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|Vaccinations||Diet||Estrus ("Heat" Cycle)||Spaying||Neutering|
|Flea Control||Tick Control||Heartworms||Declawing Cats|
Vaccinations and other routine preventative medicine procedures should begin immediately after weaning.
All pets should receive booster vaccinations yearly. At that time, a health check should be performed and certain tests run (e.g. stool testing and heartworm checks).
Depending on the breed and size, "heat" or estrus, normally begins between the ages of eight and fifteen months. Smaller breeds begin at a younger age than large breeds. Estrual cycles tend to become seasonal and regular as the animal matures. Often mature females cycle once in the spring, and once in the fall, not necessarily at exact six-month intervals.
On average, most estrus periods are about 21 days long. Vulvar swelling and bleeding discharge are common during the first 10 days. Days 10 through 15 are usually the most fertile, and a female is most likely to accept a male and conceive during this time. During the final five to six days, the female experiences a "going out" period and is less interested in breeding but still may be discharging slightly. IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER, however, many dogs vary from this "average" schedule, and conception is possible ANYTIME a female is receptive to a male.
Arguments for having your pet surgically sterilized include:
The only reason not to have your pet spayed or neutered would be if you intend to use it as a breeder.
The optimum age to have a dog or cat "spayed" is at six months of age because females may derive some hormonal benefit as regards bone maturation up to that time. From a long-term health standpoint, however, having a female spayed before its first estrus is the best way to avoid aging health problems.
Undesirable male behavior usually begins soon after six months of age. Male dogs not intended for breeding should be neutered as soon after six months of age as possible. Intact male cats usually develop behavioral traits that endanger their life and longevity. Having your male cat neutered may be a "lifesaving" procedure.
Given once monthly by mouth, Comfortis® becomes systemic and kills fleas as they attack the pet. Comfortis® can effectively reduce flea numbers in the environment and works best in animals maintained in tightly controlled areas (like houses and enclosed yards) with minimal opportunity for exposure to other animals who might bring in "fresh" flea populations. Comfortis® should be given orally with food to minimize rare episodes of vomiting following administration. Our recommendation is that all animals receiving Comfortis® be confined to the house for one hour following administration in case vomiting does occur. Rare cases that do vomit the medication within one hour should be retreated to continue compliance. After one hour no retreatment is required. Comfortis® is also conveniently available in combination with a heartworm preventive dispensed under the trade name Trifexis®.
Applied once monthly (usually on the pet's skin between its shoulder blades) these products spread over the skin and kill fleas for extended periods. Two such products are Revolution®(containing a heartworm preventive as well) and Frontline Top Spot®. Frontline Top Spot® has added advantage in that it aids in tick control. Anecdotal evidence of flea resistence to Frontline Top Spot® appears to be growing. We caution against the use of the generic (fipronil) until history of longer term safety and effectiveness has been better determined.
Fleas and ticks must be exposed to control products for a time before they are forced off of the host pet. Finding an occasional flea or unattached tick does not mean your flea control is inadequate.
There is no single best way to keep ticks from attempting to imbed in your pet's skin. Even the very best control measures still allow an occasional tick to be found.That is why daily inspection of your pet, paying careful attention to areas around the head and ears, armpits, and between toes is essential. Any parasites discovered should be carefully removed.
Preventic® tick collars for dogs are a forward step in tick control. Medication from the collar absorbed systemically by your dog usually is quite effective in keeping ticks from attaching. Preventic® tick collars are not available for cats.
Microscopic heartworm larvae are transmitted from infected dogs to susceptible ones by mosquitoes. The mosquito ingests blood from the infected host. Any ingested heartworm larvae undergo life cycle changes within the mosquito to become "infective larvae". These are then injected into previously uninfected dogs as the mosquito bites and feeds, and develop over time into adult heartworms.
Adult heartworms cause great damage over time to the host's heart and lungs. Cardiac failure eventually occurs and leads to difficulty breathing, exercise intolerance and generalized weakness. Circulating microfilaria (baby heartworms) also can cause kidney and liver damage. If untreated, canine heartworm disease often leads to death.
Preventive medications are available for either daily or once monthly administration. These medications act in slightly different biochemical ways, but each works to prevent adult heartworm development within the host. Common monthly heartworm preventatives include Heartgard Plus® and Intercepter® which are offered as "treat tablets.". However, some pet owners prefer to give a generic "non-treat type" tablet (Iverhart Plus ®). Also available is a "spot-on" flea controller which also serves as a heartworm preventive (Revolution®.)
Definitely not, especially if you intend to keep your cat inside the house all, or part of, the time. However, unless you are absolutely sure your cat will never leave the house, we recommend removal of the front claws only, because back claws allow cats the climbing power to avoid injury. Declawed cats will still "pad" with their feet, and do not appear to be psychologically altered by not having front claws. The declawing procedure is safe and relatively pain-free, and post-surgical complications are rare.
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