General Pet Care Information

Pet First Aid | Neutering Your Healthy Pet | Skin Disease | Intestinal Parasites
Pet First Aid

What do you do when your pet becomes injured or ill and:
You're out of town.....
It's late at night.....
It's Sunday afternoon..
Your budget's tight....
Or your pet just needs "a little help" with a minor problem.

Every pet owner should have a PET FIRST AID KIT in their home or with them when they travel with their pet !!!
It can be invaluable when a veterinarian is not available or not needed. Here are some items that should be
included in your pet's first aid kit:

1. Name & telephone number of your veterinarian / local after hours emergency clinic.
2. First Aid book for pets.
3. Antiseptic powder / ointment
4. Gauze bandages
5. Gauze "telfa" pads
6. Boric acid eye wash solution.
7. Hydrogen peroxide (medical)
8. Surgical tape
9. Styptic powder
10. Thermometer
11. Safety scissors
12. Cotton balls / swabs (Q-tips)
13. Cleansing / antiseptic soap

Optional Items:

14. High calorie food supplement
15. Mild laxative (for pets)
16. Dosing syringe
17. Anti-diarrheal medication
18. Hot / Cold packs

Remember:

If it looks bad...............
go to your veterinarian.

Neutering Your Healthy Pet

Over 13 million pets are put to death in our nation's animal shelters each year for lack of homes. That is why
responsible pet owners make sure that their pets are not contributing to this serious over-population problem.
As much as we may want our children to witness the miracle of birth, the price we pay with unwanted puppies
and kittens and the added health risks that we must then subject our pet too far overshadows the benefit. Even if
you are able to find homes for the entire litter this means an equal number of kittens or puppies in shelters will
lose potential homes. If you keep your pet confined, neutering may seem unnecessary. Just the opposite is true.
In fact, there are medical and health advantages for the pet through neutering. Spaying or castrating your
young, healthy pet will reduce certain infections and cancers that could occur in later life.

The technical term for this operation is an ovariohysterectomy. It is an abdominal surgery involving the
removal of both ovaries and the uterus. Since everything is removed your pet will no longer "come into heat".
Even though this is major surgery with the new, modern gas anesthetics a healthy pet can be anesthetized for
the 20 minute operation with minimal risk. Contrary to folklore the surgery is best performed prior to your pet's
first heat cycle. Early spaying does not retard emotional development or stunt bone growth. Early neutering will
substantially reduce the chance of breast tumors, the most common cancer of the older, unspayed female. These
same pets are also plagued by cystic ovaries, false pregnancies, hormonal disorders, and uterine infections.

4-6 months is the optimum age for spaying the female pet. After she gets home you will need to keep her as quiet as possible for the next week. Usually house confinement is sufficient. If she becomes feverish, lethargic, loses her appetite or bites at the incision please bring her back to the hospital for a check-up. Complications after a hysterectomy are very rare.

The technical term for this operation is castration. An incision is made on or near the scrotum and the testicles
are removed. This is more than a vasectomy, although still considered minor surgery. The anesthetic risk for a
young, healthy pet is minimal. If the surgery is done before the pet reaches sexual maturity certain undesirable
sexual behavior traits may be avoided (humping, spraying, fighting, etc.). Prostate gland infections or cancer and testicular tumors are essentially prevented through castration. Roaming behavior (to establish a territory or find a mate) is greatly reduced. In general the animal becomes a much better pet.

4-6 months is the optimum age for castrating the male pet. After he gets home you will need to keep him confined to the house or the yard for a few days. Licking at the incision bad enough to cause any problem is uncommon, but certainly let us know if you suspect a problem.

Skin Disease

The primary symptoms of skin disease are a combination of hair loss, sores and very likely moderate to intense
itching. Skin problems are the most common medical disorder that we see in our pets. Some are truly skin disease while others are merely symptoms of some underlying internal disorder.

Real skin disease:

1. Mange - insects living in the skin
2. Infection - bacteria or fungus problem
3. Chemical irritation
4. Sunburn
5. Cancer
6. Flea bites

However, as mentioned above, not all skin disorders are primary skin problems. Many are external
manifestations of deep seated internal problems:

FOR EXAMPLE:

1. Hereditary factors - the pet was born with it
2. Metabolic Upsets - internal organ function problem
3. Cancer - having spread from another location
4. Hormonal Imbalances
5. Allergies - dogs/cats show hairloss, sores, itching

As you can see, skin problems with our pets can be a complex issue. The doctor may need to recommend certain
laboratory tests for a correct diagnosis:

1. Blood tests ----- to reveal internal organ or glandular function
2. Urine analysis -- if a kidney disorder is a possible cause
3. Skin Scraping -- to look for microscopic mange mites
4. Skin Cultures --- if infection or ringworm is suspected
5. Biopsy ----------- to submit to a pathologist for a second opinion
6. Allergy Testing - replaces the old "patch testing" of the skin and allows for accurate assessment of many
allergic factors

We will evaluate your pet's symptoms along with help from the information that you provide. If tests are
performed they serve as "pieces to complete the puzzle". The treatment must be as specific as possible to solve
your pet's problem as quickly as possible.

