Pet Care Information Service

John T. Kristy VMD
Wemdy B. Harris DVM
181 Kings Highway
Fairfield, CT 06825
203-367-4475 Phone
203-366-0878 Fax

Pet Care Information

Senior Health Care
Cat Health
Child-Pet Safety Recommendations

Pet CPR

Our Senior Health Care Program for Senior Pets

Remember how it felt to be a teenager, full of energy, ready for anything all day long.
Then we hit 30 and age becomes a little more of a touchy issue. When we hit 40 it’s not as easy to keep our weight down. We watch our diet a little more.
We feel a little more creaky. Doctor visits become a little more often, more thorough, and more detailed.

The same thing happens to your pet when they reach 8 years old. Eight doesn’t sound very old for your pet until you relate it to lifestage. An eight-year-old pet is in the same life stage as a 40-year-old person.

As veterinary medicine mirrors the shift in human medicine to stress preventative, health care and risk management, we have developed a program for senior pet health care.

Middle aged and senior pets, like middle aged people, are at risk for such conditions as obesity, arthritis, diabetes, gum, kidney, thyroid and heart disease. Most of these can be prevented or controlled but we must modify risk factors and catch problems early.

A dog doesn’t suddenly become old at age 8 any more than people do at age 40. But at a certain age it’s time to pay closer attention to one’s health. Women older than 40 recognize the importance of baseline mammograms, and regular PAP smears. Men understand the need for routine prostate screenings. Are they aged? Certainly not. Likewise, pets need more comprehensive regular health exams beginning around age 8.

If you have any current concerns for your pets well being; please call. Otherwise we will discuss these recommendations at your pet’s next regular visit. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to call.

Cat Health Note

Over the last few years a startling increase in the number of a certain type of aggressive cancer has been noted in cats. These tumors seem to be found in areas where vaccines are given, and are called Vaccine Associated Sarcomas.

To make a vaccine, an infectious agent is usually weakened or killed so when it is administered to the patient, the patient doesn’t get sick but makes an immune response to protect itself against future disease. To stimulate a strong response other chemicals, called adjuvants, are often added to the vaccine.

It is now known that the current adjuvanted Rabies vaccine is the source of most of the Vaccine Associated Sarcomas. The chance of your cat developing a tumor after vaccination has been estimated as between 500 to 1 to 1000 to 1.

As pet owners, we are in the unfortunate position of having to choose between vaccinating our cats to protect them and us from Rabies and possibly developing cancer, or not vaccinating them, which puts them at risk for Rabies, or quarantine, and us at risk for post exposure treatment.

Fortunately, Merial has developed a recombinant DNA vaccine that does not need and doesn’t contain an adjuvant. This cutting edge technology will effectively protect our pets from Rabies without the risk of Vaccine Associated Sarcomas. At this point, it is certified for 1 year only but will probably get a 3-year certification in the future.

Therefore we will be offering a choice of the current 3-year shot or the 1-year non-adjuvanted shot when your feline pet is due for a Rabies booster.

We look forward to continuing to provide your pets with the highest quality of medical care available.

PLEASE NOTE: Vaccine Associated Sarcomas do NOT affect dogs!

Child-Pet Safety Recommendations
Talk to a veterinarian or a trainer before acquiring a pet.

1. After acquiring a pet have it examined by a veterinarian for:
    a. Overall health
    b. Parasites-internal & external
    c. Immunizations
    d. Behavioral characteristics

2. Keep vaccinations up to date. Periodically check for parasites. Pets need yearly medical examinations.

3. Consult your veterinarian about any unusual behavior.

4. At home a pet should have a proper place to be fed and a separate area for toilet; away from human food preparation areas and free from insects and rodents.

6. Keep urine and feces away from children. Pooper scoop yard and keep litter box clean.

7. Don’t use pet feces for fertilizer.

8. Pregnant women should not handle feces or litter.

9. Cover the sandbox so it does not become a litter box.

10. Teach children good hygiene around pets.
Children are the most common victims of pet related diseases- most of which can be prevented by practicing proper hygiene. Teach children not to handle animal food or feces and to wash their hands after contact with animals. Keep children away from ill - appearing animals.

11. Don’t let your pet roam.

12. Some people are allergic to animals -- if allergies are present consult a physician before acquiring a pet.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SOCIALIZING YOUR PUPPY

The activities listed below will help your new puppy become incorporated into the household. This process is called socialization. Your new pet will become strongly attached to your family during this period of socialization between 6 and 12 weeks of age. This bond will last a lifetime. It is important that your puppy learn he/she is the subordinate member of the family. This will minimize the potential for bad habits and behavior problems such as dominance or aggression.
It is especially important to work with the male for he will have a greater tendency to want to become dominant when he matures.

It is vital that everyone in the family practices these exercises. Younger children should have adult supervision. The following activities should become part of the normal routine for your dog:

1. While the puppy is small, pick it up frequently.
2. Look into the puppy's eyes until it looks away.
3. Rub the puppy's stomach while it is on its back.
4. During grooming or petting use moderate pressure from hand to tail.
5. During play don't allow puppy to stand on or over you.
6. Avoid excessive tug of war games. Encourage fetch and retrieval.
7. Teach the dog to sit. Use short but frequent sessions for young dogs.
8. Practice taking food away at mealtime. Praise for compliance.
9. Displace puppy from sleeping area. Praise for compliance.
10. Teach pup to relinquish toys or objects on command.
11. Praise pup for good behavior even when resting quietly.
12. Practice manipulating the ears, paws and mouth.
13. Never use a command unless you're sure the puppy will obey or you can make it obey.
14. Have your puppy obey commands prior to everyday activities; i.e., feeding, playing, going outdoors, etc. Incorporate obedience school commands.
15. Effective punishments:
Passive - leaving the room, ignoring bad behavior
Physical - grab scruff of neck, shake and say, "NO!

Pet CPR

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
(CPR and Rescue Breathing)

Bobbie Mammato of The Humane Society of the United States and The American National Red Cross, advises:

CPR is the method used to treat an animal who is not breathing or has no heartbeat. It consists of rescue breathing (also called mouth to nose/mouth resuscitation) and chest compressions. CPR is based on three basic principles, called theABCs of CPR. You must follow the ABC order (Airway, Breathing and Circulation) when attempting CPR.
Even when performed by an experienced veterinarian, CPR does not always work. Don't be discouraged if your attempt fails, but know that you did try to save an animal's life.

A = Airway
Does the animal have an open airway? (The airway is the passage the animal breathes through. Check to see if the throat and mouth are clear of foreign objects.) If the answer is YES, go to Breathing. If the answer is NO, you need to open the airway. Do the following:
Lay the animal down, on either side.
Gently tilt the head slightly back to extend the neck and head.
Pull the tongue between the front teeth
Use your finger to check for and remove any foreign material or vomit from the mouth.
Do not place your fingers inside the mouth of a conscious animal - you may be bitten!

B = Breathing
Is the animal breathing? If the answer is YES, allow the animal to assume the body position most comfortable for them. Then, move on to Circulation. If the answer is NO, do the following:
Open the airway (see A = Airway)
For medium and large dogs, seal the mouth and lips by placing your hands around the lips, gently holding the muzzle closed. For cats and small dogs (less than 30 pounds), your mouth will seal the mouth and lips.
Place your mouth over the animal's nose and forcefully exhale.
Give four or five breaths rapidly, then check to see if your pet is breathing without assistance. If the animal begins to breathe, but the breathing is shallow and irregular, or if breathing does not begin, continue artificial respiration until you reach the veterinary hospital or for a maximum of 20 minutes. (Beyond 20 minutes there is little chance of reviving your pet.)
Do not attempt this on a conscious animal
Use the following breathing rates:
Small dog (under 30 pounds) or cat: 20-30 breaths per minute.
Medium or large dog (over 30 pounds): 20 breaths per minute.

C = Circulation
Is there a heartbeat or a pulse? If the answer is NO, perform chest compressions .Do the following:

Small Dog (Under 30 Pounds) or Cat
Lay your pet down, on the animal's right side.
Kneel next to your pet with the animal's chest facing you.
Place the palm of one of your hands over the ribs at the point where the elbow touches the chest. Place your other hand underneath the right side of the animal
Compress the chest 1/2 - 1 inch (your elbows should be softly locked during compressions).
Chest compressions are alternated with breaths.
If working alone, do five compressions for each breath, then check for a pulse.
If there are two people, one person does the breathing while the other does the compressions at a rate of three compressions for each breath, then check for a pulse.

Medium to Large Dog (30 to 90 Pounds)
Stand or kneel with the animal's back towards you.
Extend your arms at the elbows.
Cup your hands over each other.
Compress the chest at the point where the left elbow lies when pulled back to the chest
Compress so the chest moves about 1-3 inces with each compression
If workign alone, do five compressions for each breath, then check for a pulse.
If there are two people, one person does the breathing while the other performs the compressions at a rate of two or three compressions for each breath, then check for a pulse.

Giant Dogs (Over 90 Pounds)
Use technique for medium and large dogs.
If working alone, do ten compressions for each breath, then check for a pulse.
If there are two people, one does the breathing, while the other performs the compressions at a rate of six compressions for each breath, then check for a pulse.
Do not assume there is no heartbeat or pulse simply because an animal is not breathing .Do not start chest compressions before checking for a heartbeat. (If the animal is conscious and responds to you, then the heart is beating).
Continue CPR until the animal has a strong heartbeat and pulse, or until you reach the veterinary hospital, or until 20 minutes have passed and your efforts have not been successful.
CPR can be performed on the way to the veterinary hospital, as long as there are at least two people present (one to drive).

********************************************************************