in the best possible way by keeping them happy and healthy. Do a good job. The rewards are priceless.



BRANDON

Josh Stone asked:


A veterinarian (from Latin veterinae, “draught animals”) is an animal doctor, a practitioner of veterinary medicine. Although veterinarians hold doctoral degrees in veterinary medicine, not all veterinarians enter clinical practice. Those that work in clinical settings practice medicine in specific fields, such as companion animal or “pet” medicine, reptile medicine, ratite medicine, livestock medicine, equine medicine (e.g. sports, race track, show, rodeo), or laboratory animal medicine. Other veterinarians research areas of human medicine, veterinary medicine, and pharmacology. Research veterinarians were the first to isolate oncoviruses, Salmonella species, Brucella species, and various other pathogenic agents. They also helped conquer malaria and yellow fever; solved the mystery of botulism; produced an anticoagulant used to treat human heart disease; and developed surgical techniques for humans, such as hip-joint replacement, and limb and organ transplants.

Like all physicians, veterinarians must make serious ethical decisions about their patients’ care. There is ongoing debate over the ethics of performing certain controversial procedures, like declawing cats and docking tails, cropping ears, and debarking dogs. In some countries, these procedures are illegal, and therefore their practice is contentious. The Veterinarian’s Oath was adopted by the American Veterinary Medical Association’s House of Delegates July 1969, and amended by the AVMA Executive Board, November 1999. It goes as follows:

“Being admitted to the profession of veterinary medicine, I solemnly swear to use my scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of society through the protection of animal health, the relief of animal suffering, the conservation of animal resources, the promotion of public health, and the advancement of medical knowledge.

I will practice my profession conscientiously, with dignity, and in keeping with the principles of veterinary medical ethics.”

Some veterinarians work in a field called regulatory medicine — ensuring the nation’s food safety by working with the USDA FSIS, or work by protecting us from imported exotic animal diseases by working for the USDA APHIS. The emerging field of conservation medicine involves veterinarians even more directly with human health care, providing a multidisciplinary approach to medical research that also involves environmental scientists.

More than 3,800 veterinarians in the USA currently work at veterinary schools where they teach student vets what they need to know to graduate — teaching is another career path for a veterinarian.

Veterinary school is a tertiary educational institution, or part of such an institution, which is involved in the education of future veterinary practitioners (veterinarians). The entry criteria, structure, teaching methodology and nature of veterinary programs offered at veterinary schools vary considerably around the world. In the U.S., a doctorate of veterinary medicine degree (D.V.M.) (Or in the Veterinary Medical School at the University of Pennsylvania, a degree of veterinary medical doctor (V.M.D.) is awarded) is a four-year program. The program generally consists of 21D2 to 3 years of mostly traditional classroom coursework followed by the clinical rotations. Currently, unlike human medical school, a subsequent internship and/or residency are not required, but are optional to those who choose to seek further education and possible accreditation. Unsurprisingly, the number of veterinarians pursuing internships and/or residencies will continue to increase as the understanding of veterinary medicine continues to grow greater. A good veterinarian enjoys working with animals and their owners. Admission into veterinary medical school is so competitive that in the United States it is far easier to gain acceptance into either a medical school or a top Law School than to meet the GPA requirements for most veterinary schools. This situation occurs mostly because there are far fewer schools, allowing the schools to be much more selective. According to the US Department of Labor, only 1 in 3 applicants were accepted into a veterinary program in 2002. Prerequisites for admission include the undergraduate studies listed under veterinary medicine and extensive veterinary experience (typically about 500 or more hours) in private practice or other veterinary environment. The average veterinary medical student has an undergraduate GPA of 3.5 and a GRE score of approximately 1800. US graduates are awarded either a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) or the less common Veterinary Medical Doctor (VMD) degree, depending upon the traditions of the veterinary school.

Public health medicine is another option for veterinarians. Veterinarians in government and private laboratories provide diagnostic and testing services. Some veterinarians serve as state epidemiologists, directors of environmental health, and directors of state or city public health departments. Veterinarians are also employed by the US Agriculture Research Service, Fish and Wildlife Service, Environmental Protection Agency, National Library of Medicine, and National Institutes of Health. The military also employs veterinarians in a number of capacities — caring for pets on military bases, caring for military working animals, and controlling various arthropod-borne diseases or other such things.

