FAQ's

How often should I get my pet checked by a veterinarian?

Cats and dogs age more quickly than we humans do. When your pet is very young (less than a year), you should visit your veterinarian several times for physical exams, vaccinations, stool checks, preventive medicine, and spaying or neutering. After the first year, routine exams can be done once a year on many pets. However, as your pets get older (six years for a big dog, seven years for a typical dog or cat), they will need more attention. They should be brought in to be checked twice a year. It is in these later years that many preventable and controllable diseases can be detected and treated.

As with humans, aging is equated with more health issues. Your pet, when it gets into its teens, may need to visit your veterinarian many times in a year.

Why should I vaccinate my pet?

The current low incidence of preventable diseases is principally due to owners having their pets routinely vaccinated. Vaccination is the only proven method of protection against such life threatening diseases for which there are no specific cure and treatment may not only be unsuccessful but also extremely expensive.

When do I start vaccinating my pet and which vaccines are needed?

Puppies and kittens should begin their series of booster vaccines for core diseases at 6-8 weeks of age. They need between 2 and 4 booster vaccines depending on their age, and what viruses they are being vaccinated against. The veterinarians at Cascade Pet Hospital will discuss a custom tailored vaccination schedule for your puppy or kitten during your first visit.

When can I walk my puppy in the park?

Some dogs do not become adequately immunized against certain preventable diseases (Parvo most notably) until after their 3rd or 4th booster vaccine. Therefore, avoidance of locations where many dogs of unknown background congregate or have been seems to make sense. However, puppies do need to be socialized by being exposed to many sites, sounds, and experiences so we recommend taking them to less "canine intensive" sites and exposing them to known healthy, vaccinated dogs belonging to friends or in puppy training classes. Since some diseases and parasites are transmitted by exposure to feces, you need to control where your puppy goes when on his walks to avoid other animal's fecal matter.

I have been reading about the dangers of vaccinations. Should I get my pet vaccinated at all?

Each pet has individual risks, depending on its lifestyle. Certainly the indoor cat living alone with its owner has different risks than the outdoor cat living next to a colony of wild cats. The veterinarians at Cascade Pet Hospital will develop a risk assessment vaccine strategy in accordance with each pet's health needs and guidelines established by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) and the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP).

Additionally pets who have had reactions to vaccines, or for owners that are uncomfortable with having vaccines administered to their pet, we can perform a blood test for vaccine antibody titers that measures the immune system's response to vaccines administered in the past.

Puppy and kitten vaccines are the most important and necessary of all. A completely unvaccinated pet is at serious risk for becoming profoundly ill from a preventable juvenile infection and spreading it to other pets.

How often should I deworm my pet?

Puppies and kittens should be wormed monthly until 6 months old. Adult cats and dogs should have a fecal exam performed for intestinal parasite at least once per year. Remember, many of these parasites can be spread to people, especially children and immunocompromized individuals.

What are those horrible white rice sized worms I see on his bottom or in his poop?

Those are tapeworms. Pets get those from eating a flea that has been infected with the tapeworm larvae. They are not contagious to people. Give us a call for medication to eliminate the tapeworm infection. To prevent future infections make sure your pet is on regular monthly flea control such as Advantage, Frontline, or Revolution.

Should I treat my pet for fleas all year round?

Yes, prevention is always better than cure. Fleas are present and active year round in Western Washington. It takes sustained hard freezes to eliminate some of the eggs, pupae, and larvae in the outdoor environment. Something which we don't get in this area. Additionally, when the weather begins to cool off the fleas look for warm environment, like your house, to live and reproduce in. Typically we see the worst flea problems in the fall after cool weather begins. Just because you don't see fleas on your pet does not mean you do not have a flea problem. The majority of the flea life cycle occurs in the environment, not on your pet. This includes bedding, furniture, carpets, rugs, cracks in wood flooring and the entire outdoors. The adult flea only uses your pet as a food source and to find a mate. The eggs, larvae and pupae (which constitute about 90-95% of the flea population) all develop off of your pet. What this means is if you see a single flea on you pet there are thousands of eggs, larvae, and pupae waiting to hatch and feed on your pet. We have a variety of excellent, safe, non-systemic flea products. Give us a call.

