
Ask a Vet
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My
rabbit has fleas - can I apply my cat’s Frontline
to him?
No, you can’t. Frontline is not safe for
rabbits. There are several products which are, including Revolution.
It is important to remember never to use any medication or other
product on any animal other than the one it was prescribed for.
I ran out of Biospot for my
cat, but I have my little dog’s Biospot. Can I use
it?
Absolutely not! Biospot for dogs is a completely different
product than Biospot for cats. It contains permethrin, which
is used to kill ticks in dogs but is very toxic to cats. If
you accidently apply it, wash the cat off immediately with
Dawn dish detergent and call us. Cats will have severe tremors
that look like seizures and they can last for several days.
They need to be hospitalized for supportive care until the
tremors stop.
I just saw a rattlesnake-
can you treat my dog if he gets bitten?
Snake bites are actually quite rare in this area. We do have rattlesnakes and
copperheads but they aren't very aggressive. If a dog gets bitten, the area will
immediately swell and become very painful. Usually as careful search will reveal
the two fang puncture marks. We treat with supportive care - IV fluids and pain
medication for as long as needed. The faster we can start this, the better the
prognosis. In general, snake bites are rarely fatal. |
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| Past Ask A
Vet questions — click question to view response. |
| General Questions |
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. |
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| Dog questions |
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. |
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| Cat questions |
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. |
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| Hospital questions |
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.
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*The contents of the Ask a Vet page are for informational
purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for
professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek
the advice of your veterinarian with any questions you may have regarding
a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice
or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the Ask
a Vet page.
If you think you may have a medical emergency,
call your veterinarian or 908-362-6430 immediately. Blairstown
Animal Hospital does not recommend or endorse any specific tests, physicians,
products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be
mentioned on this web site. Reliance on any information provided by
Blairstown Animal Hospital is solely at your own risk.
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