Veterinos

Overweight and Obesity in Cats and Dogs

02/03/2016 Leave a Comment Written by Alejandro Tundidor

Overweight CatOverweight and obesity are the most common nutritional disease in dogs and cats. The big difference between overweight in pets and humans is that animals do not have the ability to control their own weight. They depend only and exclusively on what their owners give them. From the age of one it is crucial to provide them the diet recommended for their age, species and breed. Otherwise, we can cause them overweight, even obesity.

Obesity is defined as an excess of body fat that may cause illness. When animals consume more calories than they spend, fat accumulates.

  • Dogs are overweight when they exceed the standard weight for their breed by 15 – 30 %. An excess weight of more than 30 % means they are obese.
  • In the case of cats, they are considered overweight when they exceed the “ideal weight” by more than 10 %, and they are obese over 20 %.

The exact medical cause of obesity and overweight is unknown. Research suggest that it is due to a disparity between the intake of food, and the expense of energy. According to these studies, balance depends mostly on neurological, physiological, metabolic, and hormonal factors. Nevertheless, there are other factors of risk regarding obesity:

  • Overfeeding: many owners tend to give their pets the same food they eat, in addition to their own.
  • Behavioral disorders: idleness, boredom, nervousness, and other problems can lead to an excessive food consumption.
  • Genetics: some breed are more prone to gain weight than others:
    • Dogs: mongrels, Labrador Retrievers, Collies, Basset Hounds, Rottweilers, Golden Retrievers, Bullmastiffs, Pugs, Pekineses, Beagles, Shetland Shepherds, Cairn Terriers, Poodles, and Teckels.
    • Cats: mixed breed cats are more likely to become overweight, although some pure breeds are too — Maine Coon, Forest of Norway, Neva Masquerade, and Cornish Rex.
  • Endocrine pathologies: hyperinsulinemia (excessive insulin in blood), hypothyroidism, and hyperadrenocorticism or cushing’s syndrome.
  • Age: the probability of gaining too much weight is higher from the age of 5 to 10. Therefore, we must be specially careful with the diets of adult and senior pets. On the other hand, the excess of fat has negative effects on the health and life expectancy of animals.
  • Gender: obesity is more frequent among female cats and dogs.
  • Physical activity: many pets have a rather indolent life style, which can predispose to overweight.
  • Diet: unbalanced diets can affect the energy balance and, consequently, overweight.
  • Sterilization: desexed animals spend less energy.

How to Know if Our Pet Is Overweight or Obese?

  • They look bigger than they should.
  • At spine level, we cannot feel the vertebrae, and in the thorax we have trouble counting the ribs.
  • They play less, their movements are more restricted than they used to, and show some intolerance to exercise.
  • They sleep less, are in a bad mood, and show respiratory difficulties.
  • There is fat accumulated in the lower back and base of the tail, among other places.

Pathologies and Risks of Overweight and Obesity

  • Cardio-respiratory troubles.
  • Skin diseases.
  • Orthopedic and articular problems (rupture of ligaments, slipped disc, or arthrosis, among others).
  • Diabetes.
  • Accumulation of fat in the liver (hepatic lipidosis).
  • Complaints of the urinary tract.
  • Infertility and, in case of pregnancy, problems during labor (dystocia).
  • Intolerance to exercise and hot weather.
  • Increased risk during anesthesia.
  • Cancer.

How to Prevent Overweight and Obesity in Cats and Dogs

If we want that our pets to stay in their ideal weight, the most important is feeding them according to the physiological stage where they are. Depending on the age, level of physical activity, general condition, and whether they are pregnant, sterilized or lactating, the diet must be different.

Besides that, there are a few basic rules to follow:

  • Do not give them leftovers of your food.
  • Do not give them treats rich in sugar or fats.
  • Make them exercise regularly.
  • Keep control of their weight to correct problems in time.

Recommendations for the Loss of Weight

  • Regulate the amount of food they eat every day. If you have other animals, they must not all eat at the same time, since the animal in treatment might eat the others’ ration.
  • Divide the daily ration in several takes, to prevent anxiety.
  • Weight them often, so you can evaluate the results.
  • Remember that the loss of weight must gradual, since shedding weight too quickly might lead to failure.

