Dog - Bloody Stool

Let's face it - dogs do and eat strange things. Your dog's bloody stool could be the result of many things, like an infection due to eating debris or something nasty, medication he/she may be on, stomach ulcers, cancer, or other illness. A metabolic disease or a condition known as hemorrhagic gastroenteritis may also cause your dog to have a bloody stool.

A dog whose only issue is a bloody stool may be otherwise the picture of perfect canine health and will probably recover in short order. Diet changes or minor illness can sometimes irritate the bowels and cause a bloody stool, the symptoms of which normally pass fairly quickly with no medical treatment required. However, if your dog is suffering from any of the above conditions with an additional loss of appetite, vomiting, and lethargy for an extended period of time, he may have a serious problem and a quick trip to the Vet is in order.

Dog

If you determine that your dog is to be treated at home, it's probably a good idea to prepare your dog's usual meal (assuming that the food itself has been more or less ruled out as the culprit). Changing the diet at this point may cause additional upset and bowel irritation. Your vet may recommend certain brands of dog food or prescribe medication to ease the dog's symptoms while he recovers. Whatever course of action you choose, keep your Vet informed of any changes in your dog's condition, and pay him a visit if needed.

Dog - Bloody Stool

Casey Donahue is an experienced dog owner/lover whose passion is sharing his enthusiasm and common-sense dog health information with other pet friendly people.

Find the dog health information you're looking for? Check out Casey's informative website, http://www.CommonDogHealthProblems.com

Pet Grooming Business

Do you like animals? Would you like to work for yourself? Pet grooming could be the career for you.

This business is more than just washing dogs. It can include cleaning ears, trimming nails, brushing teeth, and shaving the animal's coat in stylish ways. The animal can be a dog, cat, pig or other type of animal.

Pet

With an animal grooming business, the choice is yours. You can have the clients drop their animals at our house or you can start a mobile business. The options are limitless.

Starting this business does not require that you become certified. Research different dog grooming schools in your area, and choose one that fits your needs. Try to find one that offers pet grooming business management classes with the actual pet grooming classes.

Once you are trained, or while you are in training, you should start to create a pet grooming business plan. Since you will incur some start up costs for your training, licenses, insurance, and equipment, having a business plan can help you obtain a loan to get started.

It is estimated that the industry will grow over 10% in the next five years. This means that your grooming business will likely grow quickly as long as you are professional at all times. This also means that you will have to complete some office work daily as well. Owning an animal grooming business is not just animal grooming.

Pricing can be difficult to determine, but a few phone calls to local grooming salons, or individuals who perform grooming, will give you and idea regarding what services you should be providing and an estimation of the fees. You will need also to decide if you business will be just for dogs or if you will groom other pets too.

Because your business is client oriented, you will need to build a clientele list. The best way to do this is to get your name into your community. You can place flyers at pet stores and veterinarian offices, and animal shelters. You can create a press release for local newspapers and radio stations. You can even offer your services to the local animal shelter. If they like your work, they will refer people to you.

To keep on top of trends you should plan to attend local dog and cat shows, and go to pet grooming industry expos, and conventions. You should subscribe to industry magazines as well, and check the internet frequently. It is a font of knowledge and there are web sites, such as PetGroomer.com that are there to help people start their business, obtain training, and calendars of events.

Since you are working for yourself, you have to rely on your ability to keep customers happy. This means always being available for set appointments, maintaining a clean work area, and being professional at all times. Even though you work from home, or out of a van, professionalism keeps your clients coming to you and not another pet grooming business.

There are many ways to get into this industry. You can purchase a franchise, which give you the credibility of an established name. You can purchase a local pet grooming business that is currently for sale. Of course, you can start your own grooming business.

You should check with your local government for any zoning, licensure, and insurance requirements for your business. This is very important and could be the difference of your grooming business succeeding or failing. A dog grooming business is still a business no mater how much fun you have doing it.

Pet Grooming Business

© Copyright Randy Wilson, All Rights Reserved.

