My cat is peeing outside the litter box, why would s/he do that?

  My rabbit eats its poop, why?

  Rabbits produce two types on droppings – the small round ones we are used to seeing and “night droppings” or cecotrophs, which are softer and larger in volume.  It is normal for a rabbit to eat these night droppings because they are rich in vitamins and minerals and are an essential part of their diet.        

My pet just had babies, what should I do?

  The best advice I can give you is to call your veterinarian.  There are so many facets to this question that it cannot be answered in a few sentences.

  My dog/cat has rice type things in his poop, what does that mean?

    What you are describing is most likely tapeworm segments.  Dogs and cats get tapeworms from eating rodents and rabbits.  Also, pets that are infested with fleas can contract tapeworms from eating the fleas that are on their body.  We have very effective medication to eliminate these disgusting parasites!  Pet stores carry dewormers but they are not effective against tapeworms.  

I have a turtle and I need to have him tested for salmonella. How do I do that?

  A sample of your turtle’s droppings is required for the test.  Unfortunately, a single sample that is negative for Salmonella does not ensure that your turtle is not a carrier.  The bacteria are usually shed only intermittently.  If you are concerned about Salmonella, the best thing to do is simply to wash your hands after handling the turtle or anything in contact with it.

  I have a cockatiel that is laying eggs, what should I do?

  First of all, do not take the eggs away from her.  She will lay a set number of eggs called a “clutch” and then she will stop and incubate them.  If you take them away it will stimulate her to continue to lay.  This will lead to calcium depletion and egg binding ( a fatal condition in which they are unable to pass the egg).  Proper diet is extremely  important for egg laying birds because of the risk of calcium and protein depletion.  All birds should be on a pelleted diet and when they are egg-laying, the pellet should be a “High Potency” type of pellet.  Hormone injections can effectively halt egg laying in some birds.  Removal of the uterus can be done as a last resort.                       

  Why does my cat need to be vaccinated when he is a strictly inside cat?

  Some of the viruses that we vaccinate for can be tracked in on your shoes or blow in through an open window.  Another cat could come up to your window and go “one-on-one” with your cat through your screen.  Also, there is always a chance that your cat could inadvertently escape and come in with contact with other cats outdoors.  If you were to bring a new kitten into your home, the last thing on your mind would be- having your adult cat vaccinated.  The new one could be carrying disease and pass it on.

  I was cutting my dog’s nails and I made it bleed.  What do I do?  Will he bleed to death?

  Relax and don’t panic!  Your dog will sense your anxiety and become difficult to handle.  Use cornstarch or flour and press it into the cut end of the toenail.  Hold it in firmly for a minute or so.  This may need to be repeated a few times but the bleeding should eventually stop.  Rarely veterinary attention is required.

  I have a new puppy and I also have an adult dog.  I have puppy food for the puppy and adult food for the adult, but they share each other's food.  Is this a problem?                          

  Try to feed the two dogs separately.  Puppy food is much higher in calories than adult food and can lead to obesity in adult dogs.  Adult dog food does not contain adequate levels of protein and minerals and vitamins for a puppy.

  What is the length of gestation for a cat, and a dog?

  Both cats and dogs are pregnant for 63 days.           

  What do I do with the baby rabbits that I found in my yard?

  Leave them where they are.  If they are old enough to be out in the yard, they are old enough to survive on their own.  If they are in a nest, their mother will return – mother rabbits only feed their babies twice/day.  They spend the rest of their time away from the nest foraging. 

How can I tell if my pet is pregnant?       

  Unfortunately, you will not be able to tell if your pet is pregnant simply by looking at her.  Even at full term, if they are carrying only one or two babies, they will not “look” pregnant.  In order to determine if your pet is pregnant, she needs to be examined at about 28 days of her pregnancy.  The doctor may be able to feel the fetuses in her abdomen at that point.  Later on in pregnancy, radiographs can be taken to identify the fetuses, or an ultrasound can be performed.  

  My Iguana is sneezing what should I do?

  It is normal for iguanas to sneeze – they are clearing the salt produced by a gland in their noses.  However, if they are sneezing a lot, it means that the humidity in the environment is not high enough.

  My dog is scooting his bum across the floor – does he have worms?

  Generally, bum-scooting is not due to worms.  Most often it indicates that a dog has an anal gland problem.  These glands are located on either side of their rectum and produce a fluid that normally is excreted from the glands.  However, if these glands do not empty properly, the fluid builds up, causing the pet discomfort.  The scooting is because they are trying to squeeze the liquid out.  Unfortunately, this often does not work and the pet must be treated by a veterinarian  who will empty the glands for the pet. 

  Everyone on the lake is talking about his or her dog having Blasto – what is that?

  Blastomycosis is a fungal infection that can attack many parts of the body – the lungs, brain, eye, skin, bones, etc.  The disease can be treated successfully, in some cases, but not all.  Unfortunately, dogs can die from this disease.  It is contracted from soil that is contaminated with the spores of the fungus by inhaling it or through a break in the skin.  It is most often found in and around the Lake of the Woods but has been identified in dogs that have never left Winnipeg or surrounding areas.  

  What is Lyme disease?  Is my pet at risk?

  Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that is transmitted by the deer tick.  The most common symptoms associated with the disease are fever and lameness because of infection in the joints.  The disease is readily treatable in the early stages.  The deer tick is found most often in the Whiteshell and northwestern Ontario.  If you are traveling to these areas, you should use extra protection for tick control and have your pet vaccinated against Lyme disease.

 Does my pet have to go through a heat before we spay her?  I have also heard that she should have a litter before we spay her.  Does this affect her temperament?    

  My dog is shaking his head a lot – what does this mean?

  Usually, if a dog is shaking their head excessively, it indicates that they have an ear infection.  Take your dog to your veterinarian immediately!                

 My cat is meowing all the time and frequently peeing outside the litter box – what is wrong?

  Assuming that you have a male cat, it could mean that your cat has a “blocked” or partially “blocked bladder”.  If this is the case, the cat is in a lot of pain and that would be why he is meowing constantly.  This is an emergency situation and your cat should be examined by a veterinarian immediately.  

  Why does my dog need a heartworm test when he had his heartworm medication every year?

We understand that you have had your pet on heartworm medication every year but, occasionally, we do see cases of heartworm in dogs that were on a prevention program the previous year.  Why does this happen?  Sometimes, the dog will take the pill and a while later, throw it up without the owner realizing it.  Sometimes, the dog has diarrhea that day and the medication passes rapidly through the system without being absorbed.  Sometimes, we don't know where the break occurs.  For these reasons, we test every 3 years to ensure that they are heartworm free.