FAQs at The Andys Veterinary Hospital When do dogs and cats get their first vaccination? Puppies and kittens get their first vaccinations at 6 weeks of age. This will follow with a series of vaccinations until they are 4 months of age. Thereafter, they are given annual boosters for the rest of their lives. When do they get their first rabies vaccination? We recommend rabies vaccination at 3 months of age and a booster shot one month after the primary rabies vaccination. My pet keeps shading a lot, what do l need to do? This can be likening to your own daily hair loss and shedding is also natural in some pets.  There are breeds of dogs and cats that naturally shed more than others. This can be reduced by daily combing or grooming your pet to get rid of the dead hairs and feeding the right diet. However, excessive shedding can be a sign of disease or illness that requires our attention. Why is my pet keeps dragging or rubbing its rear on the ground? Your pet may have full or impacted anal glands that need to be expressed. Tape worms also cause irritation of the bowel and this could be a sign that your pet needs to be dewormed. There may be other serious issues like anal furunculosis, foreign body, bite wounds and urinary problems that may need our attention. Please call us the clinic to make an appointment and It will be helpful if you could bring a fecal sample to your appointment for us to check for the presence of worm eggs. My dog keeps shaking his head and scratching his ears, what could be the problem? This could be mites, fungal or bacterial infection. Some breeds of dogs like the German shepherd have atopic dermatitis which is an allergic reaction triggered by food, mites and fungal infection. It also could be from aural hematoma which develops as secondary to the infections that have just been mentioned. It is worth investigating the cause of head shaking from the history, skin scraping and allergen test before treatment. Which days do you perform surgeries? We perform surgeries on every day of the week except on Sundays. However, emergency surgeries are handled any time of the day and week. What are the benefits of having my pet spayed or neutered? Spaying (Ovariohysterectomy) or neutering (Castration) your pets greatly reduces risk of developing some types of cancer like ovarian, uterine, mammary and testicular cancer. Spaying your animals eliminate the chances of your pets developing uterine infection, known as a pyometra, which is normally a life threatening condition.  In addition, aggressive behaviours towards other mates will be greatly reduced.  Spaying or neutering may also decrease or even eliminate unwanted behaviours such as aggression or running off from the homestead. Spaying or neutering pets is a responsible way of dealing with unwanted litters of puppies or kittens without placing an extra burden on animal shelters. What should l do when my pet is having surgery the following day? It is recommended that you provide food until about 10:00 PM the night before surgery. Do not restrict water intake and let your pet have access to water at all times. Your pet will be provided with food and water once they have fully recovered from anaesthesia. When should I pick my pet up following their surgery? This will depends on the type of procedure but for routine spay and neuter, We usually allow a patient that is neutered to go home on the same day the surgery is performed, but for any pet that is spayed, it is generally recommended that they spends the night at the clinic. In some circumstances, your pet may stay for much longer period depending on the type of procedure performed and the severity of the animal’s condition. At what age should my puppy or kitten be spayed or neutered? We generally recommend waiting until your pet is 6 months of age so that any urinary incontinence issues associated with spaying or neutering are avoided. It is recommended that your pets are spayed before their first cycle as this reduces chances of them having mammary tumours or pyometra. How do I know when my pet needs a dental check up? Foul or Bad breath, excessive drooling, inflamed gums, plaque or tartar build-up, and loose teeth are indications that your pets needs a dental check up. We also do dental check up when your pet comes for routine vaccinations. Schedule appointment for dental procedure as this is carried out under general anaesthesia. When should my dog be on heartworm medication?  Heartworm disease is common at the coastal and the lake regions. It is a specific parasite that is transmitted by a biting mosquito and affects dogs, cats, ferrets and other mammals. It is very easy to prevent but very difficult to treat and is normally a life threatening disease. It is important you provide a history if you are travelling to these heart worm risk areas and we recommend testing your dog for heartworm disease before starting on the preventative. Do you board animals at your clinic? We board quite a few animals, but we have limited space from our in patients and it will be ideal to call in advance so that you can book a space for your pet. Prepared by: Dr. Anderson Gitari, Bvm, Mvet Surgery The Andys Veterinary Hospital.

