Frequently Asked Questions

Cat Scratch Fever
Emergency First Aid
Feeding Your Cat
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus
Housebreaking Your Puppy
American Animal Hospital Association
American Veterinary Medical Association
CVMA
Travel with your Pet
Training Your Puppy
Senior Pets
Online Pet Resources
Animal Poison Center
Glaucoma
Vaccines
Surgery & Anesthesia

Cat Scratch Fever
Most people have heard of the cat scratch disease either from the rock song or as the disease itself.  The disease is real and caused by a bacteria.  The bacteria, Bartonella sp., has more than 14 species and is similar to the bacteria that cause Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Lymes Disease.

Studies have found that cats are a major reservoir for at least 5 common strains of Bartonella that can cause human infections, especially in immune-compromised individuals.  Even apparently healthy cats can have the bacteria in their bloodstream and serve as a source of infection.  Studies have isolated the bacteria from the blood of up to 41% of healthy cats.  Fleas and ticks can also transmit the bacteria from and infected cat to an uninfected individual (cat or human).

Bartonella has been implicated in causing or contributing to a number of diseases in both cats and humans, as well as other species.  Some cat diseases Bartonella may be involved in are: oral disease, fevers of unknown origins, sinusitis, eye problems, and intestinal problems.  Diseases in humans that involve the Bartonella organisms include Cat Scratch Disease (most common and least severe), skin sores, liver disease, heart and valve problems, CNS disease, and chorioretinitis (an eye condition).  The more severe disease conditions are more closely associated with immune-suppressed individuals (AIDS patients, children, elderly, transplantations, and long-term diseases).

There are tests available that can be utilized to identify cats who may be carrying the Bartonella organism.  The easiest involves a few drops of blood and results are available within 3-5 days.  After cats are identified, treatment can be initiated to help prevent disease spread.  People with immune system problems, have undiagnosed disease conditions, or are bringing a new baby into their homes should seriously consider testing any cats they may have for Bartonella.  This will help both the humans and cats in the household to become and remain as healthy as possible.

Emergency First Aide
The Doctors of Animal Health Network, and the American Animal Hospital Association cannot stress enough that you should not get online during a pet emergency or when your pet is seriously ill. In an emergency, first aid is not a substitute for veterinary treatment. However, before you are able to get your pet to a veterinarian, knowing some basic first aid can help. Always seek veterinary care following first-aid attempts.

When your animal companion has an emergency, being prepared is very important. Before an emergency strikes, follow these simple guidelines to streamline emergency care for your family pet:

Post the telephone number of the family veterinarian in a prominent location (ask your Doctor if a refrigerator magnet is available!). Please note that, if you contact us regarding an emergency illness or injury when our office is closed, you will automatically be connected with the local emergency clinic.

Create a first- aid kit, and confirm that all family members know where it is located. Your first aid kit may include the following useful items:

Affix your family veterinarian's buisness card to both the inside, and front of the container
Gauze bandage rolls - both 2” and 4”
Non stick telfa pads
White medical tape - both 2 inch and 4 inch
Elastic bandages - both 2 inch and 4 inch
Clean washcloths (2)
Triple antibiotic ointment
Sterile eye wash - in a squeeze bottle - buy the smallest size, and replace after each use
Clean hand towels (2)
Large sturdy blanket that may double as a stretcher

In an Emergency

Create a safe environment for your first aid efforts; if your pet has been injured in a roadway, enlist help to assure the your safety as well as that of your pet. Once the area is safe - approach your pet carefully, pain or fear may cause a gentle animal to bite without warning.

Check the animal over - look for the A B C's of first aid: Airway, Breathing, and Circulation
Airway; if the animal is not breathing, check to see if her airway is blocked:

If she is conscious, she may be panicky and will be more likely to bite - if you are able to open her mouth and remove a blockage - do so- being careful not to force the blockage deeper into her throat. Transport her to a veterinarian immediately.

If she is unconscious, open her mouth, and remove any obstacles noted - again, being careful not to force a blockage deeper into her throat. If no blockage is seen, turn her left side up, listen for a heartbeat in the middle of her chest (where her elbow touches the chest).

Breathing;
If you hear a heartbeat, but no breathing you may give her artificial respiration through her nose (not her mouth). First, assure that her airway is clear. Then, breathe firmly but gently in through her nose, holding her mouth closed. Watch for her chest to rise, breath once for her every 5 seconds. Don't breath harder than is necessary to cause the chest to rise, especially in small breed dogs. Check periodically to see if she is breathing on her own. Transport her to a veterinarian immediately - breathing for her while transporting.

