Cameron Park Veterinary Hospital
General Questions:
» What sort of things should I tell you during our first office visit?
» What sort of things do you do during an office visit?
» Is there insurance for my pet?
» What should you do if you find abandoned wildlife?
» Can cats and dogs see colors?
» Why do dogs and cats twitch in their sleep?
» How often should I bathe my dog or cat?
» What should I do if I lose my pet?
What sort of things should I tell you during our first office visit?
Tell us as much information as possible about your pet - age, where acquired, diet, previous vaccination records, any unusual symptoms or concerns.
What sort of things do you do during an office visit?
If you bring in a stool sample, we can examine it for internal parasites;
We’ll examine your pet's eyes, ears, mouth, nose, body and coat for any abnormalities;
We’ll listen to his heart and lungs;
We’ll feel the abdomen and joints for anything out of the ordinary;
We’ll take your pet’s temperature, and possibly check the anal glands;
If there are any causes for concern, we may take a blood sample and obtain a urine sample by inserting a catheter into the bladder.
Is there insurance for my pet?
We participate in the Veterinary Pet Insurance plan.
What should you do if you find abandoned wildlife?
If you come across wildlife that seems to be abandoned, it probably isn’t. Mother animals are seldom far away from their young; they’re probably just hiding from you. You should leave the animal alone so that its mother can rejoin it after you’ve left the area.
If you find a hurt animal, then you should immediately contact Animal Control at (530) 621-5795. You can never tell if the animal is Rabid, so you should not come near enough to it that it may bite you.
You may also want to contact the Sierra Wildlife Rescue at (530) 621-4661.
A micro-chip is a computer chip about the size of a grain of rice. It is encoded with a unique number that is kept in a national database. If your lost pet is found, any animal hospital or humane society equipped with a micro-chip reader can obtain the number off the microchip by scanning it. Once they know the number, the attendant can lookup the corresponding information on the database. The database matches the number to your phone number. The chip can't be lost or damaged, and it lasts for the pet's lifetime.
The micro-chip implant procedure is simple and doesn't require any anesthesia. Your pet simply gets an injection just under the loose skin between the shoulder blades; it's a lot like getting vaccinated. Most animals don't react at all. The chip is made out of an inert, biocompatible substance, which means it won't cause an allergic reaction in your pet.
Microchipping is AKC recognized.
Like humans, both dogs and cats have rods and cones in their retinas which allow them to differentiate colors. However, the rods and cones are in a different proportion than in the human retina. This means they see more black and white and shades of gray than color.
Why do dogs and cats twitch in their sleep?
Like humans, many animals will experience different muscle twitches as they sleep. It's also possible that pets dream about romping in the yard or playing with their toys.
How often should I bathe my dog or cat?
The quick answer is, it depends. Dogs should be bathed whenever they begin to smell, or your hand comes away dirty after petting it, or if it is experiencing any sort of skin condition. Indoor dogs tend to stay cleaner than their outdoor counterparts. Some coats tend to accumulate oils which can attract dirt more than others.
Cats are generally pretty clean and do not need regular bathing unless they become dirty or have a skin condition.
General bathing can be done once a month. There are many pet shampoos available. Human products tend to be too strong, although some baby shampoos are okay. For specific conditions, we can recommend appropriate treatments.
What should I do if I lose my pet?
Always ensure that your pet is wearing a collar with a tag with your name and number on it. The rabies tag also provides a number that can be traced back to you through the county.
If you lose your pet, you should:
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