FAQ / Advice
| Select (click) any of the following questions to view its corresponding answer.Questions:What do I do if my dog is vomiting and has diarrhea, but is acting fine?How do I remove a tick?How long does “heat” last for dogs & cats?How long will my cat or dog be pregnant?What do I do if my pet is sprayed by a skunk?What is the Rabies Vaccine Law in Massachusetts?Why should I Spay/ Neuter my pet?My pet’s prescription says give “As Needed”. How do I know if my pet needs it? How can I tell if my pet is in pain?Notes:
Other excellent information can be found on the AAHA web site.Use this link to access AAHA FAQs.Use this link to access other AAHA information. Q. What do I do if my dog is vomiting and has diarrhea, but is acting fine? A. First, rule out a situation when immediate medical attention is necessary. The following are symptoms that may indicate a serious health concern:
If none of the above symptoms are present, usually when vomiting and diarrhea occur, an animal has:
If the animal is acting fine otherwise, then:
A. With protected fingertips, or tweezers:Grab the tick’s head at intersection of skin and pull off. It is OK if a small amount of skin is removed with the tick. Q. How long does “heat” last for dogs & cats? A. Heat usually lasts 5-9 days (can vary 1-20) and occurs once or twice per year. Q. How long will my cat or dog be pregnant? A. Two months or approximately (63) days Q. What do I do if my pet is sprayed by a skunk? A. Here is our special skunk bath recipe
Q. What is the Rabies Vaccine Law in Massachusetts? A. All dogs and Cats need to be vaccinated against Rabies.This includes indoor Cats because cats have been known to escape to the outside becoming vunerable to rabid raccoons etc. This is to protect the pet as well as the owner. State law mandates that if an animal bites a human, the animal has to be quarrentined for 10 days to observe for rabies symptoms. If any symptoms begin to show or the animal dies prior to the ten days, the animal MUST be tested for rabies. To perform the test the animal’s brain must be sent to the state lab for testing. Vaccine protocol; 1st vaccine given at 12 weeks of age and is good for one year. In 9-12 months a second vaccine is given which is then good for 3 years. If a longer time frame exists between the two vaccines, the series has to start over. Q. Why should I Spay/ Neuter my pet? A. There are more reasons than the exploding population of homeless animals.Neutering can prevent several serious and even fatal conditions; periaral cancer, testicular cancer, prostatic hyperplasia. These conditions are prevented by spay/ neutering your pet and we highly recommend the procedure, unless you are a professional breeder. Q. My pet’s prescription says give “As Needed”. How do I know if my pet needs it? How can I tell if my pet is in pain? A. Many pain medications prescribed for post-surgical recovery, arthritis, or general injury are to be given on an “As Needed” basis. This is often a tough call for owners, and if you’re uncertain to medicate or not, you’re not alone. Click the links below for a to-the-point guide on detecting pet discomfort, and medicate (or don’t!) with knowledge and peace of mind. To Pill or Not To Pill: A Guide to Dog Discomfort To Pill or Not To Pill: A Guide to Cat Discomfort Still unsure? Call us! |