Why does my dog scoot on and lick at his bottom?

There are many reasons for an itchy rear-end: internal parasites, fleas, other external parasites, allergies, bad habits. The most common reason, however, is anal sac disease, infection or obstruction. Dogs and cats have two sacs in their anus that should empty each time they defecate. Sometimes these sacs do not. If they remain full, the dog (and less commonly, the cat) will continue to lick and scoot and seem distressed. Sometimes the sac(s) can become infected. The best thing to do is to bring your pet in to be checked. If it is a frequent problem (more than twice a month for several months), there are medical and surgical treatments that can be performed.

Should I spay or neuter my pet?

We answer this question with a definite "yes". Thousands of companion animals are put to death in this city every year due to over population. In addition to that benefit, certain medical conditions are prevented by spaying and neutering.

When should I spay my pet?

We recommend spaying prior to the first heat cycle, as this prevents mammary tumor(breast cancer) development in later life as well as unwanted pregnancies and other reproductive tract disorders.

How can I tell if my pet is in heat and how long will it last?

Dogs: The first heat cycle in dogs usually occurs around 5 to 7 months of age and is signaled by swelling of the vulva and a bloody vaginal discharge (though the discharge can be quite variable from breed to breed). The entire cycle is about 3 weeks from start to finish. Most dogs repeat their cycle about every 6 months.

Cats: The first heat cycle in cats usually occurs around 5 to 7 months of age. The cat may often be seen rolling on the floor or ground and become extra affectionate towards their owner. She may be more vocal and actually scream very loudly. This behavior may persist for 5 to 8 days followed by a period of quiescence of the same duration. This behavior may then repeat 5 to 8 times or until she is bred by a male cat.

How old should my pet be before spaying or neutering is performed?

In most cases between 4 and 6 months of age.

Should my pet have a litter before she is spayed?

No. Pets know nothing about "motherhood" and therefore do not miss the experience. It is expensive and time consuming job to look after a litter of puppies or kittens and a huge commitment to find them all lifelong homes.

If I spay or neuter my pet will his or her behavior change?

The short answer to this question is yes! However what people really want to know when they ask this question is, "Will my pet act differently towards me?" or "Will I dislike the way he acts after surgery"? Sterilization surgery affects sexual behavior and inter-animal and territorial aggressive behavior primarily. His or her ability to be a companion to a person will not change. In fact the surgery will typically make your pet a better companion.

Why does my pet's breath smell?

There are many reasons why a cat's or dog's breath might smell, the most common being dental tartar and periodontal disease. Regular dental check-ups and cleanings can prevent unnecessary pain, discomfort and the problems associated with chronic oral infections.

How do I know when my animal is in pain?

It is difficult to detect pain in pets. Crying out or vocalizing repetitively when touched or picked up may be an obvious sign of pain, although a very frightened animal might react similarly. More subtle signs may include restlessness, panting when not hot (in the case of dogs), trembling, refusal to eat or reluctance to do a common activity. Signs of chronic pain, such as osteoarthritis, dental/oral pain, are more difficult to diagnose. It is part of most animal's natural instinct to hide pain or weakness. It is a survival mechanism from the wild. Just because they don't complain doesn't mean they are not in pain. A thorough history and physical exam by your veterinarian can help determine if your pet is experiencing chronic pain and offer recommendations on how to treat it.

How do I know when my pet has a problem serious enough to justify bringing him to see the doctor?

The problem here of course is that there is a language barrier between humans and animals. You would like to just ask him how badly he feels and how long he has felt that way. People have a hard enough time deciding when they should see their own doctor. A general rule is that if you spot a problem that you know would cause you to seek medical attention if it were you instead of your pet, then your pet needs to be seen. Call to schedule an appointment so we may begin treating your pets' problem sooner rather than later. Is there any medication I can give to make my pet feel better without bringing him in for an examination? Federal and state laws prohibit us from prescribing or dispensing medication without a diagnosis and a current, (within the last 12 months), veterinarian-client-patient relationship and exam of your pet.