ANIMAL CLINIC of West Plains, Inc. :: Commonly Asked Questions

	Commonly Asked Questions
	Why does a 1 lb puppy get the same amount of vaccine as a 120 lb dog?
	When we give drugs such as antibiotics or wormers, the effect depends on achieving a certain concentration of the active ingredient in the body of the animal and, for this reason the larger body mass, the greater the total amount needed to achieve the correct dose concentration. However, vaccination doesn't work like this, when we give a dose of vaccine what we are doing is giving a sufficient dose to stimulate the body's immune system to generate a protective immune response. The immune system in fact requires the same degree of stimulus irrespective of the body mass or breed, therefore we need to use exactly the same dose of vaccine for a small puppy as for a Great Dane!
	Are vaccine boosters really needed every year?
	Our pets are always at risk of potential exposure to disease if they go out or come into contact with other dogs or cats, or, in the case of leptospirosis, with wild rodents or the areas they frequent. Individual Immunity following vaccination is variable and unlikely to be lifelong. Regular yearly booster vaccination is an effective way of 'topping up' a pet's immunity thereby minimizing the risk of disease when challenged by natural infection.
	Do vaccines affect different breeds in different ways?
	There are no breed-specific contra-indications for any of the vaccines currently on the market. Despite this, some breeders occasionally suggest that one or other of the live vaccine components affects their particular breed. There is no evidence to support this belief.
	What is the correct age at which I should have my puppy or kitten vaccinated against Rabies?
	Vaccination of dogs, ferrets, and livestock can be started at no sooner than three months (12 weeks) of age. Some cat vaccines can be given as early as two months (8 weeks) of age. Regardless of the age of the animal at the initial vaccination, a booster vaccination should be administered 1 year later and continued at yearly intervals for the remainder of the animal's life. Currently, animals may be vaccinated annually or triennially depending upon the vaccination used. The Animal Clinic of West Plains currently offers both types of vaccination, please check with our knowledgeable staff on which is best for your pet. According to Federal and State laws, rabies vaccines should be administered only by or under the direct supervision of a licensed veterinarian. As such, we are unable to sell the Rabies vaccine over the counter for client administration to their cats and dogs. This information is provided by the American Veterinary Medical Association and in the Compendium of Animal Rabies Prevention and Control, 2007, released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.	www.avma.org *Contact the CDC* Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Zoonotic, Vector-Borne, & Enteric Diseases (NCZVED) 1600 Clifton Road, NE MS D-76 Atlanta, GA 30329-4018 Public: 1 (800) CDC-INFO (232-4636) Email: cdcinfo@cdc.gov
	How often can I bathe my pet? What shampoo is recommended?
	Bathing too often can remove the natural oils that keep a dog’s skin and coat healthy. How much washing is too much depends on the humidity and the shampoo used. In general, a good brushing is all that a pooch needs to get freshened up. In addition to removing dirt, a regular brushing will help clean out loose hair and make your dog more comfortable. But bathing is appropriate when a dog has significant body odor – for example, when Fido has rolled in something he shouldn’t have. So remember – a dirty dog needs a brush and a smelly dog needs a bath. Use a shampoo designed specifically for pets, rather than your own personal shampoo. Quality pet shampoos take into consideration that a dog's skin has a different pH level than human skin. There are also tear-free shampoos that will not sting a dog's eyes. (Keep in mind that just like human tear-free shampoos, they simply contain an eye-numbing agent, and the soap exposure can still damage the eyes. Keep all shampoo, tear-free or not, out of the eyes as much as possible.) A great smelling conditioner is also a nice addition. Consult your veterinarian if your dog has skin irritations or other conditions. Dilute the shampoo and apply from a squeeze bottle (like a dishwashing liquid) so you can squirt the shampoo wherever you wish.
	Why do pets scoot their bottoms across the ground?
	Many owners think that scooting is due to "worms", however, this is not usually the problem. Both dogs and cats have anal sacs that may become impacted or infected if not emptying properly. This causes itching, scooting, bad odor and sometimes pain, too. Severe cases may abscess and rupture. Most often is it because their anal sacs are bothering them. Anal sacs should empty regularly (and unnoticed) with normal bowel movements. If they don't, they may become impacted, infected (abscess) and possibly rupture. Anal sacs collect the oily secretion of the glandular tissue that lines the sacs (also called Anal Glands). The sacs are located between the external and internal muscular rings of the anus. The first thing you should do is to make an appointment with your veterinarian. Ruling out other potential causes for scooting is the first step. Some animals may get the anal sacs emptied by scooting, grooming themselves, etc., but if left untreated, a simple irritation can lead to infection, impaction, and ultimately abscessing and rupture! Better safe than sorry. Anal sac infections are very painful for the pet, and more difficult, uncomfortable, and expensive to treat in later stages.
