Handouts
Inappropriate Urination Questionnaire
If your cat is not urinating inside the litter box as he/she should, it is imperative that you obtain and have analyzed a urine sample. Then, fill out this questionnaire and schedule an examination and behavioral consultation. Most cats have a physical reason for their inappropriate behavior. Your answers to this series of questions will help us to guide you toward solutions to help curb this objectionable behavior.
How many cats in household?
Are they all spayed/neutered?
Abdominal Ultrasound or Echo Instructions
Your pet's echocardiogram or abdominal ultrasound will be performed by an experienced veterinary specialist with state-of-the-art equipment. An echo assesses heart function and allows for the determination or necessity of heart medications. This procedure can also give the doctor and the pet guardian the peace of mind as to whether or not the pet's heart can handle an anesthetic or surgical procedure.
A complete abdominal ultrasound visualizes and measures components of all internal organs. This is information above and beyond the capabilities of a radiograph. This procedure can help guide the practitioner as to the cause and prognosis of disease in order to better inform the client. A well-informed pet guardian is better capable of making good decisions for the future of his/her pet.
The procedure takes place in a peaceful, darkened room with gentle holding and even a pillow! No sedation is used. Plan to be in the clinic, waiting for your pet, for approximately one hour.This may vary depending on how many clients are scheduled and which pets are most critical.The specialist comes from out of town, so timing is estimated. We group pets to be seen by the specialist at least once per week. He is often available on short notice.If needed, the echo results may be reviewed by a boarded cardiologist at no extra charge. This entire expert service is available at a comparatively reasonable price.
What your pet will experience...
A small area of fur is shaved. He/she is held snuggly in a peaceful, darkened room.Kisses are given for free! A cool gel is massaged over the skin by the diagnostic probe. Measurements are taken and pictures are captured. The gel is wiped away. (Some pets will choose to lick the shaved area after the procedure and may need to wear a t-shirt to deter this.)
Results are generally reported within 48 hours. A copy of the written report will be available to you. If urgent, a verbal cursory report may be given immediately following the procedure.
Preparation details follow:
Abdominal Ultrasound Instructions:
- Please do not feed your pet for 12 hours prior to ultrasound, water is ok to give.
- Please encourage your pet to defecate in the morning prior to the ultrasound.
- Please do NOT allow let your pet to urinate for at least 2 hours prior to the ultrasound. A full bladder is best!
- Please be aware that ultrasounds can take about 20-30 minutes and that your pet’s abdominal area will be shaved.
Echocardiogram(echo)/Ultrasound of the Heart Instructions:
- Please do NOT feed your pet for 6 hours prior to the echo, water is ok to give.
- Please have your pet defecate and urinate prior to the echo.
- Please be aware that an echo can take about 30 minutes and that your pet’s chest area will be shaved.
An electrocardiogram(ECG) and/or blood pressure measurement may be suggested or requested at this same visit.
**If your pet is diabetic please feed and give insulin as normal.
Pre-Dental/Pre-anesthetic Instructions
Your pet needs to take antibiotics prior to and after a prophylactic dentistry. Prophylactic antibiotics help to protect your pet from infection during the dental procedure when the bacteria are dispersed and can get into the blood stream.
You will receive a 7 day supply of the antibiotics. Start your pet on the medication 3 days prior to the procedure. Make sure you give the antibiotics according to the directions on the label. It is also important to continue the antibiotic 4 days after the dental.
Withhold food and water from your pet as of midnight the night before any anesthetic procedure. This does NOT mean that routine meds should bne skipped. Pets receiving drugs should be given as usual. If in doubt, please call to ask for specific instructions for your pet. On the morning of the procedure, be sure to give the antibiotic if it has been prescribed. If you’re unable to give your pet the medication, you may hide it in a SMALL piece of food. If you are still unable to give the antibiotic please bring it with you and one of our technicians will administer it for you.
General anesthesia is necessary to perform proper dental work on dogs and cats. Please read the following.
Chin Acne Treatment
Your pet has been diagnosed with chin acne! This is often due to a contact irritant or food allergen. We recommend that you use only stainless steel or ceramic bowls for food and water, no plastic. You can help to alleviate this condition by helping your pet with good hygiene.