Circulation;
If she is not breathing, and has no heartbeat, you may begin CPR. Hold one hand, palm up, under her chest - with the other hand compress gently. Alternate two sequential breaths through the nose with ten chest compressions. Smaller animals will require chest compressions with the fingers and thumb (be gentle!). Continue CPR while transporting her to a veterinarian.
Wound Care;
Open wounds, fractures, and closed wound-soft tissue trauma can be extremely painful. Approach the animal slowly and with care - even the gentlest animals will bite under the influence of pain or fear.

Open wounds: Using the clean washcloth, or towel, from your first aid kit; apply firm, gentle pressure to profusely bleeding wounds. Gently wrap or cover open wounds that are not bleeding - do not attempt to debride or clean away road dirt - this may start bleeding that may be difficult to stop.

Unstable Fractures: Do not attempt to reduce, or set broken bones. If fracture site is open and bleeding, and you can control the bleeding without causing more injury, do so.  If your animal is unstable on his feet, and is too heavy to carry, you may be able to assist him by slinging a bath towel under his chest or abdomen - carry the leash in your right hand, and the towel in your left. Transport immediately to the veterinarian, supporting the injured part as gently as possible.

Feeding Your Cat
Forget what you've heard about feeding cats for the last 15 years....Your cat needs to be offered a high quality canned diet, twice daily. After each feeding, his bowl needs to be thoroughly washed. Providing canned food used to be considered a naughty luxury, but recent long term studies in Europe strongly indicate that your cats' metabolic requirements call for a higher protein and fat content than is provided by dried kibble products. Continue to avoid soft-moist foods, as they are very high in sugar and contribute to dental disease and obesity.

Most cats do well on 30 kcal (kilo calories) of food per kilogram (kg) per day (about one tablespoon of high quality canned food, twice daily for an eight pound cat). Offering a clean source of fresh water--wash the water bowl at least daily.

If you've been feeding dry food and making it available all the time, you'll need to gradually transition your cat to the new feeding program.

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) is closely related to Human Immunodeficieny Virus (HIV) although FIV only infects cats. Like HIV it is a virus that can lay dormant for long periods of time, and causes illness by supressing the cat's immune system, allowing other opportunistic infections to take hold.

FIV is prevalent throughout the United States and found in approximately 5% of the cat population. The virus is transmitted most effectively by bites from an infected cat, therefore outdoor cats, especially unneutered males are at greatest risk for contracting the virus.

Once infected, there is no known cure for the virus. Tests to detect antibodies against FIV are available and should be performed in any sick cat who goes outdoors, or whose history is unknown (ie - shelter adoptions). A giagnosis of FIV in a healthy cat is not a death sentence. FIV positive cats can live for years with the virus. It is vital these compromised cats have eat a good diet, reduce stress, avoid infections (especially dental disease) and most importantly, are kept strictly indoors!

A new vaccine against FIV became available in July 2002. After consulting with experts and evaluating the research available, the doctors at Animal Health Network, are recommending AGAINST vaccinating cats with the new FIV vaccine in most circumstances. If you feel your cat is significantly at risk for contracting FIV, please discuss with your doctor whether the risks of vaccinating are warranted before proceeding with vaccination.

American Animal Hospital Association
Animal Health Network is proud to be an Accredited Member Hospital of the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA).  Less than 12% of small animal hospitals in the US share this distinction.

AAHA sets rigorous standards for Record keeping, surgical and kennel facilities, diagnostic equipment and anesthesia protocols.

CVMA
The California Veterinary Medical Association is your State Veterinary Association.

Their web site provides some pet health related information, but is primarily for veterinarians to access member services.

Travel With Your Pet
Traveling by Car
Whether you're preparing for a long trip or just a short across town jaunt, safety is the first consideration!

Cats should be in carriers (while traveling and while transfering to and from the car!
Dogs should wear a safety harness that attaches to the shoulder/lap belt in the back seat! (Dogs should never be seated in front with an air bag)
Dogs should never travel in the back of a pickup unless they are harnessed to the front of the bed, and cannot get over the edge on either side. Even better would be a carrier, secured in the bed.

For long trips, with holding food, so that your pet travels with an empty stomach can help avoid car-sickness

Benadryl (over-the-counter antihistamine) can be usefull for motion sickness as well as the desired drowsy side effect. Ask your doctor for the correct dose for your pet.
Your pets will need rest-stop breaks at least every 2 hours. Dogs should be safely leashed for walks in designated areas (carry plastic picku-up bags). Cats should have a litter box available to use, but it should not be in the carrier with them. With all car doors safely closed you can let your cat out of the carrier to use the litterbox.  Plastic bags and pre-moistened wipes will help clean up any accidents.