Randy currently has a website dealing with Reviews of Coffee Related Products such as coffee makers, espresso makers, coffee, k-cups, and more plus articles on coffee enemas and other coffee and health related topics. He also has a website of Reviews of Small Appliances [http://www.smallappliancebuyerguides.com/] such as ice cream makers, vacuum cleaners, mixers, irons, toasters, food processors, and many other appliances.

Cat Labor Signs - 7 Ways To Tell That Your Cat is About to Give Birth

So your cat has been pregnant for awhile now and been getting rounder and rounder. Suddenly, her whole demeanour changes and you're standing there, wondering if this is really it -- is your cat in labour?

Are her kittens coming?

Cat

How can you tell?

Just what are the signs of labour you should be looking out for?

Cat lovers the world over do their very best to make sure that their beloved pets receive the best care possible.

But when our feline friends become ill -- or in this case, are due to give birth to kittens -- we begin to feel very anxious and out of control as we realise that we simply don't know enough about the situation.

After all, we can't all be vets! You need to know what to look out for and you need to know fast.

Your cat is due to go into labour around the 64th day of her pregnancy, although it is very unlikely that you will be able to be that accurate in your calculations. Instead, you will have to rely on your ability to read the signs of the stages of pregnancy and of her impending labour.

Firstly, you are likely to have noticed that your cat's appetite will have almost doubled in the past few weeks and you will be able to see her kittens moving around in her abdomen quite clearly.

Also, she will have been displaying nesting behaviour -- looking for a safe, warm and quiet place in which to give birth. Hopefully, you will have already provided a suitable nesting box for her to use, otherwise you may find that she has chosen to give birth in the middle of your bed!

Then, as your cat nears the start of her labour, her appetite will reduce dramatically. It may even disappear completely.

A further sign of your cat's labour is that she may become particularly clingy and want to be around you constantly, seeking your affection.

As she gets closer to the time that her labour begins in earnest, you may find that your cat starts pacing about, appearing nervous or particularly excitable.

Another very distinct sign that your cat is very close to going into labour is that she will begin to 'call' to you. Even if you have never been present when a cat is giving birth, you won't be able to mistake this particular sound!

As the time approaches, you will see your cat repeatedly licking her bottom as she reacts to changing sensations in her body as it prepares for the birth of her kittens.

And finally, when your soon--to--be mother cat starts to feel the first twinges of her labour, she will appear to be uneasy and will repeatedly go in and out of her nesting box, 'treading' on the nesting material that you have already provided.

When you see this last behaviour, you can be quite sure that your lovely cat is entering the first stage of the birth process -- your cat's labour has begun.

In conclusion then, when you find yourself faced with a heavily pregnant cat and are wondering just when things will start to get moving, the foregoing, seven signs will give you a good guide to follow.

But do yourself a favour, the hard work doesn't stop there -- for you or your cat. Learn just what you need to know to help her through the actual birth process and how you can best care for your cute, newborn kittens by visiting the link in the box below.

© Jane Tompsett 2007

Cat Labor Signs - 7 Ways To Tell That Your Cat is About to Give Birth

Author's Biography.

Jane Tompsett is a confirmed cat--lover and has more than forty years' experience in caring for stray and abandoned cats. She has trained to run a cat boarding establishment and has been associated with the Feline Advisory Bureau for almost twenty years now. Her lifelong interest in feline welfare has given her a broad range of expertise on all aspects of cat care and behavior.

To discover how to give the best home care for your cat through pregnancy, birth, nursing & weaning, including how to care for orphaned and abandoned kittens, visit the link below.

http://www.howtodeliverkittens.com

Dog Tick Bite Symptoms

Dogs love nothing better than being able to get out and about in long grass and woodlands. This is great for their health both physically and mentally. However, lurking in this dog paradise are some rather nasty bugs that are just waiting for an obliging dog for them to hop onto and start feeding. Ticks will fix themselves to your pets skin and draw blood and possibly leave behind a nasty infection. It is important to be able to recognise dog tick bite symptoms as Lyme disease, which can be contracted as a result of a bite, can be fatal. Other problems such as anemia and tick paralysis are also possibilities if not treated.

