Riverdale Animal Hospital

FAQ

The following are questions frequently asked by clients. Answers in each question may not apply to each individual or to each similar situation. It is still best to bring your pet for examination, immediate treatment and care by the veterinarian.

Reproduction

At what age should I have my dog or cat spayed or neutered?

We advise that dogs and cats be spayed at six months of age but they can be spayed or neutered at younger age depending on the circumstances.

My cat is in heat and I want her spayed. When is the best time to book her for spaying?

It is advisable to bring the cat for spaying two weeks after heat (estrus). Additional cost will be charged if the surgery is done when a pet is "in heat". Spaying is slightly more difficult due to the engorgement of the tissues and larger blood vessels.

How soon after my cat or dog gives birth can she be spayed?

Ideally, spaying is to be done two weeks to a month after separating (weaning) the kittens/puppies from their mother (queen/bitch) to allow regression of the mammary glands or involution (return to normal size and place) of the uterus. Make sure that your pet will not have a chance to have contact with an intact male (tom/stud) during this period or else there is a possibility that your pet may become pregnant again.

Will my dog or cat gain excess weight and be less active after spaying? What other behavioral change will I notice with my pet?

Spaying may lead to increased appetite in the pet due to loss of the hormone estrogen. Estrogen suppresses appetite. It is advisable to gradually decrease the amount of food by as much as 25% of the regular recommended amount given daily. Moreover, sterilization slows down body metabolism. For adult cat that came into heat prior to spaying, the playful and affectionate behavior shown when the cat was in heat will be less noticeable.

My dog has only one visible or palpable testicle, will cost of surgery be less if I have him neutered?

Your dog's other testicle might not have fully descended. There are cases where anatomically, a dog is born with only one testicle or no testicle at all. In such cases, the surgeon needs to operate thru the abdomen to locate and remove the other testicle. Due to extra work and prolonged surgery time, extra cost will be charged making it more expensive than neutering a dog with both testicles descended.

Digestive

I noticed blood in my dog's poop. Should I take her to the vet?

It is highly recommended to bring the dog for check up as soon as possible. Blood in the feces can be caused by different factors. Parasites, bacteria, viruses and even lacerations of the gastro-intestinal lining caused by foreign objects can cause bloody feces or diarrhea. Food should be withheld and bring the dog to the hospital at once. It is advisable to bring the stool sample to the veterinarian for analysis.

My dog is vomiting. What should I do?

Make sure that there is no obstruction in the mouth and airways should be patent. Withhold food and bring the dog to the veterinarian as soon as possible. The cause of vomiting should be identified. Poisoning and ingestion of foreign bodies (toys, pins and needles, clothing, rags, etc.) need immediate attention and intervention. The dog will become dehydrated if vomiting will persist for a long time and may become fatal.

I want to change my dog's food with a new kind or brand. What is the ideal thing to do?

Changing food from one brand or kind to another should be done gradually. You should give at least three quarters (3/4) of the daily amount needed of the old dog food and a quarter (1/4) of the daily amount needed of the new food for at least three days. On the next three days, the ratio should be half the amount of the old food and half of the new one. On the seventh to the ninth days, you may give just a quarter of the old dog food and three quarters of the new one. On the tenth day, you can give the full required amount of the new dog food. Should you observe diarrhea in any of the stages or food ratio, it is advisable to prolong giving the last combination where there was no sign of any digestive disorder observed. Should there be persistent diarrhea or in some cases constipation, inform your veterinarian.

My cat is having diarrhea. What should I do?

It is advisable to stop giving food. As long as you keep feeding the cat, the more you are stressing the digestive tract. Fresh water can be given and may help prevent dehydration. Change in diet or anything that upsets the stomach is the most common cause of diarrhea. Milk or any dairy product should be avoided. If diarrhea persists, you should take the cat to the veterinarian for check up. If stool sample can be collected, bring the sample to the hospital for analysis.

My dog has eaten chocolate. Should I take him to the veterinarian?

Chocolate contains theobromine that is toxic to dogs in sufficient amounts. Different kinds of chocolates contain different levels of theobromine. The toxicity is dose-dependent which means it can be affected by the size of your dog, the type of chocolate and the amount of chocolate eaten.

There is no specific antidote for theobromine toxicity but supportive treatments may help. Vomiting may be induced within four hours after ingestion. Intravenous fluids, activated charcoal or anti-seizure agents maybe given if needed. So if you think that your dog has eaten a significant amount of chocolate, call your veterinarian or take the dog to the nearest hospital for immediate assistance.

Urinary

My cat urinates everywhere in the house. What should I do?

There are many reasons that can lead your cat to pee everywhere. It can be behavioural, hormonal, sex-related or stress-related but most commonly it is caused by medical problems such as Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease (FLUTD). It is recommended to have the cat checked first by the veterinarian before doing some elimination like changing litter, moving litter boxes, adding litter boxes, modifying stress in the environment, hormone spray, neutering and others. If you do this elimination before taking the cat for check up, you might end up punishing your cat until it is too late and the disease has become fatal.

It is advisable to get a sterilized urine container from the hospital and collect urine for analysis. The urine sample should be fresh to have a more reliable result.

Nutrition

I follow the FEEDING GUIDE on my cat's food label and my cat is gaining excess weight. Why does this happen?

