5 Things I Would Never Do as a Veterinarian
with Dr. Grace Chen
Take a puppy to a dog park before they are fully vaccinated. Puppies are still developing their immune systems and are prone to catching diseases at this stage. Social and populated spaces like dog parks leave a lot of potential for infection for your pup. Before your puppy is fully boostered (typically at 4-5 months) we recommend keeping them away from the dog park.
Skip my research. I would not welcome a new companion into my life without researching their breed first. Some things to take into consideration are lifestyle, size of the pet and health conditions. If you are someone that prefers to live a low key lifestyle with lots of comfy couch days, it’s best not to go for a breed that requires lots of outdoor exercise. Research the size of the pet and consider how that compares to your home. Maybe you live in a high rise with a shared elevator; if so, avoid a very large breed that might be uncomfortable in these confined spaces. Lastly, research each breed’s common health conditions. We have to be cognizant of the health conditions that each breed presents. Some breeds take a lot more work than others.
Use a retractable leash. Retractable leashes do not provide adequate control of your pet. Even the best, most well-behaved, thoroughly trained pet in the world can get spooked by their surroundings. It could be anything from an automobile collision to a sudden boom from a nearby construction site; retractable leashes do not provide a secure grasp on your pet. In the event of something sudden, you want your pet to be safe.
Give a cat owner lilies. Lilies are poisonous to cats! Every single part of the lily, even the pollen, can cause huge kidney failure in cats. Consider a spider plant or a Christmas cactus instead!
Ignore urinary signs in cats (especially male cats.) When cats get stressed, they can develop a condition called Feline Idiopathic Cystitis. In male cats, this can be fatal. The key thing that you want to look out for is the inability to urinate for 24 hours, straining to urinate, yowling while urinating and/or blood in the urine. Please take your cat to see a veterinarian or emergency veterinarian immediately if these signs occur.
We hope you found these tips useful and that they help keep your pets happy and healthy. Don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions you may have. We’re always here for you and your pets!
Sincerely,
The BLVD Team