Cleanse your pet's chin at least once daily with Nature's Rich shampoo. This is the most soothing shampoo of which I am aware. We use it to clean open wounds, it is so mild. In addition it contains coconut oil, which is antimicrobial and soothing to skin so that it does NOT need to be rinsed off. It is also effective in dispersing essential oils evenly through out the water when they are all mixed together. We recommend placing several drops of lavender, or Melrose, or Thieves or chamomile into the scrub water to aid in healing and disinfecting your pet's skin.
More conventional treatment of chin acne would include scrubbing the chin gently with a soft toothbrush and a benzoyl peroxide shampoo such as Oxydex or Pyoben and water. Rinsing thoroughly is very necessary. Daily treatment may be necessary or may become too harsh. Decrease frequency if redness develops.
A conventional medication, called Tresaderm is then applied to the chin, twice daily. Keep this medication refrigerated.
Results are generally seen with in two weeks.
Dietary changes are important to prevent recurrence. The addition of omega-3 fatty acids to the diet can be very helpful, as are probiotics.
Also, select a food with low or no carbohydrates and a unique protein source, such as venison, bison, or rabbit. Starches(corn) can be inflammatory and dogs and cats can become sensitive to an ingredient which they eat day after day, such as chicken.
If the chin acne is a deep furunculosis, thickened skin with purulent discharge, oral antibiotics may be necessary to resolve the situation. Whenever you utilize antibiotics, consider additional probiotics to re-balance the pet's disrupted gastrointestinal flora.
Most cases of chin acne are easily resolved. However, this uncomfortable skin disorder will continue to recur if the underlying cause is not removed. Be sure to change that irritating food or water bowl or eliminate that inciting food allergen!
Flea Control
Successful flea control involves:
1. Eliminating fleas from your dog and/or cat
2. Controlling fleas in the environment(this includes your car)
Dogs and cats share the same fleas. It is important that all pets in your home are on a flea preventative. And we do not mean "spot-ons". We recommend a healthy, effective essential oil spray. Treating your pet for fleas has never been easier. With the many choices we have today, we can provide you with the safest and most effective flea preventive for your pet’s needs.
Raw Diet FAQ
1. How do I switch my pet over to a raw diet?
We recommend using stainless steel bowls that can be sanitized after each feeding. Feed twice daily. Dogs and cats who are not used to eating raw should be given a probiotic, during the days preceding the switch in diets. This will help their system tolerate the change more easily. If you do not, your pet may have loose stools and flatulence (gas). Their systems will adjust to the switch, it will just take longer. We recommend Culturelle(lactobacillus GG) or Mercola Pet Probiotics(a great variety of probiotics) at the Animal Doctor. If your pet is used to dairy, you may try natural yogurt, kefir or Activia. Some products are more effective than others at preventing or treating diarrhea.
Also, remember slightly loose stool can be a "desirable and necessary cleansing effect". So, don't panic. Make changes more slowly to control this effect.
Ear Care Tips
Most pets do not require any ear care. Excessive use of ear cleansers can be too drying, irritating and even 'burn". The most 'natural" washes which contain herbals, witch hazel, or vinegar can exacerbate a sore, red ear. An astringent should only be used to dry up moisture from a healthy ear after exposure to water, such as after swimming, a bath, or a romp in the snow. Never use water to clean an ear. This encourages the growth of yeast.
Discourage "ear plucking". The pulling of firm hairs with tweezers or forceps from within the ear canal can cause minute scabbing and irritation. This procedure, commonly performed by groomers, is often followed by an ear infection.
Appropriate, firm restraint is necessary to manage your pet's ears. Some dogs may require two people to hold them. Cats may need to be wrapped in a towel for better control. For a nominal fee you may bring your pet in for us to medicate after we have diagnosed that treatment is necessary.
Pull the ear out and forward, NOT back against the head.
Squirt in a flush liberally if it has been prescribed. If a long-tipped ointment, place it fully down into the ear canal. Penetration of the tympanum(ear drum) is not possible. Your pet's ear canal is L-shaped. Most inadequate ear treatment is due to the fear that the guardian will hurt the pet, thus the product never reaches its proper destination!
Massage ear canal, squeezing the “tube” of the ear together with fingers. Don’t rub the ear against their head. You’ll hear the gush noise if you’re in the spot. (Your dog may groan with pleasure.)
Wipe out an ear with soft tissue, Kleenex or Cotton. (Q-Tips will not hurt eardrum, but will pack debris deeper. Therefore, they are not recommended except for external cleaning.)
