- Animal Care Clinic
- 6311 Burnet Road
- Austin, TX 78757
- Telephone: (512) 454 - 2211
Signs of Ill Health
Only
a healthy pet is a happy companion. Assuring your pet's daily well-being
requires regular care and close attention
to
any hint of ill health.
The
American Veterinary Medical Association therefore suggests that
you consult your veterinarian if your pet
shows
any of the following signs:
-
Abnormal discharges from the nose, eyes, or other body openings
-
Loss of appetite, marked weight losses or gains, or excessive water consumption
-
Difficult, abnormal, or uncontrolled waste elimination
-
Abnormal behavior, sudden viciousness, or lethargy
-
Abnormal lumps, limping, or difficulty getting up or lying down
-
Excessive head shaking, scratching, and licking or biting any part of the body
-
Dandruff, loss of hair, open sores, and a ragged or dull coat. Foul breath or excessive tarter deposits on teeth
Visit the A.V.M.A online for more details.
Most common pet health concerns
External
Parasites
From time to time most pets have parasites such as fleas, ticks, lice, or mites. It's simply in the nature of things.
From time to time most pets have parasites such as fleas, ticks, lice, or mites. It's simply in the nature of things.
The
pests abound everywhere; therefore, their presence is not a disgraceful
reflection on one's living habits. Because
external
parasites can be extremely irritating to a pet and cause serious
skin disorders or even disease, you
have
an obligation to rid your pet of these unwelcome guests if they are infested
with them. Yet external parasites are
tenacious
and difficult to "evict." They are not always discernible to
the unpracticed eye and are therefore sometimes
present in great numbers before you become aware of them.
present in great numbers before you become aware of them.
If
you find your pet scratching frequently, or if you discover bald spots
or inflammation of his skin, chances
are
your pet is playing host to an army of nonpaying boarders. And it's
high time for you to take him to the
veterinarian.
You will want to have your new puppy or kitten examined by a veterinarian to ensure that it has no major health
problems
and is started on a program of preventive care. Your puppy or kitten's
health care plan includes a series of
vaccinations,
usually given at 4 week intervals from 6-8 to 16 weeks of age.
At 12 weeks
of age, the puppy or kitten receives its rabies vaccination. Puppies
and kitten should be
checked
for intestinal parasites, fleas, heartworm disease and ear mites for
kitten and appropriate treatment
or preventatives
administered.
-
Dogs
Letting children see the miracle of birth is NOT a good reason to breed your dog; only serious breeders who have the -
desire,expertise, and time to breed well should breed at all. If you don't plan to breed, spay or neuter your puppy.
-
Spaying your female dog can help to prevent cancers of the reproductive tract, including breast cancer, and
-
will decrease the incidence of reproductive infections.Neutering your male dog will prevent testicular cancer and can decrease the incidence of prostate problems.Certain behavioral problems has also been shown to be reduced when dogs are spayed or neutered.
-
The decision to spay or neuter your puppy is one of the best decisions you can make for its well-being.
-
Your veterinarian can discuss with you its benefits and the best time to schedule the procedure.
-
Cats
The decision to breed a cat is not one to be taken lightly. Thousands of cats are euthanized each year simply because -
there aren't enough homes for them. If you don't plan to breed your cat as an adult, spay or neuter your kitten.Spaying and neutering decrease incidence of some tumors and reproductive infections, both of which require
-
more serious (and costly) surgical procedures.A male cat must be neutered if it will be a housepet because the strong urine odor of unneutered males will make your
-
cat an unacceptable housemate. Discuss with your veterinarian the most appropriate time to spay or neuter your kitten.
-
What is neutering?
To accomplish surgical neutering, a veterinarian removes certain reproductive organs. -
If your cat or dog is a female, the veterinarian will remove her ovaries, fallopian tubes and uterus.The testicles are removed from a male animal.
-
Spaying and neutering operations are performed painlessly while your pet is under general anesthesia.
- According to the American Veterinary Dental Society, studies show that more than 80 percent of dogs
- by age three and 70 percent of cats by age three show some signs of gum disease. Bad breath
- could be an early warning sign of the dangerous gum disease gingivitis.
- Particularly at risk are small dog breeds, such as Pekingese and Shihtzu. Experts say these breeds are more
- likely to develop tooth problems because their teeth are crowded into small mouths. This can create a haven
- for plaque buildup.
- Cervical line lesions (CLL) are the most common dental disease of domestic cats. Studies show that about
- 28 percent of domestic cats that veterinarians examine have CLL. Because the lesions often begin beneath
- the gumline, owners usually are unaware that there is a problem until the tooth is seriously damaged.
- Prevention is the key to helping pets maintain good oral health.
- The American Veterinary Dental Society recommends that pet owners follow three important steps:
- Visit
Your Veterinarian
A veterinarian will conduct a thorough physical examination of your pet as part of the dental evaluation. - Start
a dental care routine at home
- Get
Regular Veterinary Dental Checkups
- Once a pet's teeth display the warning signs — bad breath, a yellow brown crust of tartar around the gumline,
- pain or bleeding when the pet eats or when you touch its gums — gum disease may already be present. For a
- professional dental check-up, call your veterinarian today!
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