Should
I be Concerned If My Pet is Coughing
Or Sneezing? |
Persistent
coughing may be a sign of underlying
disease such as heart disease or pneumonia.
Sneezing may be a sign of infection
of the upper respiratory tract (nose
or the sinuses). Contact your veterinarian
as soon as possible. |
|
What
is The Normal Temperature For Dogs
and Cats? |
| A
normal temperature for dogs and cats
is between 100.5 and 102.5
F.
Any temperature over 103
means your pet has a fever and you
should contact your veterinarian.
Remember - never give
aspirin or Tylenol to your pet without
your veterinarian's advice as even
relatively low doses can be fatal. |
|
Can
I give human medication to my pet? |
It
is best to check with your vet before
giving any medication to your pet.
The reason for this is that many medications
may mask (hide) serious symptoms or
even make them worse. |
|
Can
my dog or cat have allergies or hay
fever? |
| Yes,
these ailments are not uncommon. Allergies
in animals usually manifest as skin
problems as their allergy receptors
are located differently then our own.
Owners may see hair loss, itchy skin
or a skin/ear infection. Treatment
can be frustrating as pets can be
allergic to a myriad of things such
as different types of foods, fleas,
pollens, and dust mites. Your veterinarian
will work with you in trying to control
the symptoms thru either medications
or injections or trials on different
types of foods.
Cats can develop asthma that may look
like hay fever to us. Most cats that
have asthma come from cigarette smoking
households. If you notice your cat
wheezing contact your veterinarian
soon. |
|
Should
I use a tourniquet? |
NEVER
use a tourniquet. This includes rubber
bands. If bleeding is serious, use
a clean gauze pad or cloth, apply
direct pressure to the wound and call
AmbuVet for immediate transport! Tourniquets
and rubber bands can cut off all circulation-and
if left on too long will result in
death to the tissue and gangrene. |
|
Can
a Cat Or Dog Suffer From Dehydration? |
Of
course! Make sure your pet always
has plenty of fluids to drink.
To test your pet for dehydration,
pull up the skin on your pets back.
If the skin does not readily snap
back into place this is a sign of
significant dehydration. Another way
of evaluating hydration is to feel
your pet's gums. Healthy gums or moist
and slimy. If they feel sticky (like
the back of a post-it note) this indicates
significant dehydration as well.
Dehydrated pets may need IV fluids
or fluids administered under the skin--
call us immediately as this may be
an emergency situation.
|
|
Diarrhea? |
| Just
like people, your pet may have eaten
something that disagreed with him.
Oftentimes, pets eat garbage such
as candy wrappers off the ground and
we are unaware of it.
Fast your cat or dog for 12 hours
(no food or treats). This allows the
stomach a chance to rest. Then, keep
the pet on a bland diet of white rice
and cottage cheese (or boiled chicken)
for three days. Then introduce, over
another three days, your pet's food
along with the rice.
Keep in mind that diarrhea can quickly
lead to dehydration if your pet does
not drink enough fluids. Keep plenty
of fresh water available.
If the diarrhea continues for more
than 24 hours, is combined with vomiting,
or if it contains blood, it may be
more than just a case of a bad dinner.
Call AmbuVet for aimmediate transport!
|
|
Fleas? |
If
you have pets, you will inevitably
have fleas- in your house, in your
car, in your bed at one time or another.
There are as many flea products on
the market as there are fleas. Your
veterinarian is the best person to
advise you on the type of products
for your animal, based on your climate,
your pet's age, health and sensitivity.
Remember, flea infestations (many
fleas) on a very young pet or on an
older debilitated pet can lead to
serious anemia (blood loss) and possible
death. |
|
What
is a hot spot? |
Hot
spots are a site of inflammation,
caused by the pet licking, scratching
or biting a particular area of the
skin. Clean the area with an antiseptic
solution, dry the area and apply a
soothing ointment.Placing an Elizabethan
collar (a plastic collar that looks
like a lamp shade) on your pet's neck
will keep your pet from licking and
allow the area to heal faster.
Visit your veterinarian if the hot
spot has not improved in 48 hrs. |
|
Ear
Mites? |
| Itchy
ears may mean ear mites, a bacterial
infection, and/or a fungal infection.
Depending on the cause, different
medications will be needed. Your veterinarian
will examine the ear and decide on
the best medication. |
|
Eye
Wash For Pets? |
Weepy
eyes in dogs or cats can be cleaned
with a gentle saline eye wash found
at your local pharmacy. Wet a soft
gauze pad or cotton ball with eye
solution and carefully wipe the dirt
from around your pet eyes. Eye infection,
injuries, or a foreign object in the
eye should be regarded as serious
as treatment delay may result in blindness.
If your pet's eye is painful, sensitive
to bright lights, bleeding or bulging,
call AmbuVet for immediate transport! |
|
Is
my house pet proof? |
Hide
and secure electrical cords. Chewing
on an electrical cord can be potentially
fatal. Keep dangerous cleaning products,
medications, paint materials and auto
care items locked and out of reach.
