Ask the Vet
I just got my new pet from the RVSPCA and I know that they have a vet on their staff. Why do I need to go to another vet?
The RVSPCA veterinarian is limited to treatment of SPCA owned animals. Once an animal has been adopted, the new owner needs to follow up with their own veterinarian to establish a relationship that will allow for long-term care of their new pet. All of the animals adopted from the SPCA have received their initial vaccinations but require booster vaccines for adequate protection against diseases. A rabies vaccine is required by the state of Virginia for protection of your animal as well as for public safety and is therefore provided to all animals at the SPCA that are 4 months of age and older. For animals that do not receive their rabies vaccine at the SPCA because they are too young, it is necessary to follow up with your veterinarian so that he/she can vaccinate him/her as soon as he/she is old enough.
My dog/cat is scratching his/her ears and acts like it hurts. What should I do?
This can be an indication that your animal is suffering from an ear infection. Because the cause and extent of the infection can vary it is important to have your animal evaluated by your veterinarian to determine appropriate treatment. It is also possible that a foreign body may have become lodged in your animal’s ear that requires expert care for retrieval and follow-up treatment.
My new dog/cat is drinking lots of water and is urinating a lot. Is this normal?
It is best to consult with your veterinarian regarding the frequency and volume your animal is drinking and urinating to determine if it is truly in excess to your animal’s current needs. Metabolic diseases such as diabetes mellitus, hyperadrenalcorticism (Cushing’s disease), and hyperthyroidism can present with increased volume of drinking and frequency of urination. These diseases are treatable, although not curable, particularly if identified early. Kidney disease also commonly presents in this manner. Less commonly, diabetes insipidus or behavioral issues may be the reason for this apparent increase in thirst and urination.
My new pet is not eating and just lies around. Should I be concerned?
It is important to consult your veterinarian to determine the underlying cause of this behavior. Sometimes the stress of a recent surgery or placement into a new home can require a period of adjustment. Stress may result in less of an appetite and reduced activity but loss of appetite and lethargy of greater than 24 hours in duration may be indicative of a more significant problem.
Why does my dog eat poop?
As unpleasant as it seems to us, your dog finds it tasty. There are many over the counter products that can help deter your dog from eating poop, whether the poop is his own or belongs to another animal in the home. The best method is prevention which requires immediate disposal of wastes from the yard or litter box.
My cat is clawing on my furniture. Is there something I can do to stop it?
It is normal social behavior for a cat to scratch. They scratch to mark their territory as well as a method to maintain and care for their claws (similar to a person clipping and filing their nails).
It is important to provide your cat with an appropriate substrate for scratching (i.e. scratching posts). Cats are individuals and as such they have varying preferences as to the type of scratching post they may prefer. You will want to make the posts as attractive to your cat as possible with toys or cat nip and experiment with different types until you find the right fit.
Discourage scratching of inappropriate objects in your home (i.e. the furniture or drapes) by covering the areas that your cat likes to scratch with substrates that he/she finds less desirable such as double-sided sticky tape, sand paper or vinyl. Place scratching posts nearby these previously desirable areas.
Be sure to clip your cats nails regularly (every 4 to 6 weeks as needed) to help minimize damage. You may want to consider using plastic covers for your cat’s nails such as Soft Paws to prevent damage from scratching.
My pet whines when it pees. What does this mean?
If your dog or cat is vocalizing when it urinates it could be an indication that there is a urinary tract infection present. If your animal appears to be straining and producing little or no urine stream the urethra may have become blocked or partially blocked by a bladder stone. It is important to have your pet evaluated by your vet to identify the underlying cause of your pet’s discomfort. A urethral blockage is a medical emergency.
I just adopted my new dog from the RVSPCA. What vaccines has he/she already received?
The puppy or dog that you have adopted has received an initial vaccine for the following diseases:
- Rabies - a viral disease that infects the nervous system and is fatal. This is a disease that is readily transmitted to humans. This vaccine is given if the puppy is 4 months of age or older.
- Bordetella – a bacterial upper respiratory infection (kennel cough complex
- Parainfluenza – a viral upper respiratory infection (kennel cough complex)
- Parvovirus – a serious viral disease of the intestines and heart (often fatal)
- Distemper – a viral disease of the lungs, intestines, and brain (often fatal). This disease has no relationship or connection with a dog’s temperament
- Hepatitis – a viral disease of the liver not related to human hepatitis.
I just adopted my new cat from the RVSPCA. What vaccines has he/she already received?
The kitten or cat that you have adopted has received an initial vaccine for the following diseases:
-
Rabies – a viral disease that infects the nervous system and is fatal. This is a disease that is readily transmitted to humans. This vaccine is given if the kitten is 4 months of age or older.
- Feline rhinotracheitis – a herpesvirus (unrelated to human herpesvirus), is the most severe and widespread upper respiratory disease in cats. Most cats are exposed to this virus at some time in their lives and some cats may become carriers of the virus. The currently available vaccines will minimize the severity of upper respiratory infections, although no vaccine will prevent disease in all situations.
- Feline Calicivirus – a virus accounting for 40% of infectious upper respiratory disease in cats. Many cats are exposed to this virus at some time during their lives, usually during kittenhood. Vaccination minimizes the severity of disease, but does not prevent disease in all cats.
- Panleukopenia – also called feline distemper or feline parvovirus, this widespread disease is highly contagious and often fatal. It affects the cat’s immune system and intestines.
I adopted my new dog/cat from the RVPSCA and he/she has already been vaccinated. Why should my pet need additional vaccines?
It is important that your pet receive additional booster vaccines to provide appropriate protection against these diseases. One vaccine is not enough for adequate immunity. Please refer to the vaccine history sheet on your new pet for the recommended booster date.
Until your dog or puppy has received all of his/her vaccines it is important to avoid dogs with unknown vaccine status and areas where dogs with unknown vaccine status frequent (i.e. public parks, etc).
It is also important to keep in mind that giving vaccines is not successful 100% of the time. Some animals have weaker immune systems. This means that he/she can become ill from a disease even if he/she has received all of his/her vaccines at all of the right times.
If your pet seems ill don’t hesitate to call your vet.
Signs of illness to watch for:
• loss of appetite for more that 1 day
• not drinking fluids
• diarrhea, constipation or difficulty with urination
• vomiting
• coughing, sneezing, and/or nasal discharge
• decreased activity
Check the following websites for more information on the health issues that your pet may face:
