denver animal hospital faq

Listed below are some frequently asked questions that pet owners have. Please call us if you have additional questions.

Why is my cat urinating outside the litter box?

This is one of the most common problems we encounter with our feline friends. The first step is to determine if the cause is physical – ie a urinary tract infection, metabolic – kidney disease or diabetes, or behavioral. This is done by analyzing a urine sample, and also by frequently performing in-house blood work. There are successful treatment options for all three possibilities.

Why does it cost so much to clean my pet's teeth?

Unlike people, dogs and cats need to be placed under general anesthesia to properly clean their teeth. A certified technician will monitor your animal during anesthesia, and a veterinarian will be doing any extractions. Our dentals include ultrasonic scaling, polishing, full oral exam, and fluoride treatment.  Tooth extractions, antibiotics, and pain medications are included when necessary. The same procedures used by your dentist are used to clean your pets teeth.

How often should I vaccinate my animal?

Ideally, vaccinations should be started when your puppy or kitten is about 8 weeks old. Booster shots are necessary in puppies and kittens to overcome “maternal immunity”, where the antibodies that the puppies and kittens acquired from their mother provide some protection but eventually break down. Vaccines are ineffective in the face of maternal immunity and the puppy and kitten series of vaccines is necessary to protect the pet during the time when the maternal immunity disappears. Booster shots remind the immune system of diseases it is supposed to protect against.

Rabies vaccinations are given at 16 weeks of age and are protective for 1 year. The rabies vaccine will need to be boostered in 1 year and is then protective for 3 years. In most counties they require a license if your dog is 4 months or older.  Licenses must be renewed annually.

Dog licensing is in effect in the following locations:

• Westminster
• Arvada
• Wheat Ridge
• Golden
• Lakewood
• Unincorporated Jefferson County

Jefferson Registration
Denver Registration

Dogs should be vaccinated annually against distemper – a combination vaccine protecting against the canine distemper virus, hepatitis, parainfluenza and parvovirus. Since the risk of an animal catching certain diseases decreases with age, we would be happy to tailor a vaccine protocol to the specific lifestyle of your pet.

Cats should be vaccinated annually against distemper – a combination vaccine that protects from feline distemper and 2 additional respiratory viruses. We strongly recommend the feline leukemia vaccine if you cat does or will go outside, or if you have another cat that goes in and out.

Dog:                                                                  Cat:

8 weeks - Dewomer/Dhpp                           9 weeks: Dewormer/Frvcp

12 weeks - Dewormer/Dhpp                       13 Weeks:  Frvcp/Rabies

16 weeks-  Dhpp/Rabies

What is the best age to spay/neuter my pet?

We strongly believe that an important part of responsible pet ownership is spaying or neutering your animal at an appropriate age. We recommend that your pet be spayed or neutered at 4-5 months of age.

The Humane Society of America conservatively estimates that over 3 million dogs and cats are euthanized every year because there are simply not enough homes for them. And while not adding to the surplus animal population is a compelling reason for spaying and neutering, many people would be surprised to know that the procedure can actually be beneficial for the health of their pet.

FOR CATS:

• Eliminates multiple stray cat contacts, thus reducing potential disease transmission.
• Virtually eliminates inter-male fighting, which is a major source of cat bite abscesses, as well as infection with feline leukemia and feline AIDS.
• Intact male cats as young as 6 months can start marking their territory ( your couch, your carpet ) with urine. The smell is quite unpleasant and almost impossible to get rid of.

FOR DOGS:

• Spaying a dog before her first heat cycle will almost completely eliminate the chance that she will get mammary cancer.
• Spaying and neutering early tends to decrease aggression and make dogs easier to train, because they are not distracted by hormones.
• Intact female dogs are prone to the development of pyometra – a condition where the uterus becomes infected. This condition can be life-threatening and requires immediate emergency treatment.
• Neutering male dogs eliminates the chance of testicular cancer and enlarged prostates.
• 85% of dogs hit by cars are intact male dogs.

How do I know if my animal has an ear infection?

A normal ear should be pink and somewhat shiny inside the ear flap. Some dogs normally have hair growing from the ear canal that needs to be routinely removed. Any waxy, bloody, or dark crumbly discharge is abnormal, as is a wet ‘sound’ when you rub the base of your pets ear. Also, if your animal is shaking its head excessively, cries when the ears are touched or has a strong odor from the ears, they should be examined for an ear infection. Most ear infections can be cleared up with identification of the causative agent, a thorough cleaning, and appropriate medication.