Veterinary medicine is the application of medical, diagnostic, and therapeutic principles to companion, domestic, exotic, wildlife, and production animals. Veterinary Science is concerned with the scientific basis of animal production, health and disease. It requires the acquisition and application of scientific knowledge in several disciplines and uses technical skills towards the solution of animal production, health, management and welfare problems.

Veterinary medicine is informally as old as the human/animal bond but in recent years has expanded exponentially because of the availability of advanced diagnostic and therapeutic techniques for most species. Animals nowadays often receive advanced medical, dental, and surgical care including insulin injections, root canals, hip replacements, cataract extractions, and pacemakers.

Veterinarians assist in ensuring the quality, quantity, and security of food supplies by working to maintain the health of livestock and inspecting the meat itself. Veterinary scientists are very important in chemical, biological, and pharmacological research.

In many countries, equine veterinary medicine is also a specialized field. Clinical work with horses involves mainly locomotor and orthopaedic problems, digestive tract conditions (including equine colic, which is a major cause of death among domesticated horses), and respiratory tract infections and disorders.

As in the human medical field, veterinary medicine (in practice) requires a diverse group of individuals to meet the need of patients. In addition to veterinarians, many veterinary hospitals utilize a team of veterinary nurses and veterinary assistants to completely care for healing, critical and well animals. Veterinary nurses are generally registered as “veterinary technicians” in most states and are legally qualified to assist veterinarians in many medical procedures. Veterinary assistants, who are not licensed by most states, but can be well-trained at facilities such as The School for Veterinary Assistants, are also becoming increasingly in-demand in the veterinary industry due to a wide range of treatments and services being offered to meet the higher expectations of pet owners in the United States.



ERNIE

Russ Hancock asked:


Like a small child that cannot yet speak, animals can often require medical attention, yet have absolutely no way to articulate the fact that this is the case. Excessive whimpering might become the norm for a sick pooch, but even then, it is hard to differentiate an unhappy dog from an ill dog. There are certain signs that you should look for if you believe your canine needs to be taken to a licensed animal physician. Below, a list of a few telltale signs that your dog could deserve a look-see from a veterinarian.

Fluctuation in Weight

If you notice that your dog has a fairly rapid weight change, a trip to the vet may be in order. Whether this means that weight is lost quickly or gained quickly, problems can arise from both. Perhaps it will mean nothing, but this warning sign poses enough of a risk that you should take your animal to see the vet.

Difficulty Breathing

If your animal begins breathing heavily or struggles to breathe, do not hesitate to contact the vet. More so than weight fluctuation, difficulty breathing points to a particular problem that needs attention. Do not take a “wait-and-see” approach anytime something as necessary as breathing becomes a struggle for your animal.

Development of a Fever

When you pet your animal, you probably do not usually feel anything out of the ordinary. But if your stroking leads you to believe that your dog is hotter than usual, check to see if he or she has a fever. If this is the case, your dog needs medical attention immediately.

Diarrhea

If your dog has one or two bouts of diarrhea, he or she probably does not require a trip to the veterinarian. However, if the diarrhea persists for too long, you might want to look into seeing your animal’s doctor. Excessive diarrhea can become problematic, as you may put your animal through a litany of harmful problems. For example, prolonged diarrhea can lead to dehydration; the lack of hydration can severely affect your dog’s health, possibly leading to death. Diarrhea may also signal another, larger problem. For example, bloody diarrhea can point to a bigger problem that most definitely requires a trip to the vet.

Seizure(s)

This last problem probably seems like a no-brainer, when it comes to seeking out medical attention. However, many once again take a “wait-and-see” approach, even when it comes to seizures. Rest assured, if your pet has a seizure, rush it to a veterinarian for immediate medical attention.

Naturally, there are countless other scenarios and problems that will require medical attention for your canine. However, the provided list gives some insight on what problems need to be treated by a veterinarian. In actuality, however, if you feel at all worried that something might be wrong with your dog, it is better to be safe than sorry. Take a chance by going to the vet, rather than waiting and causing further harm to your dog.



RONNIE

Kristen Onasch asked:


In the ferret, adrenal disease - or hyperadrenocorticism - most commonly occurs when a tumor or lesion on the adrenal glands causes an overproduction of the hormones produced by the adrenal glands. Adrenal disease is most common in ferrets over the age of three years, but it can affect ferrets as young as a year old. Adrenal disease is one of the most prevalent ferret diseases, and there is no definitive test for it. Ferret owners need to know as much as possible about it to be able to recognize it and help the ferret after he is diagnosed by the veterinarian.