CORTISONE THERAPY - These drugs are powerful tools to help us stop an itchy skin problem. They do not
correct the underlying disorder however. With prolonged, unsupervised use they can have side effects. If
cortisone is suggested remember that the doctor will not allow your pet to get into a danger situation.

==> WE WILL HELP YOU DETERMINE IF CORTISONE IS BEST FOR YOUR PET.

Remember: The current skin problem may not be the same as the last one.

Many skin disorders are never cured. Often control is all that is possible.

Certain skin diseases require long term medication and several different types of medication may need to be tried.
PATIENCE IS IMPORTANT.

ALLERGY

This is the most common form of skin disease that we see in Southern California and is without a doubt a most
frustrating problem, since a permanent cure is not possible.

There are four principle types of allergic skin disease:

1. Flea Bite - severe sensitivity to the flea's saliva.

2. Contact Reactions - skin rashes in certain areas of the body. (eg. grass)

3. Food Sensitivity - intolerance to certain foods (especially those with beef)

4. Inhalant Disorders (air borne) - reactions to pollen, dust, smog, etc.

ALLERGIC REACTION

BITING ITCHING
SCRATCHING
SNEEZING
LICKING WATERY EYES
HAIR LOSS
SORES

As you can see the allergy problem is a vicious cycle. Breaking this cycle is a cooperative effort. We need to
work together to control your pet's chronic problem.

TREATMENTS AVAILABLE FOR ALLERGY CONTROL:

1. Decreasing the pet's exposure to the allergic agent. a. Controlling fleas is critical !!
b. Avoiding the grass - don't let the pet lay on it
c. Change the food - those with lamb, venison, rabbit or vegetarian are best
d. Moving to another climate (works for people / impractical for pets)

2. Hormone therapy - to help with the allergy related symptoms

3. Hyposensitization - utilizes the blood allergy test to formulate a specific serum (allergy "vaccine") that is given
to the pet on a weekly basis to help make him/her less allergic to airborne factors.

This is the best approach to handling allergy patients that are severe, have year-round problems or heavy
cortisone dependency. 60% of allergic pets are significantly helped with this method of treatment. Most of the
others at least end up needing less cortisone over the course of time.

4. Medication to reduce the symptoms (itching, biting, scratching)
a. Antihistamines - few side effects but not as effective as in people
b. Cortisone - a very effective drug / the first defense for occasional use.

Intestinal Parasites
(Worms)

The tapeworm is a parasitic worm which lives in the intestines of dogs and cats. Parts of the worm (containing
the eggs) are often passed in the feces or may stick to the hair around the rectum.

Tapeworm infestation often produces no noticeable symptoms. Occasionally it produces stomach upset,
diarrhea, poor hair coat, weight loss and vague signs of discomfort.

Diagnosis of tapeworms is confirmed by finding the small, whitish, "sesame seed" sized segments around the
pet's rear end (under the tail). They can also be detected in the bedding where the animal lays. Unlike most other
types of worms, the eggs are not generally found in a routine stool examination performed at the doctor's office.
The tapeworm segments are normally flat (and can be seen to move) but as they dry out they take on the
characteristic appearance of the sesame seed. Tapeworms are not passed directly from one pet to another. They
require the intermediate stage that utilizes the flea for transmission. Fleas then hop from one pet to another and
the worms are transmitted when the new pet, during normal grooming behavior, swallows the flea. People will not
get this worm from their pets.

TREATMENT:

1. The most effective method of deworming is accomplished with an injection of a safe, non- diarrhea producing
medication.

2. Control the source of the problem, that is rid the pet and the home of fleas.

3. Repeated wormings throughout the year are recommended since reinfestation is common and unfortunately no medication is preventative.

Other Worms that Affect Dogs and Cats 1. Ascarids - roundworms are common in young kittens and puppies. It is potentially contagious to human
children.
2. Ancylostoma - hookworms
3. Trichuris - whipworms
4. Coccidia - infection (not really a "worm")
5. Giardia -- infection (not really a "worm")

Young animals are often born with worms. Puppies and kittens are therefore routinely dewormed.

cvh@crossroadsvet.com