Most kittens are adopted out at 6 - 8 weeks of age. You can do some things to assess their personality, however they are still young and may change as they continue to grow and have experiences which shape their personalities, just like young people. In general, you want to look for a healthy kitten which is one that is bright and playful. A lazy kitten may just have a mellow personality or may be ill. You also do not want to choose one that is overly dominant or aggressive. The kitten should be comfortable with petting and handling. He should not growl and hiss when you pick him up.   « less

Cats and dogs can have allergies to outdoor allergens such as pollens, grasses and molds, as well as indoor allergens such as dust mites, carpet powders, and perfumes. They can also have allergies to flea bites or certain dietary ingredients, which usually cause skin problems. Food allergies can also be an explanation for frequently vomiting hair balls.   « less

The worms you are seeing are most likely Tape Worms. This type of worm is very common and can be easily contracted from ingesting fleas. The treatment is very simple, although we suggest a full fecal evaluation prior to treatment in case there are any other parasites present.    « less

A mixture of 1:1 water and white vinegar plus a cap-full of 70% isopropyl alcohol is a good general ear cleaner that will help dry out the ear canal and prevent yeast overgrowth. If the ear canal is inflamed or infected, you should not use this because alcohol can be very irritating to infected ears, similar to how it stings when placed on an open cut. Topical ear products, in general, should not be placed into an ear canal if the ear-drum is ruptured (a common thing that happens with ear infections in dogs)as they can be damaging to the middle and inner ear. See a veterinarian first to have the infection treated and make sure the ear-drum is intact if you are unsure.    « less

It is well known that indoor cats live longer lives than their outdoor counterparts because there are much fewer dangers for a kitty that never steps outside. Outdoor cats have risks of getting into fights with other outdoor cats (and as a result contracting serious viruses like feline leukemia virus - FeLV or feline immunodeficiency virus - FIV). They are also more at risk of getting injured by dogs or getting hit by a passing car in busy neighborhoods. However, indoor-only cats can have problems as well. Indoor cats have a higher incidence of developing lower urinary tract problems which, in some cases, is thought to develop because of increased stress. Some believe this increased stress develops because the cats are confined indoors and not allowed to get the mental stimulation and activity from outdoor exposure. Indoor cats also have a higher incidence of obesity which is likely due to boredom and inactivity from an indoor only lifestyle. In the end, it is a personal decision between you and your kitty. You should take into consideration all of the risks and benefits of both situations before making your final decision. If you decide to allow your cat to spend time outdoors, do make sure that he is up to date on his vaccinations.    « less

At our hospital, we have four categories of dental disease. Grade 1 = Gingivitis only (this is the red line of inflammation of the gums just along the edge where the gum meets the tooth) Grade 2 = Gingivitis and plaque (plaque is the slimy light brown accumulation on the teeth that you can still scrape off with your fingernail or toothbrush) Grade 3 = Gingivitis, plaque and calculus (calculus is mineralized plaque and cannot be scraped off with your fingernail) Grade 4 = Exposure of tooth roots, abscessed or loose teeth In general, our recommendations are that with Grade 1 or 2 dental disease, we ask the owners to try to do home care (such as brushing the teeth daily, using oral rinses or chews) to prevent the disease from progressing into the 3 or 4 range. Once the plaque mineralizes, it forms a kind of seal allowing anaerobic bacteria (bacteria that grow in the absence of oxygen) to grow. These bacteria start to work their way under the gumline to destroy the bone which is holding onto the tooth. If this is allowed to go on long enough, it can eventually lead to severe periodontal disease and tooth loss. Chronic periodontal disease is one of the most common and under-recognized infections in dogs and cats. The constant bacterial infection in the mouth can be damaging to the heart, kidneys and other internal organs over time. General anesthesia is required when doing a cleaning on dogs and cats. The reason for this is because in order for the teeth to be thoroughly cleaned, the plaque and calculus on the crowns of the teeth as well as under the gum-line needs to be removed. While the calculus on the crowns of the teeth can sometimes be removed (in very good dogs) without full anesthesia, it is unlikely that a thorough sub-gingival cleaning can be performed. Other reasons general anesthesia is necessary is to take dental radiographs, to treat diseased teeth or to extract a bad tooth. General anesthesia always poses a risk, however, your veterinarian will perform a complete physical exam as well as a pre-anesthetic workup (i.e. bloodwork, EKG of the heart, etc) to make sure your pet is healthy enough for anesthesia. If problems are found during the pre-anesthetic testing, the procedure may be postponed or the anesthetic drug choices may be altered by the veterinarian.    « less

Whenever introducing two new pets, you want to start slow. Have one person in the room who is "in charge" of each pet so they can grab and go in case things aren't going well. Keep the puppy on a leash and allow them to see each other. Depending on the cat, he may hiss, swat and run, or be interested and friendly (making your life much easier). Make sure the cat always has a safe place to run and hide from the dog if he is very fearful. If one or both is being very aggressive and are in danger of harming the other one, you may need to keep them in separate rooms when the dog is in the house and just allow them to sniff each other under the door at first. Don't try to press them to be friends, this may never happen. They may learn to tolerate each other without fighting but they may never be best buddies.    « less

He may be so excited because of the kaleidoscope of smells and different animals at the office. He may also be barking so much because he is nervous or stressed and this is his way of dealing with that stress. You may want to try bringing him into the vet hospital many times just to walk through to desensitize him so he does not get so excited. If he goes in so often, it will not be such an exciting place anymore. And if he is barking due to stress because he is worried something will happen, he will realize there is nothing to fear when you take him several times and nothing bad happens. The other component is counter-conditioning, or rewarding the desired behavior. When you take him to the hospital and he is out of control, give hiim no attention at all. Do not speak to him or try to correct him, but completely ignore him. When he calms down and sits (or stops barking), that is when you reward him with attention, affection and treats. This will make him realize that he gets positive attention when he is behaving properly and gets nothing when he is misbehaving.    « less

It depends on the severity of the ulcer. Some types of corneal ulcers are complicated and very deep taking a long time and extensive treatments (sometimes even surgery) to correct. Other types are very superficial and resolve within a few days. You should schedule a recheck exam with your veterinarian to have them re-evaluate the eye and check on the progress. He may need different medications or a surgical procedure to repair his ulcer.   « less

Overfeeding, not exercising, and allowing the pet to become to heavy. Most people believe that if their pet is eating, it is healthy. However, obesity is one of the main causes of unhealthy pets we see in our practice. Sterilization will allow the body's metabolism to slow down and pets become heavy. If you remember "calories in must equal calories burned" it will keep the pet trim and healthier.    « less