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The Real Deal on Puppy Buying by HSUS
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The first step on the road to pet ownership is to ask yourself some tough questions: Why do you want a puppy? Can you afford one? Are you prepared to take care of a dog every day for his entire life? If you’ve decided you’re ready for a dog, follow The Humane Society of the United States’ top five puppy buying tips and you’ll be far more likely to secure a healthy, well-socialized dog who doesn’t drain your emotions or your pocketbook. One, in other words, who doesn’t come from a puppy mill. 1. Find a responsible breeder and visit their premises. Responsible breeders provide a loving and healthy environment for their canine companions, but don’t take their word for it. Never buy a puppy without seeing where they and their parents are raised and housed with your own eyes. 2. Don’t be fooled by common claims made by pet stores when pushing their puppies. Despite what they may tell you, pet stores do sell puppy mill puppies. 3. Don’t be swayed by a great website or ad. Just because a website says great things about their “home raised” or “family raised” puppies doesn’t make it true. Many puppy millers pose as small family breeders online and in newspaper and magazine ads. See for yourself and get recommendations. 4. Consider adoption. Adopting a dog instead of buying one is the surest way to strike a blow against puppy mills. To find the perfect match, you’ll want to choose the right one for you and your lifestyle. Animal shelters have dozens of dogs, many of them purebreds, just waiting for homes. There are also breed specific rescue groups for every breed of dog, including “designer” or “hybrids” like Labradoodles and Puggles. 5. Avoid the temptation to “rescue” a puppy mill puppy by buying him. Even though your intentions may be good, don’t buy a puppy with the idea that you are “rescuing” him or her. Your “rescue” opens up space for another poor puppy mill puppy and puts money into the pockets of the puppy mill. Pet stores won’t leave their cages empty and websites won’t leave their pages blank. The money you spend on your puppy goes right back to the puppy mill operator and ensures they can continue breeding and treating dogs inhumanely. If you see someone keeping puppies in poor conditions, alert your local animal control authorities instead of buying. Past Questions for Dr. Lear Horne Question: We’ve just moved to Dallas from New Jersey. What are the rules for-vaccinations for our dog and cat? Answer: According to Texas state health code an animal must be vaccinated by 4 months of age and the interval thereafter is generally established by every county or municipality. All rabies vaccinations must be administered by a veterinarian. In a few municipalities you must vaccinate annually, but for most every 3 years is adequate with an appropriately labeled vaccine. Question: Our cat is having kittens (she will be an inside cat from now on!).-Can we have her spayed right after she gives birth? Also how old do the-kittens have to be before we get them fixed? Answer: You should consider allowing mom a 6-8 week break with her kittens prior to spaying her.- As for the kittens you should consider spaying/neutering them when your veterinarian feels comfortable doing this generally no smaller than 2-4 pounds in body weight and preferably before their first heat cycle.- Discuss any particular concerns with your veterinarian. Question: Is there anything you can do about hearing loss in dogs? Schatzi,-our dachshund, is getting deaf. Answer:
First, you should have your veterinarian take a look in the ears, to ensure
there isn’t evidence of disease or acoustical obstruction in the
canal (ear, hair, debris, tumors).- Unfortunately, there is not likely
a treatment which will offer additional perception to your animal.- If
your dog still has some residual hearing, take this opportunity to associate
common instructions and communications with Question: Our usually calm cat has started acting crazy - jumping around and-batting at her ears. What’s going on? Answer:
Difficult to say.-Likely an allergic reaction or “bug bite,”
but you may want to check her collar for irritants or an inappropriate
fit. You may want to have your veterinarian take a look, especially Q. I
want to take Bentley, our Westie, to the lake this summer, but A. You don’t,
unless you want a big mess. Bentley has “built-in” sunscreenchair.
Just keep in mind, even for people; sunscreen is preventative, not protective
from damage from the sun’s rays. The most important recommendation
for animal and people alike is to stay out of the sun during peak daylight
hours - roughly 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. While a Q. Should I keep my dog’s water bowl cold, or can he drink water that has been outside and is pretty warm? A. If you are making the water distasteful by letting it warm, you’re really not doing much to address or prevent your pet’s dehydration. Ideally, you should be changing it daily and placing it in an area without direct sunlight. This may make it warmer than the air temperature and encourage algae to bloom, some of which can be harmful to pets. Consider adding ice cubes or changing the water in the mid afternoon during peak heat hours (around 3 p.m.) to encourage water intake then. Even room temperature water is considerably cooler than your pet’s body temperature and will be far more satisfying for them. You may want to consider simply bringing them indoors during these times. Q. What the best way to remove a tick from my dog? Didn’t we used to put Vaseline or fingernail polish on them? A. If your animal has a tick and you have never seen one removed appropriately, see your veterinarian for a demonstration. Special devices are made, but “tweezers” will work in a pinch. The most important thing is to grasp the mouthparts as close to the skin as possible, avoiding the body (where the legs attach and the gray, blood engorged parts). QUESTION: I keep forgetting to give Lulu her heartworm pills - Sentinel. Do I need to get her tested every time I miss a month or am late by a week or two? ANSWER: I am not
going to say just “no” and let you off easy. It is very important
that you stay on a regular schedule with your animal’s heartworm
preventative. Heartworm disease can be very damaging to heart, kidneys,
and lungs. That being said I know our lives do not always fit in a perfect
