| Submitted by: bj Altschul |
| What should I expect when I take my new pet to a vet right after adoption? |
Many vets take turns providing pro bono care for the animals staying at MCHS facilities, either on site or at their own practices if urgent care is needed. On a rotating basis these professionals examine the animals’ conditions and illnesses daily. This includes checking out animals when they first come to the shelter. They’re also authorized to perform specified medical procedures, give vaccines and flea/tick treatment, and contact emergency vets as needed.
So your new pet has already experienced some level of care. But she may be feeling some kinds of stress, either physical or mental, and there’s an adjustment period to get used to her new surroundings and new family.
Right after adopting, says Dr. Victor Katz, Muddy Branch Veterinary Center (Gaithersburg), “Your pet should be examined from nose tip to tail tip. Your vet should advise on how to care for the animal, whatever age it is, whether it’s potty training for a puppy, using a litterbox for a cat, or behavior training if the animal seems uppity or fearful.”
The vet should review the vaccination schedule based on what your cat or dog needs. Is your pet exposed to other animals? How much time does she spend outdoors? The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) revised its guidelines for vaccinations in 2006; be sure your pet’s health care provider is up on current practice to avoid the possibility of an adverse reaction. For example, cats need a feline leukemia vaccine only if they are going to spend time outside.
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| What are some common health problems that might come up when an animal has been in the shelter for awhile? |
Regardless of where you get your pet, many animals are perfectly healthy. Others may have conditions that are easy to treat or those that will require more care and patience on your part. In the company of a large number of other animals, some may have upper respiratory infections or colds. Dogs may have kennel cough, or, more rarely, parvo or distemper.
Most of these conditions are treatable and the animals recover well with rare exception, says Dr. Dave McKeown, Fox Chapel Veterinary Hospital (Germantown).
When you adopt from MCHS, be sure to follow the steps on the Post-Adoption Checklist and also read the pamphlet “Health Care Alert for Your New Pet’s Sake” – it has a convenient chart that outlines common conditions, symptoms and what to do about them. |
| What should my pet’s exam cover? |
At least annually – more often for older animals – your pet should have a comprehensive wellness exam. “Your pet should be completely looked over at least once a year,” says Dr. McKeown. “We look at the teeth, gums, eyes, ears, heart and lungs. We feel the abdomen and check joints. Most vets do this regularly. I tell owners they also should be doing what the vet is doing. If you play with (your dog’s or cat’s) feet and bend their joints, it helps get them used to being handled.”
Your vet also may take time to brief you on your pet’s condition, to whatever degree you want to become involved. “We’ll educate you so you’re comfortable with what we’re doing. The only stupid question is the one not asked, even if only by phone,” says Dr. Katz. His practice tries to schedule half-hour appointments whenever possible.
While recognizing that clients have many personalities and styles of caring for their pets, he explains, “We try to get you invested in decision-making, although without making you a vet yourself. If you think of us only as an order taker, you may not have a good time here when you have to face choices.” |
What are some of the typical kinds of physical and mental stress shelter animals may experience?
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According to Dr. McKeown, some dogs think it’s great fun being with other animals. For these dogs, being surrounded by other animals in their cages is not that stressful. Most want to go back in the cage where it’s more secure. Others may feel intimidated.
If you’re looking at a cat, he suggests watching whether he wants to leap back in the cage. So when the cat goes to a new house, he will have to do more adjusting. For some animals, being around strange people and animals coming and going at the shelter could weaken their immune systems. Or cats may develop grooming problems, or become catatonic and not move at all. Some dogs may pace. But most of the animals do well, says Dr. McKeown, and within three or four days they want to be petted.
Coming home from the shelter, he adds, your new pet may hide more at home since he doesn’t yet know where to go to the bathroom. “It’s like adopting a two-year-old.”
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| How can I help my new pet transition to its new forever home environment? |
Your pet will have adjustments to make in her new environment. Dr. Katz says you may need to allow a few days to a week or more when you consider all the factors at home – children, other animals, other people. “Your new animal may need to see what is going on first and get used to the household routine,” he says.
And you’ll need to go slow with food since many animals may be sensitive to new diets. If you’re planning to feed something different from what she’s had at the shelter or foster home where you’re adopting, mix the original food with the new to make a gradual change over a couple of weeks. Think of what you feed her as a kind of preventive medicine to help reduce the frequency of visits to the vet.
Dr. McKeown suggests keeping the newcomer relatively confined in the beginning. Your cat, dog or other small animal has spent the last few weeks in a cage and may feel overwhelmed with run of the house at first.
If you already have other pets, all of the animals will need to work out how they socialize. Both dogs and cats develop a territory and become attached even to a cage. Try keeping your new pet in one room with food, water and, for a cat, a litter box. Make sure the room is well lit. It’s easier to adjust one room at a time so she will know which room is her territory. This will take a few days for a dog, and a week for a cat. Gradually increasing her space will help solve many housebreaking and behavior problems. It also helps introduce your new pet to other animals in the house. They can smell, sniff, and get used to each other’s scent underneath the door.
Where cats are concerned, says Dr. McKeown, the existing felines will now have some familiarity with the new one before introducing him in full. This procedure also lets you know everyone’s health is ok – “You won’t end up with sneezing cat routine for the shelter cat that gets everyone else upset from the new cat.” The temporary confinement relieves and tempers some of that stress. The other cats will have lost the scent of that room as their territory since it hasn’t been theirs for a week.
“It takes a month for them to feel comfortable to feel [the new place] is their home, and it takes three months to forget it’s their home. If they get loose, they might not come back. The key thing is, don’t let your pet get near a door without a leash, they may just take off,” Dr. McKeown adds.
And for a dog, training will give him a sense of purpose. It’s more than just obeying commands. Your dog will feel happier and more secure. Working dogs, for example, would rather be working, so training will help you give them a job to do. It’s all about communication. |
| How much will it cost? |
Charges will vary according to many factors, among them, the size of the veterinary practice, how long it has been in business, how much specialized equipment is on premises, specialized training and board certification the vets may have. Costs for a young dog, for example, may average $200-$300 per year, according to Dr. Victor Katz at the Muddy Branch Veterinary Center. But you also may need to be prepared for a much higher bottom line if your pet requires advanced treatment for a chronic illness or a severe injury. Still, pet health care is far less costly than human health care.
Until the past few years, the price that pet parents paid for veterinary care did not begin to keep pace with the cost of providing it. Now, however, there are far more sophisticated diagnostic tests, procedures, equipment and medical devices, just as in human medicine. Plus, vets go through eight years in college to earn a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree, perhaps more years to become a specialist. And, they must think in business terms to run their practices, complete with advanced X-ray and ultrasound equipment that is now commonplace.
“At a vet hospital, everything is under one roof; the vet and technicians handle all of the needs of the pet and its owners: pediatric care, dentistry, surgery, EENT. In contrast, for humans each specialty is separate,” Dr. Katz explains. And the companion animal vet must be prepared to treat a wide variety of species and animals of all different sizes.
The incidence of certain diseases has changed as well. “We’re seeing more leptospirosis and Lyme disease, and treating it more now, from Maine to Central Virginia – several cases per day,” continues Dr. Katz. “We can save clients a little money on vaccines now, though, since the distemper vaccine is now given only every three years after the puppy series.”
Another big difference is that you are more likely to carry health insurance on yourself and your human family than on your pets, although Dr. Dave McKeown, Fox Chapel Veterinary Hospital, points out that vets are increasingly recommending pet insurance.
“Especially until your pet is a year or two old,” he says, “since they can get loose. Once they’re stable and you know what to expect, (insurance) is less critical. But more animals get treatment they need when their owners have insurance for them.”
Talk to your veterinarian or the office manager if you have concerns about being able to pay for everything your pet needs. Several programs exist to help you budget if necessary.
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| What should I and my vet’s staff expect of each other? |
Firstline magazine, which is targeted to administrative and technician staff members, offers many suggestions for creating and maintaining good client relations. The tips can work both directions. For example, recent issues suggest rule number one is for staff and clients to give each other complete attention and engage in active listening. Ask questions and confirm you understand the answer. Treat the relationship like a partnership. Be on time. Seek and give accurate information, clearly presented. Realize that anyone on two legs is human, so be patient!
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RESOURCES
American Animal Hospital Association, including information about Standards & Accreditation
http://www.healthypet.com
Bark Magazine
"Play by the Numbers: 8 Tips for Vet-Visit Bliss," by Karen B. London, Ph.D. March-April 2007
"Mutual Aid: Understanding Your Vet's Role and Your Own is Key to a Successful Partnership," by Richard Lerner, DVM May-June 2007
Order back issues from The Bark, Inc., 2810 8th St., Berkeley, CA 94710 or call Subscriptions toll-free 877/227-5639
Firstline magazine – articles for and about vet technicians
and practice staff
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