| Frequently Asked Questions |
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| Basic Health Questions and Answers |
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| Q: My dog has been outside in hot weather all day
and now he’s panting hard. Is this normal? What should I do? |
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| A: Panting is the normal method dogs use to cool
themselves. Dogs pant because they aren’t able to perspire like humans.
You can help your dog cool down by putting ice-cubes in his or her water dish or
by wetting him down. |
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| Remember that dogs do suffer from heat
stroke. If your dog shows signs of weakness cover him or her in cool, wet towels
and get him to your veterinarian as soon as possible. |
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| Q: My dog has been coughing for several days.
Why is he coughing and what should I do about it? |
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| A: Several things can cause a dog’s cough:
kennel cough, allergies, or even bronchitis. If the coughing persists for
several days it’s important to have your veterinarian examine him to determine
the cause. |
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| Q: Why does my dog or cat have such bad
breath? |
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| A: Bad breath is often a sign of dental problems.
Go to our Dental Health pages to learn more
about caring for your pet’s dental needs. |
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| Q: My cat or dog has trouble chewing.
What is the problem and what can I do about it? |
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| A: Ulcers or infections in the mouth can cause pets
to have problems chewing their food. If your pet has infected gums it will be
painful for him or her to chew. Go to our
Dental Health pages and learn more about your pet’s dental needs and then
have your pet examined by your veterinarian. |
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| Q: My dog or cat has runny eyes. Is this considered
a problem? Should I have my pet examined? |
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| A: Runny eyes can be caused by injury, infection,
allergies, or illness. A veterinarian should examine your pet to find the source
of the problem. |
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| Q: Why does my dog chew at his or her
feet? |
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| A: Chewing at the feet is almost always the sign of
an allergy. Your veterinarian should treat this condition. |
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| Q: My cat is limping. He won’t eat and he sleeps
all the time. What’s wrong with him and what should I do about it? |
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| A: These symptoms may indicate that your cat has an
abscess. Cats are especially prone to developing abscesses. Have your cat
examined by your veterinarian. He or she may need to treat the abscess and
prescribe antibiotics to control the infection. |
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| Q: My dog keeps shaking her head and scratching her
ears. Why does she do this? Can I buy medication over the counter to treat this
problem? |
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| A: Dogs develop ear problems for a variety of
reasons including parasites or a build up of earwax. Since it’s impossible to
determine the cause of the trouble without examining the pet, it’s impossible to
dispense medication over the counter. Have your dog examined. Your
veterinarian will be able to diagnose the cause of the problem and provide
medication. |
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| Emergencies |
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| Q: My cat constantly goes to the litter box but
little or no urine comes out. What causes this behavior and what should I do
about it? |
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| A: Your cat may have a urinary tract infection or
blockage that’s preventing him or her from urinating. A veterinarian should see
your cat immediately! Follow this link
for information about obtaining emergency care. |
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| Q: My dog’s abdomen suddenly became extremely
bloated and now she looks very uncomfortable. What happened to her and what
should I do about it? |
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| A: Sometimes a dog’s stomach will fill with gas.
This condition is called bloat and is considered an emergency condition.
A veterinarian should see your dog immediately! Follow this link
for information about obtaining emergency care. |
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| Questions and Answers About Your New Pet |
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| Q: I just adopted a new pet. She’s been abandoned
so I have no idea how old she is and she has no medical records.
