Can my pets get swine flu?

Not unless your pet is a pig (don’t laugh — I’ve seen a number of pet pigs). The human influenza that is spreading rapidly in the US, Mexico and other countries right now is a mutant form of swine and avian influenza. However, it is very unlikely it will be able to infect dogs or cats. So if you’re feeling sick, go to your doctor and keep your friends and family away, but feel free to cuddle up in bed with your pet to keep you company. We get regular updates from the State Department of Health, so if this changes, we will know right away.

I’ve been reading about the salmonella outbreak caused by contaminated peanuts. Can my pet get food poisoning?

Absolutely. Dogs and cats are not immune to the same poisoning we get. Salmonella, staph and e.coli are all things our pets can get. Raw chicken and eggs especially can contain salmonella. Spoiled food can breed staph and raw or undercooked beef can harbor e.coli. Vomiting and diarrhea are the signs, just like in people.

Can my dog give my cat any diseases (and vice-versa)?

Not too many, really. Parasites such as fleas and worms can be spread between species. Rabies can also. Most of the bacterial and viral diseases cannot, although cats can get one of the forms of “kennel cough”. Cat distemper and dog distemper are also two completely different diseases and are not transmissible between dogs and cats.

What diseases can I get from my pet?

People can get roundworms, hookworms and giardia, which are intestinal parasites, toxoplasmosis (from cats), which is a problem for women in their first trimester of pregnancy, cat scratch disease , rabies, ringworm (which is actually a fungus, not a worm), salmonella (from reptiles) and psitticosis (from birds). It is not common for people to get these diseases, but it can happen.

Do all ticks carry lyme disease?

No, in fact the only species of tick in this area of the country that carries lyme is the deer tick and not every deer tick carries lyme. However, if you are seeing dog and wood ticks, there are probably deer ticks, too, but they can be so small, they are difficult to find.

I’ve heard about vaccines causing cancer — should I stop vaccinating my pet?

The answer to that is a resounding NO. There is a tumor called a fibrsarcoma that has been associated with certain vaccines in cats. It occurs at the site of the vaccination. It is extremely rare, and realistically, your cat is more prone to getting the disease the vaccine is made to protect against than the tumor. Much research has gone into this and newer vaccines and vaccine protocols are available now to decrease this risk. If you have questions about this, please feel free to discuss it at your next appointment.

I just got a pet rabbit. Does it need any shots?

We do not routinely vaccinate rabbits, but it is a good idea to have a physical exam and fecal sample run on your new bunny. We can then discuss basic care and make sure he is healthy.

Is there any advantage to getting my pet spayed or neutered besides not having to worry about puppies and kittens?

Absolutely yes. Spaying a female dog or cat before the first heat (usually 6-9 months of age) decreases the risk of breast cancer by 95%. Spaying before the second heat decreases the risk 85%. Male dogs are less likely to get prostate infections and enlargement as well as anal gland tumors. Spayed females obviously can’t get cancer of the uterus and ovaries because they are removed and the same goes for testicular cancer in male dogs.

What can I do to stop my pet from shedding?

Shedding is a normal loss of the winter coat in the spring, but also occurs all year round as the hair goes through its regular growth cycle. You can’t stop normal shedding. If your pet is shedding abnormally because his coat is dry, adding a fatty acid supplement such as 3v Caps, can help. Frequent grooming will at least control where the hair goes. A shedding blade, available at most pet supply stores, works well to pull out the dead undercoat. Many cats don’t like being brushed, but may accept a grooming mitt.

I have heard that sugarless gum is toxic to pets — is that true?

Yes it is. In fact, it can be extremely toxic. The toxin is called xylitol (it will be on the label) and is an ingredient in many sugarless foods, candies and gum. It can cause a dangerous decrease in blood sugar and liver failure and can be fatal. Just one piece of xylitol-containing gum can cause serious effects in a 20-lb dog. If you suspect your dog has eaten any or suddenly starts vomiting and becomes very lethargic and you have sugarless products in the home, you should call immediately.

I read an article in the paper about some people getting very sick from eating wild mushrooms. Can this happen to my pet?