Remember, dogs and cats have sharp
teeth and can chew through plastic
and wood. Keep garbage out of reach,
animals love eating garbage. Never
leave a dog or cat unattended near
a pool. Even if they can swim, they
might not be able to climb out of
the pool and can drown. If you have
to confine your animal, remove the
collar. Many animals have been found
strangled when their collar has became
hooked on the doorknob. Some outdoor
and indoor house plants are poisonous,
check with your veterinarian, or,
The National Animal Poison Control
Center
If any of the above situations has
occurred, your pet may need prompt
assistance by professionals.
800 AMBU-VET |
|
Gas? |
Have
your guests stopped coming over for
dinner? Could it be that you're not
the only one that is aware of Rover's
gas problem? If you have recently
changed your pet's brand of dog or
cat food, check the soybean content
and try a brand that contains less
of this ingredient. Vitamin and mineral
supplements can also cause increased
gas. Unless prescribed by your veterinarian,
most dogs and cats do not need supplements.
Talk to your veterinarian. |
|
Hairballs? |
Cats
spend 90% of their 9 lives licking
and grooming their coats, and the
other 10% sleeping. Make it a habit
to give your cat a hairball remedy
and a thorough brushing at least once
a week.
If your cat is gagging or coughing
all day and refuses food, call us.
A hairball can be deadly if your cat
is having trouble eliminating it. |
|
Heart
Worms? |
Mosquitoes
carry heartworms. Heartworm medicine
is a must for all dogs and some cats.
Check with your veterinarian to have
your pet tested for heartworms on
an annual basis. Your vet will prescribe
the best heartworm medication for
your individual pet. |
|
Insect
Stings? |
If
your pet is stung by a bee, wasp or
hornet remove the stinger by gently
scraping with your finger nail or
tweezers. Try not to squeeze additional
venom into the wound. Apply first
aid ointment to soothe and prevent
infection. If your dog or cat is stung
and has an immediate reaction with
a lot of swelling and / or hives contact
AmbuVet for immediate transport.
|
|
Fat
Cat? Pudgy Pooch? |
Overweight
cats and dogs are prone to all the
nasty diseases that plague overweight
people. This includes Diabetes. The
good news is, since your animals do
not shop for their own food and have
difficulty raiding the refrigerator
on their own, you can control the
caloric intake. Check with your veterinarian
before putting your fat cat or pudgy
pooch on a diet. They will help you
choose a diet and/or exercise regiment
to help your pet loose weight safely.
|
|
Is
Chocolate A Poison? |
Chocolate
can affect an animal like an overdose
of amphetamines. Chocolate contains
a compound called theobromine which
is dangerous to dogs and cats when
eaten in large quantities. Dark baking
chocolate is the most dangerous as
it contains the highest amount of
theobromine.
Call us if you suspect your pet has
eaten most of the Halloween candy
collected by your children. Prompt
induction of emesis (vomiting) by
your veterinarian will keep the toxin
from being able to be absorbed. |
|
Ticks? |
There
are few symptoms, so it is important
to examine your cat or dog regularly
especially after playing in the woods
or shrubs. Ticks often collect around
the ears or between the toes but may
appear anywhere on the body. You can
treat your pet at home with our flea
and tick wipes. Furthermore, you need
to apply tick powder or spray to your
pets bedding or the other areas your
pet frequents.
If you find a tick embedded in your
pet, take your pet to the veterinarian.
They will safely remove it and determine
if it is the type of tick that carries
Lymes disease. |
|
CPR? |
CPR
works on animals. If your pet is having
difficulty breathing or has passed
out,--THESE ARE AMONG THE MOST LIFE
THREATENING SCENARIOS. CALL US IMMEDIATELY
FOR TRANSPORT 800AMBU-VET. |
|
Doggy
Breath? |
Stinky
breath can be helped by having your
veterinarian clean your pets teeth
annually. Frequent brushing (ideally
3 times a week) may also help. Over
the counter breath fresheners are
also available.
Finally, strange or really foul odors
may be a sign of serious illness.
If your pet has particularly bad halitosis
combined with drooling or pawing at
the mouth - contact you veterinarian. |
|
Ringworm? |
Ringworm
is contagious to both humans and pets.
If your pet has flaky, circular bald
patches or if someone in your house
turns up with a circular spot of redness
that is itchy, see the veterinarian
and your family physician. Ringworm
may spread like wild fire but if you
treat it quickly, you can put it out. |
|
Major
Trauma? |
| If
your dog or cat has been hit by car
it is an emergency situation. If you
dog or cat has fallen out of a window
it is an emergency situation. Even
if the animal appears uninjured they
need immediate medical care as internal
injuries and bleeding my have resulted.
|
| -Erin
Burya DVM |
