Bob Alexander asked:


My cat Spike was previously owned, but in good condition.  He wasn’t shaking or throwing up on the floor or having some kind of a fit.  For a cat in an animal shelter he seemed to be in pretty good shape!  The animal services people said that he was available for adoption which made me wonder if the other animals in the cages were doomed already.
Adoption is just another word for a cat sale!  They didn’t want us to think this was a business arrangement, so they dulled the verbiage by telling us we were giving him a new home and a future; even hinting that if we didn’t take him, he would be meeting the grim reaper the next day.

First Tip:  Know what you’re going to be spending and decide if the kitten is worth the money, as well as the cat hair on your new sofa when you get home.

The cat cost me almost $100 before I could even get him into the car, which to my way of thinking, I had just bought a cat.  Adoption fees, city license fees and county license fees, worming and a few other medical necessities amounted to $115.00.  The coupon they gave me to have him neutered would save me $20.00, but would still cost $30.00. 

Any way I looked at this arrangement, we were talking about big money and I hadn’t even bought any kitty litter or cat food!  I was beginning to wonder if I had been scammed.  This kitten certainly didn’t look like he was worth a hundred dollars.  Also someone obviously of limited intelligence had named this kitten Donnie!  I immediately changed his name to Spike, which he seemed to appreciate.

Second Tip:  Make sure the cat of your choice is in good mental health.   That’s right, I said mental health.  According to animal experts, cats can stress out and go bonkers just like us humans. I wasn’t aware of such a thing when I picked Spike out of the line-up at the shelter, but it could explain why sometimes when he’s sleeping he will suddenly sit up and then bolt from his bed like its on fire!

Cat anxiety is evidently a fairly common malady for felines.  Spike rarely appears anxious unless one of the raccoons that have invaded the woods in our back yard snarls at him over a bit of his cat food.  He almost lost a leg to one of these food bandits a couple of years ago and since then he stays out of their way when they visit his garage at night.  Othewise  he seems pretty laid back.

Occasionally he’ll scratch the side of our antique couch when we least expect it.  I think he’s just trying to get attention from us, which he does when my wife grabs the broom and swats him out the door.

I asked a veterinarian about this behavior and he said that Spike was probably suffering some kind of emotional stress.  He wrote me a prescription for valium.  He said if he showed any other emotional distress he would increase the dosage.  That’s all I need; a stoned cat!

Tip Three:  Physical Health:  Although it’s impossible to tell just how healthy the cat you’re interested in buying is, you have to hope that it’s good enough to qualify him for health insurance.  Spike appeared to be healthy when I bought him so I thought I wouldn’t have to spend much money on his up-keep.

Then the raccoons and monstrous veterinarian bills arrived.  After one of them chewed on his leg in a dispute over Meow Mix, I discovered that having a little insurance was probably a good thing.  I also discovered that pet insurance is a lot like human health insurance in that there is a pre-existing clause. Even though Spike had never had an injury to his leg, the insurance company refused to pay for the medical attention he received, using the old “pre-existing” excuse!

Whether you buy your cat at a pet store or an animal shelter, it’s going to cost you money, worry and time.  Sometimes I think raising a kid is cheaper and they won’t leave hair on your couch!



DAVE

Matthew Homfray asked:


Vaccinations are an essential preventive care for your dog. Through vaccination, dogs can now be protected from numerous disease risks, including rabies, distemper, hepatitis and several others. Some of these diseases are zoonotic (can be passed from dogs to people) and so vaccinating your pet benefits public health too.

Recently, several studies have shown that vaccines protect dogs for a longer period than previously believed. There have also been many improvements in the quality of the vaccines produced. Pet owners are now also aware and concerned that vaccination is not as harmless a procedure as once believed.

To assist veterinarians with making vaccine recommendations for their pet owners dogs, the American Animal Hospital Association has now issued a set of canine vaccine guidelines. These guidelines were developed by a group of experts and practicing veterinarians together.
A key recommendation is that all dogs are very different and therefore vaccine decisions should be tailored to the individual dog. Factors including age, breed, health status, environment, lifestyle, and travel habits of the dog should be always be considered. Infectious disease threats differ from place to place and so you should work with your veterinarian to tailor an immunization program that best protects your dog based on his / her risk and lifestyle factors.

Am I Putting My Dogs Health at Risk When Vaccinating?

All medical procedures, no matter how routine, carry some inherent risk and so it would be wrong to say that vaccinating your pet is risk free. As with any medical procedure the benefits of performing that procedure must be balanced against the risks. Veterinarians recommend that no needless vaccination risks should be taken and that the best way to go about this is to reduce the number and frequency of administration of unnecessary vaccines.These decisions should be made after considering your dogs age, lifestyle, and potential exposure to infectious disease.

