PVC - Dog Information

Preventive care is a course of medicine which promotes proper nutrition, vaccinations, deworming and a healthy environment. This helps your puppy to grow into a happy, healthy adult dog. It begins before your puppy is even born and lasts until well into his senior years. Preventive medicine forms the core of most veterinary practices and is what most veterinarians routinely practice.

Routine physical examinations to evaluate weight and vitality
Deworm at regular intervals to remove harmful parasites that rob puppies of nutrients

Puppies should be dewormed every 2 weeks
Begin heartworm prevention when old enough
Control fleas

Vaccination against diseases that can be harmful or deadly to puppies

We vaccinate against distemper, parvovirus, coronavirus, hepatitis and leptospirosis
Bordetella (‘kennel cough’) vaccine is recommended if you will be boarding or showing your dog

Assess that proper nutrition is provided
Assess that the puppy is in an appropriate environment with plenty of socialization
Discuss spaying and neutering to prevent unwanted animals and to avoid costly health problems later in life

Annual physical examinations and weight monitoring
Annual vaccination against disease

Dogs entering areas known to contain ticks that transmit Lymes disease should be vaccinated yearly

Routine parasite control

Dogs should have regular deworming at least twice per year
Dogs should be on heartworm prevention from May through November
Control fleas to prevent tapeworms

Assess of proper nutrition
Assess any behavioral concerns

Annual or bi-annual physical examinations and weight monitoring
Appropriate vaccinations
Parasite control

Regular deworming, heartworm and flea control are important

Evaluation of nutrition
Behavioral evaluation
Bloodwork and other laboratory work to screen for potential disease

The goal in preventive care is to ensure a long and healthy life, free from disease, and rich in interaction and socialization. Prevention of disease is always cheaper than diagnosing and treating disease.

Please feel free to ask one of our veterinarians to discuss any or all of the aspects of preventive care. We are here to help you help your dog have a long and healthy life.

Animals normally respond and interact with people, other animals and their environment based their behavioral characteristics. Behaviors can be desirable or undesirable depending on your point-of-view, but there are some behaviors that are generally accepted as being undesirable (bad behavior).

from the mother,such as when she teaches the puppy to stay within her sight
from littermates, such as when puppies ‘draw the line’ at rough play
from pet owners who train puppies to urinate outside or sleep in a crate
staying away from painful situations

Dogs require a social order and a place within that order. They will seek to dominate other animals or people if it will benefit their position. This is due to the innate ‘pack’ mentality of dogs; some are leaders and others are followers, some eat more and some eat less. Above all, dogs should be treated as dogs in the most humane manner. They require frequent interaction or they become bored, frustrated and often destructive. They require good nutrition or they begin eating unusual things out of hunger or inadequacy. They require basic command training so that an owner can control their behavior and direct it to desirable activities.

Puppies who are orphaned, or who have not interacted well with littermates, are at risk for developing bad behaviors. Puppies not used to handling become fearful of people and especially of curious children (who may be perceived as a threat). Dogs isolated from other animals and people become fearful of social situations and may become aggressive. Dogs that become dominant are unruly, difficult to handle, and difficult to examine or treat at the veterinarians office.

If behavioral problems are developing there is a varied number of resources available to you. Feel free to discuss options with our staff who will make recommendations. These may include attending local obedience classes, finding reading sources, or even referral to veterinarians who are board certified in animal behavior. Please also refer to our links page for other sources on this vast subject.

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Proper nutrition allows the body to perform at optimum levels and promotes longer life. In human nutritional circles there is a saying “junk in, junk out”. This simple ideal holds true for your dog. It is important to recognize that nutritional needs change with time.

Access to first milk or colostrum is critical – it contains valuable nutrients and immune system boosters
Adequate nursing will ensure proper growth and development during the first 4 to 6 weeks until weaning
Puppies should then begin to eat good quality solid food after weaning
Setting regular meal times establishes structure which most dogs will need and allows you to know how much food they are eating
Clean fresh water should be available at all times and changed as often as needed
Treats and snacks should be limited to rewarding good behavior as they may contain excessive calories
The number one nutritional disorder in dogs is obesity and it can be prevented when your dog is still a puppy

Lifestyle dictates what and how much you should feed your dog: working dog versus lap dog
Set meal times are desirable so that you know how much your dog is eating
Providing a high quality, balanced diet is essential
Treats, snacks and table scraps add calories
Prevention of obesity is very important in the adult dog

As your dog ages, his stomach may be more sensitive and his diet should be easy to digest
Providing a high quality, balanced senior diet is crucial
Set meal times become increasingly important so that you can detect decreases in appetite, often an early sign of illness
Remember that the metabolism slows down with age and obesity can quickly develop

A high quality, balanced diet is all your dog needs to maintain his health. Table scraps, treats and snacks add unneccesary calories and may contain substances harmful to your dog. Please feel free to discuss your dog’s nutrition with one of our veterinarians.