Absolutely. Dogs and cats are not immune to toxins by any means. The people you read about in the paper ate mushrooms that caused liver disease and in one of them, liver failure. Poisonous and nonpoisonous mushrooms look very similar, so try and keep them out of your yard as much as possible. If you think your pet has eaten any or starts acting sick suddenly, call us right away.

My pet tends to lose his collar outside. How will someone know he is mine if he doesn’t have his tags?

You can have your pet microchipped! This small chip is injected under the skin between the shoulder blades. A great time to do it is when your pet is here to be spayed or neutered, but it can also be done during any office visit. It is encoded with a unique number that can be picked up by a scanner. Most shelters, pounds and veterinarians across the country have the scanners. We scan the chip, call the company and they give us your information so we can get your pet back to you as soon as possible.

My old dog doesn’t seem to see or hear well anymore. Is there anything I can do?

It’s hard to see our beloved friends get old. Aging changes in the lens called lenticular sclerosis causes poor night vision and decreases the lens’s ability to focus. The age-related deafness is a nerve issue and not reversible. The good news is that these changes are gradual and your pet will usually adapt quite well. If your pet is showing these problems, we should perform a physical to make sure they aren’t caused by something we can fix like an ear infection or cataracts.

My dog has been limping — can I give him an aspirin?

You have to be very careful using over-the-counter pain relievers for dogs. You never want to give Tylenol (acetaminophen), Advil (ibuprofen) or Aleve (naproxen) as these can all be very toxic. Aspirin, while the safest, is not the best for your dog. The prescription anti-inflammatories specifically for dogs are much safer and more effective.

My dog is not due for his rabies vaccine until the summer, but the town says I need it now to get his license. Will it hurt him?

The rabies vaccine we use is very safe. It is not a problem to give it early. This law started when rabies was reintroduced back into New Jersey in the late 1980’s. It was epidemic at that point and the towns wanted to make sure all the dogs (and in many towns, cats also) were staying current on their rabies vaccine. Sometimes, the town would issue a license to a dog whose vaccine was due in March, for example, but the owners never got the booster done. The law designed to prevent these lapses in protection.

My dog is always itchy — what can I do?

That’s a big question because there are so many things that can make a dog scratch. Fleas, allergies, scabies (“mange”), and skin infections are a few of the things that can make for an itchy, uncomfortable dog. A thorough exam can find out the cause and then we decide on the best treatment.

My dog has been shaking his head and scratching his ears. Could this be an infection?

It certainly could be. There are different things that can cause this, but the most common are yeast infections, bacterial infections and allergies. By looking in the ear and possibly doing cytology (taking a swab and looking at it under the microscope) and/or culture (sending a swab to the lab to find out what organisms are growing in the ear and what antibiotics to use), we can decide on the best course of treatment.

My dog lives outside — how can I keep him comfortable in the winter?

You need to make sure he has adequate shelter. It should be small enough that he can conserve body heat and protected from wind and rain getting in. You need a heated water bucket or check the water frequently to prevent it from freezing. He may need extra food because he will burn more calories staying warm. If it is going to be particularly bitter, you may want to bring him in, even if it’s into a mudroom or garage. And remember that most dogs are companion animals and would rather be with you than out by themselves.

When my dog gets excited, she urinates. I’ve tried telling her “No” but it doesn’t stop her from doing it. What can I do?

This is a common problem in young female dogs especially. The best thing to do is to greet her without getting her too excited. Don’t pay her immediate attention. If you punish her, it will get worse because she’ll become anxious. Luckily, most dogs grow out of this behavior.

Do dogs sweat?

The only place the dogs (and cats) can sweat from is their footpads. They cool themselves mainly by panting.

My cat has diabetes and I have three other cats — how can I prevent this from happening to them?

For cats, the number one risk factor for the development of diabetes mellitus is obesity. By keeping your cats at a normal weight, you will greatly decrease the risk of diabetes as well as urinary problems.

With all the ticks out, I wanted to put something on my cat for ticks, but I ran out. Can I apply my dog’s flea and tick medicine on my cat?

The answer is a resounding NO. With the exception of Frontline Plus, most flea and tick spot-ons for dogs contain a product called permethrin. It is perfectly safe for dogs but very toxic to cats. Should you accidently apply a dog product to your cat, wash him/her immediately and call us. Permethrins cause severe tremors and seizures in cats. There is no antidote, but they need supportive care and medication to limit the reactions until the permethrin is excreted from the body.