What are the risks associated with vaccination?

Vaccine reactions are infrequent in my experience. In general, most vaccine reactions are mild and the side effects (local pain, itchiness and swelling) are self-limiting. Allergic reactions are much less common, but if untreated can actually be fatal. These can occur soon after vaccination, usually within a matter of minutes to hours. If you think this type of reaction is occuring, please contact your veterinarian as soon as possible.

Also, in a very small number of patients, vaccines can sometimes cause the patients immune system to attack their own cells, resulting in diseases that affect the blood, skin, joints or nervous system. Such reactions are very rare but can again be life threatening.

There is also a possible complication of tumor growth developing at the vaccination site, but this occurs most frequently in cats.

Please just remember, that if you have any reason to be concerned, just call your veterinarian for advice.

There are so many vaccines available - How do I know which vaccines my pet needs?

There are two general groups of vaccines: core and noncore vaccines.

Core vaccines are recommended for all dogs and protect against diseases that are more common and are more serious. These diseases are found in all areas of North America and are more easily transmitted than noncore diseases. The AAHA guidelines define core vaccines as: distemper, adenovirus, parvovirus and rabies.

Noncore vaccines are for patients at an increased risk for infection due to exposure or lifestyle. The AAHA guidelines define non-core vaccines as: kennel cough, Lyme disease and leptospirosis vaccines.

How often should my dog be vaccinated really?

It is essential that your dog has the complete initial series of puppy core vaccines, as well as booster shots at one year of age. The young dog is at high risk of contracting infectious disease and so every step should be taken to prevent illness. Following the one-year boosters, the AAHA Canine Vaccine Guidelines recommend that the distemper, adenovirus and parvovirus core vaccines be administered once every three years. Your state and local municipality govern how often rabies boosters are administered and so please contact them or your local veterinarian to get more information (some areas require an annual rabies booster whereas others only require a three-year-effective rabies booster every three years ).

Noncore vaccinations should be administered whenever the risk of the disease is significant enough to override any risk of vaccination. For example, a kennel cough vaccine may need to be given every six months to a dog that is repeatedly kenneled or exposed to groups of dogs at grooming salons or dog shows.

If my pet doesnt need annual vaccines does this mean I only need to see my veterinarian every three years?

Regular health checks (once or twice a year) are a very important disease preventative for your dog. Vaccinations are just one component of a health check. Your veterinarian will thoroughly examine your pet to ensure that all is well. your veterinarian has an opportunity, therefore, to detect and prevent problems at an early stage. Just think, dogs age more quickly than humans, so an annual exam equates to a human getting a physical every 5-7 years. Plus they dont always show signs of early disease, and they cant easily communicate discomfort to us.

Can my veterinarian do tests to see if my dog needs to be vaccinated?

The answer is yes. Tests that measure protective antibody levels for diseases are called titers. Reliable titer tests for canine distemper and parvovirus now exist. Your veterinarian can provide you with more information.



ORLANDO

Andi Wize asked:


If you are a practicing local veterinarian, you might want to consider taking in exotic pets as patients too. Regular pets like dogs and cats maybe a common thing for you, but are you ready to take on the challenge of being an exotic pet veterinarian?

Since you are in this field for quite sometime you might think of becoming one. Being an exotic pet practicing local veterinarian has a lot of advantages. And here are just some of them.

1. You will have a broader range of clients. Imagine more people consulting you for all their pets, no matter what kind it is. That also means you will be able to earn more by being able to expand your clinic or office.

2. You will become more famous. There are just a few exotic pet veterinarians in your area, for sure. A regular veterinarian may be one too many, but an exotic veterinarian isn’t. You may even have customers coming from other states, just to consult you regarding their pets.

3. You will widen your knowledge about animals. Being confined to dogs, cats, and other regular pets could be less challenging after being in the field for too long. Maybe it’s time to take your expertise to another level and take on skunks, turtles, and snakes as patients.

4. You will be able to help the environment. Being a veterinarian of exotic pets would enable you to help injured and very sick animals out of danger. You can lengthen their lives and add to the preservation of their species in the process.

5. You will be able to inform other people. As you attend to sick exotic pets, you can enlighten its owners as to the proper care these types of animals need. And you will also be able to give them tips to prevent the same illness from happening again.