First and foremost, the FEEDING GUIDE does not apply to each and every pet. Like us, pets respond to food differently. The ranges are used as a starting point only and can be adjusted depending on how your pet responds to the feeding scheme you made. Also, many factors such as physical activity, environmental temperature, reproductive status (heat cycle, spaying, neutering), hormonal and metabolic factors and disease can cause weight gain. If you notice after making food adjustments for your pet that he is still gaining weight, we recommend bringing the pet in for an examination to ensure the pet is in good health. Weight loss can take awhile so be patient and consistent. We encourage you to bring your pet monthly to the hospital for weight monitoring. Same can be the case for losing too much weight.

Surgery (General)

What should I do to prepare my pet for surgery?

For surgeries that are scheduled beforehand, it is recommended that the animal is vaccinated against the most common diseases, dewormed and in good health. Pre-anesthetic bloodwork is needed to check organ function and the health status of the animal to minimize anesthetic risk especially for senior pets (7 yrs or older). Cats and dogs need to be fasted the night before so please remember to take away their food and water bowls by 12 midnight prior to surgery.

What should I do after the surgery?

Post-operative management depends on the procedure performed on your pet. Once your pet is home, you should be observant of his or her behaviour. Abnormal behaviour such as vomiting, diarrhea and neurological signs need immediate attention. Generally, any abnormal bleeding, swelling and discharges should be reported to the veterinarian. Any medication prescribed should be given as prescribed until completely finished. If you have been advised to keep an E-collar on your pet, leave it on the entire time it is recommended. Remember, a healing wound is almost always itchy and given the chance, your pet will scratch! Always bear in mind that most of the surgical procedures need post-operative check ups and suture/stitch removal. You must be aware and show up on schedule.

What is an E-collar?

E-collar, Elizabethan collar or commonly called "cone" is named after the "ruffs" worn during the Elizabethan time. It is usually made of flexible plastic formed into a truncated cone worn on the neck of the animal. The purpose is to protect any part of the body from being licked, nibbled, bitten or scratched. An E-collar is recommended after surgery is performed to allow for the wound to heal.

What is the earliest age that I can bring my puppy or kitten for vaccination?

The age at which puppies or kittens can be immunized and protected effectively depends on the level of maternal antibodies in the bloodstream of the puppy. High levels of maternal antibodies will inactivate the vaccine and it is good to vaccinate when the level drops. When the level is low enough, immunization with commercial vaccines will work.

The timing in which puppies can be effectively immunized varies in each individual but most studies show that they can be vaccinated as early as six weeks of age until they are 16 weeks old. It is also suggested that puppies and kittens should be given at least three combination vaccinations and done yearly thereafter.

I have an indoor cat. Why does he need so many vaccines?

It is highly recommended that indoor cats be vaccinated too. Your cat does not always need direct contact to a sick cat to become sick. A person can carry viruses on hands or even clothing after handling a sick cat or being in a place where a sick cat stays. Infectious agents can also be transferred thru open-screened windows or doors from sick outdoor cats or even from other animals. There are instances that indoor cats get out of the house at some point or a stray cat or animal enters your house. Aside from protecting your cat from being sick, vaccines help decrease the spread of virus back into the environment. Vaccinating your cat will minimize the threat of spreading zoonotic disease to people, especially to immunocompromised individuals.

My dog is vaccinated but still got sick. Why?

There are instances when vaccination failure happens. It may not be due to a problem with the vaccine or the way a vaccine is administered but more likely a failure of the immune system to respond. The vaccine may have not stimulated the immune system enough to protect the animal from the disease. The timing of the vaccination, the health status of the puppy and the level of maternal immunity are other factors that may affect the effectiveness of the vaccination.

Parasitology

I saw worms on my cat's feces. What dewormer should I give?

The cat should be dewormed at once but it is important to identify the worm first before giving any dewormer. The most common intestinal parasites of cats are roundworms and tapeworms. Some worms are transferred from a pregnant queen to the kittens via the blood thru the placenta and some thru the milk when kittens are born. Parasitic ova can be picked up from the ground and brought to the house with your shoes. Tapeworms are obtained via the intermediate host like fleas or by eating raw fish and meat. There is a variety of dewormers available and are given based on their body weight. It is important to collect the worm and take it to the veterinarian while still fresh. Stool samples should be brought to the hospital too for analysis to identify the parasite.

Deworming is recommended on young pets since they can get worms from their mothers before they are born and while feeding on milk. Deworming should be done regularly like vaccination. Never deal with worms by yourself by giving an over-the-counter drug. Always consult your veterinarian for the appropriate dewomer for your pet.

My dog has fleas. Can I bathe him with flea shampoo and put a flea collar?

Most flea shampoos and collars kill adult fleas only. It is recommended to have your pet checked by the veterinarian and be given appropriate flea medication. There are flea medications that can kill all life stages of fleas (adult, larva and egg). Some flea medications are in combination with medications that can control intestinal parasites, mites and ticks and even heartworm. These medications are usually weight-dependent and your dog needs to be weighed too. It is also important to rid the dog's environment of fleas. Insecticidal sprays that can kill all life stages of fleas can be used.

Exotics

At what age can I have my rabbit neutered or spayed?

Rabbits can be spayed or neutered when they reach sexual maturity. This is usually around four months of age. For giant breeds, they can be spayed or neutered around six months of age.

How soon can I introduce my male neutered rat to female rats without worrying about impregnating them?

Rats can still be fertile one week after neutering. It is recommended to introduce the male rat two weeks post-neuter.

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FAQ