Traveling by Air

Due to increasing liability and concerns about safety many airlines will no longer accept pets that travel in cargo. Small carriers that fit under the seat may be allowed, but are usually limited to 1 or 2 pets per flight. CHECK  WITH YOUR AIRLINE prior to making travel plans!

Regardless of cargo or cabin travel, it is a good idea to skip a meal before travel to help reduce air sickness and reduce the chance the pet will evacuate their bowels in the carrier.

Anti-nausea medication like Benadryl is often helpful, and also has mild sedative effects. More powerful sedatives are generally NOT recommended if the pet is traveling in cargo as they reduce the body's ability to regulate temperature and blood pressure.

Travel to foreign countries is often more involved and requires special permits, blood tests (for rabies anti-bodies) as well as specific vaccination requirements. In some cases the planning requires some steps be completed THREE MONTHS prior to travel. Failure to make appropriate plans will likely mean postponing your trip, or making other plans for your pet to stay at home. Check with the local consulate of the country where you'll be traveling for current requirements. If special forms are required in multiple languages, it is your job to get them for your veterinarian!

Training Your Puppy
TO: My Colleagues in Veterinary Medicine:
Common questions I receive from puppy owners, dog trainers and veterinarians concern: 1) what is the most favorable age or period of time when puppies learn best? 2) what are the health implications of my advice that veterinarians and trainers should offer socialization programs for puppies starting at 8 to 9 weeks of age.

Puppies begin learning at birth and their brains appear to be particularly responsive to learning and retaining experiences that are encountered during the first 13 to 16 weeks after birth [Dr. Anderson is saying that the prime time for puppy socialization stops somewhere between 13 and 16 weeks, although more socialization occurs after that time]. This means that breeders, new puppy owners, veterinarians, trainers and behaviorists have a responsibility to assist in providing these learning/socialization experiences with other puppies/dogs, with children/adults and with various environmental situations during this optimal period from birth to 16 weeks.

Many veterinarians are making this early socialization and learning program part of a total wellness plan for breeders and new owners of puppies during the first 16 weeks of a puppy’s life -- the first 7-8 weeks with the breeder and the next 8 weeks with the new owners. This socialization program should enroll puppies from 8 to 12 weeks of age as a key part of any preventive medicine program to improve the bond between pets and their people and keep dogs as valued members of the family for 12 to 18 years.

To take full advantage of this early special learning period, many veterinarians recommend that new owners take their puppies to puppy socialization classes, beginning at 8 to 9 weeks of age. At this age they should have (and can be required to have) received a minimum of their first series of vaccines for protection against infectious diseases. This provides the basis for increasing immunity by further repeated exposure to these antigens either through natural exposure in small doses or artificial exposure with vaccines during the next 8 to 12 weeks. In addition the owner and people offering puppy socialization should take precautions to have the environment and the participating puppies as free of natural exposure as possible by good hygiene and caring by careful instructors and owners.

Experience and epidemiologic data support the relative safety and lack of transmission of disease in these puppy socialization classes over the past 10 years in many parts of the United States. In fact; the risk of a dog dying because of infection with distemper or parvo disease is far less than the much higher risk of a dog dying (euthanasia) because of a behavior problem. Many veterinarians are now offering new puppy owners puppy socialization classes in their hospitals or nearby training facilities in conjunction with trainers and behaviorists because they want socialization and training to be very important parts of a wellness plan for every puppy. We need to recognize that this special sensitive period for learning is the best opportunity we have to influence behavior for dogs and the most important and longest lasting part of a total wellness plan.

Are there risks? Yes. But 10 years of good experience and data, with few exceptions, offers veterinarians the opportunity to generally recommend early socialization and training classes, beginning when puppies are 8 to 9 weeks of age. However, we always follow a veterinarian’s professional judgment, in individual cases or situations, where special circumstances warrant further immunization for a special puppy before starting such classes. During any period of delay for puppy classes, owners should begin a program of socialization with children and adults, outside their family, to take advantage of this special period in a puppy’s life.

If there are further questions, veterinarians may call me at 651-644-7400 for discussion and clarification.

- Robert K. Anderson DVM, Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Preventive ..Medicine and Diplomate of American College of Veterinary Behaviorists

Online Pet Resource
NetVet & the Electronic Zoo
American Animal Hospital Association
American Veterinary Medical Association
American Veterinary Chiropractic Association
Pet Owner's Guide To Common Small Animal Poisons

Animal Poison Center
In a poisoning emergency you may contact the National Animal Poison Control Center (NAPCC) for information and treatment recommendations.  NAPCC is affiliated with the ASPCA, and is a nonprofit organization.

This service is provided for a fee.  You must provide a credit card number when calling.