Spaying (ovariohysterectomy) is one of the most commonly performed surgeries in veterinary medicine and is usually performed on animals around 6 months of age. Please note that the use of the word ‘routine’ should not be mistaken for ‘quick, easy and free from complications’! Spaying plays a major role in preventing unwanted puppies and helps prevent certain disease conditions later in life.

In the female dog, this surgery, performed at 6 months of age, involves removing most of the reproductive tract. This includes the ovaries, the uterine horns and part of the uterine body. The cervix remains. Since the abdominal cavity is opened this surgery is considered a major surgery. The procedure may involve several steps as follows:

Pre-anesthetic physical examination is performed on ALL surgery patients
Pre-anesthetic bloodwork may be performed as requested by the owner
In some instances, the physical examination may dictate the need for pre-operative bloodwork
Administration of pre-operative medication that allows safer anesthesia and provides analgesia (pain relief)
Preparation of the patient
Surgery
Post-operative recovery and pain control
Recovering animals are closely monitored

As with any surgery, complications may arise and some of these may be very serious. Major complications are:

Anesthetic complications such as cardio-respiratory arrest
Hemorrhage (abdominal bleeding)
Dehiscence (opening) of the incision
Infection

Complications, by nature, are unforeseen and are dealt with as they arise. It is important that we have a way of contacting you on the day of the surgery in case emergencies occur. If we cannot contact you at the indicated number we will automatically begin emergency or corrective procedures that may appear on your bill. The incidence of complication is extremely low due to close monitoring of the patient before, during, and after the procedure. We cannot predict when complications will occur and in which animals they will occur. As we are not a 24-hour care facility, some complications occur whenever the clinic is closed and the staff no longer present. This should be made clear to you prior to admitting your pet for surgery and will be stated in writing on the consent form. Please read this form carefully and ask questions – we will be glad to address your concerns

Neutering (orchectomy, castration) involves removal of the testicles which are the organs that produce reproductive cells or sperm. Normally, this surgery does not involve entry into the abdominal cavity and the incision is usually small, maybe 1 to 2 inches. Most of the time skin sutures will not be placed. Again, the procedure may involve several steps as follows:

Pre-anesthetic physical examination is performed on ALL surgery patients
Pre-anesthetic bloodwork as requested by the owner or as indicated by the physical examination
Administration of pre-operative medication that allows safer anesthesia and provides analgesia (pain relief)
Preparation of the patient
Surgery
Post-operative recovery and pain control
Recovering animals are closely monitored

As with any surgery, complications may arise and some of these may be very serious. Major complications are:

When one or both testicles fail to descend into the scrotum they are known as cryptorchid. There is a genetic basis to this condition. Neutering these animals is more involved and surgery is longer. As such, normal neutering fees do not apply to these cases. This should be discussed with you prior to admitting your dog for the procedure.

If you desire to have tails docked and dewclaws removed this should be performed within the first 3 days of birth. Dewclaws are removed and cauterized. Tails will be docked according to the owners’ desired lengths ,otherwise a table of breed standards will be followed. The skin at the end of the tail will be sewn closed with absorbable suture that will not need to be removed. Note that anesthesia is not used and is not necessary. Puppies usually fall asleep right after the procedure.

If the puppies are older than 3 – 5 days then significant bleeding can occur, especially from the docked tail. Please be aware of this complication and you should discuss this issue with the veterinarian prior to scheduling.

Please keep the puppies’ environment sanitary as much as possible to prevent fecal matter and dirt from contaminating the tail end and suture.

If you wish your puppy to have its ears cropped, please schedule an appointment to meet with a veterinarian to answer your questions. It is customary for the owners to provide a standard breed photograph from which we can map the surgery.

The ear margins will be closed with sutures that will disintegrate over time. They should be kept clean and dry until healing has progressed. A regular schedule of on-a-week, off-a-week ear bandages will be scheduled for your puppy. It is important to follow this schedule closely to maximize the desired cosmetic effect. This will be explained to you at the initial visit and after the procedure.

