At 8 weeks of age all puppies should be started on Heartgard Plus, which contains a dewormer.

At 8-10 weeks of age all kittens should receive Drontal and all puppies not starting Heartgard Plus should receive Drontal Plus.  Drontal and Drontal Plus treat roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms.

We recommend a fecal test at 12 weeks of age to ensure the intestinal parasites have been cleared.

All dogs and cats should have a fecal test annually and treated with Drontal (cats) or Drontal Plus (dogs) as appropriate based on fecal results.

At St. Francis 24 Hr. Animal Hospital we recommend year-round protection for heartworms with Heartgard Plus for dogs.  Not only does this once-a-month medication protect your pet from heartworms, a very serious infection, it also prevents roundworms and hookworms, the common intestinal parasites in dogs.

These are the recommendations of the American Heartworm Society:

• All puppies should be started on Heartgard Plus at 8 weeks of age.

• Puppies started on Heartgard after 8 weeks of age should have a blood test 6  months after the initial dose to confirm they are heartworm negative, then tested annually thereafter.

• Dogs 7 months of age or older should have  a blood test before starting on Heartgard, then tested annually thereafter.

• Dogs should remain on Heartgard year-round.

DOGS

DHLPPC – Distemper combination

            Distemper – eye/nose discharge progressing to neurologic disease

            Hepatitis – liver infection

            Leptospirosis – kidney infection

            Parainfluenza – respiratory infection

            Parvo – intestinal infection

            Corona – intestinal infection

Bordatella – kennel cough, upper respiratory infection

Rabies – neurologic disease

Dogs under 16 weeks:

            DHLPPC every 3 weeks starting at 6 weeks, until at least 16 weeks old.

            Bordetella – intranasal at 12-16 weeks old, good for 6 mo.

            Rabies – at 12-16 weeks.  1^st vaccine good for a year.

Dogs over 16 weeks with inadequate vaccine history

            DHLPPC now and repeat in 3 weeks.

            Bordetella – intranasal good for 6 mo.

            Rabies – 1^st vaccine good for a year.

Dogs over 16 weeks due for yearly vaccinations

            DHLPPC – once yearly.

            Bordetella – intranasal every 6 months or annually if SQ

            Rabies – after 1^st vaccine, once every 3 years.

CATS

FVRCPC – Feline distemper combination

            Feline viral rhinotracheitis – upper respiratory infection

            Calici virus – upper respiratory infection

            Panleukopenia – multiple signs related to suppression of all blood cells

            Chlamydia – upper respiratory and ocular signs

FeLV – Feline leukemia – immune system suppression

Rabies – neurologic disease

Cats under 16 weeks:

            Feline Leukemia blood test recommended for all kittens.

            FVRCP every 3 weeks starting at 6 weeks until at least 15 weeks old.

            FeLV starting at 12 weeks, for a series of two vaccines 3 weeks apart.

            Rabies at 12-16 weeks old.  1^st vaccine good for a year.

Cats over 16 weeks with inadequate vaccine history:

            Feline Leukemia blood test recommended.

            FVRCP now and repeat in 3 weeks.

            FeLV now and repeat in 3 weeks.

            Rabies now, 1^st vaccine good for a year.

Cats over 16 weeks due for yearly vaccines:

            FVRCP once yearly

            FeLV once yearly if an outdoor or indoor/outdoor cat.

            Rabies – after 1^st year, once every 3 years.

]]> http://stfrancis24hr.com/vaccination-recommendations/feed/ 0 http://stfrancis24hr.com/4-tips-for-bringing-your-cat-to-the-veterinarian/ http://stfrancis24hr.com/4-tips-for-bringing-your-cat-to-the-veterinarian/#comments Tue, 24 Jan 2012 20:04:33 +0000 suzanne http://stfrancis24hr.com/?p=373

WE know it can be tough to wrangle your cat for a trip to the veterinarian’s office. Many cats dislike the cat carrier as well as riding in the car, so heading in for an annual checkup can sometimes be a stressful proposition. Follow these four tips when you head to your next veterinary appointment to reduce your cat’s stress and make for a calmer car ride.

       1.   Make the carrier your cat’s second home.

Cat carriers are typically associated with many unpleasant things. Many cat owners keep the carrier in a closet or in the garage, so the cat hasn’t rubbed on it or slept inside it. Cats who haven’t transferred their scent to the carrier, therefore, see it as a foreign object. So give your cat time to mark the carrier with facial rubbing—she’ll feel like it belongs to her, and you may find it easier to place her inside. If you have room, make the carrier a part of your family room furniture. That means leaving it out all the time with the door open. Place a soft towel inside to make it a little more cozy. Pretty soon, your cat won’t think twice about entering the carrier.

