Heartworm Prevention
Question My veterinarian has recently started promoting monthly heartworm
preventive tablets for my dog and cat. I've also heard that the heartworm
medicine used long term may be a greater risk to my pet's health.
What should I
do?
Answer Heartworm disease is a serious but preventable condition. Whether or not
your pet belongs on preventive medication depends a lot on the incidence in your
area. We're not presently aware of any literature that notes serious risks or
side effects of the preventive medicine. However, your veterinarian will take
into account any other problems your pet has before prescribing the drug.
Healthy kidneys and normal liver functions are essential in metabolizing most
medications. For both dogs and cats, a heartworm blood test must be done before
any preventive medications are given.
Vaccinating Your Pet
Question I have four cats and two dogs. Until recently, I have had them
vaccinated regularly. Please let me know what you would recommend to someone who
has cats and dogs and wants to keep them safe but does not want to either
endanger them or spend money unnecessarily.
Answer The veterinary profession has spent the past six to seven years
reexamining and discussing vaccine duration of immunity and revising vaccination
protocols accordingly to make sure that companion animals get care that is
tailored to their lifestyles. The goal is to make sure that an individual’s
vaccine protocol is protecting them from risks they face, without vaccinating
unnecessarily.
For example, in our practice we ask cat owners to describe whether their cats
ever go outdoors or whether they are exclusively indoors and what other animals
they might come in contact with. If a cat is exclusively indoors, we design a
different vaccine protocol than if it goes out regularly or “escapes” with any
frequency. Dogs that go to boarding facilities, grooming parlors or doggie
daycares will have different recommendations than dogs that do not. The days of
designing a single vaccine protocol for an entire species are over. |
Good communication is the best tool in designing protocols that are proper for
your pets. I suggest having a discussion with a veterinarian in your area,
giving all of the information you know about your pets’ lifestyles. With that
information, your veterinarian can explain what vaccinations he or she would
recommend, at what frequency and why. At that point you can make an informed
decision on a vaccination protocol designed specifically for your pet.
Sudden Weight Gain in Cats
Question My cat has been the same weight for the last six years. Over the last
week, he seems to have gained a pound or two. He has been much more active as
well. He constantly tries to get people to play with him and pet him, which is
unusual behavior. He is eight years old.
Is this normal?
Answer No, it would not be considered typical for a cat to suddenly gain a great
deal of weight. As cats age it is not uncommon for their metabolism to slow
down, causing weight gain. However, rarely do you see it in a short period of
time.
Also, the increase in attention seeking behavior at the same time would be odd.
Usually cats will get less active as they age.
It may not be a serious medical condition, but if you have not had him in to see
your veterinarian recently, I would strongly recommend a checkup. Generally,
cats are considered in their senior years when they reach seven to eight years
old. It is always good to have a physical examination and to consider some basic
testing (lab analysis of a blood sample) to make sure that the recent changes
are not indicative of a serious condition. |