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Basic Health Care for Cats & Dogs
Vaccination
Many of the common diseases of dogs and cats can be prevented by
keeping them on a good vaccination program.Vaccinations are one of
the preventative medicine programs essential to your pet's happy and
healthier life.
Rabies
It is required by law to
vaccinate your pets for rabies and to keep those vaccines current.
Rabies is a viral disease affecting the central
nervous system. All warm-blooded animals are susceptible to rabies,
which is transmitted through the saliva of an infected animal,
usually through a bite. In North America, most rabies exists in
wildlife, especially raccoons, skunks, foxes, and bats. If an
unvaccinated dog or cat is involved in a fight with a wild animal,
it should be a suspect for rabies. If rabies is diagnosed, the
animal may have to be humanely destroyed.
Dogs: Puppies are vaccinated a four months
of age, boostered in one year, then every one to three years,
depending on the local laws.
Other Dogs Vaccines:
- DHLPP & Corona
- Bordatella
- Lyme Disease
Cats: Kittens should be vaccinated once at four months and
boostered annually. Although the rabies vaccine for cats is not
required by law in most counties as it is in dogs, it is strongly
recommended because most rabies in non-wild animals occurs in cats
Other Cats Vaccines:
- FVRCP
- Feline Leukemima
- Feline Infectious Peritonitis
Fleas
Flea and tick shampoos, dips, sprays, powders, and collars have
traditionally been the primary method of flea control. More recent
developments in flea (and sometimes tick control) are topical
products such as Imidacloprid (Advantage- fleas) and Fipronil
(Frontline-fleas/ticks). These products are applied directly to the
skin of dogs and cats between the shoulder blades, to the back of
the neck and in the middle of the rump. They can be applied every
one to two months. These products have been found to be extremely
useful in the control of fleas and sometimes ticks with little or no
adverse effects to the dogs and cats .
Ticks
If there are only a few ticks on your pet, they can be removed
by applying alcohol or tick spray directly to the tick to kill it.
Wait a few minutes and then grasp the tick as close to the skin as
possible with a tweezers and carefully remove it from your pet by
applying steady traction until it releases its hold. Because ticks
can carry diseases that are infectious to humans, do not handle them
barehanded. Occasionally the tick mouth parts remain attached to the
skin of your pet that can not be removed manually. This may cause a
local reaction that clears up on its own after a few days and is
usually not a cause for concern. Seldom does a tick bite become
infected. If your pet has a heavy infestation, then a commercial
insecticide preparation should be used such as a tick dip. Multiple
dips will probably be required. Topical Fipronil applied every month
will help eliminate ticks on your dogs and cats. Be sure to talk to
you veterinarian to find out the safest and most effective products
for your pet.
Dental Care
Dental disease and gingivitis are one of the most common health
problems in pets today. Eighty-five to ninety percent of dogs and
cats more than three years of age, have some degree of periodontal
disease. Geriatric pets are most commonly affected by dental disease
which can be especially debilitating to their overall health. The
bacteria from the plaque and tartar that build up can cause serious
illness, including heart disease.
Fortunately, most dental health problems can be
prevented. As your pet's caretaker, you can recognize the signs of
early dental disease so that the problem can be treated and
prevented from reoccurring. The signs to look for include foul
breath, tartar build up on the teeth, gums that are sore, reddened,
and receding from the teeth. There may also be pockets of pus from
infection and loose or missing teeth.
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