Help me box

Question 1

List 3 zoonotic diseases that a new pet owner should be aware of

Answer 1

Toxoplasmosis
Leptospirosis
Bartonellosis

Question 2

What is the best food for my puppy?

Answer 2

Premium dry puppy food (only until puppy is 12-18 mo old, then switch to adult food)

Brands we like include: Purina, Science Diet, Royal Canin, Iams, and Eukaneuba

Question 3

How many times per day should my puppy be fed?

Answer 3

6-12 weeks: 3X/day
12 weeks- 6 mo: 2X/day
6mo+ : once or twice a day

Question 4

A client calls saying that his pet may be constipated and seems to be straining to go to the bathroom. What may be the true problem?

Answer 4

Since constipation is fairly rare in dogs, the dog may actually be straining because it has diarrhea or an intestinal blockage

Question 5

List 3 pieces of advice you might list to someone seeking a hypoallergenic pet

Answer 5

1) get a small dog (the smaller the dog, the less hair it will produce)
2) get a long haired dog and keep the fur clipped short
3) bathe and brush the dog more frequently

Question 6

What diet is recommended for my new pet bird?

Answer 6

They should be fed about 80% high quality formulated pelleted diet and 20% fruits, veggies, and table food

We like Harrison’s Bird Diet

No seed diets! They’re missing about 21 essential nutrients

Question 7

My dog has diarrhea. Is there anything I can give him?

Answer 7

Since there’s many causes of diarrhea, you should bring the pet in ASAP. If you can’t do that, try withholding food (not water) and/or adding in some canned pumpkin

Question 8

Should I feed my dog a raw meat diet?

Answer 8

No, all meat should be cooked or boiled because:

1) Trichinosis (rare) can happen when eating raw meat
2) This kind of diet isn’t nutritionally balanced, so it’s better to feed a commercial diet

Question 9

I am changing my pet’s food and he/she won’t eat the new diet. Should I go back to giving the old one?

Answer 9

Assuming the pet is otherwise healthy, don’t give in right away. Mix the old and new diet (starting with 1/4 new and 3/4 old) and increase by quarters every 3-4 days until you’re feeding only new diet

Question 10

List 2 recommendations for puzzle toys for dogs

Answer 10

Kong Wobbler

Buster Food Cube Interactive Dog Toy

Question 11

I just got my new kitten, and I have one cat at home already. Can I feed the kitten the same food I feed my adult cat?

Answer 11

No, kitten food is nutritionally and chemically different than cat food. You always want to feed a life-stage appropriate diet.

Question 12

How does my dog get heartworms?

Answer 12

By being bitten by a heartworm-infected mosquito

Question 13

How often do I need to test him for heartworms and what does that entail?

Answer 13

Once a year, simple blood draw and SNAP test (in house or at the lab)

Question 14

I just got a new cat and it has blue eyes. Is it deaf, too?

Answer 14

Not all blue-eyed cats are deaf, but they are more often deaf than other cats

Question 15

What are the correct pieces of info about declawing?

Answer 15

No suture removal required
Cat will spend 2 nights in the hospital with us
We can declaw as early as 3 months old

Question 16

I was trimming my dog’s toenail and I cut too much and it started to bleed. What can I do?

Answer 16

Using bar soap scrapings or baking soda, apply pressure to the nail

Question 17

My 6 year old cat stays inside all the time. Please circle the vaccines that my cat definitely needs at its annual exam

Answer 17

Feline leukemia- no
Rabies- yes
FVRCP- yes
Bordatella- no

Question 18

My dog is vomiting. Is this an emergency? Is there anything I can do at home if I cant bring him in?

Answer 18

It is an emergency if the dog vomits 3 or more times in an hour, or 8 or more times in a day, because it will lead to dehydration.

If you can’t bring the pet in, withhold food (not water) for the next 8-12 hours.

Question 19

Is there insurance available for pets?

Answer 19

Yes

Question 20

What is the ideal weight for my dog/cat?

Answer 20

The ideal weight for your dog or cat is the numerical weight which puts him/her at a BCS of around 5 (the BCS can be determined by a vet, by using a BCS chart like the one Purina offers online, or by using the hand method)

Question 21

My dog is pregnant. How long will she carry until she has puppies?

Answer 21

58-63 days

Question 22

When she has puppies, how long will it take? What should I watch for to know that something is potentially wrong?

Answer 22

A mother will rest anywhere from .5-2 hours between deliveries, but this break shouldn’t exceed 4 hours.

A green or black discharge indicates a potential problem

Question 23

Please list 2 conditions that would requires immediate attention from a vet

Answer 23

Bleeding that won’t stop
Penetrating wound (especially in thorax or abdomen)

Question 24

Please list 1 condition which should be seen on a same day basis, and one which could wait longer

Answer 24

Same day: unusually bad odor from any part of body

Wait: polydipsia or polyuria

Question 25

When should a client bring their new puppy to the vet? How many visits are necessary for a puppy?

Answer 25

Around 6 weeks old or as soon as she is weaned from mother. (If possible, deworming is recommended around 3-4 weeks old). About 3-4 visits are required depending on the age of the puppy when the series began.

Question 26

My dog just had puppies and I don’t want her to have anymore, can I spay her now?

Answer 26

We prefer to wait until about 1 week after pups are weaned to allow the milk to dry up. However, we can spay at anytime of the need arises.

Question 27

List 2 appropriate times to encourage a pet owner to bring in a stool sample with their pet. How would you tell them to collect the sample?

Answer 27

Before an annual exam, or if pet is having bloody stool.

Scoop it up and place it in a jar or sealable baggie. Keep it cool and bring it to us within 12 hours.