Your dog will be more vulnerable to picking up a tick during the high risk season between May and September. Do not, however, assume that it is not possible to become host to one outside of these months. They are not always easy to spot, especially if your dog has long, dark fur. When they first attach to the skin they will be fairly small and inconspicuous. They also have a habit of finding their way into ears and paws and other hard to access places. Often your dog will remove them himself if he can reach, but armpits and the back of the neck etc are not easy places for him to get to. If you have been out in an area that you think may be susceptible to ticks you must make sure that you check your dog thoroughly and keep a careful eye open for any dog tick bite symptoms.

Dog

There are a variety of species of tick and a number of different diseases that may be contracted as a result of a bite. These may present different dog tick bite symptoms. However, some general guidelines as to what you should look out for include:

o Fever
o A loss of appetite
o Limping or a difficulty in walking
o Tender or painful areas in the limbs or body
o A swelling of the joints
o General lack of energy and 'off color'

If you feel that your dog is exhibiting any of these dog tick bite symptoms and you think that there is even a small chance that he may have been bitten, you should take him to be examined by your veterinarian as soon as possible. Do not think that removing a tick from your dogs skin is going to be a guarantee that he will not be affected. It is easy for a tick to infect a dog and this infection will stay with him even after the tick has been removed. Although some of the diseases associated with tick bites can be very serious an early diagnosis and treatment will ensure a good prognosis.

Dog Tick Bite Symptoms

Ian Pennington is an accomplished niche website developer and author.

To learn more about tick bite symptoms, please visit Tick Treatment for current articles and discussions.

Fancy Rats - What Do Pet Rats Eat?

When it comes to their diet, rats are a lot like people: They'll eat almost anything. These omnivorous rodents can eat anything from grains, fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy products, and even chocolate. However, that doesn't mean you can feed your rats whatever you had for dinner and expect them to be healthy.

It's best to feed your rat a staple diet consisting of high quality lab blocks such as Harlan Teklad. Lab blocks are a nutritionally complete food for rats. However, rats also benefit greatly from the antioxidants and vitamins found fresh fruits and vegetables. Their diet should consist of 80% lab blocks and 20% fruits and vegetables.

Pet

Unfortunately, most rat food sold at pet stores isn't very good. Pet store block food usually has too much protein and unhealthy fillers. As for store-bought seed mixes, they won't give your rats a balanced diet. Rats have a tendency to pick out their favorite bits and leave the rest, resulting in a lot of waste and an unbalanced diet.

Your best bet is to find places online to buy high quality lab blocks. Harlan Teklad 2014 lab blocks are best, and can be found at places such as www.thecraftyrat.com or www.theratshop.com. Another option would be the lab blocks made by Mazuri, which you can order straight from the company's site. For grown rats, the best Mazuri formula is Mazuri Rodent Breeder 6F.

In addition to lab blocks and fresh fruits and veggies, you can feed your rats the occasional treat. Rats love yogurt drops, cooked chicken, scrambled eggs, and hardboiled eggs. A chip of dark chocolate is also OK as a very rare treat; in fact, chocolate can temporarily relieve respiratory distress in rats, so it's good to have around as a first aid remedy. Just be sure to limit these treats. Like humans, rats don't benefit from a high fat, high sugar diet.

Improperly fed rats will often get fat, sickly, or suffer from skin problems. Feeding your rats a balanced diet will help them live longer, healthier lives.

Fancy Rats - What Do Pet Rats Eat?

For more information about caring for pet rats and giving them the best possible diet, visit http://rattynotebook.com/

Cat Repellent or How to Keep Cats Out of Your Garden

Do cat repellents work? How to stop a cat from using garden as litterbox? Tell me how to keep cats out of my garden. These are common questions of concern to all gardeners but is there a real answer?

The first line of defence is to ensure that your yard boundaries are secure. Any gaps in your fence should be blocked to deny low level access. But cats can jump so fix a taut wire or string some six inches above the top of your fence to deter this approach.

Cat

Once inside your garden many people say that the best cat repellent is a dog who will soon see off any feline invader. If you are not a dog lover then you will have to resort to more passive methods. Since cats like to lie on freshly dug soil you should lay mulch on your borders so that no bare soil is left exposed. Seed beds should be covered with wire netting or twigs arranged as a barrier.

