GIVING BIRTH FAQs
THE SIGNS:
panting, shivering, nervousness, and/or not wanting to eat
EXPECTED DELIVERY
within 12 hours though some pets may even reach 36 hours before giving birth
TERMS
Giving birth in dogs = whelping
Giving birth in cats = queening
WHEN IS VET ASSISTANCE NEEDED?
If your pet has dystocia or having a slow or difficult delivery.
SIGNS:
1. Your pet spent 30 minutes of strong contractions but no pups delivered.
2. Your pet spent 60 to 120 minutes of weak or infrequent contractions but no pups delivered.
3. If you waited more than 2 hours for the next pup to come out.
4. The pup is stuck or hanging out.
panting, shivering, nervousness, and/or not wanting to eat
EXPECTED DELIVERY
within 12 hours though some pets may even reach 36 hours before giving birth
TERMS
Giving birth in dogs = whelping
Giving birth in cats = queening
WHEN IS VET ASSISTANCE NEEDED?
If your pet has dystocia or having a slow or difficult delivery.
SIGNS:
1. Your pet spent 30 minutes of strong contractions but no pups delivered.
2. Your pet spent 60 to 120 minutes of weak or infrequent contractions but no pups delivered.
3. If you waited more than 2 hours for the next pup to come out.
4. The pup is stuck or hanging out.
RAW MEAT DIETS
The potential risks and benefits of feeding a raw diet to
your pet should be weighed carefully on an individual basis. While a decrease
in intestinal, skin, ear, and urinary tract problems have been reported in pets
fed a raw diet, no studies have revealed a clear benefit. In fact, studies have
shown that pets fed a raw diet are at much higher risk for shedding harmful
bacteria, including Salmonella and E.coli. While most pets fed a raw diet do
not show clinical signs of illness if infected with these bacteria,
contamination of the environment remains a risk. Because of this potential
hazard, pets that have contact with young children, elderly individuals, or
people with compromised immune systems should not be fed a raw diet.
Additionally, pets that are immune compromised due to illness or pregnancy, and
puppies and kittens whose immune systems are not yet mature are not good
candidates for a raw diet.
If a raw diet is recommended by your veterinarian, the guidelines outlined below can help reduce the potential for environmental contamination while optimizing your pet’s response to the raw diet.
• Make sure the diet is well balanced. Pets require essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals that cannot be found in raw meat alone. We recommend two websites (www.balanceit.com or www.petdiets.com), which are helpful resources when formulating well-rounded, balanced diets to maximize your pet’s health. The information, recipes, and products on these sites are provided by board certified veterinary nutritionists.
• Only use meat that is suitable for human consumption. Meat that is adulterated or labelled unfit for human consumption may not have been handled appropriately and may increase the risk of contamination.
• Keep raw meat frozen until you need it. Only thaw the portion needed for the next feeding. Thaw meat in a sealed container on the bottom shelf of a refrigerator. Many types of bacteria grow well at room temperature, so thawing meat on a counter top may increase bacterial numbers.
• Handle raw meat with care. Don’t allow it to contaminate kitchen surfaces or items that may come into contact with other food. Designate a single cutting board and knife for raw meat to avoid contamination of other food stuffs. Clean and disinfect anything that comes into contact with raw meat.
• Wash your hands thoroughly after handling raw meat or anything that has touched the raw meat, including your pet’s food and water bowls. Water bowls are an often overlooked source of contamination. After eating, pets often drink water, leaving bacteria from the mouth and sometimes food particles in the water bowl.
• Discard uneaten raw meat promptly. Do not let it sit at room temperature.
• Clean and disinfect your pet’s food and water bowls after each meal. While this may not completely eliminate all the bacteria from the bowls, it may significantly help lower the bacterial numbers.
If a raw diet is recommended by your veterinarian, the guidelines outlined below can help reduce the potential for environmental contamination while optimizing your pet’s response to the raw diet.
• Make sure the diet is well balanced. Pets require essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals that cannot be found in raw meat alone. We recommend two websites (www.balanceit.com or www.petdiets.com), which are helpful resources when formulating well-rounded, balanced diets to maximize your pet’s health. The information, recipes, and products on these sites are provided by board certified veterinary nutritionists.
• Only use meat that is suitable for human consumption. Meat that is adulterated or labelled unfit for human consumption may not have been handled appropriately and may increase the risk of contamination.
• Keep raw meat frozen until you need it. Only thaw the portion needed for the next feeding. Thaw meat in a sealed container on the bottom shelf of a refrigerator. Many types of bacteria grow well at room temperature, so thawing meat on a counter top may increase bacterial numbers.
• Handle raw meat with care. Don’t allow it to contaminate kitchen surfaces or items that may come into contact with other food. Designate a single cutting board and knife for raw meat to avoid contamination of other food stuffs. Clean and disinfect anything that comes into contact with raw meat.
• Wash your hands thoroughly after handling raw meat or anything that has touched the raw meat, including your pet’s food and water bowls. Water bowls are an often overlooked source of contamination. After eating, pets often drink water, leaving bacteria from the mouth and sometimes food particles in the water bowl.
• Discard uneaten raw meat promptly. Do not let it sit at room temperature.
