Common Things That Make Veterinarians Crazy

Being a doctor is tough, especially when your patients can’t clearly explain their symptoms. Between tight appointment windows, unruly animals, and having to diagnose ailments in multiple species, the life of a veterinarian can be very stressful.
Before arriving for your next appointment, help your vet to help your pet by avoiding these common mistakes that drive veterinarians crazy.

 Unruly Pets

A rambunctious pet can slow down your veterinary visit and eat up valuable time. With lots of animals to see, wrangling a stressed out pet is the last thing your vet wants to deal with. To prepare your animal for a lifetime of smooth appointments, consider dropping by your veterinarian’s office for a few friendly, no-pressure visits.

“Try bringing your pet in strictly for social visits,” recommends Dr. Jessica Downing, general practitioner and emergency veterinarian at Valley Cottage Animal Hospital in Valley Cottage, New York. “Make the visit a positive experience by offering lots of treats, visiting with the front desk staff for hugs and kisses, and practicing placing your puppy or kitten on and off the exam table. It’ll make the experience more familiar and less stressful.”

Unprepared Pet Owners

It’s best practice to come prepared with your pet’s medical history and most up-to-date information. Waiting until the last minute and assuming all information is readily available in your veterinarian’s medical records is time consuming, especially if your pet has been seen at more than one veterinary practice. What may seem like a no-brainer can very well save your vet from a headache.
“Gathering all the necessary information from various sources can really take away from their appointment,” advises Crystal Morrin, ophthalmology technician at the Center for Animal Referral and Emergency Services in Langhorne, Pennsylvania. “Even something like illegible handwriting in your pet’s records can slow things up, so it’s important to come prepared with as much knowledge about [your pet] as possible.”
Downing agrees that having a firm knowledge of your pet’s medical history is very helpful and appreciated. “Any information regarding previous vaccinations, medications, and surgeries is helpful,” she says. “This way, the veterinary staff will know what your pet may require in terms of vaccinations, lab tests, and medications during the office visit, which could speed things up.”

Absentee Pet Parents

Nobody knows your pet better than you, and making yourself available to answer questions about your pet ensures a smooth visit. If you’re the primary owner, try to be the one to take your pet to the vet. If a friend or family member must, make sure they’re knowledgeable about your pet and what symptoms they may be experiencing.

“Important details, such as what type of food your pet eats, changes in your pet’s behavior, or what the pet may have been exposed to can best be answered by the person who spends the most time with your pet,” says Downing. “You’re the person who feeds them every day, plays with them, and tends to their daily needs, so odds are you know the most about their day to day life.”

Procrastinating the Visit

If something seems wrong with your pet, it’s best to make an appointment as soon as possible. Putting off a visit could result in worsening symptoms that could potentially become more difficult to treat. And don’t try to cram preventive care and addressing health problems into a single vet visit.

“To address your pet’s medical concerns more thoroughly and effectively, we recommend not waiting for your pet’s yearly visit to discuss their health concerns with your veterinarian,” says Downing. “It’s better to be safe than sorry when dealing with the health of your pet.”

Not Reading Discharge Instructions

If your pet is leaving with a new medication or follow up appointment, be sure to carefully read your discharge instructions before you exit. If there’s something you’re not clear on, speak up and don’t be afraid to ask questions.


“Discharge instructions will always specify the recommended treatment while reiterating the diagnosis and next steps,” explains Morrin. “Keeping them in a safe place and using as a reference doesn't just help us, it helps the client stay on the same page as us.”

Finding a good dog breeder

We suggest you consider adopting a puppy (or an adult) from a shelter or rescue group before buying one. But if your heart's set on a purebred puppy, the first step is to find a breeder who knows what she's doing. Unlike pet stores and unscrupulous breeders, good breeders are careful to breed only healthy dogs with good temperaments. This means that any puppy you get from them has a better chance of turning out to be a good family pet. They also know how to raise their puppies in a way that prepares them for life as a family dog.
There are plenty of breeders out there who are uninformed, unscrupulous, or both. Take your time and be picky about finding the right one.

Where to start

 

Ask your vet, visit dog shows, or contact local breed clubs to get recommendations on good local dog breeders. The American Kennel Club also offers breeder referralsfor all the recognized breeds. And of course, if you know anyone with a fabulous dog, ask where she got the pup.

Questions to ask a breeder (see the article Becoming a Dog Breeder)

Talk to and visit several breeders, so you get a sense of what separates the really dedicated breeder from the so-so one.
Here are some of the questions that will help you suss that out:
Where do the puppies live? The answer should be "in the house with the family." A puppy who's born into family life has a better shot at growing up relaxed and friendly. A pup isolated from humans in a backyard, garage, or basement is more likely to wind up shy or aggressive.

How often are the puppies handled? Puppies should be handled by lots of different people beginning very early in life so they'll grow up to be comfortable and safe around humans. Ideally, the breeder throws regular puppy parties, inviting lots of guests over to play with and handle the pup. Five minutes of daily pats on the head by the breeder won't cut it.

Can I meet the parents? Meeting the father may not be possible, but you should certainly meet the mother. A puppy's parents give you better insight into her future personality than does her breed. A friendly, well-behaved Mamma or Papa dog is a good sign, both that you've found a good litter and a good breeder.

How many litters do you raise a year? A breeder with just one or two litters a year will have the time to give them the care and handling they need, and to find them good homes. Each female dog should be bred no more than once a year.

Can I have copies of the health clearances? Many breeds are prone to certain genetic conditions. The breeder should offer health clearances--documentation from an independent agency, such as the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals or the Canine Eye Registration Foundation--that the parent and grandparent dogs were tested for hereditary problems. (You'll need to do some research on your breed to find out what the parent dogs should be tested for--our breed profiles are a great place to start.)