mold and sometimes the most habitual things may QUESTION: Why does Rufus drag his hind end across the carpet? Ewww! ANSWER: Chances are he has impacted or “clogged” anal sacs. I have on occasion noted some dogs with allergies, tapeworms, or anal foreign material (ex: adhered feces or string partially passed) to exhibit this behavior. If this behavior is noted, it is probably best to see your veterinarian initially, then have them prescribe a regimen of intermittent manual expression +/- some dietary adjustments. In my experience, while many groomers and veterinary technicians may perform this procedure comfortably, to express these sacs too often may cause problems. Have your veterinarian make recommendations regarding the management of this problem. Many times weight, genetics, and gastrointestinal disease play a role in the development of the impaction. QUESTION: We have an outside cat who adopted us about 12 years ago. He was neutered and de-clawed on his front paws before he ran away from home and adopted us. He doesn’t go far from our house, but refuses to come inside - even with tempting treats, or if we get him in, he spends the whole time yowling at the door to be let out. Lately another cat (younger) has started coming around and ours seems intimidated. Is there anything we can do to protect Jerome as he continues to age and lose his power to protect his territory? ANSWER: Shy of removing the other younger cat or consulting a behaviorist to a help you with your imposed domestication hurdle, I don’t have a straight forward answer for you. My opinion is that all cats should be indoors if possible; there are just too many problems and dangers posed to them being outdoors, especially declawed. Don’t forget “leash laws” apply to every animal, including catscmeaning that reasonable control should exhibited over every outdoor animal. QUESTION:
I know you practice emergency pet medicine. What’s the most ANSWER: As far as
reasonably preventable problems, most dangers posed to healthy animals
occur outdoors such as: other unfamiliar (potentially aggressive or unhealthy)
animals, sharp objects (fencing/metal edging), and potential poisons or
un-prescribed POISON EMERGENCIES QUESTION:-I want to adopt a shelter dog. What should I look for to be sure it’s healthy? Shouldn’t I get a veterinarian to check him out before I sign the papers? ANSWER: Is this a trick question? Most definitely, unless you are a charitable soul willing to indiscriminately offer a home to any animal that may need one. Would you just accept the financial, emotional, and time related responsibilities that may go along with any unobservable medical condition that it may have? There are some ailments that a veterinarian may be able to remedy quickly and easily if you have found the perfect new companion. QUESTION: Is it an old wives tales that pregnant women shouldn’t have a cat, or is that true? ANSWER: Everyone should have a cat, even those staunch dog lovers out there. The disease that most are concerned with regarding this topic is a coccidian disease called Toxoplasmosis. Cats are the natural, but only the temporary host for the organism, Toxoplasma gondii. They-typically shed the organism for a couple of weeks out of their entire lives, and in large numbers for only a couple of days out of that time. Women who have developed an antibody response to this organism typically are protected from Toxoplasma, subsequently offering protection to their unborn child. There is probably more risk of acquiring the disease through gardening or handling or consumption of undercooked meat. Wives, get your husbands to clean the litter box to avoid any remote chances of exposure during your pregnancy. Just remember common sense hygiene and speak with you OB/Gyn to discuss potential health risks if you are pregnant, or are planning to be. QUESTION: How do I tell if Jasper has worms? ANSWER: I guess that asking him is out of the question. Generally most worms are easily discovered by performing a test called a fecal flotation, performed by your veterinarian or their staff. There are many parasites that may infest your animal’s gastro-intestinal tract which may require more specialized or repeated testing to discover, as they may be shed in low numbers or intermittently. Speak with your veterinarian regarding your concerns, and when you bring your pet in to see the doctor, don’t forget to bring a freshly collected sample of stool. And remember to keep giving that monthly heartworm preventative. QUESTION: How do I keep my cat, Curio, from eating my houseplants? I’ve seen the grow-it-yourself catnip in stores. ANSWER: Shy of removing
the houseplants, you pose a good suggestion QUESTION:
Is there some drug I can give my cat to help get her in ANSWER: In general
I’m not crazy about the pre-exam sedation (I hope I QUESTION: How much exercise should I give my new Chihuahua puppy? I usually walk about 2 miles a day and would like Pocotito to walk with me. Is that too much? ANSWER: I think
it is generally understood that with young puppies there is always such
a thing as too much exercise (looking at most in play you wouldn’t
think so). I think we should look at the natural behavior of canids (dog/dog-like
animals) in the wild.-You don’t find too many young animals endurance
running here. Most puppies are active enough on their own and they have
soft malleable joints and bones. Too much activity too early could potentially
lead to growth abnormalities. I think for a young Chihuahua puppy you
will find most veterinarians would agree that 2 miles is a bit excessive.
For a small QUESTION: My dog, Potsie, has started dragging his hindparts across the carpet. Ewwww! ANSWER: Potsie most
likely needs to have a rectal examination with and anal QUESTION: Will it hurt my dog if she eats out of the cat litter box? What about rabbit poop?- (We might have a problem here.) ANSWER: As a general rule, most gastrointestinal parasites don’t cross the species line, but there are some that do. Cats and dogs being very similar genetically have a few shared parasites. There is always the chance that the significant dietary change and the bacteria present in the stool may incite disease as well. Try to discourage this behavior, but your dog with bad taste will likely be fine, especially if this habit stops and those other animals are generally healthy. Consult your veterinarian should you note any vomiting, diarrhea, or inactivity. Lear D. Horne, DVM is a graduate of Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine.-Throughout his professional career he has had a particular interest in emergency and critical care.-His new emergency practice, The E-Clinic, inc.-is located in uptown Dallas. He is married to a zoo veterinarian and has four dogs, two cats, four birds,one rabbit, and-three tortoises. Send your questions for Dr. Horne to vet@ccpets.com. Remember Dr. Horne is an emergency vet, however he will not be checking emails daily, so if you have an emergency, call your pet’s regular veterinarian! |