Spaying Female Dogs

Spaying offers several advantages. The female’s heat periods result in about 2-3 weeks of vaginal bleeding. This can be quite annoying if your dog is kept indoors. Male dogs are attracted from blocks away and, in fact, seem to come out of the woodwork. They seem to go over, around, and through many doors or fences. Your dog will have a heat period about every 6 months.

It has been proven that as the female dog gets older, there is a significant incidence of breast cancer and uterine infections if she has not been spayed. Spaying before she has any heat periods will significantly reduce the chance of either. If you do not plan to breed your dog, we strongly recommend that she be spayed before her first heat period. This can be done anytime after she is 4 months old.

Spaying Female Cats

There are numerous reasons to spay your cat. A female cat that is in-heat can be quite a handful. If she is outdoors at all she is almost guaranteed to become pregnant. The female’s heat periods result in about 2-3 weeks of obnoxious behavior. This can be quite annoying if your cat is kept indoors. Male cats will do all they can to mate with an in-heat female. This can be quite a nuisance because you have to deal with both your female cat and the males that want to get to her. Quite often, cats will have heat periods about every 2-3 weeks until she they mate. There is mounting evidence to show that cats may have increased incidence of cancer and uterine infections when not spayed. By spaying your cat before her first heat, you can greatly reduce the chances of this happening. If you do not plan to breed your cat, we strongly recommend that she be spayed before her first heat period. This can be done anytime after she is 4 months old.

Again, it is never too late to have your pet spayed and there are tests that can be run to help take precautions before they go under anesthesia.

Neutering Male Dogs

Neutering is the removal of the testicles in male animals. Aside from the obvious (they can no longer reproduce), there are several reasons our doctors recommend neutering. A neutered male will not have the urge to mate. This can reduce the chances of the them escaping the yard to chase females that are in heat. Male dogs are at high risk for prostate diseases such as infections and even testicular cancer just like older men. Prostate problems can go a long time before being noticed. By the time these conditions are noticed they can be severe and even life threatening. The treatment could cost you more than $1,000. Our doctors recommend that your dog be neutered as soon as he is 4 months of age.

Neutering Male Cats

Just as in dogs, neutering is the removal of the testicles in male cats. There are several reasons our doctors recommend neutering tom cats other than just population control. Kittens neutered before they start spraying are almost guaranteed not to start. Because of their fighting, we see a lot of tom cats with bite and scratch wounds(some severe). An intact male cat’s exposure level to Feline Leukemia and Aids will be much greater due to them constantly trying to breed and getting into these fights. At 2 years old 95% of outdoor or indoor/outdoor male cats have Feline Leukemia or Aids. If you do not plan to breed your cat, we strongly recommend that he is neutered anytime after he is 4 months old.

Again, it is never too late to have your pet neutered and there are tests that can be run to help take precautions before they go under anesthesia.

Canine heartworm disease is a serious, deadly disease affecting thousands of dogs each year. Because of a parasite that lodges in the heart commonly known as heartworms, many dogs become permanently debilitated or die from lung, heart, or circulatory problems.

How does my dog get heartworm disease?

(1) The tiny immature heartworms are transmitted ONLY through the bite of a mosquito.
(2) At first, the parasites move into your dog’s tissues. Eventually they reach the heart and become lodged there.
(3) As the worms grow and reproduce, immature heartworms are released into the blood stream.

Now mosquitoes can bite your dog and pick up these new immature heartworms and transmit them to another dog.

Is heartworm disease serious?

Yes, it’s very serious. Heartworms interfere with the normal flow of blood from the right side of the heart to the vessels serving the lungs. If left untreated, canine heartworm disease can significantly reduce your dog’s quality of life, cause congestive failure of the heart and other organs, and ultimately can lead to death.

What are the symptoms of heartworm disease?

Early symptoms are discreet and you may not be able to observe them. Infected dogs become less active and tire easily. As the disease progresses, symptoms may include a soft wheeze or cough, weight loss, tiredness and even fainting. Adult heartworms are usually found in the heart and major blood vessels and sometimes in the lungs and liver. They can grow from 5 to 14 inches in length and in severe cases over a hundred may be present.

How do I know if my dog has heartworm disease?

Diagnosis of heartworm disease is determined by examination of the blood under a microscope to determine if the immature heartworms are present. Occult heartworm disease (heartworm disease without the presence of immature heartworms circulating in the blood) is present in 20% to 30% of dogs. Detection of the adult heartworms in the heart is possible through the use of an antibody blood test.

How can my dog be treated if he has heartworm disease?

A complete physical and medical examination is necessary to determine your pet’s health and how severe the heartworm disease is. Blood work and possibly x-rays may be needed as part of the complete evaluation of you pets condition prior to heartworm treatment. Normally treatment consists of two injections of Immitacide (Currently the most effective and safe drug available for the treatment of adult heartworms) given 24 hours apart. Your dog will be kept in the hospital during this time so his health may be monitored. The veterinarian may administer other medications on a case by case basis as needed. Your dog may need medications following this treatment to kill any immature heartworms in the blood.