You can resort also to a slimming program with food low in calories, or specific products for the treatment of the overweight. You can ask your usual veterinarian about the options available.

Cats, Dogs
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Poisonings from Medicines and Pesticides

17/02/2016 Leave a Comment Written by Veterinos HV

Pills and CapsulesHome Poisonings in Pets. Part 1

Many substances that we have commonly at home can put the health of our pets in serious risk. Dogs and cats tend to explore their environment; they are attracted to novel things, and smell, lick, eat. If your pets have swallowed something they shouldn’t have, and show symptoms of discomfort, take them immediately to the veterinarian.

The best strategy, in any case, is always prevention. To avert poisonings, we need to know which products are potentially dangerous to keep them away from animals.

We have prepared for you 4 posts about the most dangerous substances for our pets:

  1. Part 1: poisonings from medicines and pesticides.
  2. Part 2: poisonings from cleaning products.
  3. Part 3: poisonings from food.
  4. Part 4: poisonings from decorative plants.

Medicines

Medicines are the first cause of poisoning in cats, and the second cause in dogs (after pesticides).

Animals in general neither assimilate nor respond to medicines the same way as humans do, so it is very dangerous to give them medicines intended for us.

Paracetamol and ibuprofen, for example — which we use often as anti-inflammatories or for headaches —, are highly poisonous for certain animals. They can damage the stomach and the liver, among other things. A couple of tablets might be enough to cause death.

We must be very careful with the acetylsalicylic acid (present in aspirins, and especially harmful for cats), tranquilizers, antipsychotics, and sedatives in general. When in doubt, ask your veterinarian first.

Regarding specific medicines for animals, we need to take precautions with products for external deworming. The accidental ingestion of antiparasitic collars, or an overdose of deworming tablets or pipettes also can cause a poisoning, as well as treating cats with pipettes intended for dogs. If you cannot remember if you gave them the recommended dose of antiparasitic medicine, check with your veterinarian before you give them another one.

Other substances that it is necessary to keep away from dogs and cats are psychoactive drugs — marijuana and hashish included. Even though their effects are rarely serious, they can cause neurological symptoms — trembling, disorientation, convulsions, and locomotor impairment — so they have to be hospitalized.

Pesticides

Nearly all pesticides are potentially poisonous for animals, since they are chemical compounds designed to kill, repel, control, or interrupt the growth of living beings seen as plagues.

Rat Poison

Rat poisons are used to kill, control, or prevent the presence or action of rodents in any midst. They are among the most common poisons found in every home, and the cause of many accidental poisonings in dogs.

Symptoms

In most cases, dogs that have suffered a mild rat poisoning don’t show symptoms for several days. These substances act little by little, causing internal or external hemorrhages that the organism cannot control because this poison prevents coagulation.

Internal hemorrhages can go unnoticed, so we may not be aware that our pet has swallowed a harmful substance. Any of the following symptoms might indicate poisoning:

  • weakness
  • nosebleeds
  • blood in the feces
  • bloody vomits
  • haematomas under the skin
  • breathing hardship
  • increase of the volume of the abdomen
What to Do

If you suspect that your dog has been in contact with rat poison, and they show some of these symptoms, take them immediately to the veterinarian and indicate which substance they have consumed.

Do not induce vomit unless the veterinarian said so. Some poisons can do more harm if they are brought up through the esophagus than if they continue they normal course.

Insecticides, molluscicides and herbicides

This kind of products is are designed to kill insects, slugs, snails, and weeds, but they can cause equally serious damage to dogs or cats when swallowed. They can affect the digestive system, and even the nervous system.

Symptoms

The possible symptoms of a poisoning from insecticides, molluscicides, or herbicides are:

  • vomits
  • diarrhea
  • trembling or convulsions
  • walking impairment
What to Do

In face of any of these symptoms, take your pet the veterinarian quickly.

