Cumberland Valley Animal Hospital NET Pages

Why should I get my pet vaccinated at Cumberland Valley Animal Hospital?

The AVMA has a brochure on Vaccinations.
Routine healthcare is essential to your pet’s health. It is very important to vaccinate only healthy animals. For the safety of your pet, we will examine your pet before vaccinating and do not sell vaccinations over the counter.  Kentucky requires that dogs, cats, and ferrets four months old or older have current rabies certificates.  

What is the proper vaccination schedule for puppies?

Puppies that are still nursing get important antibodies from their mothers.  When puppies stop nursing, usually around 6 weeks of age, they are no longer supplied with these antibodies and need vaccinations to continue their immunity.  A puppy’s own immune system is still maturing at 6 weeks and a puppy may not be able to create its own antibodies until it is 15 weeks old.  This is why boosters are vital in providing continued protection for your puppy.  To space these boosters for maximum protection, we recommend the following schedule:

•          1^st Booster: 6 weeks DHPP Puppy Booster & wormer. A monovalent killed parvovirus is recommended at 5 weeks for at-risk puppies. Risk factors include bottle-feeding and puppies on previously contaminated property.  More information on parvo is below.

•          2^nd Booster: 9 weeks DHPP Puppy Booster & wormer

•          3^rd Booster: 12 weeks DHPP Puppy Booster & wormer

•          4^th Booster: 15 weeks DHPP Adult or DHLPP Booster, First Rabies Booster, Heartworm Prevention

What is a DHPP, DAPP, or DHLPP Booster?

• D=Distemper (See AVMA brochure on Canine Distemper)
• H=Hepatitis is Infectious Canine Hepatitis (ICH) caused by Canine Adenovirus.  Sometimes you will see DAPP instead of DHPP when A=Adenovirus.
• P=Parainfluenza (See AVMA info on Canine Parainfluenza)
• P=Parvovirus (See AVMA info on Canine Parvovirus)
• L=Leptospirosis (NOT IN PUPPY SHOT) (See AVMA info on Canine Leptospirosis)

   

  What vaccinations does my adult dog need?

   

  Every year a dog should come in for a checkup and vaccination update. Three-year DHP vaccinations include a one-year Parainfluenza vaccine which must be boostered annually with Kennel Cough. Three-year rabies vaccinations can be given after the initial one-year booster.

   

  What is Kennel Cough?

   

  Kennel Cough is also known as bordetella.  (See AVMA info on Bordetellosis)
  Kennel Cough is extremely contagious through the air and is passed from dog to dog like the common cold. We only require that this vaccination be updated annually for boarding in our kennel, but we highly recommend that it be boostered every three to six months for dogs that are kenneled, visit the groomer, or come in contact with dogs of unknown vaccination history on a regular basis. If a dog contracts kennel cough--a mild case can be caught through the live vaccine--antibiotics are the typical course of treatment.

   

  What is Parvo and how can I tell if my puppy has it?

   

  What most people know as “Parvo” is the Canine Parvovirus.  (See AVMA brochure on Canine Parvovirus)

   

           Symptoms: lethargy (not playing or just laying around), bloody diarrhea, vomiting.  Puppies are the most susceptible under one year of age.  Older dogs may have flu-like symptoms.

   

           A puppy that could have parvo is an emergency situation!  If the puppy has parvo, it can die within 24-48 hours of showing symptoms.  Even worms can kill a puppy.  Seek medical help immediately if your puppy shows any parvo-like symptoms.  Keep your puppy warm and do not try to feed it until a diagnosis is made.  Lukewarm Gatorade or Pedialyte should be given to keep puppy hydrated.

   

  Can I give my pets their rabies vaccinations?

   

  Kentucky requires that dogs, cats, and ferrets four months old or older have current rabies certificates.  If your pet bites someone and you do not have proof from a veterinarian that your pet is current on its vaccinations, you and your pet could be in a lot of trouble, not to mention the person who has been bitten.

   

  Can my cat catch distemper from my dog or vice versa?

   

  See AVMA brochure on Canine Distemper and Feline Panleukopenia

   

  What vaccinations does my pet need before boarding at Cumberland Valley Animal Hospital?

