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When does my puppy/kitten need to start its shots?

  • Puppies and kittens should start vaccinations at 6 weeks of age and have boosters every 3 weeks until they are 14 - 16 weeks old in pups, 12 - 14 weeks old in kittens.

 

How old does my pet have to be to be fixed?

  • Dog and cats can be spayed or neutered as early as 4 months of age.

 

Can a dog be spayed/neutered at any age or is there an age limit?

  • There is no age limit on when your pet can be spayed or neutered.

 

How long are dogs/cats pregnant?

  • Dogs and cats are pregnant for about 63 days.

 

When will my dog come into heat?  How often do they come into heat?

  • Dogs will come into their first heat cycle sometime after 6 months of age.  The heat cycle typically lasts for 3 weeks.  They will come into heat approximately every 6 months.

 

My dog likes cat food better than dog food.  Is it OK to feed him cat food?

  • No, it is not OK to feed your dog cat food.  Cat food has a lot more protein in it than dog food.  The excess protein can cause medical problems later in life.  It also tends to cause dogs GI upset.

 

My pet is itching and I can't find any fleas.  Why is he itching?

  • Dogs and cats can be allergic to things other than fleas.  They can have food allergies and inhaled allergies ( to pollens, grass, mold, mildew).  All of which can make your pet itch.

 

When can my puppy or kitten gets its rabies shot?

  • Dogs and cats can getting their first rabies shot at 12 weeks old.

 

At what age can you wean a puppy or kitten?

  • Puppies and kittens are usually weaned around 6 weeks of age, if they are eating solid food well.

 

At what age do puppies and kittens open their eyes?

  • Eyes are usually open by 2 weeks of age in puppies and kittens.

 

At what age do you switch your pet from puppy/kitten food to adult food?

  • You should switch your pet to adult food at 1 year of age.

 

Should I feed my pet just dry, just canned, or a mixture of both foods?

  • Dry, wet, or a mixture of both is fine.  Dry food is better for the teeth as it helps to keep them clean.

 

Why is my pet scooting its butt on the ground?

  • The most common cause of scooting is full anal glands, next would be intestinal parasites.  Your pet's anal glands may need to be emptied.  If these are not full a fecal to check for worms is needed. 

 

Why is my dog shaking its head?  I've been using ear mite medicine but it's not helping.

  • Shaking the head is a common sign seen with ear infections.  Although ear mites occur frequently in cats, they are uncommon in dogs.  Dogs usually have an infection caused by either yeast, bacteria, or a mixture of the two in their ears.

 

Why is my female cat acting crazy, squalling, wanting to be petted and then grumpy?

  • If she is over 6 months of age and has not been spayed then she is probably in heat.

 

What should I do with my cat that is not using the litter box?  Could he/she be mad at me?

  • The first thing to do is to rule out any medical problems that may be causing the issue.  Urinary tract infections, bladder stones and intestinal parasites can cause elimination problems.  While cats can have behavioral problems that can cause litter box issues, they do not go outside the litter box to be mean or spiteful.

 

My pet never goes outside.  Why should it be vaccinated?

  • People can carry diseases to their pets on their hands, clothing, and shoes.  Also, rabies vaccination is required by law for all cats and dogs.

 

Why is my pet's ear flap swollen and hard?

  • Your pet may have a hematoma from shaking its head or scratching at its ears due to an ear infection.   Bring him/her in for an examination.

 

Why does my pet have bad breath?

  • The most common cause of bad breath is tartar accumulation or periodontal disease.  Other causes include kidney disease, infection and cancer.  Your pet should be examined to determine if he/she needs a dental or blood work.

 

Is it better to let my female dog go through a heat cycle or have a litter before she is spayed?

  • No, there is no medical benefit of letting her go through a heat cycle or having a litter before she is spayed.  In fact, a dog's estrus cycle dramatically increases her chances of getting breast cancer in the future.

 

I put flea drops on my pet and it still has fleas.  Are the drops not working?

  • The drops acquired from your veterinarian are working just fine if applied correctly.  They do not prevent fleas from jumping on your pet and do not kill the fleas instantly.  As the fleas jump on your pet from the environment, they will die after a minimum time on the dog/cat.  The fleas that you see on the pet are just the tip of the iceberg of what's in the environment.  Also, dogs and cats going outside will pick up fleas that should be killed by the drops.  If the house environment is infected with fleas, it will take a minimum of 3 months of regular preventative use to get rid of that population.