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How
do I know if my pet is sick?
Most common
signs of illness include persistent vomiting and or diarrhea,
poor appetite, listlessness that lasts more than a day or
evidence of pain and or persistent limping. If something does
not seem normal and it persists, it should be evaluated.
What
is the best diet for my puppy or kitten?
There are in
most cases many "best diets" for your pet. Always choose a
Brand Name that you know and trust. Your pet should eat the food
readily, however some diets actually taste too good and entice
overeating. Vomiting or diarrhea should not occur. Over a period
of time your pet should have a "healthy glow." A nice
thick shiny hair coat is a good indicator of good nutrition. We
often recommend Science Diet foods. We feel they are excellent
quality, have an excellent selection for most pet situations and
are value priced. Other quality foods include Eukanuba,
IVD, CNM,
Iams, Sensible Choice and
Waynes.
How
often and when should my pets teeth be cleaned?
Your pets teeth
should be checked at least once a year, usually when they get
their annual check up. Evidence that teeth need cleaned include
bad breath, brownish discoloration of the teeth and redness of
the gums. Actual time intervals between cleaning vary with the
individual, 6 months to 1-2 years.
How
do I control those fleas?
I think this
question has been asked by pet owners for centuries. The answer
is still not simple or sometimes easy. There are many new
products available which allow us to easily and effectively
control fleas. There are also "knock off" products out
there which are not very effective and which may even be
dangerous. Once you have a serious flea infestation it always
takes a concerted effort to eradicate them. To prevent fleas
from getting started, routine use of safe monthly products such
as the Topical Front-Line and the Program Pill are very
effective. Once a heavy flea infestation is encountered, Topical
Front-Line or the Capstar Pill are effective for the pet. You
may also need to treat the home with a spray such as Siphotrol,
or a fogger such as Ectokyl. Spraying the yard with an
insecticide such as Diazinon is recommended.
When
should I use Heartworm preventative medication?
Heartworm
prevention is effective and inexpensive. For Eastern Iowa, we
recommend starting the monthly medication no later than May 1st,
and extending the treatment into November, 7 months.
How
often should I have my pet groomed?
Grooming has
two purpose, one to make your pet look attractive, and two to
enhance your pets health. Skin and hair maintenance require 70 %
of your pets metabolic output. It is the largest organ system in
the body. Keeping the skin and hair coat clean, parasite free,
and healthy are imperative for the overall health of the
individual. Pets with clean attractive healthy skin and hair
coats feel good about themselves, often prance and show off
after grooming, and their owners feel good about them as well.
The owners increased pride in their pet enhances the joys of pet
ownership. Many pets should have a bath at 2 week intervals and
long hair breeds may need cuts at 6 week intervals. Our groomers
can help define the grooming program for your individual
situation.
Should
I have my dog's ears trimmed?
The Ear Trim
operation is cosmetic surgery. It is done for the sake of
appearance of the pet. It is traditional for many breeds of dogs
to have their ears trimmed to achieve their "adult"
look. Many pet owners have increased appreciation of their pet
and take great pride in their pet's appearance when the ears are
trimmed. In most breeds the optimal age for surgery is 10 weeks.
There are many shapes and lengths of ears which are used in
various breeds. Some styles are more traditional and popular in
certain breeds than others. Styles change in popularity for a
given breed over time. Personal preference is always a factor.
You should discuss your preferences with the surgeon.
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