   

  We strongly discourage boarding any puppy or kitten that has not had its complete set of boosters.  Puppies and kittens should be kept away from unknown animals until they have time to develop their own immunity to dangerous diseases.

   

  Dogs should be current on Bordetella (Kennel Cough), Rabies & DHPP.  These vaccinations can be given when your dog comes in to be boarded.  We typically give the Kennel Cough vaccination in the nose which gives protection almost immediately.

   

  Cats should be current on PRCC & Rabies.  These vaccinations can be given when your cat comes in to be boarded.

What types of surgery does Cumberland Valley Animal Hospital perform?

We offer laser surgery for your pets. We recommend that dogs and cats that will not be used in a registered breeding program be spayed or neutered at five to six months of age. We can correct “cherry eye” (looks like an inside-out eyelid), resection soft palates (helpful in short-nosed breeds that have difficulty breathing or snore), remove tumors and growths, as well as perform other routine and emergency procedures with less bleeding and pain than traditional surgeries.  We also offer other anesthetized procedures such as dentals and laser nail trims.

My pet is scheduled for surgery.  What do I need to remember?

         Before surgery an animal must have its rabies shot.  We recommend that the shot be given 2-3 weeks before surgery, but it can be given on the day of surgery with minimal risk.

         Do not feed your pet after 10:00 p.m. the night before surgery.  If your pet has access to other food sources, try to confine your pet after 10:00 p.m. to prevent sneaked snacks.  Your pet may have water until you check in for surgery.

         Bring your pet to the hospital prior to 9:00 a.m. on the morning of surgery.  We remove water at this time and prepare your pet for anesthesia.

         Every animal undergoing surgery is recommended to get a blood-chemistry panel check.  Animals over 7 years old are required to have a recent blood panel to reduce the risk of complications.  Blood panels can be done on the morning of surgery if your pet has not had one recently.

         Unless otherwise specified, your pet will stay overnight for monitoring.

         Please provide us with your daytime phone number and that of an emergency contact in case we are unable to reach you.

         This is an ideal time for us to take care of your pet’s teeth and nails, too.  Don’t forget to ask!

What happens when I get my pet spayed or neutered?

As a responsible pet owner, you already know that having your pet surgically altered prevents unwanted litters. Did you also know that altering your puppy or kitten can prevent smelly urine marking, unwanted bleeding from heat cycles, and many health problems that can arise when pets get older?  For more information on the benefits of spaying and neutering, see the Humane Society’s “Why Should I Spay or Neuter My Pet?”

The night before any surgery, we ask that you remove your pet's food. Please check your pet into the hospital by 9:00am the morning of surgery. This allows us time to do a pre-surgical examination, any requested or required health screenings, and to remove your pet's water.

When all has checked out well, we will pre-med your animal for three reasons: to reduce your pet's stress and anxiety, to begin pain prevention, and to reduce the amount of inhalant anesthetics needed to keep your pet completely asleep during surgery. We will then induce the animal and monitor all vitals and amounts of gaseous anesthesia that your pet receives.

A spay involves removing the ovaries and the uterus. A male neuter involves removing the testicles. Routinely, all sutures will be under the skin and will not need to be removed. In special situations, the surgeon may decide to use a suture or staple that will need to be removed after a sufficient healing time.

When your pet is released from the hospital, usually after an overnight stay, your pet will not be feeling as much pain as after a traditional surgery due to the unique properties of the laser. This makes it your job to prevent your pet from "overdoing". The incision should be kept dry for two weeks.

I’ve had him neutered.  Why is he still acting like a male?

After neutering, there will be a marked decrease in the levels of testosterone, but neutering does not completely eliminate all of the testosterone in a male’s body.  If your pet had already begun to display male behaviors such as mounting, humping, or spraying prior to neutering, these behaviors may continue for a time out of habit or residual hormones. Eventually you will see these behaviors lessen and possibly stop because they will no longer be hormone-driven.  Making sure your pet knows that you are displeased with these behaviors will slow them down more quickly.  Sometimes these behaviors are a sign that your dog wants to dominate you and you may need to project more of the “calm assertiveness” recommended by Cesar Milan.