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Whelping is the process of giving birth to puppies and follows an average gestation (pregnancy) of 63 days. While most dogs whelp without problems, some dogs may encounter trouble. It is often a good idea to let your veterinarian know when your dog is about to whelp so that any concerns may be discussed. Some breeds of dog may have trouble whelping due to their anatomy and may need veterinary assistance to have their puppies. A pregnancy x-ray, taken at 45+ days after breeding, can confirm pregnancy and help determine the rough count of pups to expect.

Just prior to whelping you may notice some changes in your dogs behavior. She may spend more time in her ‘nest’ and may re-arrange it more often. She will start to become more restless and may refuse to eat. Her body temperature may drop to below 100°F indicating whelping may occur within the next 12 to 24 hours.

Stage 1: uterine contractions begin; restlessness, pacing, shaking, refusal to eat, and even vomiting

Stage 2: pup is expelled and mother opens birth sac and stimulates pup (licking at pup)

Not all pups are followed by a placenta: it can be difficult to count placentas, especially if an attentive mother is eating them quickly!

Ensure that all pups are moving and breathing on their own
The mother may not want to eat or drink but water should be available at all times throughout whelping
You may assist pups in finding teats to nurse on if they appear to be having trouble – they need to get the "first milk" (colostrum)

If the whelping date is 3 or more days overdue
If the mother has begun labor but has not delivered a pup within 1 hour of contractions beginning
If you know more pups are present (but none appear despite continued contractions for 2 or more hours)
If a large amount of bright red blood appears or if she appears to be in extreme pain
If a pup(s) is still born

Note, the mother can run a fever over the next 24 to 48 hours after whelping and you can expect vaginal discharge for several days. This is normally odorless and variable in color (red to green).

Occasionally, some mothers show no interest in their new litter or even to certain pups within a litter. If these pups fail to receive colostrum they will lose valuable nutrients and may compromise their immune system. These pups tend to do poorly or even die. Commercial formulas are available for hand-rearing or supplementing pups. Weigh these pups frequently so that they receive the proper amount of milk.

When we play with our puppies and kittens, and watch them grow, we take for granted that our little friends don’t live as long as we do. Watching our older pets, we may see the subtle signs that age is taking its’ toll. Health problems become more common and they seem to lose interest in the activities they once humored us with. Sometimes they become sick, often with painful conditions, and despite the best medical efforts, they continue to worsen. Sometimes a decision must be made.

Euthanasia is an ethical and moral decision. Because our pets cannot decide for themselves, it is up to us – you the pet owner and the veterinary staff, to discuss what should be done and when. Veterinarians and their staff have struggled with this issue as they are almost always pet owners and have had to face this decision themselves. As such, we are always available to discuss euthanasia and answer your questions. Discussing euthanasia with us, and with your family well in advance, may help make that final day just a little bit easier.

In plain terms, euthanasia is the use of an approved method for bringing about the death of an animal. The accepted method in veterinary medicine is through the use of an overdose of intravenous anesthetic. The medication will first cause the animal to enter deep sleep, and then stop the heart.

Usually, a specific portion of a front or back leg will be clipped of hair to reveal an appropriate vein. Application of alcohol often helps the vein ‘stand-up’ (become more prominent). Once sure that the needle is within the vein the solution is injected smoothly.

We strongly recommend that you schedule an appointment so that time is set-aside for you and your pet. There is nothing worse than simply showing up and having to wait in a room full of other people and their pets.

You need to decide what you would like to do with your pet’s remains. There are several options available to you and prices vary:
• Home burial
• Group burial at an approved pet cemetery
• Cremation with ashes returned

When you arrive you will be asked to fill out and sign paperwork giving consent for the euthanasia. You will indicate on this form which method you have chosen for your pet’s remains. A copy of the euthanasia consent will be given to you so you may present it to the town dog licensing department. The bill will be invoiced out at this time to allow you to leave at your own pace and privacy afterwards.

You do not have to be present, and in such cases, please know that people who have dedicated their lives to animals will surround your pet. If you choose to be present, there are several things you should understand about the process and what will actually happen.

Your pet may struggle when restrained for the injection, especially old animals and cats. It is important to re-assure them that you are there. Often, your pet will have passed by the time the injection is finished. Some animals will continue to take deep breaths and they often relieve their bladder and bowels. Their eyes will remain open. The heart will be listened for – once it has stopped and the pupils are fixed and dilated, the animal is clinically dead.

For animals that will not tolerate restraint, either a different restraint position will be chosen or a sedative may be administered. Remember, the process is also upsetting for the veterinarians and staff present. They will want the process to proceed as smoothly as possible. Please co-operate with them should any problems arise.