CAUSES

While we don’t know for sure what exactly causes adrenal disease in ferrets, most theories point to two possible causes:

Spaying and neutering at a young age

Many large ferret breeders spay or neuter ferrets at the age of 5 or 6 weeks, which may cause the ferret’s body to overcompensate for the lack of normal *** hormones. Adrenal disease has occurred in ferrets that are spayed or neutered after they have reached sexual maturity, but it is not nearly as common.

Extended photoperiods

Most ferrets have been forced to adapt to their owner’s lifestyle and are exposed to at least four or five hours of artificial light in the evening in addition to the natural light during the day. This limits the time they spend in darkness, which decreases melatonin production. Too little melatonin results in overstimulation of the adrenal glands. Ferrets should have no less than 12 hours of complete darkness throughout a 24 hour period.

When a ferret develops adrenal disease, it is most likely the combination of a variety of factors. In addition to environmental factors, some ferrets are probably genetically predisposed to developing adrenal gland cancer.

SIGNS

Hair loss or hair thinning - at the base of the tail, on his feet, on his belly, in an obvious pattern, or in a patchy appearance - are classic signs of adrenal disease. There are multiple causes for hair loss in ferrets, but a ferret owner should always suspect adrenal disease and report this to his or her veterinarian, especially if the ferret is 3 years of age or older. However, while hair loss is the classic sign of adrenal disease, not all ferrets will have this sign.

Unlike other diseases, there is not a standard set of signs that a ferret with adrenal disease will always display. The range of signs that your ferret shows will depend on where the tumor is on his adrenal glands. The adrenal glands produce many hormones, so the location of the tumor will affect which hormones are overproduced. The types of hormones that are overproduced determines which signs you will see.

Here are the various signs of adrenal disease:

Hair loss, either in a symmetrical pattern or patchy with no apparent pattern *

Thinning hair

Loss of appetite

Lethargy

Papery thin or translucent looking skin, sometimes with sores from scratching

Excessive scratching and itchiness

Increase in musky body odor

Excessive grooming of self or other ferrets, including ear sucking

Sexual aggression and mating behavior in neutered males - with other ferrets, inanimate objects, etc.

Swollen ***** in spayed females

Difficulty ********* for males - this is a sign of an enlarged prostate, a condition usually associated with adrenal disease

Weakness in back legs - usually seen in advanced or extreme cases

Increased thirst, increased urination

Weight loss due to a decrease in muscle mass, but with a pot bellied appearance

* It is important to note that you may see partial or complete hair regrowth without treatment. This does not mean that your ferret is fine, it just means that the hormonal imbalances have balanced out again, probably due to a season change. The hormones will become unbalanced again, and hair loss will occur, usually more severe than before.

Always remember that you can see any combination of these signs - there is no set group of signs! Keep an eye on your ferrets as they grow older, watching for any symptoms or odd behavior. Something as seemingly innocuous as your ferret running from litter box to litter box trying to go to the bathroom should result in a trip to the veterinarian.

DIAGNOSING ADRENAL DISEASE

If your veterinarian has a lot of experience with ferrets or if your ferret has the traditional hair loss, he or she may be able to diagnose your ferret through clinical signs (symptoms).

Your veterinarian may decide to use the Adrenal Panel run by the University of Tennessee, often referred to as the “Tennessee Panel,” in cases where adrenal disease is suspected. This is a blood test that evaluates the levels of hormones and steroid production. The test is not always 100% correct, and has been known to result in false positives and false negatives, but it is the only blood test available to test for adrenal disease.

Radiographs (x-rays) and ultrasounds help determine whether or not adrenal disease is present, but can be misleading. Diseased adrenal glands can be normal in size and shape and, therefore, an x-ray or ultrasound may not raise any concerns. However, ultrasounds can be helpful in showing prostate enlargement (a complication of adrenal disease in male ferrets).

When it comes to diagnosis, if your ferret is displaying any of the obvious signs, your veterinarian will probably suggest beginning treatment rather than spending money on expensive tests and other diagnostic measures. Ferrets can suffer from adrenal disease for a long time before actually showing symptoms, so no matter how your veterinarian arrives at the diagnosis, it’s important to commence treatment immediately after the diagnosis has been made.

TREATMENT

Your veterinarian may opt to use any of the following options to treat your ferret’s adrenal disease:

Surgery

This is the most common treatment for adrenal disease, and is the only way to completely remove the tumor. It is also the most recommended treatment by most veterinarians. If your veterinarian seems at all hesitant about the surgery or does not perform surgeries, ask for a recommendation to a more experienced ferret veterinarian.