Because some genetic conditions don't show up until adulthood, health clearances aren't available for dogs younger than two years old. For that reason, a responsible breeder won't breed dogs until they're two or three years old.

Can I talk to someone who's bought a puppy from you? Good breeders should be happy to give you references; even better, they'll refer you to other breeders as well as customers.

Signs of a reputable breeder

Keep your eyes open when you're visiting breeders. Here's a check list of what to look for in a good breeder.

The dogs live inside. Puppies who are going to be family dogs should be raised inside with the family, not in a backyard, basement, or garage.

The dogs and puppies are relaxed around people. If the parent dogs and puppies seem comfortable with humans, that's a good sign that they've been properly cared for and socialized.

The place is clean. Don't worry about the dirty dishes in the sink--just make sure the dogs' living area is safe, sanitary, and that they're supplied with fresh water, beds, and toys. Is there a toilet area in the puppy's living quarters, or is it all one big toilet? If it's the former, the puppies have a head start on housetraining.

The breeder participates in dog shows or competitions. A good breeder is motivated by enthusiasm for the breed, not by making a little extra cash.

The breeder asks you to sign a spay/neuter contract. If you're buying a dog who's not going to be bred, the breeder should ask you to sign a contract promising to spay or neuter your pup, to avoid contributing to pet overpopulation.

The breeder doesn't specialize in sizes or colors that are unusual for the breed.For one thing, extremely small or extremely large dogs are more likely to have health problems. For another, trying to breed for rare colors or extreme sizes is a sign that the breeder is more interested in making money out of a sales gimmick than in producing great puppies.

The breeder is up-front about the breed's drawbacks, whether that means a tendency to develop certain health problems or a temperament that's not for every owner. A good breeder wants you to love and care for your new dog for his entire lifetime, and she knows that's more likely if you're well prepared.


The breeder wants to meet the whole family and welcomes you to make several visits. To make the best match, the breeder will want to meet everyone who'll be living with the puppy. And she'll want you to take the time to make the right decision; high-pressure salesmanship is a red flag.

The breeder asks you lots of questions. 

This shows she wants to know exactly what kind of home her puppies are going to. She may ask who's going to be home during the day, what your dog-owning history is, and why you're interested in the breed. Don't be defensive; she's just doing her job, which is taking care of the pups she brings into the world.
The breeder will take the dog back, at any stage of the dog's life, if you're unable to care for her. A good breeder will insist on this. Again, she wants to make sure the puppies she brought into the world will always be taken care of.

The breeder won't let you take the puppy home before she's eight weeks old.Playing with her littermates teaches your puppy a lot about getting along with other dogs. A puppy who's taken away from her littermates too early is at a major disadvantage in her canine social skills.

Bottom line: Before buying a puppy, take the time to research and find a responsible breeder. Puppies from good breeders are more likely to grow up to be healthy, temperamentally sound dogs.

Dog Flu - Canine Influenza Symptoms

Dog Flu - Canine Influenza Symptoms

Canine influenza (dog flu) is influenza occurring in canine animals. Canine influenza is caused by varieties of influenzavirus A, such as equine influenza virus H3N8, which in 2004 was discovered to cause disease in dogs. Because of the lack of previous exposure to this virus, dogs have no natural immunity to it. Therefore, the disease is rapidly transmitted between individual dogs. Canine influenza may be endemic in some regional dog populations of the United States. It is a disease with a high morbidity (incidence of symptoms) but a low incidence of death.

Your dog is coughing and congested, listless and feeling lousy – just like we feel when we come down with a respiratory ailment.

Dog Flu - Canine Influenza Symptoms

The virus is passed from animal to animal through “respiratory secretions, dogs can spread the virus through simply “barking, coughing and sneezing, contaminated objects, such as water bowls, toys, food, clothing, shoes and leashes can also harbor the virus and cause transmission.”

This makes areas where pets congregate, such as doggy day cares, kennels and dog parks, hot spots for disease transmission.

But just because your pet has been exposed to a strain of the virus doesn't mean he will show symptoms. Eighty percent of dogs exposed to the virus will develop signs of the disease within one to five days, while the remaining 20 percent will show no symptoms whatsoever. If your dog went to the park a week ago and seems as spry as ever, you’re probably in the clear.

However, like with the human flu, a dog who is not symptomatic can still pass the virus to other animals. Humans who have been in contact with an infected animal can also unknowingly spread the virus, as it can live on surfaces for up to 48 hours, on clothing for 24 hours, and 12 hours on hands, the AVMA explains. If your dog gets the sniffles, take precautions to wash your clothes with warm water and disinfect your hands and any surfaces, to keep the outbreak in check.

Before you’re tempted to cancel all puppy playdates for the foreseeable future, dog flu has a very low mortality rate of less than 10 percent, and most pups will only contract a mild version.

Symptoms

In its mild form, canine influenza can resemble a kennel cough-type syndrome, where dogs could come down with a soft cough that can last up to a month. Your pup may also seem lethargic or down, and have increased eye and nasal discharge and sneezing.

In a more severe form, dogs can have a high fever, develop pneumonia and have trouble breathing, which may cause them to become dependent on supplemental oxygen.

Cats suffer from similar upper respiratory disease symptoms, such as nasal discharge, congestion and lethargy. See the Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UXzMn9-GxaI

Diagnosis and treatment

If you suspect your dog or cat may have come down with the flu, contact the family veterinarian for guidance. Avoid rushing your pup to the vet’s office, as this could infect other dogs in the waiting room, and your veterinarian may want to take special precautions when meeting you. Your vet can confirm the virus by running a series of tests. “Usually there is a specific test that looks for the virus itself in the animal’s respiratory secretions, such as nasal swabs — that’s how there’s a confirmed diagnosis.