General Cat and Dog FAQ's

It doesn’t matter whether you choose a male or female pet as long as you treat your pet properly. Children will have just as much fun with males as females. Some males may be more assertive while females may seem easy to train and less likely to be hyperactive.

The best age to take home a young pet is at 8 weeks of age.

Different breeds of cats seem to have different personalities. As a rule, Siamese are more aloof and vocal than others. Persians and Himalayans require more care than shorthaired breeds, but as affectionate as any other cat. Burmese are especially friendly and good with children.

Begin trimming your pet’s nails when they are young so it becomes part of a routine and they become used to this type of grooming.

When trimming your pet’s nails, trim in front of the place where you see the blood circulating. On black toenails, trim in front of the groove on the underside of the nail.

Purring is the way a cat shows affection, contentment and appreciation. The source of purring is believed to be in the animal’s circulatory system rather than in her voice.

It is quite normal for new puppies and kittens to sleep a lot. Young pets sleep a great deal, especially after meals.

It is advisable to wait until the third heat.

The average time of pregnancy in cats and dogs is 61-63 days, which is about 9 weeks.

You should have your pet spayed before the end of his first year of life. It is perfectly safe anytime after 10 weeks of age, and it’s generally accepted that 90-90% less mammary cancer occurs in females spayed at a young age.

You need not wait for your female pet to have her first heat to be spayed. The ideal age for spaying is around 6 months of age.

Some physical signs that your female pet is going into heat are a swollen vulva and a light red vaginal discharge. Female cats become particularly affectionate and vocal.

A female dog goes into heat about twice a year. They may skip a heat cycle occasionally, but will seldom have an extra one. The cycle lasts 21 days in dogs. Cats will go into their first heat between 5-8 months. A cat will remain in heat until she is bred. Small breed dogs at about 6 months and medium breed dogs at 8 or 9 months.

Symptoms of an impending birth are: mothers loss of appetite, restlessness, and nesting. Her body temp will drop to about 99 degrees Fahrenheit. Then it will go back up over 100 degrees. She will deliver within 12 hours after her temp goes back up.

The normal time between each delivery is ½ to 2 hours for the mother to rest. Be aware, however, that the break should not exceed 4 hours.

Between 6-12 weeks, feed 3 times per day. Between 12 weeks and 6 months feed 2 times per day. From 6 months on feed once daily.

The kittens should be weaned and ready to go to new homes between 6 and 8 weeks. She should have her vaccinations at this time.

The sooner you visit the veterinarian with your new pet, the better. A doctor will make sure your new pet is healthy and recommend a vaccination schedule to protect your new pet against some of the numerous common diseases. They will discuss feeding, parasite control, neutering, and many other things to help you enjoy your pet for years to come.

Puppies and kittens get their baby teeth at 8 weeks and fall out gradually. At 6-8 months, the permanent teeth should all be in.

When your pet scoots his or her rear end, it is probably a result of an anal gland problem. It is wise for your pet to be examined and checked for worms as well.

The vaccinations needed for your dog’s health are: Distemper, Hepatitis, parvovirus, parinfluenza, Bordetella, Rabies, ,Lyme and Corona. Your dog may not need all of these. Dog’s vaccine program is taylored to fit your pets needs.

Ear infections can cause your pet a great deal of pain. The first sign is smell. Look for signs of head shaking, smelly discharge or dark colored ear wax. These are all possible symptoms of an ear problem. If you suspect a problem, please call us for an appointment.

Heartworm has a 6-month cycle and you begin preventative treatment for your pet before 6 months of age. No preventative treatment should ever begin before a blood test is done because it is best to know if your pet already has heartworms so they can be treated.

A mosquito picks up heartworm larvae by drawing blood from an infected dog. When the mosquito bites another dog, is passes on the immature heartworm knows as microfilaria to that pet.

Humans usually don’t get intestinal hookworm from their pets. However, the small canine hookworm larvae and penetrate the person’s skin and cause skin sores. Checking your pet for worms periodically and giving monthly preventative reduce spreading of worms.

A cold, wet nose is not necessarily a sign that your pet is healthy. The idea is misleading. Animals sweat on their noses and footpads. Your pet may be wet with perspiration. Wet noses may be normal or they can indicate that your pet has a respiratory disorder.

Some pets drink a great deal of water then urinate excessively. The condition that may cause this kind of behavior is fairly complicated. It is best to bring your pet in for an examination.

Blood in a pet’s stool may indicate several things. Perhaps it is a minor irritation in the large intestine that could clear up in a day or there could be something more serious involved. We recommend bringing your pet in for an examination to determine the actual cause and appropriate treatment.

The causes of spraying by your cat differ with each cat, and so does the treatment. Spaying/neutering will help if he or she is spraying to establish territory.

If he is spraying because he is lonely, consider a friend for him. Also try giving the cat more affection.

Often something has changed in the cats environment and causes anxiety in the cat and causes territorial spraying.