2.   Turn the carrier into a meal center.  

Put part of your cat’s daily food in the carrier to help your cat associate something good with the carrier. Even better: Use a bit of especially yummy food, like canned food or even a little tuna. Or try tossing your cat’s favorite treat in the carrier when she wants to be left alone. This will reward her for seeking solitude in the carrier and continue to reinforce the notion that the carrier isn’t so bad after all.

3.    Try a different kind of carrier.

If you have an emergency and don’t have time to let your cat adjust to the carrier, try using a pillowcase as a carrier. With the cat on your lap, slip the pillowcase over her body, head first. Knot the top of the case and support the bottom when holding your cat. Alternately, you can use any type of item your cat likes to nap in—two laundry baskets connected together could also work. These items aren’t a trigger for fear like your standard carrier might be.

4.   Consider using a synthetic product.

Using a product that contains a feline facial pheromone can help calm cats during stressful events. These products can be sprayed on blankets, towels, or bandanas before you head to the veterinarian. Many cats become less agitated when their owners use these sprays, so purchasing one could make your life easier when it’s time to take your cat for a car ride.
Regular wellness exams are crucial for keeping your cat happy and healthy. Use these tips the next time you head to your veterinarian to make it much easier on both you

1. Xylitol: Many sugarless gums contain xylitol, a sweetener that is toxic to dogs. Candies, mints, flavored multi-vitamins, desserts, and baked goods may also be made with xylitol. When pets ingest large amounts, liver failure can occur. Even small amounts when ingested can result in a life-threatening drop in blood sugar. Signs of xylitol poisoning in dogs include vomiting, weakness, difficulty walking, tremors, and seizures.

The amount of xylitol typically found in most pet oral-care products is very small and, when used properly, these products aren’t expected to cause poisoning unless a dog ingests a very large amount.

2. Human medications: Common drugs such as NSAIDs, acetaminophen, and antidepressants can cause serious harm to your pets. NSAIDs can cause stomach and intestinal ulcers as well as kidney failure. Acetaminophen can damage red blood cells in cats, limiting their ability to carry oxygen, and in dogs it can lead to severe liver failure. Ingestion of antidepressants can lead to neurological problems like sedation, incoordination, agitation, tremors, and seizures.

3. Flowers: As beautiful as spring flowers are, some can cause severe toxicity or even fatalities in pets. Certain types of lilies such as tiger, day, Asiatic, Easter, and Japanese lilies are poisonous to cats. Just ingesting a few petals or pollen can result in severe feline kidney failure. In addition, spring bulbs like daffodils or tulips can cause severe vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.

4. Chocolate : While the occasional chocolate chip in one cookie may not be an issue, certain types of chocolate can be very toxic. Bakers’ chocolate and dark chocolate pose the biggest problem. The darker and more bitter the chocolate, the more dangerous it is. The chemical toxicity results in vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, abnormal heart rhythm, seizures, and possibly death.

5. Fertilizers: Many fertilizers are gastrointestinal irritants. However, some are often combined with dangerous chemicals and compounds called organophosphates or carbamates, which can be harmful or deadly to pets. Ingestion can result in drooling, watery eyes, urination, defecation, seizures, difficulty breathing, fever, and death.

6. Pest control products: Rodent, snail, and slug baits are often used to keep pests at bay—they are toxic to pets, and without immediate veterinary attention they can be fatal. Rodent baits can result in blood clotting disorders, brain swelling, or kidney failure, while snail and slug baits can result in severe tremors or seizures.

When traveling, pack a simple travel-size first aid kit for your pet, similar to the one you have at home, along with an antidiarrheal medication that is safe for animals (ask your veterinarian to suggest a product).

• Be sure to have handy the phone numbers of your veterinarian, the national animal poison control hotline (888.426.4235), and a 24-hour emergency veterinary hospital in the area where you will be visiting. You can obtain a list of emergency veterinary clinics by country/state on the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society’s directory page at http://veccs.org/hospital_directory.php. It’s a good idea to keep this URL with you during your travels as well, so you can find an emergency veterinary hospital wherever you are.
• Your pet should be wearing an ID tag (which should be labeled with your name, home address and phone number) in addition to a travel tag or collar with information on where you are staying while away from home, so you can be contacted while still in the area.  A microchip is another good tool for helping you reunite with your pet should you become separated.
• Perform a daily “health check” on your pet when away from home. Contact your veterinarian or a local veterinarian if you are concerned about any physical or behavioral changes.