When to go to the veterinarian:
Begin a relationship with a vet now, before you need one in a panic. Bring your medical records. While your rescue dog should be current on shots, altered, and heartworm-tested, you still need to buy heartworm preventative, and you may want your vet to thoroughly examine your new dog. See your vet when a problem arises or if your dog continues to have housetraining accidents.
Medical checklist:
· Keep up on all shots.
· Give heartworm preventative year-round in this area. Heartworm disease is deadly.
· Regularly check between toes for debris.
· Check and clean ears once a week.
· Red eyes can mean conjunctivitis or allergies.
· If a dog pays excessive attention to his anal area, he may have parasites. See your vet.
· Ask your vet for flea prevention recommendations. Some brands contain tick control too.
· Get a dog tooth brush and toothpaste and brush at least 4 times a week.
Heartworm disease & prevention:
Heartworms are deadly parasites transmitted by mosquitoes. The larvae lodge, grow and reproduce in the heart, eventually causing lung, liver and kidney failure and death. By the time symptoms such as lethargy and shortness of breath emerge, the dog has probably suffered organ damage. This disease has become much more common in recent years and can be contracted year-round. Treatment is very hard on the dog. Heartworm disease is easily prevented with monthly pills available from your vet. Keep dogs on preventative year-round. The dog must have a blood test to make sure he is not already infected.
Cleaning your dog's ears:
If dirt, wax and excess moisture are not routinely removed, ear problems can result. Here's how to clean your dog's ears at least once a week to keep them healthy:
· Make a solution of 1/2 white vinegar and 1/2 lukewarm water.
· Pour the solution into the ear.
· Gently massage the base of the ear to distribute the solution.
· Put a cotton ball over your fingertip and wipe the outer ear clean.
· Let your dog shake out the excess solution.
· Clean the ear again with a clean, dry cotton ball. Repeat as needed.
When to visit the vet: Objects stuck in the ear...redness or swelling...excessive tenderness, scratching, head-shaking... debris, discharge or foul odor.
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FIXING YOUR HEALTHY PET Millions of pets are put to death in our 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. Having our children witness the miracle of birth is intriguing, but we pay the price with unwanted puppies and kittens. 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 confned, neutering may seem unnecessary. JUST THE OPPOSITE IS TRUE! Neutered pets are actually HEALTHIER pets!!! SPAYING OR CASTRATING YOUR PET WILL REDUCE CERTAIN INFECTIONS AND CANCERS THAT COULD OCCUR IN LATER LIFE! Spaying your Female Pet: This is a major abdominal surgery involving the removal of both ovaries and the uterus. Since everything is removed your pet will no longer "come into heat". Complete anesthesia is necessary, but with the new, modern anesthetics a healthy pet can be anesthetized for the 20-40 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 spaying 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. Behavioral problems are less common in spayed pets. 6 months is the optimum age for spaying the female pet, although pets can be safely operated as early as 6 weeks of age. After she gets home you will need to keep her as quiet as possible for the next week. Some swelling or puffiness of the incision is not unusual. Usually house confinement is sufficient. Complications after surgery are very rare. Castrating your Male Pet: Considered minor surgery, castration is more involved than a vasectomy (a common procedure for men). An incision is made on or near the scrotum and the testicles are removed. Complete anestesia is necessary but the risk for a young, healthy pet is minimal. If the surgery is done before the pet reaches sexual maturity certain undesirable behavior traits may be avoided (humping, spraying, fighting, etc.). Prostate gland disease, anal tumors and testicular cancer 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. 6 months is the optimum age for castrating the male pet, although pets can be safely operated as early as 6 weeks of age. 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 enough to cause any problem is uncommon. Recovery is usually rapid. ANNUAL HEALTH EXAMS HERE ARE "THE FACTS".... -Pets age faster than people (5-7 times faster) Given these facts, it is obvious that THE REAL CHALLENGE FOR THE CARING PET OWNER LIES IN KEEPING THEIR ANIMALS HEALTHY. YOUR VET ALSO RECOGNIZES THIS NEED AND KNOWS THAT IT IS EASIER (AND LESS COSTLY) TO MAINTAIN HEALTH RATHER THAN TRYING TO CURE DISEASE. Dental problems and heart disease are just two of the many problems that can be identified during an examination. Simple diagnostic tests are also used by the doctor to help reveal "hidden" disorders (kidney, liver, thyroid disorders to name a few). WE RECOMMEND THAT YOUR PET RECEIVE A THOROUGH PHYSICAL EXAMINATION AT LEASE ONCE A YEAR. Even in human medicine it is considered unsafe practice to go longer than just a few years between health examinations, especially as we grow older. Rembember!!!! Your pet ages must faster than we do!! VCA Animal Hospitals - 1.800.VCA.PETS Anaheim Fountain Valley Fullerton Garden Grove Golden State Humane Society 714-638-8111 Huntington Beach Laguna Hills Mission Viejo Resource for New Pet Parents: www.petsbest.com/petadoption. We have provided helpful assistance on our website and a community of like-minded pet lovers to exchange stories and experiences with. You can even send us a question and get an expert answer. Our “vet locator” feature can help a new pet owner find the closest place to get treatment for your pet. |
Some of these links are to commerical enterprises, some to non-profit organizations. Their listing here is a courtesy. FelineDiabetes. com is an educational service and does not provide financial assistance for vet bills.