If your ferret has already had surgery to remove one gland and adrenal tumors develop in the remaining gland, your veterinarian may decide that surgery is not the best choice. Ferrets that have both glands removed may develop Addison’s disease, which is a severe or complete deficiency of the hormones made in the adrenal glands. Your veterinarian will probably want to check your ferret’s cortisol (a hormone produced by the adrenal glands) levels within three days of the surgery.

Though surgery is the only option that could completely rid your ferret of adrenal disease, it is important for you to know that there are risks involved with surgery.

If the tumor is on the right adrenal gland, your veterinarian may choose not to remove it. The right adrenal gland is directly adjacent to the vena cava, the largest vein in the body, and there could be serious complications.

If any microscopic piece of affected adrenal tissue remains, the tumor can grow back either on the same side, or the opposite side.

There is always a chance that the ferret may not make it through the surgery or through the recovery period in the first few days after the procedure is done.

Discuss all of the risks extensively with your veterinarian before making any decisions. Some ferrets are just not good surgical candidates, either due to age, health or both, and with these ferrets your veterinarian will probably want to go the medical treatment route.

Medical

Your veterinarian may suggest medical treatment options in cases where surgery cannot be performed, either due to the health of the ferret or other issues. These options include:

Lupron Depot Injections

Lupron Depot may be prescribed at 1 month, 3 month, or 4 month intervals. “Depot” refers to the fact that the entire dosage is released over the given time period. This means that your ferret will need to get this shot at the appropriate time for the rest of his life. Lupron may shrink the tumor, but in most cases, it only affects the symptoms.

Even if all symptoms cease, Lupron must continue to be administered. Lupron is a synthetic version of GnRH (gonadotropin release hormone), and it works by desensitizing the pituitary gland, which stops the production of the hormones that are overstimulating the adrenal glands. So if the Lupron shots are stopped, the pituitary gland resumes its normal function, and all of the problems start again.

If your veterinarian recommends doing surgery, but you can’t do it right away for whatever reason, some veterinarians may recommend that the ferret receive Lupron in the meantime. This may prevent the disease from progressing any further and, at the very least, may make your ferret more comfortable by alleviating some of the symptoms.

Melatonin Implants

Melatonin is a natural hormone that serves many functions in your ferret’s body, one of which is to inhibit the release of GnRH (gonadotropin releasing hormone). Less GnRH means that the pituitary gland releases fewer hormones, which means that the adrenal glands are stimulated less.

Melatonin can be used in oral (liquid or pill) or implant form. While you can use oral melatonin, the success or failure of it depends on the time of day it is given. It needs to be administered exactly 7 - 9 hours after sunrise to mimic the natural release of melatonin. If given at this time every single day, oral melatonin is extremely effective. Unfortunately many ferret owners are not home during this time. A more convenient way to administer melatonin effectively is to use Ferretonin, a melatonin implant. Implants last about 3 - 4 months, and provide a steady level of melatonin over that time period.

Melatonin implants alone cannot be used to treat adrenal disease, and the best results are seen if Melatonin implants are used in conjunction with Lupron Depot.

Medications to avoid

Lysodren (mitotane) was formerly used as a common treatment for adrenal disease, but studies have shown that Lysodren doesn’t stop the stimulation of the adrenal glands and causes low blood sugar. This is a concern, as insulinoma and adrenal disease are often seen together, and ferrets with insulinoma struggle with low blood sugar already. Overdosages or incorrect dosages of Lysodren were also known to cause Addison’s Disease.

Nizoral (Ketoconazole) is used to treat Cushing’s disease (hyperadrenocorticism) in dogs, which is completely different from adrenal disease (also hyperadrenocorticism) in ferrets. Though they are the same disease, the same drugs cannot be used to treat both.

Vetoryl (Trilostane) is also used in dogs with Cushing’s Disease, and increases the level of a hormone that is already quite high in ferrets with adrenal disease. Giving this to a ferret with adrenal disease would make the problem worse.

Nolvadex (Tamoxifen) is an anti-estrogen medicine in humans. However, it actually has estrogen-like effects in ferrets, which would have a negative effect on many ferrets with adrenal disease.

