Frequently Asked Questions
Q: I want a puppy. Where can I get a particular type of pure bred dog?
A: That's great, but you’re in for a lot of homework. Check with www.paonline.com/pfdc/ for Pennsylvania Federation of Dog Clubs. We recommend, when choosing purebred dogs, to meet both parents to the litter whenever possible. Behavior and health have strong genetic bases; it pays to know what sort of range in health and temperament the parent dogs have. Remember, too, that you might be shopping for a puppy, but you’ll end up with a dog. Puppies and puppyhood aren’t for everyone!
Q: I saw a flea on my dog. I also have three cats. Do all my pets need to be treated?
A: Yes. Fleas will be happy to enjoy a blood meal on one of the kitties and pollute your rugs with thousands of fleas eggs. Once your rugs are infested, kiss your free time goodbye for the summer, ‘cause you’ll be spraying pesticides like a pro every two weeks. Or, you can follow our recommendation to have all contact mammals must be treated with effective flea control products—not over-the-counter products starting before you have an infestation. A couple of extra months product could save your summer!
Q: My dog has an ear problem—can I pick up medication again?
A: If we have a pretty good handle on the type of infection (bacterial, yeast, mixed) and your ability to treat it, we’ll refill. If the problem seems to be stubborn, treatments have not worked, or if these infections keep recurring too quickly, we’ll probably want to see your pet.
Q: My dog needs referral surgery, but I’d like to save a few bucks and do the lung lobe resection myself? Any tips?
A: Oversew the bronchi, but don’t go crazy. Remember not to exceed 20 mmHg with the ventilator, and practice the Chinese finger knot well before surgery (never a good impression to be fumbling with an unfamiliar suture pattern in live surgery).
Q: My cat is urinating all over the house. What can be done?
A: Sometimes it is behavioral, sometimes it is medical. In either case, we need to start working towards solving it before it becomes long-standing bad habit or before the medical condition becomes serious. This is a popular cat problem and one which keeps us fairly busy trying to solve.Q: My cat is starting to “go” places other than his litterbox. I think it’s spite. What can I do?
A: The best minds in veterinary behavior medicine struggle with this problem in cats. We’ll start off by saying that it is far more likely to be rooted in stress/change/anxiety than in your cat deliberately engaging in vendetta. Furthermore, there may be physical causes, too. Or, it might have started with stress or a physical problem, and now he is learning to enjoy the place behind your sofa as his latrine. Once discovered, this habit should be vigorously investigated and treated, as each episode outside the box reinforces the habit. We successfully treat many of these, but also rely on the services of behavior specialists for some patients.
Q: My dog is vomiting—what can I do until I can bring her in?
A: You should withhold all solid food (treats, biscuits, food, scraps). Also, pick up the water bowl and offer only ice chips periodically. Common causes include “dietary indiscretion” like bottom-feeding in the kitchen trash, foreign material in the stomach or intestines (we’ve removed dish towels, telephone cord, rocks, underwear, golf glove, socks, and one neatly chopped police duty belt from pets’ intestinal tracts). Call the office or our emergency referral hospital for more specific advice.
Q: My dog has diarrhea very frequently with “accidents” in the house. HELP!!!
A: This is one that might even be worth the emergency exam fee, even though he can probably wait until morning for treatment. Pick up the food. Water is fine as long as there’s no vomiting. We have had NO success with over-the-counter anti-diarrhea medications, but happily, most diarrhea runs its course within 48 to 72 hours. Often we can hasten the resolution, especially with colitis (slimy or bright red blood on outside of stool with great urgency) and save you a few nights of cleaning your rugs.
Q: My dog/cat won’t put any weight on his leg since" ... you fill in the accident…”child dropped him, leg caught in the folding Laz-E-Boy, hit by car, etc.”
A: Okay, not putting any weight on a leg means an exam, and quite likely x-rays to see if there are broken bits. Unless you can x-ray it and interpret the film, you can’t DIY this problem. You'll need to see your veterinarian.
Q: How many years does it take to be a veterinarian?