Feline Outreach
[www.felineoutreaach .org]
"Feline Outreach is a charitable organization formed to promote the routine and medical care of companion animals, particularly cats." (Note: Feline Outreach was founded by people who have diabetic cats.)
IMOM
[www.imom.org]
"Mission Statement: Helping people help pets. To better the lives of sick, injured and abused companion animals. We are dedicated to insure that no companion animal has to be euthanized simply because their caretaker is financially challenge d." (Note: IMOM has a special fund for diabetic cats)
American Animal Hospital Association
[www.aahahelpingpets .org]
"The heartbreak happens all too often? A pet owner is unable to afford treatment and their sick or injured companion animal pays the price. If the owner is elderly, disabled or on a fixed income, the cost of care may be too much of a stretch for their pocketbook. Perhaps they have been victimized by crime, property loss or a job layoff and are experiencing a temporary financial hardship? Making it too difficult to afford pet care. And some animals, brought to clinics by Good Samaritans, don't have an owner to pay for treatment. Whatever the situation, the fact remains the same: When sick or injured animals are unable to receive veterinary care, they suffer. Through the AAHA Helping Pets Fund, veterinary care is possible for sick or injured pets even if they have been abandoned or if their owner is experiencing financial hardship."
Angels 4 Animals
[http://www.angels4animals.org/]
"Angels4Animals, a non-profit organization and a program of Inner Voice Community Services, has a mission to serve as the guardian angel of animals whose caretakers find themselves in difficult financial situations. At Angels4Animals we20believe that animal owners should not have to say goodbye to the animals that they love. Our work is accomplished in conjunction with veterinary clinics across the country, eager to assist as many animals, and their owners, as possible. Our services range from financial aid to complete treatment to those pets and pet owners in need."
Care Credit
[http://www.carecredit.com/]
A credit card company for health care, including veterinary care. "Care Credit, the leader in patient/client financing, has helped more than 3 million patients/clients get the treatment or procedures they needed and wanted. With a comprehensive range of plan options, for treatment or procedure fees from $1 to over $25,000, we offer a plan and a low monthly payment to fit comfortably into almost every budget."
Cats in Crisis
[http://catsincrisis.org/]
"Cats in Crisis Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to helping individuals and humane organizations care for cats with chronic or emergency medical conditions through financial and fundraising assistance."
Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance (FVEAP)
[www.fveap.org]
"The NEED & The HELP: Seniors, People with disabilities, People who have lost their job, Good Samaritans who rescue a cat or kitten - any of these folks may need financial assistance to save a beloved companion." The Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance Program is a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) organization that provides financial assistance to cat and kittenguardians who are unable to afford veterinary services to save their companions when life-threatening illness or injury strikes.
Help-A-Pet
[http://www.help-a-pet.org/home.html]
"Our efforts focus on serving the elderly, the disabled, and the working poor. For lonely seniors, physically/mentally challenged individuals and children of working parents, pets represent much more than a diversion."
Shakespeare Animal Fund
[www.shakespeareanim alfund.com]
“Anyone can apply for funds, but SAF offers assistance primarily to those on fixed incomes or with annual incomes below $35,000. Exceptions are made depending on circumstances. It is always a one-time grant”
The Pet Fund
[thepetfund.com]
=0 A"The Pet Fund is a registered 501(c) 3 nonprofit association that provides financial assistance to owners of domestic animals who need urgent veterinary care. Often animals are put down or suffer needlessly because their owners cannot afford expensive surgery or emergency vet visits. Companion animal owners must often make the difficult decision to put an animal down or neglect urgent medical needs because of the costs involved. The purpose of the Pet Fund is to work towards a future where decisions about companion animal medical care need never be made on the basis of cost."
United Animal Nations
[www.uan.org]
"The mission of LifeLine is to help homeless or recently rescued animals suffering from life-threatening conditions that require specific and immediate emergency veterinary care. We strive to serve Good Samaritans and rescue groups who take in sick or injured animals. In certain cases, LifeLine can also assist senior citizens and low-income families pay for immediate emergency veterinary care."