Is it okay to give my cat milk?

It’s fine as long as it doesn’t cause diarrhea. As much as cats like milk, it often doesn’t agree with them. They make a product called “cat milk” as a treat (available in the pet food aisle) which may be a better choice.

Can cats tolerate over-the-counter medications better than dogs?

In a word: NO! All of the over-the-counter anti-inflammatories are toxic to cats including aspirin. Cats’ livers are very different from ours and dogs’ and they cannot metabolize these medications well.

How do I give my cat a pill?

There’s a million dollar question! If you are very lucky, your cat will take it in some food, but most cats won’t fall for that (or you think they do and when you move the sofa, you find a pharmacy’s worth of pills under there). You can get the pill down by tilting the cat’s head back, opening his mouth and popping it on the back of the tongue, pushing it down with your finger. You can also use a “pet piller”- the pill loads into one end of a rubber plunger and you use that instead of your finger to push it down. We also have “pill pockets”- treats that you hide the pill in. Many cats are actually quite good at taking them this way.

Why does my indoor cat need a rabies vaccine?

Because you just never know when it comes to animals. Sometimes on a whim, even a totally indoor cat may get frightened and bolt out the door. There are also cases of wildlife (especially bats) getting inside houses. Don’t think it can’t happen- I had a bat flying around my upstairs hallway last year! I caught it in a fishing net, and had it tested for rabies, but don’t try this at home- I’m vaccinated for rabies.

Is it true that white cats with blue eyes are deaf?

Actually, that is often true. You can try and test your cat’s hearing by making a sudden loud noise behind her, but let’s face it, being the independent creatures they are, cats only hear what they want to hear anyway, so sometimes it’s difficult to tell! Rest assured, deaf animals adapt quite well and will often learn to read your sign language. And they always seem to know when it’s feeding time.

I have a lot of stray cats hanging around my house. Is there a way I can get them spayed and neutered so they won’t keep having more kittens?

There used to be a state feral cat program, which unfortunately has succumbed to the big budget cuts. You can try contacting local rescue groups which sometimes can help with funding. If you can trap the cats, we would be happy to spay/neuter them on short notice and can use dissolvable sutures so they don’t need to come back.

My cat often eats and vomits but seems fine otherwise. Why does she do that?

You should first have your cat examined to make sure she does not have a physical problem. Many things can cause vomiting. However, if everything is OK, it could be a behavior issue. Wild cats (like lions and tigers) will hunt and then gorge on the prey. They then will go back to a safe place, vomit it up and eat it again. Some behaviorists think this is where the “eat and vomit” cycle comes from.

How long does it take to become a veterinarian?

Veterinary school is four years after undergraduate school, so it takes seven or eight years altogether. There are only 28 veterinary schools in the US so competition can be pretty stiff. Unlike MDs, veterinarians are not required to do an internship and residency although many do. Many vets have spent their earlier years working as a kennel help, so we can appreciate the hard work our staff puts in cleaning cages and mopping floors (sometimes endlessly!).

How do you get an X-ray of a dog?

We have a digital radiography machine — that means we do not use film. The images are stored to the computer. Sometimes we need to use sedation if the dog is very active or is in pain. We generally have one of our technicians and an assistant in the room holding the patient. They wear protective lead gowns, thyroid shields and gloves and we measure the amount of their exposure with a special radiation badge that you may notice our staff wearing on their clothes.

Do you accept pet insurance?

Yes. It isn’t like an HMO where you have to go to participating Doctor. There are a number of companies out there, including VPI and ASPCA. They generally offer major medical and preventative health care options. The key is reading the fine print so you know exactly what you are paying for. Look for comments on deductible amounts, pre-existing condition limits, age limits, and maximum amounts allowed and percentage of coverage per incident. Generally, you pay us and then submit your claim for reimbursement.

What types of animals do you see at your hospital?

We see primarily small animals (dogs and cats) and exotics- which include rabbits, ferrets, rats, mice, guinea pigs, hamsters, birds, snakes, iguanas, bearded dragons, chameleons, turtles and others. We also take care of the wolves, foxes and bobcats at the Lakota Wolf Preserve in Knowlton.