WHAT IS A MICROCHIP?
A microchip is a small implant about the size of a grain of rice. Your veterinarian implants the chip under the skin, in between your pet’s shoulder blades. Each microchip is assigned a number which, when scanned, will display on the screen. This number is what links the pet to its rightful owner. The microchip company is contacted and the displayed number will bring up the owner’s and pet’s information. It is important that people remember to update their microchip information if ever they move or change phone numbers. Veterinary hospitals, Humane Societies and shelters have microchip scanners to help identify and return lost pets.
HOW DO I KNOW IF MY PET HAS WORMS?
The most accurate way to determine if your pet has internal parasites is to evaluate a fecal sample. After a specific preparation, the stool is evaluated under a microscope to look for parasite eggs which are invisible to the naked eye. Your veterinarian can check for over 20 different parasites when evaluating a fecal sample. Based on a parasites life cycle, eggs may not have been shed so that no parasites are seen even if a pet is infected; therefore it is always important to properly deworm your pet. Animals with parasites may not have any clinical signs and may display the following symptoms: loose stool or diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss, distended belly, decreased appetite and poor quality coat. In extreme infections they may vomit or defecate worms.
CAN MY INDOOR PET GET WORMS?
Yes. Even pets that are kept solely indoors can still get internal parasites, fleas and even heartworm. Parasites shed eggs which we can collect on our shoes just from walking outside. These eggs are tracked into the house or apartment and can infect your pet. This is especially true in apartment buildings since many pets have access to the hallways where they can shed parasites or track parasites in which can easily make their way to your indoor pet. If there is an animal in the house that goes outside, they can also track parasites or fleas into the house and put your indoor pet at risk. Heartworm is contracted from mosquitos which can easily get into your house. Animals that have access to balconies or backyards are also at risk of contracting parasites, fleas, and heartworm.
HOW DO I STOP MY CAT FROM SCRATCHING THE FURNITURE?
Scratching is a natural behaviour for cats making it a difficult behaviour to modify. Keeping your cat’s nails short is one of the easiest ways to reduce your cat’s scratching. All cats should have access to a scratching post that is ideally tall enough for them to use while stretching. Using patience and treats, some cats can be trained to only scratch the post and not your furniture. Deterrents can be used to discourage your cat from scratching during the training process. Using aluminum foil, double sided tape, or plastic to cover areas of the furniture that your cat has taken a liking to will create an undesirable scratching surface. Another alternative is to place nail caps on your cat. These easy to apply blunt nail caps cover the nail creating a dull surface that does not cause damage but allows your cat to naturally scratch. The caps need to be replaced on average once a month. If your cat is still terrorizing your furniture he may need to be declawed. Consult your veterinarian for more information about declawing and if it is a suitable option for your cat.