• Clean and disinfect your pet’s food and water bowls after each meal. While this may not completely eliminate all the bacteria from the bowls, it may significantly help lower the bacterial numbers.
TRIMMING YOUR PET'S NAILS
What You Need:
NAIL TRIMMERS
NAIL TRIMMERS
- · guillotine type (for small dogs and cats)
- · scissor type (for larger ones)
- · start with young ones and let them get used to handling
- · for dogs as part of plays and for cats when they are sleepy
- · maintain a quiet area with minimal restraint
- · be prepared with mistakes
- · do not make a big deal
- · practice dominance over your pet’s whims
- · be familiar with landmarks like the quick (pinkish triangle) or the center with nerves and blood vessels that you should NOT cut
- · nails can be black, transparent or brown
- · front nails are more curved than back nails
- · imagine a straight line from the toe’s bottom area
- · stay calm
- · put the foot up and press a tissue on the nail’s end while getting a pinch of clotting powder
- · put the powder and hold for few seconds then repeat until fully covered
PREVENTIVE DENTAL CARE
Many people do not
realize that pets need to have routine care done for their teeth, just like
people. Imagine if you were to go for a whole year without brushing your teeth
– yuck! So it is no wonder that our pets are subject to heavy tartar
accumulations, gingivitis, bad breath, and potentially loose teeth and severe
jawbone infections. The best time to start doing daily dental care is when your
pet is a puppy or kitten. That way they get used to having their mouths handled
at a young age, and do not get alarmed when you try to look in the mouth or
brush their teeth. There are several ways to provide daily dental care for your
cat or dog.
• Tooth brushing: This is the gold standard for pet dental care. Pets should have their teeth brushed once daily with a soft bristle toothbrush and toothpaste that is made for pets. Human toothpaste is not acceptable, as it contains fluoride – during brushing, your pet will inevitably swallow some toothpaste, and fluoride is toxic if ingested. You will only be able to brush the outside surface of the teeth. Start with the front incisors and canines, and then once your pet is used to the idea, you should work backwards, slipping under the cheeks, to get the premolars and molars.
• Safe Chewing: Daily chewing on a safe rawhide or dental chew can greatly reduce plaque/tartar accumulation and gingivitis. Only allow your pet to have access to the chew for 20 minutes – this increases interest by decreasing availability. We recommend compressed rawhides that you can get at local pet stores. These rawhides are compressed sheets, rather than the type with knots in the ends.
• Dental Diets: There are several commercial diets that help to maintain healthy teeth and gums. Hill’s T/D and Purina DH are designed to have large kibbles to encourage chewing, and are formulated so that they scrape the sides of the teeth rather than exploding away from the tooth.
• Routine Dental Cleanings: Sometimes pets will have persistent plaque, tartar, and gingivitis despite adequate home care. Often this is related to their genetics and overall immune system. In these circumstances, your pet may need to have a dental cleaning under anesthesia. This is a routine procedure that is quite safe with the appropriate safeguards. Once the teeth are clean, then continued home care is helpful to prevent the recurrence of dental disease. Some pets will not allow their owners to perform home dental care, and do not like to chew on anything. Often these pets will need regular dental cleanings.
• Tooth brushing: This is the gold standard for pet dental care. Pets should have their teeth brushed once daily with a soft bristle toothbrush and toothpaste that is made for pets. Human toothpaste is not acceptable, as it contains fluoride – during brushing, your pet will inevitably swallow some toothpaste, and fluoride is toxic if ingested. You will only be able to brush the outside surface of the teeth. Start with the front incisors and canines, and then once your pet is used to the idea, you should work backwards, slipping under the cheeks, to get the premolars and molars.
• Safe Chewing: Daily chewing on a safe rawhide or dental chew can greatly reduce plaque/tartar accumulation and gingivitis. Only allow your pet to have access to the chew for 20 minutes – this increases interest by decreasing availability. We recommend compressed rawhides that you can get at local pet stores. These rawhides are compressed sheets, rather than the type with knots in the ends.
• Dental Diets: There are several commercial diets that help to maintain healthy teeth and gums. Hill’s T/D and Purina DH are designed to have large kibbles to encourage chewing, and are formulated so that they scrape the sides of the teeth rather than exploding away from the tooth.
• Routine Dental Cleanings: Sometimes pets will have persistent plaque, tartar, and gingivitis despite adequate home care. Often this is related to their genetics and overall immune system. In these circumstances, your pet may need to have a dental cleaning under anesthesia. This is a routine procedure that is quite safe with the appropriate safeguards. Once the teeth are clean, then continued home care is helpful to prevent the recurrence of dental disease. Some pets will not allow their owners to perform home dental care, and do not like to chew on anything. Often these pets will need regular dental cleanings.
Nutraceuticals and Supplements
Are these safe?
Yes, if the active components are safe with its consistent quantities and the risk of contaminants is low.
How to evaluate?
First, you can do research about the quality and safety with its specific formulation. Next, know about the effectiveness and possible side effects when used by your pet. Lastly, ask your veterinarian and read some reliable testimonials.
Yes, if the active components are safe with its consistent quantities and the risk of contaminants is low.
How to evaluate?
First, you can do research about the quality and safety with its specific formulation. Next, know about the effectiveness and possible side effects when used by your pet. Lastly, ask your veterinarian and read some reliable testimonials.