6. You can use your knowledge and expertise in reaching out to more people. Once you have became an exotic pet veterinarian and have done well in it, you will be able to use all the things you have learned in making informed decisions people wanting to get exotic pets. You can join an advocate protecting exotic animals or other similar organizations according to your personal beliefs and principles.

Being an exotic pet veterinarian could mean lots of things to learn and lots of information to digest, even if you are a practicing veterinarian already. You might even go back to school again for that purpose alone. But think of the things it can give you. Being an exotic pet vet can become really fulfilling so just go for it.



TREVOR

David Beart asked:


Our cats become a part of the family over time. But unlike humans, who are considered elderly at 60 or 65, cats are considered “senior citizens” at the ripe old age of 10. It is important to understand the proper care of cats at all stages of life. A kitten cannot be fed, groomed, medicated, and treated the same way as an elderly cat. Here is a guide to proper Elderly Cat Care.

Feeding Time

Most pet supply stores sell specially formulated cat foods that are designed to provide proper health and nutrition to elderly cats. Some formulas assist with proper digestion, since this can often be a problem with older cats. Senior cats cannot assimilate their food in their digestive tracts in the same way that they did when they were youngsters.

Older cats can also have problems with their teeth that cause them to eat less. This is why it is important to maintain good dental hygiene in cats at a young age by either brushing, taking them to the veterinarian for a cleaning, or feeding them snacks that clean their teeth. If your elderly cat eats less, it may be due to a toothache, thus it is sometimes ideal to feed them softer foods, mostly wet, canned foods, so that chewing their dinner won’t be as much of an obstacle.

Many cat owners find that their cat’s coat becomes dull with age. This is due to poor nutrition. Feed your older cat a diet rich in essential fatty acids to fix this problem. When organisms, including cats, get older, they have an increased production of free radicals in the body. Free radicals contribute to the degeneration of cells in the body. Help build up the immune system of your beloved cat by increasing his or her intake of vitamin C and E.

Finally, you want your cat to remain active in old age. The more energetic activities your cat participates in the better health it will remain in. If you allow your cat to become obese it will lay around the house and have reduced quality of life, as well as a decrease in general health. Watch your pet’s eating habits and assure that it is not overeating, or eating as a recreation as some cats do.

Grooming Elderly Cats

Another element of proper Elderly Cat Care is grooming. When cats age, they sometimes stop grooming themselves with the same frequency as they did when they were younger. This can create a matted fur coat that is dirty and smells bad. Bad hygiene will eventually lead to bad health. Because of this, it is important that you groom your eldery cat yourself. Purchase a good cat brush that doesn’t just brush the outer coat, but one with bristles that reach down to the skin to pull up old hair.

It sometimes helps to give your cat a bath, even though most cats **** them with a passion. The best way to wash a cat is to place them in the tub and gradually introduce water. You certainly don’t want to throw them into the tub with hot water running inside! You may get a deep claw mark in the arm that will never heal and remind you to never do that again. If you apply water gradually to the cat’s coat until they are completely wet and then work in some shampoo quickly, you should be able to accomplish that goal.

Vet Visits and Medication

When your cat grows into old age, it may have health complications that require regular medication. You should schedule a regular vet appointment for your elderly cat to assure that you are keeping up with all details of its health regimen. In older age, cats may seem fine but still have complications. Ask your veterinarian to give your cat a blood and urine test to find out if there is anything to be concerned about to head off any future problems. Going back to dental care, most older cats develop gum disease which can lead to health problems down the line. Gum disease can be treated by your veterinarian.

Just as with a human who has to take daily medication, if your cat has been prescribed to take medications on a daily basis it is helpful to keep everything in one place as a reminder. You do not want to miss a day of any crucial medication as the system of your older cat is much more delicate than those of younger cats.

Pet Insurance

Insurance companies are coming to recognize the love that people have for their pets. Thus, there are many new pet insurance products popping up on the market. It is best to enroll your pet into an insurance program at a younger age to assure a more reasonable premium, but you may still be able to enroll your elderly cat into an insurance program where his or medical bills will be partly covered in the case of a medical emergency. Some pet insurance companies will charge anywhere from $20-$50 per month per cat, depending on their particular situation.

The costs of pet surgeries and treatments can be way out of the budget of most households, so having a pet insurance plan to back you up can be a great asset. It will also give you peace of mind about your cat as it ages.