Treatment of Poisonings in Cats and Dogs

When animals are poisoned, usually they need to be hospitalized — except in the mildest cases. Depending on the substance they have swallowed, the veterinarian will treat them with the right antidote — if there is one —, administer intravenous fluids to cleanse the organism, and apply specific treatments for the symptoms the pet has developed (digestive, renal, hepatic, or neurological).

Cats, Dogs
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The Art of Surgery

12/02/2016 Leave a Comment Written by Ma. José Blabia

small-dog-swimmingWhen we treat a pet for any ailment, surgery is always the last resource. No owner would like to have their loved one go through that. Sometimes, however, surgery is the only way to ensure the animal’s recovery. As veterinarians, we aim to grant all our patients a long, quality life without making them suffer unnecessarily.

For that reason, when we operate on a pet our goal is to cure with minimal trauma.

One way of making recovery easier and more comfortable are intradermic sutures. This is when surgery, for us, becomes an art: The beauty of leaving everything as we found it, or as it would have been: tidy, without alterations, and with the minimal scar possible.

Intradermic stitches do not hurt, and the thread dissolves on its own. Therefore, patients do not need an annoying vet collar to prevent them from nibbling their wounds.

An added benefit is esthetics: This kind of suture does not leave a scar. It prevents bulks of tissue from growing around the wound — eventually causing trouble —, and your pet will remain as pretty as ever!

For us, it is most important that before, during, and after surgery our patients are comfortable, and suffer the least possible pain. For that reason, we use advanced protocols of anesthesia and sedation, use progressive surgical techniques and, afterwards, we prescribe the most suitable analgesics for each case.

Usually the patients can go home on the same day. If the surgery is done in the evening — to the owners’ convenience, or because it is an emergency — we recommend always that the pet stays overnight in our  24/7 hospitalization room. This way we can monitor closely their evolution during the crucial hours of recovery.

Cats, Dogs
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Pine Processionary Caterpillars, A Danger for Pets

03/02/2016 Leave a Comment Written by Laura Estringana
Pine processonary caterpillars - Picture by John H. Ghent, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org

Picture by John H. Ghent, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org, under CC BY 3.0 license

The pine processionary (Thaumetopoea pityocampa) is a type of caterpillar. It is considered one of the most important plagues on Mediterranean pines, although it can affect other trees as well. The name is due to their characteristic way of moving from the trees to the ground during their migratory phase.

Besides damaging trees, the pine processionary can cause health issues to humans and animals — cats, dogs, ferrets. They have urticating hairs which cause allergic reactions (see Pest profile – Pine processionary moth). The most frequent result in animals are swellings in the area of the mouth. In the most serious cases, they might lose part of the tongue and lips, or even suffer asphyxia.

Life Cycle of the Pine Processionary

We should know a little about the life cycle of this insect to avoid risking contact with the caterpillar.

At the end of summer, adult moths mate, and the females lay eggs on the leaves of trees. The caterpillars hatch out of the eggs 4 weeks later. The most characteristic stages they go through are: the building of nests — to spend the winter —, and the migration from the tree tops in the spring to form the chrysalis underground. In the summer, moths hatch out of the chrysalis, and the biological cycle starts again when they reach adulthood.

Contact with the pine processionary is most dangerousduring the migration periods:

  • at the end of autumn (when they build the nests)
  • at the beginning of spring (when the rise of the temperatures stimulates the caterpillars to move from the tree to the ground)

Also risk is also high whenever the nests are manipulated to be removed, mainly in the winter.

Symptoms

If your pet has been in contact with processionary caterpillars, you will see that:

  • the animal appears nervous
  • their lips, mouth, and tongue itch, or are even swollen
  • when there has been contact with the inside of the mouth, they salivate more than usual, and swallow too quickly

These symptoms might be due to other reasons, such as poisonings from some plants. Therefore, it is better to visit a veterinarian. They will determine the exact cause, and prescribe the right treatment.

The most usual effects of the pine processionary on animals are:

  • Inflammation of the mouth, tongue, and lips. Such reactions happen when the animal licks, or manipulates the caterpillar with the mouth. These are the most frequent afflictions, and the ones causing the most trouble.

