Myth: My pet feels hot. He must have a fever...
Fact: The normal temperature of a dog and cat is 100-102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. Given that our body temperatures are lower than our pets, they will naturally feel warm to us. If you want to know if your pet has a fever, you can always take his/her temperature. Unfortunately we still take their temperature rectally...they have not developed holding the thermometer under the tongue just yet!
Myth: My pet is too old for anesthesia...
Fact: The most common age group undergoing anesthesia is older pets. Often times it is when dental disease or ailments are most prevalent. Prior to anesthesia, we perform a thorough physical exam and draw blood for analysis. This allows us to identify any risk factors that would make anesthesia dangerous for your pet.
While your pet is anesthetized, they receive:
- IV fluids to maintain their blood pressure and blood flow to their kidneys
- They are placed on multiple warming and monitoring devices
- Technicians monitor their blood pressure, oxygen levels, heart rate and rhythm, respiratory rate and body temperature throughout the entire procedure.
- During recovery, technicians place your pet in one of our heated cages.
We take every anesthesia very seriously...as though they were our very own pets!
Myth: They don’t need to be spayed or neutered; they are brother and sister...
Fact: Contrary to popular belief, cats and dogs will mate with their siblings despite being littermates. When our pets reach breeding age, they are driven by hormones and their natural desire to breed. Unfortunately, this does not prevent them from considering their brother or sister as an appropriate mate. Offspring from these unions have a high rate of birth defects and so this is not recommended.
Myth: My pet has been scratching at his ears. He must have ear mites...
Fact: Ear mites do occur and they are most commonly found in our feline patients. There are also many other causes of ear infections including allergies to food, environment, hormonal changes, and certain lifestyles that include swimming. When you see brown stuff building in your pet’s ears, it is often overgrowth of bacteria and yeast. It is important to treat the underlying cause as well as remove all debris from the ear. Through understanding the history of your pet with regular exams and ear cytologies, our staff can knowledgeably recommend preventive treatment for future ear infections and/or mites.
MYTH BUSTERS - COMMON PET MYTHS DEBUNKED
PART 2
By Dr. Jennifer Tutko, DVM
July, 2011