Recommendations for new cat owners Cats are fun, playful, loving, independent, smart, curious and entertaining. They are easy to maintain especially when you learn the basics such as feeding, grooming, general health, safety tips and litter management. However, cats are not as easy to train as dogs and require patience to have them fully domesticated. Building kittens confidence Many kittens tend to be shy and reserved and may hide under furniture until they are sure they can trust you. They can cover up sickness leading to delayed medical attention. Simple reward based techniques are helpful in strengthening your bond with the cat. The aim of training cats is to allow them to choose how and when they interact with humans and other pets in your home. This makes their interactions safe and predictable for those around them. Cats are playful and they need toys and attention which they crave from their owners and family. They need space to express their joyful spirit and therefore your home environment should be safe. Cats love high places to climb and hide such as shelves, boxes or covered furniture. They shy away from the noisy, hustle and bustle of human activity. A scared cat with dilated pupils crouched in a corner are some of the things that indicate that your cat is frightened. Cats are territorial and introduction of a new pet or many visitors are some of the things that can create anxiety and stress. This should be done in careful manner and always pay attention to your cat’s body language and behavior to different interactions such as muscle relaxation or forward movement of the ears. Feeding CatsCats are meat eaters and this makes them true carnivores. They depend upon the nutrients present in meat to sustain their dietary needs.Domesticated cats will love freshly killed meat from rodents, rabbits, amphibians, birds, reptiles and fish, but cats are also opportunistic feeders and will readily take cooked food as well as dried cat food when offered, as long as the food is palatable.The natural diet of cats therefore does not include any vegetable matter, although cats have been known to eat certain plants and grasses occasionally, usually as an emetic or to help them vomit.Cats cannot synthesize some essential nutrients required for survival, including the amino acids like taurine and arginine, so these nutrients must be sourced from fresh meat in the natural diet.Cats lack the specific physiology to extract nutrients efficiently from plant-based materials, and require a high protein diet, which is why high-energy meat is the optimal food.Vegetarian cat food must be fortified with nutrients such as taurine and arachidonic acid that cats cannot synthesize from plant materials.Kittens need optimal calcium to phosphorus ratios for proper bone growth. Fractures and weak bones in kittens are mostly associated with poor diet. Nursing mother cats will have a higher need for calcium in their diet as they breast feed their kitties.Several dietary nutrients have a role in the overall health especially skin and hair. Both Omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids are important for good hair and skin. Unkempt hair and some of the allergies may be caused by poor diet.Male cats tend to get bladder stones which may caused mainly by nutritionally imbalanced diet.Most good commercial foods have the necessary nutritional ingredients that support optimal health in cats. It is important that cats’ nutritional needs are met when giving wet and /or dry foods. Read the labels careful just to make sure that the nutritional support needed by your cats is available in the food before buying.Vaccinations and dewormingSome of the kitties are born already infected by worms as some of them cross the placenta while in utero. Therefore deworming of the pregnant queen is essential for the health of the kitties when they are born. Kittens need to be dewormed every two weeks once they are born, kept in a clean and warm environment. Vaccinations against cat flu and feline pan leucopenia virus commence at 6 to 8 weeks. Sneezing, coughing and diarrhea caused by these viruses are very difficult to treat and weigh down on both the patient and the owner finances from the medical bills. Rabies vaccinations are done at 12 weeks and a booster repeated in 4 weeks time. These vaccinations are important for cats and preventable zoonotic disease like rabies in human.Litter box training and useCats naturally like relieving themselves in a sandy area which makes it easier to introduce the litter box. Consider dust-free litter as dust may create an allergy like feline asthma. It is also important to be consistent with the litter you provide as cats get used to specific brand and may not appreciate frequent changes. Provide privacy by placing the litter box in a less trafficked location to avoid sudden noises that would distract or frighten kittens. Avoid moving the box often from a room to another as it may confuse kittens and cause accidents in your home. You may need to place kittens in the litter box after meals, when they wake up or when you see them squatting in others places until they understand the purpose of the box. Avoid disciplining a kitten when she is inside the litter box lest they associate it with punishment or distress and hence develop an aversion to it. Before the kittens are fully litter-trained, consider confining them in a small area to ensure easy access to the litter boxes and minimize accident areas.  If accidents occur, clean them thoroughly to remove any traces of urine or feaces. This prevents them from soiling the same areas in future. Feeding kittens during the same time of the day helps with predicting when they will need to use the litter box as they feel the urge to have bowel movement approximately twenty minutes after meals.It is essential to have a litter box or two for each of your cats. The boxes should be large enough for your cat to sit, move and dig around comfortably. The walls should