Besides the swelling, there could be death of tissue in the affected areas. The animal might lose part of the tongue or lips.

If your pet swallows a pine processionary, the consequences can be even worse: in some cases it might cause inflammation of the larynx. That would compromise breathing, and lead possibly to the death of the animal.

  • Inflammation of the eyelids and ulcers in the cornea, when the caterpillar’s urticanting hairs are carried from the nests by the wind.
  • Inflammation of the nasal cavity, when the animal sniffs the caterpillar — or spots where there are nests —, and the bug’s hairs get inside the nose.

Prognosis

The prognosis varies depending on the affected area, the extension of the damage, and the timeliness of treatment. Therefore, if you suspect that your pet has been in contact with pine processionary caterpillars, our advice is to take them immediately to a veterinary center. They will evaluate the seriousness of the injuries, and prescribe the most suitable treatment.

Prevention

It is essential to keep in check the areas where our dogs or cats spend time during the autumn and spring. Prevent by any means their contact with pine processionary caterpillars — either by eliminating them, or avoiding the areas where they live.

Cats, Dogs
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Poisoning From Calçots

20/01/2016 Leave a Comment Written by Helena Serradó

CalçotsCalçots (White Lisbon scallions) can be toxic — even lethal — for many domestic animals, including dogs and cats. They are no different from the rest of onions, garlics and other representatives of the allium family that we eat often.

Why Are They Poisonous?

This kind of produce can cause intoxication in any of their forms: raw, dehydrated, or cooked. This is due to a component called thiosulfate, which oxidizes red globules, so they rupture. Consequently, internal tissues stop receiving enough oxygen. This condition is known as hemolytic anemia, and may have severe hematological and clinical effects.

Dogs and cats are highly susceptible to poisoning with calçots because scallions can do damage from very low doses (5 gm / kg in cats, and 15-30 gm / kg in dogs).

How to Know if My Pet Is Poisoned From Calçots?

The most frequent poisoning symptoms from onions or calçots are:

  • vomiting
  • anorexia (they stop eating)
  • tachycardia
  • increase of respiratory frequency
  • pale mucous membranes
  • blood in urine

What to Do if I Think My Pet Has Eaten Onions or Scallions?

If you suspect a poisoning from either calçots or any other kind of onions, take your pet to the veterinarian right away. Vomiting and diarrhea can be immediate, but the rest of symptoms appear, usually, one to four days after the ingestion.

For that reason, it is crucial to treat the intoxication from an early stage. Unless caught in time, it could be lethal. Red globules are damaged faster than the animal can replace them.

What Treatment Will My Pet Receive in Case of Onion Poisoning?

Since a small amount of raw calçots or onions can be poisonous, it might be useful to induce vomit within the first hour after ingestion, even if there are no symptoms.

Mild poisonings usually subside spontaneously, or with C and E vitamin supplements. In more serious cases treatment consists of oxygen therapy, fluid therapy, and occasionally blood transfusions.

Cats, Dogs
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Pets and Cold

08/01/2016 Leave a Comment Written by Esther Sánchez

Chihuahua covered in blankets

To Wrap or Not to Wrap Pets Up

When winter comes, we humans get our coats, fleece jackets, wool hats, and gloves out of the closet to fight the cold. We can see then lots of small sweaters and jackets in pet stores, too, but do they really do need them? Is it fashion or an actual need? And what about cats?

The Body Temperature of Cats and Dogs

Cats and dogs, like us, are “homeotherm” animals. That means that they can regulate their body temperature, within limits. Their way of doing that, however, is very different from ours.

We should know a few things about it, since surpassing these limits on any end might lead to serious problems: hypothermia (body temperature too low), or hyperthermia (too high).

The first thing to know is that their perception of cold is linked to several factors:

  • The real and relative environmental temperature (humidity levels).
  • The type and quantity of hair (depending on the breed).
  • Their body fat (depending on the breed, and their nutritional state).
  • The animal’s age and condition.
  • Whether they are more or less used to certain temperatures.

