Canine Care

Canine Distemper is a highly contagious and often fatal viral disease in dogs. Symptoms including fever, respiratory distress, gastrointestinal complications, fading puppy syndrome, muscle spasms, and other neurological symptoms are often seen. Because this viral disease is able to live in the environment for long periods of time and survive extreme temperatures, we strongly recommend every dog and puppy be vaccinated regularly for Canine Distemper.

Hepatitis is a virus that attacks the liver, kidneys, spleen, and lungs. Corneal clouding (blue eye) is a result of this disease. Signs vary from a slight fever, anorexia, thirst, conjunctivitis, and discharge from the eyes and nose to extreme abdominal page, vomiting, and death. The mortality rate is highest in very young dogs. Ingestion of urine, feces, or saliva are the main routes of infection. Due to the severity of this disease we highly recommend every puppy and adult be vaccinated.

Parainfluenza is a virus usually associated with mild infections. Clinical signs
include cough, nasal discharge, respiratory distress, and increased breath sounds.
Though fatalities are rare, young animals and older adults experience a prolonged
recovery time and can suffer from concurrent bacterial pneumonia. Vaccination to
prevent this virus is recommended.

Parvovirus is a disease most commonly seen in dogs between 6 weeks and 6
months of age with a mortality rate that can exceed 90%. Early signs are
listlessness, anorexia, vomiting, and fever. This can progress to weakness,
dehydration, severe vomiting and diarrhea, shock, and death. Parvovirus is a
resilient disease and is able to withstand extreme environmental conditions for
weeks or months. Infection occurs through contact with infected individuals or
ingestion of the virus in the environment.

Lyme disease is a tick-borne bacterial disease of domestic animals and humans.
Symptoms include lameness, fever, anorexia, lethargy, and swollen painful joints.
Tick avoidance and the use of preventative insecticides such as Simparica® (oral
medicine) or Seresto® Collars (available through your veterinarian), play an
important role in disease control. Dogs and puppies vaccinated with the
commercially available Lyme vaccine before tick exposure have the highest degree
of protection against the disease. It is recommended that all dogs in Central
Wisconsin be vaccinated annually (preferably in the Spring) for this disease.

is a disease caused by spiral-shaped bacteria called leptospires. It occurs
throughout the world and can cause disease in humans and animals, including dogs
and rarely cats. The bacterium that causes leptospirosis is spread through the urine
of infected animals which can get into water or soil and survive there for weeks to
months. Humans and animals can become infected through contact with this
contaminated urine (or other body fluids, excluding saliva), water or soil. The
bacteria can enter the body through skin or mucous membranes (eyes, nose or
mouth) especially if the skin is broken from a cut or scratch. Drinking contaminated
water can also cause infection. In our area, pets are often exposed to the urine of
wildlife such as raccoons, skunks, squirrels, opossums or deer. Rats and mice also
can transmit leptospirosis, so we recommend that all dogs are vaccinated, even if
kept primarily indoors. Although vaccination cannot prevent all types of
leptospirosis, it can protect against 4 of the serotypes (strains). Vaccination needs
to be repeated annually to be effective.

Canine Influenza, commonly known as dog flu, is a contagious respiratory disease in dogs. The symptoms can include cough, running nose, lethargy, eye discharge, and decreased appetite. The severity of the illness can range from dog to dog and is not a threat to humans. We recommend dogs who travel or are commonly in a shared space with other dogs, such as grooming, daycare, or boarding.

For many pet owners, it is difficult to decide when an emergency call is needed.

The following is meant to be only a guideline as to when emergency calls are necessary

Digestive System

• Vomiting or diarrhea which is continuous, bloody, or accompanied by other signs of illness. (For mild vomiting and/or diarrhea, the first step is to remove food and offer small amounts of water every hour. If the vomiting and/or diarrhea respond to this treatment, contact our hospital the next day for further instructions. If the vomiting and/or diarrhea are severe, call an emergency facility.
• Sever pain or distention of the abdomen (stomach area).
• Loss of appetite (not eating for 24 hours).
• Swallowing a foreign object.

Urinary System

• Straining or frequent, non-productive attempts at urination can be a serious emergency.
• Blood in the urine.
• Excessive water consumption.

Respiratory System

• Difficult or labored breathing, choking or wheezing.
• Continual coughing, coughing up blood, or coughing associated with other signs of illness such as fever, lethargy or difficulty breathing.
• Nasal discharge.