What is a “dental” and when does my pet need one?  (See also "Dental Disease" pdf file)

A dental prophylaxis (prophy) is an anesthetized procedure that allows us to remove plaque and tartar from your pet's teeth without the discomfort you may have experienced at the dentist. If not removed, this buildup can lead to periodontal disease and even organ damage. Many of the signs of periodontal disease are hard to miss: bad breath, discolored teeth, swollen gums, bleeding gums. If periodontal disease is left unchecked, bacteria release toxins that destroy the tissue and bone that anchor teeth in place, and bacteria can enter the bloodstream damaging the heart, liver, and kidneys. Most dogs have periodontal disease by the time they are four years old because their owners don't know how important oral health is. Visit www.petdental.com for more dental tips.

What can I do to protect my pet’s teeth after his dental?

We recommend that your pet have a fluoride or OraVet™ treatment.  When your puppy or kitten comes in for a spay or neuter, you might consider continuing his or her dental regimen with a fluoride or OraVet™ treatment. Both of these treatments must be done on clean teeth and under anesthesia, so if your pet’s teeth are not clean, these will be done after a dental prophy.

A basic fluoride treatment, included in every dental prophy, gives clean teeth a coating of fluoride to help protect them from dental disease and to help protect you from potential bad breath problems.

For a complete barrier against tartar and plaque build-up, consider OraVet™ . We will apply OraVet™ to your pet’s clean teeth. Two weeks later, you will start a quick and easy weekly at-home regimen to keep OraVet™ working to its maximum potential. Ask us for an OraVet™ brochure or visit www.OraVet™.com for more details.

Can you de-claw a dog like you can a cat?

With our laser, we can trim your anesthetized dog's nails extremely short without pain or bleeding. You can maintain this short trim at home with a nail file. This is not a de-claw for dogs which would require removal of part of the toe. However, such a short, smooth trim does help protect furniture and people as well as greatly reducing the number of nail trims needed.

What is Cherry Eye and do I need to worry about it?

A Cherry Eye is a prolapsed third eyelid.  When something prolapses, it turnes inside-out.  Some puppies with Cherry Eye will "grow out of it" as they get older.  Have a veterinarian look at your dog to see if surgery is necessary.

Should I have my dog’s ears cropped?

The AKC does not require that any breeds have their ears cropped to conform to standards.  “Ear cropping is a decision made by a dog's breeder or owner. While it is true that some breeds are shown with their ears cropped, there is nothing in AKC rules and in fact nothing in any breed standard that compels an owner to have this procedure performed as a prerequisite to entry at a dog show. Even if it is traditional in a particular breed that the dogs have one of these alterations, it has the same potential to win as any other dog of the breed and will only be judged based on the compliance of that dog to the breed standard.” (From http://www.akc.org/events/conformation/faqs.cfm)

Dr. Smith will not perform an ear crop without a pre-surgical consultation to discuss all of the details of the surgery and the extensive after-care required for a successful ear crop.  Owners must be completely committed before surgery is performed.  Call us to schedule a consultation with Dr. Smith if you are serious about having your puppy’s ears cropped.

More and more owners are choosing to leave their dogs with natural ears and tails.  However, if you breed hunting dogs with long tails, we do not discourage having litters brought in at 3-5 days old for tail docks and dewclaw removals.  This can prevent injury when hunting in forests and dense brush and when done at this early age can be performed without anesthesia.  Newborn puppies object more to being restrained than to the procedure.  Never band your puppy’s tail!  This can result in an infected or seriously injured tail, partial removal of the tail, or at best an ugly or hairless tail.

What is the difference between an EKG and an ECG?

When electrocardiograms were first performed, they were abbreviated as EKG.  Current trends are to use ECG as a more accurate abbreviation.  We can perform an ECG on your pet to detect heart abnormalities. We recommend that your pet has at least an annual ECG and that you help protect your pet’s heart health with a high-quality diet and monthly heartworm prevention.

Why do you recommend Blood Screening before surgery?