PREVENTING ADRENAL DISEASE

Unfortunately, there are no proven ways to prevent adrenal disease. It is currently thought that the early neutering/spaying that is done by large scale breeders directly contributes to adrenal disease, and in most cases, the ferrets that you get will already have had this surgery. If they are intact, it is recommended that you wait until they are at least 6 months of age before getting them spayed or neutered. Adrenal disease is still seen in ferrets who are spayed or neutered after reaching sexual maturity, but it is not as prevalent.

Recent studies have shown that light cycles also contribute to the development of adrenal disease. Melatonin, as mentioned above, regulates the release of GnRH. GnRH affects how much the adrenal glands are stimulated. Melatonin is produced when the ferret is in total darkness. Most of our ferrets live in the same environment we do - natural daylight during the day, and several hours of artificial light in the evenings. This obviously shortens the amount of time the ferret is in darkness, thereby decreasing the production of melatonin. Less melatonin means more GnRH is released, which then overstimulates the adrenal glands leading to adrenal disease. A ferret’s optimal light cycle is about eight hours of light and sixteen hours of total darkness each day. It is thought that this will allow your ferret to produce the most melatonin possible. There are some ferret supplies, such as cage covers and certain types of fabric bedding, available to help you create the necessary photoperiods.

IN SUMMARY

It’s important to add one more thought here - adrenal disease is very treatable in most cases. Not treating adrenal disease is condemning your ferret to die, when this doesn’t have to be the case. If you see signs of adrenal disease in your ferret, please get him checked out as soon as possible. Ferrets can live long and happy lives after they are treated for adrenal disease, and I know we all want that for our fuzzies!



DUANE

thomasosborne7 asked:


I’m a sophmore in high school and I want to become a veterinarian. I know which classes I should take and all, but I was wondering what are some good colleges that provide excellent veterinarian education?

MILLARD

Randy Hemsley asked:


Breeding dogs can be both a very exciting and fulfilling experience, but prospective breeders should be well informed about the entire process, from the selection of an appropriate mate to labor and right through to placing puppies in a good home.

Finding a dog breeder is easy - it’s finding a great breeder that’s the hard part. Keep reading to learn why choosing a good breeder is important and how to spot one.

Why is a Good Dog Breeder Important?

A quality, reputable dog breeder breeds with a dog’s health, temperament, and breed characteristics in mind. This means they watch out for common genetic diseases and health problems while simultaneously keeping good breeding records.

A good breeder will also provide a lot of hands-on assistance to a new owner. Quality breeders are invested in their animals, so this means they want to see them go to good homes and are sincerely interested in their long-term well-being.

How Do You Find a Good Breeder?

Looking for a quality breeder should go beyond the newspaper or the yellow pages. Ask your friends or a local veterinarian for their referrals on trusted, quality breeders in your area.

Next, make sure you visit the breeder. Their kennel or home should be very clean and obviously well-maintained. Note how they care for the animals. If the breeding conditions are poor or dirty, then your dog could be at risk for disease.

While there, ask to see all the dogs. The animals should be well-nourished and healthy looking, with no obviously runny noses or eyes. Ask your breeder if he or she belongs to any registered breed associations, organizations, or clubs. A good breeder will stand behind their animals with a solid guarantee.

Professional breeders always ensure that both prospective parents are healthy and ready to produce healthy and strong offspring. They avoid over-breeding and also the more routine breeding of dogs with any genetic defects or substantial health problems.

Both prospective parent dogs should be tested for possible diseases and have available as much information about their ancestry and health records as possible. Ideally, the further back the health histories go, the better.

What Types of Breeders Should You Avoid?

Stay away from puppy mills, pet shops, and “backyard breeders.” A backyard breeder is an unregistered breeder with limited knowledge about their animals and is breeding more for monetary purposes than the love of the animals.

A puppy mill is a slang term that refers to large scale businesses designed to produce a lot of dogs - like a dog factory. Disease can spread rapidly in these conditions, poor health conditions are rampant and serious emotional problems are often overlooked.

Because puppy mills frequently adhere merely to absolute minimum requirements, they usually sell only to pet stores and dog brokers who have much lower standards than the individual buyer.

Finding a quality, reputable breeder could mean a longer, healthier and happier life for your pet. Choose wisely and select a breeder who stands behind his product, is really invested in the animal, and sincerely cares about each dog’s long-term health and well-being.



CLYDE

Mississippi Vet asked:


I was told by one of my professors at Vet school that a veterinarian could administer health care to humans in times of emergency. I was just checking his facts if a veterinarian can actually do this legally.

SANFORD