Can heartworm disease be prevented?

Yes, heartworm disease can be prevented.There are chewable forms of heartworm prevention that must be given once a month. This type of prevention can be started at 2 months of age to protect your pet against heartworms. Although these heartworm preventions are very effective, yearly heartworm tests are necessary to assure that your pet has not been infected with this disease.

Don’t gamble with your pet’s life!

In Texas alone there were over 38,500 reported cases of heartworm disease. Contact us about the heartworm preventive program that will best protect your pet! Don’t let your pet become one of these statistics.

Dental Tartar and Plaque build-up. PERIODONTAL disease is caused by a build-up of plaque and tartar on the teeth. This results in inflammation and infection of the gums and loosening of the teeth.

PLAQUE, a sticky, colorless, bacteria-laden film, forms continuously on the teeth. If not removed, tartar forms at the gum line. Gradually, bacteria infect the gum tissue and the root of the tooth, eroding the underlying bone that secures the teeth. Without treatment, the gums recede, forming pockets that fill with bacteria. Eventually, the teeth fall out.

TEETH and gums are very near a large network of blood vessels. With extensive build-up of plaque, tartar, and bacteria, these blood vessels pick up bacteria and carry it to other parts of the body. This accumulation of bacteria can weaken the liver, kidneys, and heart, lowering your pet’s resistance to illnesses.

WARNING SIGNS While many pets with dental disease suffer in silence, others show acute pain while eating. Some pets act depressed. In older animals, owners may mistakenly blame these signs on “old age”.

BAD BREATH and drooling are frequent signs of dental disease. Pet’s teeth are normally white and smooth. Healthy gums are pink, smooth, and tightly adhered to the teeth. Plaque and tartar occur under the gum as well as on the crown. Affected gums are thickened, reddened, and bleed easily. If any of these warning signs is present, your pet needs veterinary attention.

TREATMENT for most pets consists of having your veterinarian scale (remove) the plaque and tartar on both the surface of the teeth and below the gum line. The teeth are then polished to smooth all surfaces. Regular dental examinations by your veterinarian are needed at least once a year.

HOME CARE is the most important factor in protecting your pet’s oral health. This includes feeding a proper diet with some dry or crunchy food to stimulate the gums and reduce the build-up of plaque and tartar. Regular brushing of your pet’s teeth for the removal and/or prevention of plaque is the most important procedure. People can choose their own level of oral hygiene; pets need their owners help with this.

Kitten Picture.They are viruses that cause an immune deficiency in domestic cats. Feline Leukemia (FeLV) is associated with deaths and illnesses in more cats worldwide than any other infectious agent. Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) is related to HIV, the virus responsible for AIDS in humans.

How could my cat become infected?

FeLV-known as the “friendly cat” disease. It is usually transmitted through grooming, oral/nasal contact, sharing food and water bowls, etc. The queen may also infect her litter during pregnancy.

FIV-It is usually transmitted through bite wounds as it is in highest concentration in the salivary glands. The queen does not usually infect her kittens during pregnancy, but recent studies have shown that a nursing queen can transmit it to her kittens.

Which cats are at risk?

Test your cat for Felv and FIVAny cat that is allowed unsupervised outdoor activity is at risk for contracting either of these viruses. Outdoor, free-roaming male cats are the most commonly infected with FIV due to their increased potential exposure. Cats in multi-cat households are at a higher risk for FeLV.

What are the signs of infection?

Because these viruses generally cause a weakness in the immune system, the effects on the cat are quite varied, depending upon which organ or body system is attacked. Upper respiratory disease, such as sneezing, nasal discharge, ocular discharge, etc., is seen commonly along with inflammation in the mouth and gums. Some infected cats remain non-symptomatic for years.

Are the viruses treatable?

Treatable? In some cases. Curable? No. Infected cats are more susceptible to secondary infections that an otherwise healthy cat would normally be immune to. However, these infections can be treated and many virally infected cats recover well.
Many cats live for years after being diagnosed with the virus.

When should I test my cat?*

Test your cat for Felv and FIVWhen a new cat or kitten is adopted.
When cats have had potential exposure, i.e. bitten by a cat of unknown infection status or had unsupervised outdoor activity. When the cat is sick, regardless of previous negative results.

*According to the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP)

Why should I test my cat?

The AAFP recommends testing as part of your cat’s health maintenance. Annual FIV testing is particularly important in cats that are prone to fighting. If your cat should become ill, knowing the status of infection will assist the veterinarian in choosing the appropriate course of treatment and also in predicting the response to treatment.
The only way to prevent infection of these viruses is to prevent exposure to infected cats. Identifying carriers of these viruses is the mainstay of stopping their spread. We, along with the AAFP, recommend keeping the positively infected cats indoors to reduce exposure.

Currently a vaccine is available to protect against FeLV. The American Association of Feline Pratitioners currently recommends this as a critical part of all cats’ annual vaccinations.