Ask the Vet:

Dear Doctor,
My kids have been begging for a pet. How do we find a good one?

Dear Reader,
I understand your dilemma!!! Between pet stores, local breeders, and rescue groups, it can be very difficult and overwhelming to decide on the best pet for your family. Before adopting that puppy with the big brown eyes or the roly-poly kitten in the pet store window, there are a few things to consider.
It is extremely important to remember that all pets require a certain amount of love, time, attention, and expense. In today's busy world, many people are pressed for time and a pet may or may not fit into their lifestyle. In considering this, you should ask yourself if you have the time to commit to a puppy who needs consistent housebreaking and requires a lot of exercise? Or would your schedule be more conducive to owning a cat that doesn't require a strict schedule but does require playtime, attention, and a clean litter box. Even pocket pets such as hamsters, gerbils, and ferrets require daily play and clean cages.

It is also important to consider the amount of living space you have to share with a pet. Not every pet needs vast amounts of space, but some do. A small house or apartment might be fine for a cat or small dog, but it might become a bit crowded when that cute puppy you adopted starts to top a hundred pounds.
Finally, you should consider the expense of pet ownership. Being able to afford a pet means more than just having the money in your pocket to buy the animal or pay the adoption fee. You need to pay for things needed for daily care such as collars, kitty litter, tags, and food. Also, basic veterinary care including vaccinations, heartworm and flea/tick prevention, and spaying and neutering can become quite expensive. In general, you should be prepared for $300-600 per year for a cat and $300-1000 per year for a dog during the first year of ownership.

Once you've committed to adding a new pet to your household, there are many resources available to help you in your decision. Animal shelters have many nice pets and it's important to remember that many older animals make great pets too. You can always check out the websites of shelters, breeders, and rescue groups and remember that many veterinary clinics sponsor their own cat adoption programs as well. Examples of some websites include www.loudoun.gov/animals, www.shepherd.org, www.grreat.org, www.dobe.net, and www.siameserescue.org. Whatever pet you choose and wherever you find that perfect friend, if you take some time and plan ahead you can be sure to be happy with your new addition for years to come!

Q. I own a 3 year old Golden Retriever named Abby who has a wonderful temperament and adores meeting new people. Abby is also very well trained and obedient. I've been thinking about how good Abby is and was wondering how we could get involved in the community. Do you have any suggestions?

It sounds like Abby is truly delightful and I appreciate your interest in community involvement. I can think of two local programs off the top of my head that may interest you. The first program is called Fairfax Pets on Wheels. This is an all volunteer organization that takes pets into nursing homes and assisted living facilities. A lot of residents in these facilities are quite lonely and can suffer from depression. Visits with pets and their owners helps draw these people out of their shells and helps to improve their quality of life. The human-animal bond is very strong and has been clinically proven to help decrease stress. In turn, you'll get to spend more time with Abby and will have the chance to learn from people from many walks of life. Even if you are unable to volunteer with an organization such as this with your pet, you can always offer support in other ways. Fairfax Pets on Wheels sponsors a 3K walk every year called Paws for a Cause that takes place in Fairfax. This walk is for people and their pets and is a lot of fun. This year, it will be held on October 1 at 12 noon. It is certainly a great way to enjoy the fall sunshine and help a great organization like Fairfax Pets on Wheels. If you are interested in more information, you can check out the website at: www.fpow.org.

Another way to help other animals in your community is to have Abby be a blood donor. There is an organization called the Eastern Veterinary Blood Bank that serves the surrounding area. To be a blood donor, your dog must be at least 35 lbs and be between 9 months and 7.5 years of age. Each donation takes about 10-20 minutes and one donation can help save up to 4 lives. My own dog is a blood donor and I find it an extremely rewarding experience and she really enjoys going each time because she gets so many treats! If you are interested in pursuing this, please check out the blood bank's website at: http://www.evbb.com. There are more detailed criteria for the donors and also contact information of how to get involved.

As you can see, there are a lot of varied ways that you and your pet can help out in the community. Fairfax Pets on Wheels and the Eastern Veterinary Blood Bank and just two examples. I encourage you to participate in existing organizations or maybe even create one of your own. The possibilities are endless and what better way to bond with your pet and others?!