You can reach the NAPCC web site by clicking here. Or calling 888-426-4435

PROSAR International Animal Poison Center  can be reached at 888-232-8870, fee is $35 per consultation.  This is another alternative for poison information, provided by Prosar, a company who previously provided human poisoning consultation calls.

Glaucoma
Glaucoma

Vaccines
There has been a lot of hype and sensational stories about pet vaccination in recent years. The downside is that many pet owners have been inappropriately scared of vaccinating their pets. The upside, is the public scrutiny has allowed veterinarians to demand more rigorous scientific data from vaccine manufacturers.

This has led to the development of the "Core" and "Non-Core" Vaccination program. Core vaccines protect against common and very contagious diseases where the risk of the disease is significant for your pet, regardless of lifestyle potential exposure risks. Non-Core vaccines are for those diseases which your pet is unlikely to acquire unless they have certain lifestyle exposure risks.

For our urban San Francisco community, the doctors of Animal Health Network have designated the following vaccines as core or non-core, based on the severity of the disease, likelihood of exposure,  and risks of vaccination side effects:

For dogs:

For cats:

Sugery & Anesthesia
Your pet's comfort and safety is our primary concern.

We know that anesthesia and surgery are stressful for both you and your pet.

We understand that cost is often a factor in choosing your pet's health care, and want to be sure that you understand how our hospital policies can make a real difference to you and your pet. At our hospital, we do everything we can to minimize every pet's stress or discomfort by using the safest procedures possible.

Post-Surgical Pain Control: Scientific evidence proves that pets experience pain the same way we do. Proper pain control involves not only anesthesia, but additional medications given for the sole purpose of relieving surgical and post-surgical pain. At our hospital, we average four medications for pain for most procedures. We always send home pain medication after surgery.

Heated Surgery Blanket: A heated circulating water blanket maintains your pet's body temperature during anesthesia, providing for a safer, quicker and smoother recovery.

Syringes and Needles: There are no regulations to prevent veterinary hospitals lowering costs by reusing needles and syringes. Our hospital would never risk your pet's health by reusing syringes or needles.

Precision Surgical Instruments: Some hospitals save money by using less expensive, poorer quality surgical instruments made in Pakistan. Our operating room uses only surgical instruments of the highest quality with much less chance of an instrument slipping, causing blood loss or injury during surgery.

Precision Suture Material: We use the best quality suture material available. Many hospitals save money by using expired human hospital sutures, whose makers will not warrantee the strength of the expired suture. We use only the finest and most dependable sutures and in sizes suitable for your pet. In many cases, we use surgical skin staples. These are more expensive than sutures but cause less irritation to bother your pet.

Intravenous Catheters: Our patients receiving general anesthesia have an intravenous catheter inserted prior to the induction of anesthesia. This is an additional cost,but the administration of medications becomes safer and more comfortable for your pet. The catheter also provides access to a vein, should a need for additional medication arise. Through this catheter, your pet will also receive IV fluid support from specialized pumps that deliver precise amounts of fluids and change the rate of flow as needed. Intravenous fluids help maintain blood pressure, provide internal organ support and keep your pet from becoming dehydrated.

Emergency Drugs: We keep a supply of the most advanced emergency drugs available, including blood products. These are very expensive to keep on hand, but allow us to be prepared in the event any need arises.

Surgical Anesthesia Monitoring: Our operating room is equipped with electronic monitors. We also have highly trained surgical technicians dedicated exclusively to monitoring your pet's anesthesia. While your pet is undergoing surgical anesthesia, we measure body tissue oxygen concentration, pulse rate and blood pressure. We record your pet's electrocardiogram, respirations and body temperature. Our monitors have internal alarms to alert us the moment any change of status occurs.

Surgical Anesthetics: Our hospital uses Sevoflurane anesthesia. This gas anesthetic agent is more expensive but much safer and more effective than other drugs. This means that your pet will have a secured airway by the use of an endotracheal breathing tube. Endotracheal tubes are not used by all hospitals. However, they are a very important safety measure here.

Post-Surgical Care: Detailed discharge instructions are provided by the doctor or technician who will review them with you. Most surgical patients are seen 7-14 days after discharge. This allows us to examine your pet's surgical site and medical progress. We are always available should any questions arise after discharge.

Do not hesitate to ask questions of us or any health care provider, whether for your pet or any other family member.

You have the right and a responsibility to your pet to know what services are being provided.

Ask other hospitals about post surgical pain control.
Ask if they have blood products on hand.
Ask if they use sterile surgical attire.
Ask if a surgical technician will be monitoring your pet.
Ask if your pet will have an I.V. Catheter.

All of these steps cost more to provide.

Some of these materials are ten times more expensive than the lower cost but lower safety alternatives.

These details may or may not seem important to you, but they are essential to your pet's health.

Contact us today!