Another key factor is that cats and dogs can’t sweat cutaneously. They can only dispel heat by panting, and through the pads in their paws. This makes them especially vulnerable to high temperatures — heatstrokes in the summer —, but also more resistant to cold.

Depending on the ability of each animal to preserve body heat, therefore, they will or will not need clothing. In case of doubt, ask a veterinarian or pet groomer you trust.

Bear in mind, in any case, that if you want to wrap them up, you have to inure them to the sweater little by little.

Dogs and Cold

According to these factors, it is not the same having at home, for example:

  • an Alaskan malamute, genetically adapted to temperature drops, with a rough overcoat covering most of their body, and a very dense, oily, and woolly undercoat
  • a pug, which can have thin smooth short hair, with or without undercoat, though with a good level of subcutaneous fat
  • a greyhound, without undercoat, barely any fat, and thin close-fitting skin, so they hardly tolerate low temperatures.

For more detailed information, see “Dog Coats: Amount of Hair, Coat Texture and Coat Length”.

Depending on the Dog’s Age

It is not the same to have a dynamic pup or young dog who likes running, than having a quiet geriatric dog with arthrosis.

A healthy, young and dynamic animal does not need, in theory, any clothing — as long as they have a healthy fur. Only greyhounds, hairless breeds like the Chinese Cestat, or Dobermans, pinschers and others that lack a good undercoat, need in fact to be kept warm when they are young.

Senior dogs with arthrosis, though, do need a coat at the beginning of the walk. Also we should help them warm up their muscles, and massage their joints softly to improve mobility before going out. During the walk, once they are warm enough, we can take their coat off. Put it on again if they stop to gaze quietly at passersby.

However, if dogs of any age go out to the forest after a rain — or the air is very humid —, and come back soaked, dry them well. If, on top of that, it is very, very cold, do wrap them up before going out.

Garden Dogs

Dogs are very social animals. They like sleeping with the rest of the family. If they prefer the garden anyway, they must always have a place to take shelter in case temperatures drop suddenly, or something scares them.

If your pet sleeps normally in the garden, and is used to it, their coat has adjusted naturally. They do not get cold so easily. If they are not used to it, but want to sleep one night in the garden, make sure they have a warm place where to take shelter.

Cats and Cold

For cats the situation is pretty much the same. Just be careful with heaters, as cats love warmth and, sometimes, they might get burned accidentally!

Sphynx cats are a special case, since they lack fur. Their metabolism is fairly different: to keep their body temperature, they need to eat more. That does not mean that they need clothing. Like dogs, cats have judgment. As soon as they feel cold, they will seek warmth however they can — like getting under the comforter.

On the other hand, putting a little sweater to a cat that comes and goes in and out house as they wish, does not make too much sense.

Cats tolerate seldom tolerate sweaters. If they are really cold, and need one, you have to get them used to the sweater little by little. Put them the sweater at times, associating it with something positive, so they do not feel funny. This way, probably, there will be no problems.

Conclusion

Before you do anything, check that your pet is not too warm or too cold at any given time.

Make sure that your cat or dog’s skin and coat are healthy, and in perfect condition. The way to do it is: with an appropriate diet; brushing them regularly; and, in the case of dogs, taking them to a good pet groomer. Follow the advice of your specialty pet groomer, and veterinarian to keep the skin and fur in the best condition.

Enjoy the cold!

Cats, Dogs
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Happy Holidays for Our Pets, Too?

23/12/2015 Leave a Comment Written by Helena Serradó

Cat creeping on a Christmas treeChristmas is here, and with it come decorations, shopping, lights, reunions, comings and goings of friends and family; also copious meals, champagne, sweets, Christmas carols blasted non stop from every shop … We humans cope with all that year after year as well as we can, but do we really know how our pets live these changes? What dangers are there for them? How can we make these holidays happy and safe for everyone — pets included?