Q. My sister's dog, K.C., was just recently diagnosed with Lyme disease on her yearly heartworm check. Is this a common problem and should I be concerned about my own dog's safety?

I'm so sorry to hear that K.C. was diagnosed with Lyme and hope that she is ok! I'm often asked about Lyme because it is such a concern in both human and veterinary medicine. While there are still a lot of uncertainties regarding Lyme, here are some basic facts. Lyme disease can only be transmitted through a tick bite. Dogs cannot pass Lyme to other dogs or to humans.

Unfortunately, there is a high incidence of Lyme disease in Loudoun County and any dog that goes outside is at risk, not just farm dogs or dogs that live near the woods. Furthermore, dogs can get Lyme disease any time of the year. Our winters have been too mild in recent years to kill ticks.

Clinical signs of Lyme disease can be mild and may include poor appetite, shifting leg lameness, fever, and lethargy. Unfortunately, Lyme can also cause severe problems such as kidney failure or heart failure. Oftentimes, we find that dogs have been exposed to Lyme on their yearly test for heartworm disease. This test shows exposure to Lyme only and not necessarily active infection. If your dog tests positive, your veterinarian may offer a course of treatment with an antibiotic such as Doxycycline or offer further testing to confirm if Lyme disease is truly present.

Lyme disease can be prevented by keeping your pet on good quality flea and tick prevention every month year round and with the Lyme vaccine. You should also check your dogs and cats for ticks each time they come in from out of doors. I hope that this answers some of your questions regarding Lyme disease and that K.C. stays healthy and feeling well!!!

Q. I was at the store the other day looking at the different flea and tick products on the shelf. There are so many options that I didn't know what to do!!! What are your recommendations?

I certainly understand how you'd be confused! There is a vast array of flea and tick products available through veterinarians, pet stores, and the internet and it can be difficult to tell which ones are safe and effective. As a general rule, the majority of topical flea and tick products, collars, and shampoos available over the counter will contain some type of pesticide. These products can be potentially harmful to your pet or yourself as well as the fleas and ticks you want to prevent. These types of products have been known to cause seizures and tremors in small dogs and cats. Cats are especially sensitive to pesticides and can absorb them readily through their skin.

In recent years, several products have become available that are much more safe for both your pet and your family. Products such as Frontline Plus and Advantix are topical medicines that target chemicals only found in insects and are not harmful to mammals. They are absorbed by the oil glands of the skin and are released over the course of the month to kill adult fleas and ticks and to keep flea eggs from hatching. It is my experience that these products are much safer and work better than over the counter products.

You should talk with your veterinarian before starting any type of flea and tick prevention to determine which product will be safest for your pet and your family.

Q: My family is getting ready to go on vacation to Colorado and we are taking our dog, Sabrina, along with us. What do we need to do to prepare for travel?

As there are always a lot of preparations prior to any trip, it is definitely a great idea to think ahead for these situations. Your pet's traveling needs will definitely vary depending on how far away you are going and how long you will be away. However, there are certain issues that every pet owner should take care of before leaving. First of all, you should make sure to pack enough food for Sabrina or make sure that you have access to her regular diet when you reach your destination. Rapid changes in diet can easily result in diarrhea, which you certainly can avoid if you are prepared ahead of time.

If you are driving, also have water on hand to offer her during the trip and make sure to stop every few hours at a pet friendly rest stop so she can stretch her legs and relieve herself. Always keep Sabrina on a leash or in a travel crate to help keep her safe and from running away! Also make sure to bring along any medications that she may take on a daily basis. It might be wise to keep a copy of her medical records on hand as well in case you run into any emergency situations while you are away.

If you think that Sabrina may be a bit anxious during travel, you can also ask your veterinarian for a sedative to help keep her calm. Regardless if you are flying or driving, you should check with the airline or your veterinarian to determine if you need an interstate health certificate which will need to be issued within a week of travel. Finally, you might want to plan ahead by checking with organizations such as AAA or searching online for pet friendly hotels. This way you will be well prepared and easily find a place to stay.

Have fun on your trip- we hope that your entire family has a lovely time!