Young trees should have plastic guards fitted around their trunks to protect them against use as a scratching pole.
Your garden pond should be covered with netting to keep your fish safe.

Cats are generally known to dislike water so a well aimed bucketful or a squirt with the hose will certainly make an intruder run. After one or two dousings it may learn the lesson and stay away.

To protect plants and borders both mothballs and citrus are said to be effective deterrents. Place the mothballs, orange peel or lemon rind in the borders. Alternatively spray cloths with orange scented air freshener and place the cloths around the plants you wish to protect. Other known cat repellents are cayenne pepper, coffee grounds, pipe tobacco, lavender oil, lemon grass oil, citronella oil, eucalyptus oil and mustard oil.

Certain herbs are said to deter cats. In particular rue but not catmint which has the opposite effect. Coleus canina is another plant which is marketed by one merchant as a cat repellent.

The broadcaster Jerry Baker has suggested treating your yard with a tonic made from chewing tobacco, urine, birth control pills, mouthwash, molasses, detergent and beer. A smallholder has reported success using dried rabbit blood but you may feel that the ingredients listed in the previous paragraph should be tried first.

If you visit your local garden center or hardware store you will find several cat repellent products on sale. These range from electric water sprinklers and ultrasonic devices to sprays and granules.

Motion activated sprinklers act in the same way as a burglar alarm using an infra red detector. When the cat enters the area covered by the detector the sprinkler shoots out a jet of water to scare the animal away. It is claimed that, after one or two encounters with the jet, the cat will learn to avoid the area.

Ultrasonic devices emit a high frequency sound which is annoying to cats (and dogs) but is not audible to humans. There are various different models some of which operate continuously and others which have an infra red detector and only emit a pulse of sound when the cat triggers the device. To be successful you need to ensure that the model is powerful enough to cover the area you wish to protect. In addition make sure that the sound frequency is designed for larger animals since some models are intended to deter insects and so would be no use for cats.

There are also commercial scent cat repellents. Those that use chemicals should be kept away from any food crops but the essential oil based granule varieties act in the same way as orange and lemon peel mentioned above. Another way to keep a cat out if the garden is a repellent evaporator which consists of a container holding puffed rice which has been impregnated with essential oils. These are effective for three to four weeks and can then be refilled for a further period. Another natural product which many people claim really keeps a cat out of the garden is lion's dung. You may need to visit your local zoo to obtain this although some stores do stock zoo poo.

In Ontario, Canada the local township provides a cat trap service. Once the animal enters the cage it cannot escape but is completely unharmed. The owner has to pay to recover his pet and so should be encouraged not to let the cat stray in future. Apparently few owners bother to reclaim their cats but just obtain another kitten. However this sounds like a good way of dealing with a cat that cannot be deterred by any other method. If there is no such scheme in your area, just buy your own trap.

So, to recap, the first priority is to secure your boundary fences. Then you have the whole selection of suggested cat repellents ranging from homemade recipes to expensive commercial gadgets. I would suggest that you try the orange peel and prickly twigs for a start. If you are around when the intruder appears, try the bucket of water or hose. Even if you miss, the shock may be a sufficient deterrent. If these do not do the trick, then you may have to consider the commercial alternatives.

Cat Repellent or How to Keep Cats Out of Your Garden

Hugh Harris-Evans is the owner of The Garden Supplies Advisor where you will find further articles, gardening tips and product reviews.

How to Treat and Remove Matted Fur Clumps From Your Cat or Dog

Matted fur - it happens to most dogs or cats occasionally. When you notice matted fur on your dog or cat, it's very important to remove the matted fur as soon as possible. Not only is it ugly, but it can become very uncomfortable for your pet causing him to pinch and pull at it. Of course, this can just make matters worse.

So, what causes matts and how do you treat matted fur?

Cat

There are several things which can cause matting, but the most common cause is lack of grooming. If you haven't brushed your cat or dong for a while, shame on you. Your pet can't do it himself. He's totally dependent on you to take care of him. If you can't do it regularly, please take your pet to a groomer regularly.