Nervous System

• Sudden or periodic weakness or lethargy.
• Seizures, Coma, Paralysis, or a Lack of balance.
• Unusually aggressive behavior.

Head Region: (Any condition in which considerable pain is involved).

• ANY injury or condition which involves an eye.
• Broken teeth.
• Difficulty swallowing, uncontrolled salivation or drooling.
• Puss, thick crusts or discharge around the eyes or nose.
• Ear infections, head tilt, or pawing or scratching at the ears.

Physical And Skin

• Loss of use of any limb / lameness, rapid swelling.
• Bone fractures.
• Uncontrolled bleeding from an injury.
• Animal bites from other pets or wild animals.
• Elevated body temperature or sudden drop in temperature, shivering.
• Burns of the skin.

Reproductive System / Whelping/Queening

Normal

• The gestation period for DOGS is 63 days, for CATS 61-63 days. Both are counted from the first breeding.
• We recommend taking radiographs at 45 days to estimate the number of puppies or kittens to expect.
• A DOGS temperature should be taken daily starting on day 60. When the temperature drops below 99 degrees, labor should start within 12 hours. Taking the temperature does not apply to CATS.
• Once labor starts, puppies and kittens will be delivered 1-2 hours apart.

Abnormal

• Signs of labor of 3-4 hours with no puppies or kittens.
• Hard labor for 1 hour with no puppies or kittens.
• More than 2 hours between puppies or kittens.

It is best to talk with our Doctors prior to breeding or early in gestation for more explicit instructions.

The guidelines are for clients with after normal business hour dilemmas. The best chance for treatment is in the first hours after an illness for injury is discovered. Please call our hospital anytime if you have any questions or are concerned with your pet’s health.

After Normal Business Hours Or On Weekends And Holidays, Please Contact:

Blue Pearl Fox Valley – Appleton
920-993-9193

Blue Pearl Fox Valley – Glendale
414-540-6710

UW Veterinary Care
608-263-7600

Madison Veterinary Specialists and Emergency Care
608-274-7772

VCA Veterinary Emergency Service & Veterinary Specialty Center
608-222-2455

PAW Health Network
715-693-6934

Housebreaking your dog is one of the most important training efforts you will ever
make. This activity begins immediately after the new puppy enters your home. Our
Doctors do not routinely recommend paper training, but rather taking your puppy to
an appropriate area outside. The following are suggestions to assist you in
housebreaking.

Take The Puppy To A Designated Outside Area

• The first thing in the morning
• Immediately after playing
• Immediately after eating
• At least 6-8 times during the day (approximately every 2 hours)
• The last thing every night

Establish A Feeding Routine

• Establish regular feeding times (AM & PM)
• Do not allow free access to food throughout the day
• Remove food after 20 minutes

Keep An Eye On Your Puppy

• Crate your puppy when you are not home and at night. In general, your puppy can be safely crated for one to two hours every month of age at a time
• Restrict access to the room you are in
• Leash walk when outside

Training Tips

• Concentrate on one designated outside area
• Have another dog eliminate in the correct area
• Do not allow playing until elimination occurs
• Permit sniffing
• Use a vocal command (“go potty” or “empty”, etc)
• Encourage playing and socialization after elimination
• Reward the puppy

Correcting The Puppy

• Exercise patience, your puppy is a baby and will make mistakes
• Correct by startling them with a firm NO! only when you catch them eliminating in the wrong place
• Clean and eliminate odors appropriately

Obedience Training

We recommend spending some time obedience training your puppy for at least
some basic commands including come, sit, lay down, stay, etc. We believe that
committing a little time and effort training in first year of dog ownership will make
future years enjoyable for both you and your dog because they will understand your
commands and expectations. Our canine companions want nothing more than to
please their human companions. There are several organizations in the area who
offer obedience training classes.

If you have any questions regarding housebreaking or caring for your puppy, please ask our staff.

Traveling with pets is not difficult, good planning is the key. The following are some suggestions for a safe and comfortable journey for traveling pets.