A blood screen, strongly recommended before your pet undergoes any anesthetized procedure, can uncover many problems, including bleeding or clotting disorders, before they become deadly. The blood chemistries tested by a mini-screen and what they help evaluate are:

• Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN)--Kidneys

• Creatinine--Kidneys

• Alkaline Phosphate--Kidneys, Bones, Thyroid, Diabetes

• Potassium Chloride--Kidneys, Adrenal Glands

• Sodium--Water & Electrolyte Balance, Kidneys, Adrenal Glands

• Total Protein--Liver, Kidney, Immune System, Nutrition

• Alanine Aminotranferase (ALT)--Liver

• Glucose--Diabetes or Hypoglycemia

• Complete Blood Count (CBC)--Surgical Risks

A full panel screens six additional chemistries:

• Cholesterol--Lipid Disorder, Risk of Coronary Artery Disease, Hypothyroidism

• Amylase--Pancreas, Salivary Glands, Intestines, Gall Bladder

• Calcium--Parathyroid, Kidneys, Cancer, Bone Disease, Pancreatitis, Heart

• Phosphate--Kidneys, Parathyroid, Bone Disease, Diabetes

• Bilirubin--Liver, Bile Duct Blockage, Neonatal Diseases, Red Cell Destruction

• Globulin--Immune System, Liver

We will notify you if your pet’s blood screen is abnormal before anesthetizing your pet or recommending against surgery.

What is a Wolf Worm?

This fat parasite is the larvae of the bot fly and will eventually hatch into an adult bot fly if not removed.  Wolf worms are commonly picked up around rabbit burrows as the rabbit is one of their favorite hosts.  Most pets are curious about rabbits or are even trained to hunt them, so they may stick their head into the burrow.  This is why most wolf worms are found in the neck and head area.  Unfortunately, this is why wolf worms can be so dangerous.  Wolf worms can actually end up burrowing into the brain or some other vital organ.  Many pets will need to be sedated for your veterinarian to properly remove the worm.  Improper removal can result in damaging the worm which can lead to anaphylactic shock.  There are many home remedies that people have found to work, but there is risk involved and we recommend you see your veterinarian as soon as possible.

For more information:  http://www.ivis.org/special_books/carter/carter7/chapter_frm.asp or http://www.motherearthnews.com/library/1996_August_September/Stressed_Steeds

Why is my cat shaking its head and walking funny?

Several things could be wrong, so you should take your cat to the vet as soon as possible.  Three top causes of head shaking, ear scratching, and walking either off-balance or with head tilted to one side are ear mites, ear infection, and “blue-tailed lizard disease.”  If the vet says your cat has ear mites, we recommend Acarexx.  It is the only treatment guaranteed to be effective in one treatment.  Other treatments may be cheaper, but they can involve multiple dosings per day for several weeks.  If your cat has an ear infection, treating for ear mites can not only be ineffective, but possibly even painful or harmful to your cat.  This is why you should have your cat checked at the vet’s office before beginning any treatment.  What we call “blue-tailed lizard disease” is caused by a toxin found in blue-tailed lizards.  Cats that eat these lizards can sometimes be afflicted by lifetime head-tilt.  Your cat could possibly have been hit by a car or stung by an insect or be having an allergic reaction.  Please see your vet as soon as possible if your cat is acting up.

I bought some flea treatment at the grocery store and now my cat is shaking.  What should I do?

Go wash your cat in Dawn or another de-greasing dish detergent RIGHT NOW!  The faster you get the medication off of your cat, the sooner your cat can recover.  These treatments remain on the skin and continue to seep into your cat’s system causing more or worsening neurological signs until it is completely removed….Now that you’ve got a wet cat, dry your cat as thoroughly as possible and keep it warm on the way to the vet.  Your cat’s eyes may be sensitive to light, so keeping it in a dark box or a carrier with a towel over it may help your cat feel better until the vet can treat it.  Depending on the severity of the seizures, your vet may want to keep your cat in the hospital until it makes a complete recovery.

So if the grocery-store flea treatments are so dangerous, what can I do to get rid of these fleas?

If your pet has had a reaction to a topical medication in the past, you may be wary of trying another one.  We do carry Program Injection for Cats which is a 6-month injection the veterinarian can give your cat.  Program is also available in a tablet for dogs or cats and can be given monthly.  (There is no injection for dogs.)  The best option is to use Sentinel every month for your dog or cat.  Sentinel does not only contain the Program flea prevention, but also contains Interceptor which controls heartworms, hookworms, whipworms, and roundworms when given monthly year-round.

The AVMA has a brochure on External Parasites