1. The Stress of Christmastime

Every dog’s owner — not to mention cats — knows that their pets’ vision of the world is nothing like ours. It won’t be hard to understand, then, that Christmas is a stressful time for them because so many things are altered:

    • the routines to which we have them accustomed: times and length of our dogs’ walks  — even more important in the case of very active dogs

 

  • the constant glow of lights, or the endless sound of carols in the street

 

  • the presence of strangers at home, with whom they are not used to interact and, sometimes, don’t know how to behave. This is especially stressful for cats, who are territorial and less social, and therefore react badly to sudden changes.

A clear example of this is when children, thrilled with the dog or cat in the house, want to pet them at all costs, and are unable to read the signs of alarm they send out — thus exposing themselves to a scratch or a bite.

2. Alterations in Their Diet

It is usual during this time of year, in almost all homes, to eat too much and

have leftovers, so giving them to the pet is quite tempting.

The fact that we feast these days doesn’t mean that our pets have to feast too. If they don’t, we will prevent digestive problems such as engorgements, intolerances, or even allergies or other serious problems like poisonings or pancreatitis. Besides, sudden dietary changes can have bad effects on them.

Forbidden Food

Remember that many typical Christmas delicacies are poisonous for pets:

  • chocolate
  • grapes and raisins
  • shellfish (especially for dalmatians, a breed prone to suffer severe renal problems due to accidental ingestions)
  • alcohol
  • xylitol (an industrial sweetener very dangerous for dogs)
  • dry fruits
  • onions, garlic, leeks or chives

Be Careful With Bones

Scrap bones can cause constipation, or even hemorrhagic diarrheas due to torn intestinal layers — especially with bones of birds and rabbits. This kind of bones are thin and they splinter easily, therefore they can do severe damage in the digestive tract. Its treatment requires surgery.

Also, an excessive consumption of fats — even occasionally — can lead to pancreatitis, which is very painful and puts the animal’s life at risk. It is highly advisable to give them only the kinds of bones pet stores sell for them, such as beef knee caps — always moderately.

3. Balls, Lights, Cables, and Garlands

All these things are especially tempting for children and pets.

What cat would refrain from trying to catch a sparkling crystal bulb hanging from the Christmas tree?

Or, what puppy wouldn’t chase a Christmas ball rolling away, and try to swallow it?

The list is long: garlands, ribbons, cables, lights, Nativity figurines — which are sometimes cutting, and often can be swallowed. Christmas lights, connected to cables and plugs, deserve special attention, as they are tempting play ropes both for dogs and cats and, so the risk of electrocution is not negligible.

Due Precautions

To make sure our holidays are happy ones, unstressful, without tribulations or visits to our vet’s emergency room, here are a few recommendations:

  • Do not alter their diet: watch out that nobody gives them extra food — especially ours, and even less food that is poisonous for them. Excesses affect pets more than us — more so if they consume too much fat.
  • Do not to put fragile adornments, or with sharp edges, within their reach: they can mistake them for toys, and hurt themselves.
  • Protect cables, power strips and plugs so they don’t lick or nibble them: an unprotected cable can be peeled very easily with the teeth; besides, saliva and pee are electricity conductors. The cable of the Christmas lights on the tree is a danger!
  • Minimize the stress, and favor the coexistence between pets and humans, taking a few basic measures:
    • For dogs
      • Try to alter their routines the least possible
      • Take them to walk away from agglomerations, loud noise, and Christmas lights
      • When you have guests at home, dedicate them a little more time, give them a good walk so that they are relaxed when the guests start coming in
      • You who know your pet, tell the children if he likes to be caressed or not, and how. It’s important that you make them understand what are the signs that your pet is getting fed up, and when they must stop teasing them. Never leave kids and pets alone; this way you will prevent hassle between them
      • Prepare a safety area where they can take refuge if they want to get away from all the commotion: place their bed, trough, and water in a separate room where they are used to stay, and leave them a tenuous light on
      • Ask your veterinarian now what measures you can take if your dog gets too stressed during this time of year. They will explain the options available, such as pheromones collars, or even sedatives
    • For cats
      • Try to alter their routines the least possible
      • Prepare in advance: places pheromones diffusers a few days before the holidays. Speaks with your vet: they will explain the options available
      • Prepare a safety area where they can take refuge if they want to get away from all the commotion: place there their bed, food, water, and litter box so they don’t have to cross the critical area where you are celebrating
      • Tell to your guests that a cat is not a dog, and that they don’t like others taking the initiative. If they don’t want to show up where you are assembled, don’t force it. Hidden they feel better, and this is their way of spending the holidays … after all, not everybody likes the nougat!