Activities of the Elderly Cat

The activity level of elderly cats vary. Some cats become inactive and spend most of their day sleeping or sitting. But other cats can be just as active in old age as they were in their younger days. These cats may still like to play with you, run, and chase the other cats around the house, but you just need to be understanding that they may not be able to participate in these games for as long as they used to. For example, a game cats love to play is “chase their owner.” Instead of letting them chase you up and down the stairs as you did when they were young, maybe you could keep the activity to one level of the house. That way you will not overexert your cat and help prolong his time spent active.

Most cat experts agree tht a cat is generally healthy and happy when they are “bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.” Another indication of a healthy cat is a lustrous, shiny coat, and a tail that sticks straight up in the air when the cat is walking. Proper elderly cat care is dire if you love your senior cat and want to keep it in good physical health.



DIRK

Seomul Evans asked:


Keeping an animal as a pet means adopting it as part —practically a member, if not really a member— of the family. Your children pet it, you talk to it, you care for it and you love it, especially if your pet is a dog or cat that can also reciprocate with love for you. It is therefore natural for you to fret and worry if your pet gets sick, hurt or otherwise unhealthy.

What happens, then, if your pet suddenly gets hurt or falls ill, and you don’t have the budget for its hospitalization or treatment at the time? Will you nevertheless take it to the vet, hoping to find him a compassionate professional, who can ‘advance’ you the cost of medical treatment? Or would you just accept the inevitable -whatever it is— result of your pet’s injury or ailment? To avoid such scenario, the answer is pet insurance.

Why Insure your Pet?

Whether you accept it or not, your pet is an investment. You probably bought it from a pet shop or a kennel if it is a dog. You provided it with food, water, shelter, and plenty of attention. In return you expect to derive pleasure and reciprocal attention from it. It may, of course, simply be psychic in terms of fulfillment but fulfillment nevertheless. Therefore it follows that you hope to receive such fulfillment from your pet as long as you can.

But pets, like humans, are also subject to ailments, accidents, and hurt. In such instances they also need medical treatment and attention, but it does not follow that you can always support such need. The need may come suddenly and unexpectedly, that you may not be ready for it. Therefore, as you insure your loved ones you should think of insuring your loved pet or pets to provide it with a continuous opportunity to reciprocate the love and affection you bestowed on it.

Insurance coverage

Pet insurance, just like normal insurance for humans, also underwent a series of development phases. After the barrier of non-acceptability was hurdled, the extent of insurable coverage also grew in a series of spurts. Today, after many decades, pet insurance has evolved into an insurance industry sector with its own rules, regulations, levels, standards and requirements. Pet insurance has come of age.

Like any other kind of life insurance, pet insurance basically covers health and hospitalization, veterinary care and medicine, and life and accident insurance in varying combinations of cover, depending on many different factors. These factors may include, among others, pet species and other specifics (if a dog or cat, for example, breed, age, and whether its master is a family or an individual), living and other domestic conditions, and level of care normally bestowed by its owner. Some might even consider the economic stratum the owner belongs to as a significant factor in determining the appropriate insurance cover for the pet.

Insurance Particulars

As stated above, insurance coverage of pets vary with companies in terms of coverage and eligibility requirements. Some pet insurance companies will not cover animals not certified by their veterinarian as ‘normal’, ’stable’, or ‘controlled’, those prone to certain ailments or diseases, ‘old’ pets, and the terminally ill. Other companies, notably those insuring pets of high-profile owners such as the rich and the famous, may even require authenticated and certified pedigree papers, but the coverage amounts may also be astronomical and incredibly large.

Premium payments also depend on the capacity to pay and desired or agreed on terms. Some may be monthly, semi-annually or annually, and may cover regularly scheduled check-ups, standard or special preventive medication, vaccination, grooming, and other wellness requirements. Group insurance options are also available, often at rates lower than individual costs, as well as accident insurance, which may specify coverage terms.

It is best to check around for the best deals, but one thing is sure: pet insurance is your best gift for your pet.



ED

Matthew Paolini asked:


If you’re a cat lover like me, few things are more important than the continued good health of your favorite feline. It goes without saying that part of being a cat lover is accepting responsibility for your pet’s health. That means finding and building a good relationship with a local veterinarian in the event of a health emergency. It also means learning enough about common medical issues to be able to identify them and take the appropriate action to ensure your cat’s good health.

All cat owners are familiar with hairballs and it goes without saying that the hairball is one of the most common medical conditions in cats. Cats are celebrated groomers and hairballs are the unintended consequence of a cat’s passion for personal hygiene. When a cat grooms itself by licking its own fur, it will invariably swallow some of its own hair. Most of the hair a cat swallows passes safely through the cat’s stomach and remaining digestive tract. However, hair sometimes becomes entwined like a ball of string and a hairball forms.

