The following are some of the "Ask the Vet" articles
printed in the Loudoun Times Mirror:
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!