If despite all precautions, an accident happens, don’t hesitate to call an emergencies vet. Specify exactly what’s happened and when, the species, breed, sex and age of your pet, and if there is a previous condition. Follow their advices. They will tell you what is better in every case.

Happy feline and canine Christmas!

Cats, Dogs
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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2016

21/12/2015 Leave a Comment Written by Veterinos HV

Veterinos - Christmas Card 2015This has been a year of great changes in Veterinos Veterinary Hospital 24h, thanks to which we have learnt, grown, and renewed our excitement about the project.

We will begin the year of our 20th anniversary with more enthusiasm that ever, devoted to our mission of contributing to the physical and emotional well-being of small animals.

To you, who have trusted in Veterinos throughout these years, we wish merry Christmas and a happy new year 2016!

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Christmas Photo Contest

11/12/2015 Leave a Comment Written by Veterinos HV

Rita Veterinos - Christmas Photo Contest 2015Celebrate Christmas With Us on Instagram

#NadalVeterinos2015

Participation Conditions

  • The participation period is from December 15, 2015 until January 7, 2016, both included
  • The topic of the pictures must be Christmas, and feature a pet or pets (cats, dogs, ferrets or exotic animals)
  • The pictures must be either published on the social network Instagram, or sent to Veterinos through our Facebook page,or by e-mail to magda@veterinos.com for its publication on Instagram by @veterinos
  • Pictures
  • Pictures including underage persons will not be accepted through Facebook or by e-mail without an authorization, signed by their legal guardians, to publish them on our social profiles indefinitely
  • All participating pets will receive a gift, which cannot be exchanged for money, discounts, or vouchers, and must be collected in person at Veterinos, C. Angel Guimerà 11, 08172 Sant Cugat del Vallès, tel. 935 897 141, before January 20, 2016
  • The participation will be deemed void if we consider the pictures offensive or denigrating towards people, animals, public or private institutions
  • Veterinos will not gather personal data from the participants, neither through social media, nor by e-mail. Providing personal data will not be required to collect the gift/s, although participants will be asked to prove that they are the authors of the pictures, either by producing their ID card, or showing that they have access to the Instagram or Facebook profile used to participate
  • The intellectual property of the participating pictures belongs to their authors, but Veterinos reserves the right to share them through our profiles on social media
Discounts and promotions
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Puppies and Kitties Are Not Toys

09/12/2015 Leave a Comment Written by Veterinos HV

Puppy with a teddy bearAt this time of year many of us would love to find a puppy or kitty under the tree. Think of the kids’ faces when they see their furry little head popping out of the basket! Later, though, something like this could happen:

Lola also arrived for Christmas, and she was the joy of the house for three months. After that, it became less and less funny picking her poop, paying for the vet, buying new slippers because she’d bitten them, taking her out in the cold three times a day to pee … Lola ended up being adopted by the vet who was taking care of her. She was very lucky. Not all of them have the same end. In 2014, over 100.000 dogs and 33.000 cats were abandoned in Spain — not to mention ferrets, rabbits, and all those left unaccounted because they were run over on the road, and died.

One of the prime reasons for abandonment is the lack of knowledge about the needs of pets before they are taken home. As important as that is knowing what fits best in our lifestyle: if you live in a 40m2 apartment on the beach, and work 12 hours a day, no matter how much you like Pyrenees mastiffs, your pet is a cat!

What Does a Pet Entail?