Tick borne infections and control Ticks are ecto parasites that are fairly common in dogs. The severity of tick infestation depends in the region that the dog lives in and how often is the use of tick control medication. In a study done by Tsai-jung and et al found out that 63.7 % of dogs had history of tick infestation. Dogs that never had tick control were more likely to be infested by ticks. Dogs that were treated for tick control, those living indoors and those that had less than once a week walk, were less likely to be infested by ticks. Ticks attach to your dog by inserting their mouth parts onto the skin. Other may produce a sticky, glue-like substance that helps them stay attached on to the skin of the host. They are big enough to spot and feel like small bumps when the owner run their hands over the dog’s body, especially around the neck, ears, head and feet. They feed on the dog’s blood, transmitting a number of diseases and fall off when they have had enough. Pretty much these are parasites scavenges on your dog, causing depredation of otherwise good health. Signs your dog has ticks If you see a tick in your home, most probably your dog must have brought it in and there may be more that are still stuck on their skin. A dog may show varying degree of symptoms that include fever that can last anytime from 24 hrs to weeks. Check out for general weakness or lethargy, loss of appetite, in activity, unusual panting, weight loss, pain and joint stiffness. Dogs tend to lick the bitten area or shake their head constantly if the tick is burrowed in the ear canal. These symptoms call for dog to be rushed to the veterinarian as soon as possible. Diseases caused by ticks There are a number of diseases caused by ticks and they can be life threatening if left untreated. The common tick borne diseases in this region are babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, tick paralysis and haemobartonellosis. How to safely remove ticks It is essential to remove ticks as soon as you spot them as they can transmit tick borne infections. Ticks may fall off when you brush your dog. The best way to remove a tick is to twist it off carefully. It is quite difficult to prevent your dog from exposure of ticks since they enjoy outdoor activities like walks and hikes. Make it a routine to thoroughly inspect your dog for any ticks or signs of bites such as redness and irritation. There are a number of products that can be used for tick control in dogs. Regular use of tick control products like spot-on treatments and tablets to repel or kill ticks is essential. Spot on are effective for about 4 weeks in keeping the ticks and fleas away. Recently there has been introduction of oral tablets that are effective in tick control for up to 3 months. Use of these products and control of ticks in the environment effectively helps to eliminate tick infestation from our lovely pets. You can always call our clinic to seek advice from a doctor.

Diabetes in Dogs Overview November is a pet diabetes month, which provides an opportunity to understand the manifestation of diabetes in dogs.  Diabetes is generally a disorder of carbohydrates, fat and protein metabolism caused by absolute or relative insulin deficiency. Diabetes is among the common endocrine diseases in middle-aged and senior dogs. At least 70% of the patients older than 7 years may manifest the symptoms by the time of diagnosis. The prevalence is between 1:400 and 1:500 with female dogs being predominantly affected. The breeds that are likely to suffer from diabetes mellitus are Golden Retriever, Carn terrier and Tibetan terrier. Working with your veterinarian regularly is advisable so that you be able to comprehend when to seek prompt care for your dog. Types of Diabetes in Your Dog Diabetes in dogs occurs in two distinct forms: Type 1, Insulin-deficiency diabetes – This occurs when your dog is not producing sufficient insulin due to damage or pancreas that is not functioning. Insulin-deficiency diabetes is one of the common diabetes affecting in dogs. Type 2, Insulin-resistance diabetes – occurs when your dog’s pancreas produces insulin, but the body fails to utilize it accordingly. As a result, the body fails to process glucose in the blood and circulating it to the cells. Obese or older dogs are likely to develop insulin-resistance diabetes mellitus.  In addition, female dogs develop temporary insulin resistance when they are on heat or pregnant. Signs and Symptoms –           Dogs with excessive a lot of water or increased thirsty or lick empty water bowls –           Increased urination (Polyuria) due to the incessant need to get rid of the excess sugars –           Sudden weight loss despite the dog normal food portions because of inefficient conversion –           Onset of acute blindness that leads to cataracts –           Progressive lethargy, depression and vomiting –             In addition, the health of your dog could deteriorate due to possible kidney failure, enlarged    liver, and ketoacidosis. Treatment for Diabetes Diet – The diabetic dog should eat quality proteins and fiber-ridden carbohydrates. There are commercially available dog food that are specific for certain breeds or help tackle certain medical conditions. Exercise –It is recommended that moderate and consistent exercise routines should reduce sudden rise or drops in glucose levels. This is especially important in dogs that are kept in small spaces or compound. Injections – Your diabetic dog will require insulin injection everyday under the skin. It is recommended that you visit your veterinarian for treatment of your dog and for advice or further recommendation.

Cats living in high rise apartments Cats are quite inquisitive in nature and like exploring the areas around them. They have been known to be distracted by birds flying by their windows or balconies and they leap in anticipation of a good hunt. Sometimes this comes with a price of them accidentally falling, especially if they are living in high rise buildings. When cats fall from high rise buildings, they tend to land with their legs spread out causing severe injuries. Some get away with minor soft tissue injuries, others are not so lucky. Having life threatening injuries like fractures of the head, spine, pelvis and limbs. While others with the rupture of the diaphragm or bladder. We call these incidences as High rise syndrome and these accidents need to be attended by the veterinarian as soon as possible regardless of the time they happened. There is a very good chance of your cat surviving if they receive immediate and proper medical attention. These accidents can be avoided if the cat environment is well protected. Cat living spaces should be safe and protected from the accidental falls. These living spaces should be purpose-built having a house designed with the basic needs of cats in mind. The housing should improve the exploratory experience of cats living at home.