The simple act of vomiting is a natural reaction that almost always allows a cat to take care of hairballs on its own. If a hairball becomes large enough, however, your cat may not be able to pass or vomit it. A serious or even life-threating blockage of the digestive tract may be the result. If you notice symptoms like unproductive drive heaves, a change in your cat’s eating habits or a swollen abdomen, take your cat to see the vet as soon as possible.

About one-fourth of all digestive blockages in cats are caused by hairballs that can’t be passed. Fortunately, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure when it comes to your cat’s good health. A prophylactic chat with your veterinarian is definitely in order if your cat is prone to an abnormally high number of hairballs. Your vet may suggest a high fiber diet or prescribe a flavored medication that contains a lubricant to keep hair moving freely through your cat’s digestive tract. Taken regularly, meds like these can prevent hairballs from ever forming at all.

Because hairballs can seriously impact your cat’s health, it’s important to have a good relationship with a qualified veterinarian should your cat require professional care. Remember, too, that regular checkups can add many years to the life of your favorite feline. If you need a vet, try asking a fellow cat lover for their personal recommendation. If you’re new to the neighborhood or have no one to ask, you can find a qualified vet in your area by checking your local or online yellow pages.



COLBY

headheelsjonas asked:


I am graduating with a BA in English and would like to become a veterinarian but am only interested in wellness visits. My vet told me I could do this, does this take the overall time off of college?

PATRICK

mutts all the way!! asked:


I’m not exactly a straight A student and I have a 2.7 GPA and I’m a senior. My counselor told me it was better for me to go to a community college first and then transfer to University of Florida to become a vet…but when do I apply? what should be my associates degree at the college? I need help from someone who actually became a veterinarian. Please Help!! thank you.

JORGE

Debbie Ray asked:


Most pet owners have become very educated about their pet and the health of their pet. Still, there are many others who tend to believe in the old wives tales and myths that have been passed around for some time now. I’m sure most of you have heard at least one, and probably more, of the following myths. Veterinarians at the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) have since enlightened us to many of those tales and to the facts concerning some of the most commonly heard myths.

Myth: Yeast will prevent fleas from feasting on your pet.

Fact: There is still no scientific proof that yeast prevents fleas, though it is a good source of B vitamins.

Myth: Pets (dogs/cats) will get worms if they drink milk.

Fact: This is no more true for your pets than it is for you! Pets do lose their tolerance for milk early, however, around the age of 6 -8 weeks of age due to their loss of lactose(an enzyme essential for the digestion of milk products).

Young animals may have diarrhea if they drink milk due to the above factors. Still, most puppies are infected with worms through maternal milk or during pregnancy which is why treating both mother and litters for worms is so important.

Myth: If a purebred ***** inadvertently becomes pregnant by a mix breed dog, this disallows her ability to have purebred puppies in future litters.

Fact: The only puppies that will be mixed breed are the ones resulting from this breeding. If bred with a purebred mate in the future, those puppies will also be purebred.

Myth:Dogs and cats should be allowed one heat cycle, or one litter of pups, before being spayed.

Fact: A major benefit of being spayed may be lost if this is allowed to happen! Research shows that animals spayed before their first heat have a significantly smaller chance of developing future health problems such as ****** cancer.

Myth: Dogs which scoot their rear ends on the ground have worms.

Fact: Sometimes dogs having tapeworms may exhibit this behavior, though the overwhelming majority of animals doing this have inflamed or overly full **** sacs.

The **** sacs are structures located on either side of the **** which when closed up cause an itching or burning sensation in your pets **** area. As a result the animal scoots its rear on the ground to try and relieve this situation.

Myth: Any dog having a black mouth is a purebred.

Fact: Though some purebred dogs have a blackened color inside their mouth, this is no indication of any other animal being a purebred. Pigmentation is the only reason for this color, caused by a substance called melanin. Indeed, this substance called melanin is responsible for birthmarks in humans and also the lack of, or availability of, such skin tones as a tan. This color alone is not indicative of a purebred dog.

Myth: Puppies need calcium supplements for strong bones and erect ears.

Fact: If you are feeding your animals a diet that is nutritionally complete, then no further supplements are needed. Too much calcium, in fact, can be harmful to your dog.

We hope that by shedding just a little light on these myths that you’ll have a better understanding of exactly what is really “real” concerning dog myths.

Article written and reprinted with permission of: http://www.pedigreedpups.com/ Purebred Dogs, Puppies and Dog Breeders - “Your New Best Friend”

Copyright 2008. All rights reserved.



MOHAMMED