Before You Leave

• Be sure that your pet is a good traveler by taking them on frequent short trips prior to the actual trip you want to take.
• You may discover a boarding facility will work best for your pet.
• We do NOT recommend traveling with pets who are sick or ailing, have serious medical conditions, recovering from a recent illness, extremely shy, nervous or aggressive, females in heat, or puppies and kittens under 10 weeks of age.
• Call our hospital 60 days in advance for the state’s requirements that you are traveling to. If your pet is traveling by air and/or internationally, please contact that airline and/or country at least 60 days in advance for their requirements.
• Have your pet examined by one of our Doctors to ensure their health by checking for medical problems. It is much easier to do before you leave than on emergency in a strange town. Obtain a HEALTH CERTIFICATE from our hospital if needed.
• Update your pet’s vaccines. Cats should be current on their rabies and distemper combination vaccinations. Dogs should be current on rabies, distemper/parvovirus combination, and Bordetella vaccindations. In addition, discuss with your veterinarian if your pet should have additional “non-core” vaccines to help keep them healthy and safe. We also recommend updating your dog’s heartworm test especially if you are traveling south for the winter. A fecal sample should be tested once yearly at minimum to ensure your pet is not carrying any intestinal parasites as well.
• Please consider permanent pet identification with a microchip for your traveling companion and ensuring the information linked to the microchip is current and up to date (name, address, phone number, etc)
• Make advance reservations at hotels, campgrounds and state parks who welcome pets.

Checklist – Bring Along:

• Current photo of your pet, health records and certificates, rabies certificate and a current license.
• Collar with ID and rabies tags, and lease (your pet should wear a collar (not a chain) at all times when traveling)
• Phone number (usually a cell phone number) where you can be reached.
• Water bowl and feeding dish
• Fresh water and enough food for the duration of the trip, especially prescription diets
• Fill and bring any medications including heartworm and flea prevention
• Bedding, grooming aids and familiar toys
• Scooper and plastic bags for dogs, litter pan and disposable litter for cats, roll of paper towels
• Carrier for cats, crate for dogs

On The Road

• Wait at least one hour after your cat or dog’s last full meal before traveling.
• We recommend crating dogs and keeping cats in their well ventilated carrier or crate at all times in the car.
• Make several elimination, water and exercise stops for dogs, always keep them leashed when walking in designated areas.
• If you’re traveling for long periods of time (all day), stop to offer “snacks” and water. Provide food and water after arriving at your destination.
• NEVER leave a pet confined to a car, as automobiles heat up every quickly in the sun creating a very dangerous situation.
• We also recommend crating your pet at all times in hotels rooms to avoid escape or getting into “trouble”, but do not leave your dog alone in a hotel room as they may howl or bark.

We hope that these tips will make your trip safe and enjoyable for both you and your companion!

Please check out https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/pet-travel as another resource for excellent pet travel information.

If you have any questions regarding traveling or your pet’s health care, please ask our staff.

Here are some suggestions to help you puppy-proof or kitten-proof your home

• Don’t leave cigarette butts in ash trays where the puppy or kitten can get to them. If eaten, cigarette butts can lead to nicotine poisoning.
• Don’t leave gum where pets can ingest it. The sweetening agent in sugar-free gum is very dangerous to pets if eaten.
• Secure electrical cords to baseboards or make them inaccessible. If your puppy or kitten chews on them, it can suffer electric shock burns and may even die.
• Keep Holiday decorations out of the pet’s reach. Crushed glass balls can result in nasty cuts and decorative icicles can act as linear foreign bodies if ingested.
• Never burn decorative candles where they’re accessible to pets. The flame may attract them resulting in burns or even a house fire.
• Keep medication bottles away from pets. Childproof containers are not always animal proof!
• Keep the toilet lids down. Chemicals may be dangerous and lids can fall on small pets causing injury or even death.
• Keep cellar doors and upper story windows closed. A curious pet is as vulnerable as a young child.
• Dispose of bones in a pet proof manner. All pets like the taste of bones and will try to get into the trash to get them. Bones can be life threatening.
• Don’t leave pins and needles where pets can get to them. Pets (especially cats) will often play with and swallow these.
• Be certain that anti-freeze is out of reach and any drips are cleaned up completely. all pets are attracted to its scent and taste and it is HIGHLY toxic!
• Use pesticides and rodent poisons with caution. Hanging strips, fly paper and other exposed toxins must be kept out of reach.
• Be careful with flea and tick products. Be sure that you are using a veterinary recommended product such as Frontline Plus. Some over the counter preparations may be highly toxic, especially to cats and children.
• Be careful with houseplants. Toxicities may be mild or life threatening. Lillies, especially, can be fatal to cats.
• Don’t use human medications on pets without checking with your veterinarian. Many human products, such as Tylenol and Aleve are highly toxic or even fatal to pets.