Fleas can also cause matting. They can create a tangled mess in your pets fur. Check and treat your pet for fleas regularly.

Some cats and dogs have 2 coats of fur which shed and need to be brushed out. This is a natural process and it is important to brush out the undercoat when your pet is shedding.

So how do you de-matt your pet's fur? Well, let's get this one out of the way first. You can always have your pet shaved and let him start all over. Sometimes it's the best thing. In the right weather, a fresh shave feels great to your pet. It might scare you at first glance, but it always grows back. However, many people are shocked at the thought of shaving their little beauty, so here's how you can take care of matted hair on your own.

The most important thing to remember when de-matting your pet is this: be patient. Bathing your pet before trying to remove the matts can often make the matts worse. Removing matts from your cat or dog is usually not a quick process, so be patient. My youngest yorkie matted up over the course of 2 weeks one time because I slacked on grooming, and it took me 3 weeks to remove the matts.

Here are the tools you'll need to remove matts from your dog or cat:

* A steel comb

* A slicker brush

* A matt splitter

First, let your pet get into a comfortable position... on your lap, on the floor, on the sofa, or wherever he can get comfortable. You don't want to wrestle your pet during this. If your pet is matted in several places, start de-matting in the places where your pet is most comfortable lying down. In other words, let your pet get comfortable, then work with the places which have easiest access. Also, do your best to control the cat or dog's head. Control the head... control the pet.

Next begin to work on the matts with the steel comb. Be sure to brush with the grain of the fur. Don't pull so hard that it hurts your dog. Just for an experiment, grab a small piece of hair on the back of your own head. Pull down, then pull up. Which one hurt more? Up, right? Keep that in mind when you're brushing your pet. Use the steel comb to slowly break up the clumps.

Try to pull the matted clumps apart into small sections with your hands. The matts are easier to remove if they are smaller, and this will cut down on the amount of fur your pet loses. You may need to carefully cut into the matt with scissors to divide it up. Obviously, don't get too close to the skin. A cut pet is an unhappy pet. An unhappy pet is more difficult to groom.

As the matts begin to break up, use the slicker brush to remove the tangles. Start at the end of the fur and work your way closer to the skin as the matts loosen up. If you try to start at the base of the fur, next to the skin, you'll just end up compressing the matts even tighter.

If your pet is going to require numerous grooming sessions to remove the matts, that's ok. The end results will be rewarding for both you and your pet. Take your time. Be patient. help your dog or cat to remain calm and comfortable. If you're sitting down to watch TV or a movie, that would be a great time to work on the matts.

After all the matts are removed, plan on regular grooming times for your cat or dog. Keep the comb or brush in a noticeable spot to remind you about maintaining your pet's fur. It much easier to brush your pet a few minutes each day than it is to spend hours fighting to remove matted fur.

Good luck!

How to Treat and Remove Matted Fur Clumps From Your Cat or Dog

Alex Page has been a happy pet owner for nearly 30 years. He enjoys helping pets and pet owners have the best relationship possible. He is currently a key article contributer to 123-pet.com, a site dedicated to discussing all things about pets such as dog training techniques, correcting dog behavior problems, and cat and dog products.

Fleas On Pets

Pets, dogs or cats, bring happiness to every owner. Sometimes, they become more than just a pet and live inside households like a normal person. And like a common individual, they too need grooming to keep their hygiene in check.

Regular bathing or a trip to the grooming salon can take care of a lot of problems for pet owners: overgrown nails, dirty ears and external parasites. Though sometimes, fleas and ticks need more than grooming and may persist if left untreated.

Pet

There are a lot of natural and veterinary products that are available to rid your pets of fleas but before using them, it would be very helpful if you know a little about fleas to better help you with their prevention and treatment.

The life cycle of fleas:

*The life of a flea is composed of 4 stages: egg, larva, pupa and adult and can be completed on the average of three weeks.

*An adult female flea can lay as many as 50 eggs on the host and these may fall off onto the environment where it stays until it becomes an adult and looks for a host to feed and mate on.

* An adult female flea can lay eggs immediately 24 hours after its first feeding.

