Pet Care - The Annual Physical Exam and What to Expect

Is it time to bring your pet to the veterinarian for a checkup? Are you unsure of what to expect? It’s actually very important to understand what your veterinarian does to your pet during its annual exam. This helps you recognize when your pet is healthy and also if something is wrong. Here are the normal procedures that a veterinarian goes through on an annual physical exam:

Temperature

Taking the temperature of your pet is one the most important parts of the physical exam. A dog or cat’s average temperature is somewhere between 101 and 102.5 degrees. Even if an animal seems healthy, a veterinarian can often tell that something is not right if the animal has a high temperature.
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How You Can Help Your Dog When It Has Had A Stroke

t may come as a shock to you to find out that your dog has suffered from a stroke. Unlike humans, when a dog has a stroke, he often won’t become paralyzed or display any of the human signs of stroke. In fact, with the right care and attention, chances are he will bounce right back within a short period after suffering from a stroke, especially if he has a little help.

How To Tell Your Dog Has Had A Stroke?
Often, there are a few signs that will tell you that your dog is suffering from a stroke. These usually include loss of sight, falling over, and tilting and turning of the head. If you notice your dog displaying these symptoms, you should take him to the vet to rule out other serious health problems such as brain disease, which may be the underlying cause of the symptoms.
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Obesity In Pets

Obesity is an increasing problem for pets and owners alike with many pets being heavier than they should be which will shorten their lifespan and predispose them to many other medical conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, joint problems, liver disease, breathing difficulties, heat intolerance and digestive upsets. The extra weight will significantly increase any risks associated with anaesthetics or sedations and will cause your pet to require a larger dose of medication e.g. pain relief if they develop arthritis. Most medications are given based on weight so a heavier pet means treatment is more expensive as more tablets are required. This extra medication also needs to be processed by the liver and kidneys which should belong to a lighter dog so extra work is required to break down and remove waste products.

What is the correct weight for my pet?

There is a great variation in body type between breeds just as there is in people. A general rule to assessing whether a pet is overweight is how easily you can feel their ribs. You should just be able to feel the ribs without pressing too hard and not be able to see them. If you are having to press firmly then your pet is overweight, if you cannot feel their ribs at all then it is likely they are clinically obese and veterinary help should be sought immediately.
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Distemper or brain cancer ?

I had a wolf/golden ret. mix who started sneezing blood and going into
seizures on sat by tue on the way to the vet he passed away. I have
asked the vet what may have been the problem she says distemper or
possible brain cancer etc so I was wandering if anyone else has had a dog
with these symptoms and what was wrong with them. I miss him and would
loke to know so maybe the next dog I get wont have to die such a horrible
death.

question from Christy

Cat Vaccinations And Why They Are Important

Being a cat owner carries certain responsibilities other than making sure your pet is well fed and has a warm place to sleep. As well as these basic essentials, the health of your cat and protecting them from various feline diseases should also be high on your priority list as a cat owner.

Cat Vaccinations work exactly the same way as vaccinations for humans do. They help to boost the cat’s immune system by producing antibodies for various different diseases that can then fight off attacks from any potentially fatal illness that they may come into contact in the future. The vaccine also prevents the cat from becoming a carrier of these diseases and in doing so is also providing protecting for other cats in the neighbourhood.

Kittens receive their first natural defences from illness via their mothers milk, which will protect them for the first seven to ten weeks of their life, However after this time these first defences become less effective and this is when some vaccinations should be given for the first time. Usually the first vaccinations are administered in two separate doses one around 9 weeks old the second at around 12 weeks old. During this time and for several weeks afterwards, it is recommended that kittens be kept away from strange cats to enable the vaccines to take effect fully. Some vaccines require that a booster injection be given every year, however individual vets will decide if and when these are required.

There are many different kinds of vaccines available for your cat that can protect them from many different types of serious illness. Which ones are administered will largely depend on where you live in the world i.e. some countries are still prone to rabies where others are not, whether or not your cat will be an indoor or outdoor cat and your Vets recommendations for your particular cat. The most common vaccines given are to protect against:
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Veterinary Supplies: How Can I Help My Cat With Hairballs?

Does your cat suffer from hairballs? Hairballs in cats are actually quite common. Cats have many rough projections on their tongues that are called papillae. These papillae are used to help cats groom their fur. While the cat is grooming, it often ingests fur which gets caught in the cat’s stomach or small intestines. This causes a blockage or what is more commonly known as a hairball. Even though they are common, there are ways to help your cat prevent and treat them.

What types of cats are most susceptible?

There are three different types of coats that your cat can have: short hair, medium hair, and long hair. Cats with long hair get hairballs more often. Cats with soft fur also tend to get more. The soft fur sticks to the tongue easier than coarse fur. Indoor cats are also more likely to get hairballs. Since they do not spend time exploring outdoors, they spend more time grooming.

What are the symptoms?

Vomiting is the most common symptom of a hairball. The vomit may or may not contain fur. Other symptoms include not eating as often or as much, and hiding because they do not feel well.

How can I help to prevent them?

To prevent hairballs, you need to help your cat reduce the amount of fur they ingest and help the fur that is ingested pass easily through the digestive system. The best way to reduce the amount of hair that is ingested is to thoroughly brush your cat daily. Make sure to use a good wire brush, which pick up hair that your cat would otherwise lick up. Brush your cat for 5 to 10 minutes each day, making sure that the brushing is done slowly from head to tail. Most cats love being groomed and will enjoy the daily activity.
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Dancing Dobermann disease

This primarily affects the gastrocnemius muscle in Dobermanns. It usually starts between the ages of 6 to 7 months. One rear leg will flex while standing. Over the next few months it will begin to affect the other rear leg. Eventually, the dog is alternatively flexing and extending each rear leg in a dancing motion. Dancing Dobermann disease progresses over a few years to rear leg weakness and muscle atrophy. There is no treatment, but most dogs retain the ability to walk and it is painless

Salmon poisoning disease

Salmon poisoning disease (SPD) is a fatal disease of dogs and other canids caused by infection with a type of rickettsia, Neorickettsia helminthoeca. It results from eating raw salmon, trout, or Pacific giant salamander and is found in the Pacific Northwest. These fish and amphibians are infected with metacercariae of a fluke, Nanophyetus salmincola through an intermediate host, the snail Oxytrema plicifer. The fluke attaches to the intestine of the dog and the rickettsiae are released, causing severe gastrointestinal disease and systemic infection.
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