	How often should I deworm my pet?
	It is advised that an adult dog or cat should be treated for worms four times a year. There may be specific instances however where more frequent deworming treatment is desirable. These would include: worming of puppies and kittens; cats that hunt and eat mice; dogs and cats experiencing repeated flea problems.
	At what age should I start deworming my pet?
	It is quite feasible for puppies to be born with worm larvae already present, having been exposed to them while still in the mother's womb. It is advisable, therefore, to start a worming program at 2 weeks of age, and to continue worming once a fortnight until 12 weeks old. It is also advisable to treat the bitch at the same time as the pups. Once a pup reaches 12 weeks of age, it should then be treated once a month till 6 months of age. By contrast, kittens are not born with worm larvae already present, so worming does not need to start until 6 weeks of age, with further treatments every 3 weeks, until they are 4 months old, and then once every 3 months.
	How does my indoor pet get tapeworms?
	Whether they are introduced into the house by riding on an indoor/outdoor pet, or on people coming into the house, fleas can carry tapeworm eggs. Fleas are often infected with the larval stage of the Flea Tapeworm. If cats or dogs swallow an infected flea, the worm develops in the gut. Cats and dogs don't have to be outdoors to become hosts.
	Why does my pet have itchy / flakey skin? What is causing the problem?
	There are many reasons for a pet to scratch. These are just the Top Ten Causes. 1. Fleas 2. Airborne allergens like pollen (inhaled allergies) 3. Parasites, such as ear mites, sarcoptic or demodectic mange 4. Skin infections caused by bacterial infection 5. Ticks and lice 6. Food allergies 7. Fungal infections, including yeast infections (malassezia) 8. Seborrhea 9. Contact allergies 10. Whole-body illnesses, such as liver disease, immune-system problems and some cancers. The best place to start is with a trip to your local veterinarian. There it can be determined which of these, or other, possible causes of itching are affecting your family friends. There are also many different treatments for itching, so it is best to find out the root cause and use a treatment specifically designed for your particular need.
	Can I feed my pet people food / table scraps?
	Some foods which are edible for humans, and even other species of animals, can pose hazards for dogs and cats because of their different metabolisms. Some may cause only mild digestive upsets, whereas, others can cause severe illness, and even death. Do not feed pets: Alcoholic beverages of any kind, avocado, bones from fish, poultry, or other meat sources, chocolate, coffee, tea, and other caffeine sources, Citrus oil extracts, fat trimmings, fish (raw, canned or cooked), grapes, raisins and currants, hops, macadamia nuts, marijuana, milk and other dairy products, moldy or spoiled food, mushrooms, onions and garlic, persimmons Seeds, pits from peaches and plums, raw eggs, raw meat, rhubarb leaves, salt, sugary foods, table scraps (in large amounts), Tobacco, Xylitol (artificial sweetener). Some of the above named foods may only cause mild to severe gastroenteritis, but many others are actually toxic to our pets. If you do give your pet table scraps, give samples of foods such as a scrap of lean meat. Some dogs may also like vegetables. Avoid fatty foods like chicken skin, or the scraps of fat you've trimmed off your dinner steak, as well as high-sugar foods like candy and baked goods.
	Can my dog catch my cold?
	Dogs don't catch a flu or cold like humans do. They can catch kennel cough (Bordetella) which will give them flu like symptoms. They will get harsh cough which is very distinct and easily diagnosed. If this happens, a checkup from the veterinarian and a couple weeks of strong antibiotics will help clear it up.
	Can my children get lice from my dog?
	The answer is no. Lice are species-specific, meaning that there is a different species of lice for each animal species that they depend on. Human lice need human blood to survive, dog lice need dog blood, and so on. Therefore, if your child comes home from school with a diagnosis of head lice, your dog, cat, or other pets in the household are not at risk from catching the lice or hatching eggs. Conversely, while not as common in dogs and cats, the species of lice that live on dogs and cats are not able to live on humans.