How to prevent fleas on pets:

1. Spot-on treatments: This is a reliable way to control and prevent fleas on pets. There are different preparations but basically all are applied at the back of the neck of the animal. And most can be effective for preventing fleas on pets for at least one month.

2. Collar, powder or spray formulations: Collars tend to control the flea population only around the neck region, powders can be slightly difficult to apply on the fur of animal as your dog or cat will probably just shake them off. Also, both spray and powder can be licked by the animal and may cause problems for you and your pet.

3. Flea shampoo: Since, bathing is a great way to control flea infestation on your pets, partnering it with a good flea shampoo can do wonders. Regular bathing with medicated shampoo can keep your pets from scratching although the effect can only last for a week or two. Most specially, such products should be used with caution as not all can be used for puppies or kittens. On the other hand, cats or kittens can be difficult to bathe.

4. Oral medications: Fleas can be controlled with tablets too and all you have to do is choose the best product. Some brands can only prevent the egg from hatching but does not affect adult fleas (which do the sucking and reproduction). If such is the case, oral medications should be used in conjunction with other flea treatments.

But still, there are products that can kill all stages of the flea. Oral medications are very effective since owners do not have to worry about flea developing resistance against it. Also, since it gets distributed in the animal's blood stream, sucking fleas will surely be affected at every bite.

Flea medication and treatment can easily be given to your pets. All you have to do is get the best advice on what is suitable for your dog or cat and then treat your pet properly.

Fleas On Pets

There is more information on how to get rid of fleas on the web and also with regard to fleas on humans.

Pet Bird Allergies - 5 Curious Facts About Allergies and Pet Birds

Bird allergies are the number one in allergies that are pet related. And yet, over 6 million households in the United States own one or more pet birds. If you are one of those who has opened your home to a bird and suffer with bird related allergies, here are 5 facts about what you can do that will help.
 
Do all birds cause allergies? All birds and other warm-blooded animals have the potential of triggering allergies. It is often the protein in the dander, or dead skin, saliva, urine, and feces that can causes the adverse reaction thus causing sneezing, coughing, watery, eyes, runny nose, and congestion. These symptoms don't happen for everyone who has a bird, only to people whose bodies, for whatever reason, have sensitivity to the allergen. And if you are allergic, short of finding a new home for your bird, you must take proactive steps to mange their constant production of the allergen.
 
Will bathing my bird help? Bathing your bird will help remove the amount of dander available to go airborne when your bird preens, shakes, flies, flaps its wings or plays either inside or out of the cage. But before you get started with a bath regimen, be sure to consult your avian vet for a recommendation of frequency of baths, and products to use.
 
Will the furnishings I choose for the bird's room make a difference? Dander is invisible to the human eye, but it can attach to big particles like feathers, bird dust, upholstery curtains, carpet, and even the walls. Try trading carpet for linoleum, tile, or some other hard surface that is easy to clean. Area rugs that can be washed or cleaned can be used to soften the effect. Replace curtains with vertical blinds that trap fewer particles and are easier to clean. And use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter that will trap rather than spread particulates as you vacuum.
 
Will cleaning really make a difference? It will make a huge difference in the health of both you and your bird. The paper at the bottom of the cage with droppings should be replaced daily with fresh paper. Water should be changed as often as necessary to keep it fresh and to prevent mold from growing (and spores from becoming airborne), and to prevent your bird from becoming ill from ingesting mold. The floor should be vacuumed daily, the walls and floors should be mopped weekly, and the cage should be totally cleaned at least once a month. The cleaner you keep the bird room, the more you reduce the number of allergens that are likely to cause you and your bird problems.
 
Can anything get rid of airborne dander? Dander is an ongoing problem because its production is a very normal process of any healthy bird. But you can reduce dander to a low enough level to avoid a flare up of symptoms by using a high efficiency particle arresting (abbreviated as HEPA) air purifier. These high powered cleaners are designed to remove particulates as small as .3 microns, and since bird dander is larger than that, it is easily trapped with this filter.
 
Cleaning the air will also remove other airborne triggers such as household dust, dust mites, mold and mildew spores, pollen, bacteria, and viruses that can also irritate those with allergies, asthma, and other respiratory conditions.

