About Austin Animal Hospital

• Is a raw food diet more beneficial than a commercial brand diet?
• When should my pet be spayed or neutered?
• Should my female cat/dog have a litter first?
• How often should my pet receive vaccinations?
• My pet has been sprayed by a skunk. What should I do?
• My pet has just eaten chocolate. Should I be concerned?
• When should I start training my puppy?
• My pet gets very frightened around Halloween. What should I do?
• My friends/family say that my pet is too thin/fat. What is the right weight for my pet?
• My pet seems sick and in pain. Can I give my pet some of my own medication?

For the health and safety of your dog and family, a good quality commercial diet is superior to any diet you would make at home. There has been a new interest in feeding raw foods to pets, with the assumption that raw meats and vegetables mimic a "natural" diet eaten by wolves or wild cats. Unfortunately, this is not the case. The raw meats available for pet foods have been processed and are often off-cuts or not for human consumption. They have higher amounts of bacteria than would freshly killed prey. Even human grade raw meats are higher in bacterial content (which is why we cook meat). Feeding raw meats to your pet can increase exposure of salmonella, campylobacter and e-coli bacteria to your pet and to family members. Also, feeding raw meats and vegetables does not ensure that your pet is getting correct vitamin/mineral content or in the right proportions. Too much or too little of one type of vitamin or mineral can cause an imbalance in another. Raw vegetables in moderation can make for a great low-calorie treat. Good quality commercial pet foods have been rigourously tested and researched to ensure that your pet receives the right proportions of vitamins and minerals as well as essential fats, proteins, carbohydrates and fibre. While every pet has different dietary needs, there are many different formulations which can be tailored to your pet's individual needs. Please ask one of our staff to recommend a suitable diet for your pet.

The ideal time for a female cat or dog is around 5 - 6 months of age, before they have their first heat. The ideal time for a male cat or dog is around 7 months of age. For more information, refer to the spay and neuter section under "Services".

There is no benefit to your pet by having a litter before getting spayed. Having a litter will not change her personality. Shelters and city pounds are over-run with unwanted pets. Please do not contribute to this crisis by allowing your pet to have kittens or puppies that may some day end up in a shelter.

Your pet should be vaccinated once yearly along with a complete health exam. Rabies vaccines are given every 3 years after your pet is 1 year old. For more information, refer to the vaccination section under "Services".

There are several new products on the market which are very effective at neutralizing skunk odour and are safe to use on your pet. Follow the manufacturer's recommendations closely for best results. The entire area of the spray must be saturated or treated with the product for it to be effective. Please inquire at our office to find a suitable product for your pet.

Chocolate contains caffeine and theobromine which are compounds that are potentially lethal for dogs and cats. The type of chocolate, how much your pet has ingested, the size of your pet and how long ago the chocolate was consumed are all factors affecting the risk of toxicity in chocolate poisoning. If your pet has only just consumed chocolate, you need to make your pet vomit immediately. Please contact your veterinarian to receive instructions on how to make your pet vomit. If you are not sure when your pet ate the chocolate, please take your pet to your veterinarian as soon as you discover that the chocolate has been consumed. Try to determine how much chocolate your pet ate and whether the chocolate was dark or milk chocolate. Dark chocolate has higher concentration of caffeine and theobromine than does milk or white chocolate. Please ensure that chocolates and other candies are kept inaccessible to pets.

Trainig should commence as soon as possible! You should start training your puppy at home the day you get him/her! You should enroll your puppy in a puppy class as soon as your puppy has received its second set of vaccines - at around 12 weeks of age. Puppy classes teach your puppy more than just obedience. You will learn about bite inhibition, socialization, house training and a whole wealth of important information you need to raise a happy, healthy puppy. Puppies have several developmental phases that need to be addressed while they are very young or it's too late. Don't delay enrolling your puppy in puppy school! Please call our office for more information.

The loud noises of firecrackers, fireworks and strangers coming to your house can be very stressful and frightening for pets. Many pets run away and get lost or killed by cars around Halloween time. It is important that your pet can be easily identified with a microchip or tattoo as well as a name tag with current information so that your pet can be returned to you. During Halloween, keep your pet indoors, preferably in a room away from the noise. You could play some music or have the TV on to help mask some of the sounds. If your pet is really frightened, please inquire about having a sedative prescribed.

Most pets are heavier than they should be. You should be able to see a waist on your pet when looking directly down on their back. They should also have a noticeable "tuck" under the bell. You should easily be able to feel your pet's ribs when running your hand across the ribcage. If you have to "dig" to find the ribs, then your pet is probably overweight. Being overweight can be hard on the joints and internal organs such as the heart. Sometimes, diseases can cause your pet to be overweight. Please ensure that your pet is scheduled for an exam to rule out any underlying medical condition. Some conditions are easily regulated with medication and change of diet. On the other hand, pets whose ribs are easily seen and whose bones are jutting out or have fat and muscle loss are probably too thin. This could be a result of malnutrition, lower caloric intake than energy expended or disease. If you feel your pet is too thin, please schedule for an appointment to rule out any underlying medical conditions. Some medical conditions can be easily regulated or kept in check with the right medications and diet. Please contact our staff to come in for a complimentary weigh-in and body score test. Our staff will be pleased to discuss dietary and exercise regimes individually suited to your pet.

Never give any medication to your pet without consulting with your veterinarian first. Because of differences in morphology between dogs, cats and people, some common medications can be toxic to pets. Some medications can be give safely to dogs but not to cats. Only use medications under the recommendation of your veterinarian.