What should I do first? |
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| A: Congratulate yourself for adopting one of the
millions of homeless pets we have in this country. Then you should take her
to your veterinarian for an examination. This is especially important if you
have other pets in your household. Your veterinarian can vaccinate her and make
sure she won’t transmit any diseases to your other pets. |
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| Learn about
Vaccinating Your Cat |
| Learn about
Vaccinating Your Dog |
| Learn more about
Spaying or Neutering Your Cat |
| Learn more about
Spaying or Neutering Your Dog |
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| Q: I have a new pet. When should I take him in
to have his shots? |
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| A: We recommend that puppies and kittens have their first vaccines at 6-8 weeks
and we have more information about vaccinations
on these pages: |
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| Learn about
Vaccinating Your Cat |
| Learn about
Vaccinating Your Dog |
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| Q: I have a new pet. Should I have him or her
spayed or neutered, and when should I have it done? |
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| A: We recommend that all pets be spayed or
neutered. You should have your pet spayed or neutered when he or she is six
months old. |
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| Learn more about
Spaying or Neutering Your Cat |
| Learn more about
Spaying or Neutering Your Dog |
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| Questions and Answers About Feeding and Nutrition |
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| Q: Should I give my cat a saucer of milk? |
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| A: No. Although your cat or kitten probably loves
milk, cow’s milk is substantially different from cat milk and is not good for
your cat. The milk from dairy cows contains a substantial amount of
lactose. Cats are not able to digest this sugar. When fed cow’s milk cats
develop diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration and other problems. |
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| Q: Why should I buy pet food from my veterinarian
when I can get dog or cat food from the grocery store for less money? |
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| A: Please visit our
Pet Nutrition page for more
information on this topic. |
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| Q: Should I give my pets bones and table-scraps? |
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| A: Visit our
Pet Nutrition page for more information. |
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| Questions and Answers About Parasites |
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| Q: Why is my dog scooting her rear end on the
floor? |
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| A: Scooting can be a sign of anal gland problems or
of a tapeworm infection. If you also find small, white worm segments near your
pet’s anus or in her feces, she probably has tapeworms. Take her to your
veterinarian for a specific diagnosis and treatment. |
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| For more information about tapeworms visit our
Tapeworm page. |
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| Q: My dog or cat keeps shaking her head and scratching her
ears. Why does she do this? Can I buy medication over the counter to treat this
problem? |
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| A: Dogs and cats develop ear problems for a variety of
reasons including earmites or a build up of earwax. Since it’s impossible to
determine the cause of the trouble without examining the pet, it’s impossible to
dispense medication over the counter. Have your dog or cat examined. Your
veterinarian will be able to diagnose the cause of the problem and provide
medication. |
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| For more information about earmites visit our
Earmite page. |
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| Questions and Answers About Puppies and Kittens |
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| Q: My puppy or kitten’s teeth are falling out.
Is this normal? |
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| A: Puppies and kittens have baby teeth just like
humans do. They usually loose their baby teeth when they are about three and a
half months old. If the baby teeth don’t fall out naturally they may need to be
pulled to avoid problems when the adult teeth come in. |
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| For more information about pet dentistry visit our
Dental Health pages. |
| For more information about your young pet visit our
Kitten and
Puppy pages. |
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| Questions and Answers About Reproduction |
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| Q: Will having a litter make my dog a better
pet? |
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| A: No. In fact the opposite is true. Pregnancy is
not beneficial to a female dog. Pregnancies and heat cycles increase the risk of
mammary cancer. |
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| Learn why spaying your dog can contribute to a lifetime
of good health at our Spay and Neuter
page. |
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| Q: My dog has become aggressive and rough. Will
neutering him stop this? |
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| A: Neutering generally decreases aggression in male
dogs and there are other benefits. Find all the facts about neutering your dog
at our Spay and Neuter page. |
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| Q: How often will my female dog come into heat?
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| A: Female dogs usually come into heat twice a
year. |
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| Q: How long will my female dog stay in
heat? |
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| A: It usually takes about three weeks to complete
the cycle. |
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| Q: What is the
gestation period for my dog? |
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| A: Pregnancy usually lasts 62 to 63
days. |
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| Q: How often will my female cat come into
heat? |
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| A: Female cats come into heat during the spring,
summer and fall at 21-day intervals. |
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| Q: What is the
gestation period for my cat? |
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| A: Pregnancy usually lasts 59 to 68
days. |
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| While we believe this information to be accurate it
should not be used as a substitute for an examination by a licensed
veterinarian. |
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