Pet

Pet Bird Allergies - 5 Curious Facts About Allergies and Pet Birds

An excellent HEPA air purifier to remove bird dander and other allergens from your air is offered by PurerAir.com-- the Bird Dander Purifier See it now at http://purerair.com/bird_dander_air_purifier.html

Pet Health - Recommended Pet Vaccination Schedule

Vaccinations are important, even for indoor pets. Some diseases are airborne or can be acquired by contact with fecal matter that might be brought into your house on your street shoes. Diseases that affect pets are present in the environment, and some diseases can spread to humans.

Any animal that goes outdoors should be vaccinated annually for rabies. This includes ferrets and bunnies. If you have a small house dog, or your dog is at low risk for contracting Leptospirosis, your vet may determine that this vaccination is not necessary. Aged animals should only be vaccinated on the recommendation of your vet.

Pet

Vaccinations protect your beloved pet from painful and often fatal diseases. They help ensure a long and happy life for your pet, with many hours of enjoyment for you with your animal companion. The cost of vaccinations is very small, compared to the cost of treating a disease or of losing your pet altogether. Many communities have vaccination clinics where you can get free rabies vaccines for example. Check with your local animal shelter or veterinarian to find out when a free vaccination clinic is scheduled.

Your pet's age, health, lifestyle, environment, and geographic location can all affect the vaccination schedule. Ask your veterinarian about the most appropriate vaccines for your pet.

Vaccination Schedule

Cat

Vaccine: Panleukopenia, Herpesvirus and calicivirus (combined)

When: As early as 6 weeks, with boosters every 3 to 4 weeks until at least 12 weeks of age

Booster: Every 3 years

Cat

Vaccine: Feline infectious peritonitis (FIP)

When: Begin at 4 months old, repeat in 2-4 weeks

Booster: Every year

Cat

Vaccine: Feline distemper

When: At 9 weeks old and 12 weeks old

Booster: Every year

Cat, Dog, Ferret, Bunny

Vaccine: Rabies

When: At 3 months for initial protection, and again at 1 year

Booster: Every 1 to 3 years

Dog*

Vaccine: Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus (combined DHPP), Leptospirosis, Adenovirus

When: At 6 to 8 weeks, 9 to 11 weeks, and 12 to 14 weeks

Booster: 1 year after last puppy dose, then every 1 to 3 years depending on vaccine type

Dog

Vaccine: Rabies

When: 3 months

Booster: 1 year after puppy dose, then as required by local authorities

Dog

Vaccine: Coronavirus

When: 6 weeks of age, then every 2-4 weeks until 12 weeks of age

Dog - if it will be exposed to ticks

Vaccine: Lyme

When: 9 to 11 weeks, and 12 to 14 weeks

Booster: Every year

Dog - if it will be boarded, or going to dog shows or obedience classes

Vaccine: Kennel cough (Bordetelle)

When: 16 weeks

Booster: Every year

Dog - outdoor dogs; can spread to humans

Vaccine: Giardia

When: 12 weeks, 15 weeks

Booster: Every year, if indicated in your area

* Not a vaccination, but dogs should receive heartworm prevention starting at between 8-15 weeks of age, continued for life, with annual heartworm blood tests.

After the vaccination, it is important to watch your pet for the next couple of days for any signs of a reaction to the shot. Possible symptoms include:

• Loss of appetite
• Minor fever
• Irritability, expressed as biting, growling, or unwillingness to be with people
• Unusual sleepiness, lack of energy
• Swelling or redness around the injection site

If you notice any of these signs, contact your veterinarian. If you observe a lump on your cat for more than 3 months after it has been vaccinated for rabies or feline leukemia call your vet. This could be a sign of a vaccine-associated tumor.

Reactions to vaccines happen from time to time, but for the most part, having your pet vaccinated, and given a health checkup once a year, is the safest way to protect them and help them live a long, happy life.

Sources: American Animal Hospital Association and Ontario Veterinary Medical Association, Ontario, Canada

Pet Health - Recommended Pet Vaccination Schedule

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