To prevent stories like Lola’s from happening, there are a few things you need to bear in mind:

  • During the first year of life, having a pup or kitten is expensive: vaccinations, dewormings, the microchip — compulsory in Catalonia —, the local pet registry — free in Sant Cugat, but not everywhere —, and in the case of dogs considered potentially dangerous, a legal liability insurance and a psychological test for the owner. Add to that the expenses of veterinary care if the pet falls sick.
  • Depending on the breed, dogs have a life expectancy of 15 years, give or take, and cats can live up to 20 years if they are well treated. That means that we have to be prepared to look after them during all that time. As adults, they need less care than they do when they are young, but they will always need looking after: there won’t ever be a time when we don’t have to feed, wash, deworm, walk or entertain, pamper, or take them to the vet if something is wrong.
  • The food has to be of good quality to keep our pet in good health — so we don’t have to see the vet too often. This is especially important during the phase of development (up to 14 months approx.), and in their senior years (from 8 years on in the case of dogs, and 8-11 for cats).
  • Hygiene is a key factor for the good health of pets. Both cats and dogs need to be brushed and bathed regularly to prevent skin problems. The frequency depends on the kind of fur: it’s not the same a Persian cat — that needs brushing on a daily basis — than a sphynx — which doesn’t have to be brushed at all, but needs moisturizer from time to time. Also, cats want their litter tray always clean, and separated from their feeding spot. Would you eat by the toilet?
  • Going out for a walk is essential for dogs. It’s their time to play, socialize, and learn  (by exploring the terrain). Pups, besides, learn this way to pee and poop outdoors, so during this stage it’s recommended to walk them a lot — once they are done with their vaccination plan.

Puppies and Kitties at Home

The pup or kitten’s arrival home is a stressful moment for them. We can minimize that stress by making them feel safe and welcome: let them explore the house, and do positive things such as playing or eating.

One of the basic needs of cats is having a spot for themselves where they can be in peace; they like high, dark, and hard to access areas.

In the case of pups, after the first few days where everybody is paying attention to them, they need to get used to being alone at home. That is quite hard for them because they are very social animals, and would rather be with someone. We have to train them gradually, leaving them alone for increasingly long periods of time. All this process will be easier if we leave them suitable toys, such as food dispensers or balls they can’t swallow, or even if we hide bits of food around the house.

Training is basic to build a good relationship between pets and their owners — for both of them. That means that we should be aware that cats and dogs are not people, that dogs are not cats, and cats are not dogs. Every species has different needs.

Do not hesitate to ask your veterinarian.

Positive Training

We should decide from the very beginning what we will or will not allow them to do in the long term, because if we let them hop onto the bed or scratch our hands now, they won’t understand anything when we scold them for doing the same later on. Besides, cats and dogs are not trained the same way — even though in both cases we must use positive reinforcement, never punishment.

Bear in mind that dogs bite and cats scratch, usually in good faith.

Dogs

Dogs play and explore using their mouth, so it’s normal that they bite stuff. That is not something to discourage, but to redirect. We should to adapt the area where the pup will stay so they have no access to things we do not want them to chew on, and offer them toys for that purpose.

When dogs bite these toys, we should reward them, and when they bite things we don’t want them to, we should lead them to the “bitable” stuff. A setting rich in stimuli and good physical activity — suitable for the breed, with walks and games — will diminish the wreck at home.

Cats

It’s normal and necessary that cats scratch things. This is one of the most usual complaints from new cat owners. When cats scratch they’re marking the territory, and communicating. It’s good to keep their claws in good condition, too. We must not try to discourage this behavior, but redirect it towards a specific area. We can do that by putting cat scratchers at their disposal.

If we accustom cats to scratchers from an early age, probably they won’t use the couch, armchair, or curtains — though with cats you never know.

So, Think It Over Carefully

We won’t say that you shouldn’t have pets. We do have them, and won’t repent. What we want to stress is that, if you want to have a pet, you must seek information on the needs of every kind of animal, and ponder honestly and realistically if you are prepared for that commitment, now and in the future.

Take you time. Don’t make a decision on the fly.

A pet is a living being, not a toy you can discard or set aside when you get tired of it.

If you do decide to have cat or a dog, you can always adopt one, even if it’s a grown-up. In any case, seek good advice, and do it responsibly. This way both of you can be part of a story that, like Lola’s, has a happy end.

Cats, Dogs
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