Pet Care

From the BCSPCA | Some new animals are obtained from the BCSPCA. Those will require a checkup and the BCSPCA will provide you with paperwork that allows this first veterinary checkup to be free. At that first appointment, the veterinarian will assess and discuss what vaccinations, deworming or other routine care has already been done and what is still suggested to do.

From a Breeder | Some new pets are purchased from a breeder. If they have not received a checkup and first immunization yet (8 weeks & older), you should call the veterinary office to make an appointment for this. Often they will have their “first vaccinations” already done. Boosters and a checkup are required about a month after the first ones. Usually a breeder will give you suggestions for these follow- up veterinary appointments. If not, please phone our office to ask.

Found a Stray | Finally some new pets may be found as strays. These pets should be examined and assessed for whatever health care requirements they need based on their individual circumstances.

Two main reasons:

1. “Prevention is the best medicine” … and
2. Recognizing disease early will usually allow for more successful treatment results.

Granted, most of the time (hopefully) your pet is probably feeling just fine and there are no signs of disease. Checking for signs of disease at least annually, increases our chances of preventing future problems or catching things early.

Spaying or neutering your pets can greatly reduce their risk of developing many types of cancer later in life.  Spaying your animals will also reduce/eliminate the chances of your pets developing a uterine infection called a pyometra which can be a life threatening condition.  It may also decrease or even eliminate unwanted behaviors such as aggression or running off.  Spaying or neutering your pets is also the only way to do away with unwanted litters of puppies or kittens without placing an extra burden on animal shelters.

We recommend spaying and neutering cats at 5-6 months old, small and medium-sized dogs at 6-8 months old and large and giant breed dogs at 12-24 months of age. Our recommendations for delaying spaying and neutering large and giant breed dogs are based on recent studies which indicate that delaying these surgeries can decrease the risk of certain joint diseases and some types of cancers.

Individual lifestyle will dictate what vaccinations are required and how often. The following questions are considerations that can assist in vaccination frequency decisions.

• Does your pet socialize with others?
• Do you travel with your pet and if so, where?
• Does your pet spend time in a boarding facility? (or frequently at a grooming shop?)
• Does your pet have any ongoing health concerns?

Rabies vaccination is recommended every 3rd year after the initial immunization and booster (at about 4 months and then 1-1/2 years respectively).

There are many safe and effective flea products available at our veterinary office. These are different products from those you would find in the pet store.

We carry medications that are given once a month; some by mouth, some applied to the skin.

Some pets who socialize a lot with other animals may require ongoing flea treatments throughout the year to prevent infestation. Others, who live a more isolated life, may only require treatment when there is a problem.

If you know that there are fleas present, all pets in the household will have to be treated for several months.

Phone our veterinary office for answers to your specific questions.

There are several signs you can look for to determine if your pet is becoming overweight. These warning signs include:

• Can’t feel ribs anymore
• Loss of discernible waist
• Pads of fat over hips and base of tail
• Waddles when walking
• Finds it difficult to move
• Short of breath
• Bad tempered

It’s important to be aware of your pet’s weight, as proper growth and weight can help prevent many diseases and disorders associated with obesity, as well as growth-related skeletal disease. If you do notice any of these warning signs, your veterinarian can help recommend changes to keep your pet healthy and fit.

As long as your pet is in good health, the occasional treat of “people” food can be a great way to bond with your pet, especially if you reserve it as reward for training or good behaviour. With some exceptions, what’s healthy for us is healthy for our pets (lean meats, veggies, fruits) in moderation. Keep in mind that our pets are generally much smaller than us (unless you have a Great Dane) so keep portion sizes small to avoid weight gain or an upset stomach. Treats of any sort should not exceed more than 10% of your pet’s overall intake to avoid unbalancing their diet. If your pet has any health conditions, please contact us for more specific recommendations. Visit the BCSPCA website to learn about what human foods you should never feed to dogs or cats.