1269 Main St, Glastonbury, CT 06033

Connecticut Vet

860.659.0848

Beckett & Associates Veterinary Services, LLC

Glastonbury Connecticut Veterinarians

Beckett & Associates is a mixed practice for companion animals & farm animals

Glastonbury CT Vet

Frequently Asked Questions about Small Animals

 

We get asked many of the same questions over and over again. We have provided a list of several of the more frequently asked questions here.

If you have any questions about our replies, or if you’re not sure whether the answer applies to you and your animal, please call our office or send us an email and we will try to answer your question as soon as we can.

 

Q. At what age should my cat or dog be spayed or neutered?
Technically, cats and dogs can be spayed at any time and neutered as soon as the testicles are descended. Beckett and Associates recommends that cats and dogs be spayed or neutered between 5 and 6 months of age. This age range allows us to balance behavioral, growth and anesthetic risks and benefits optimally for your pet.

Q. Should my dog be on heart worm preventative year-round?
The manufacturer and Beckett and Associates recommend that dogs be given heartworm preventative year-round. Heartworm is transmitted from infected mosquitoes that have a blood meal from the dog. Mosquitoes can still be present through the winter season. Depending on the brand of heartworm medication you choose, it also prevents and treats certain internal parasites the dog may pick up from their outdoor environment.

Q. What product does our office recommend for flea and tick prevention/treatment?
There are several brands of flea/tick preventative that our office carries for dogs: Frontline®, K-9 Advantix®, Revolution® and Preventic Collars®. There are several differences in these products and our veterinary staff can help you to determine which product would be best for your animal. For cats, Frontline® is the only product labeled for flea and tick prevention. We also carry Revolution® which works against fleas, heartworm and some intestinal parasites. Advantage® may be used on cats for flea prevention only. Products labeled for use on dogs may not be used on cats, as they can be very toxic.

Q. What is a "hotspot"?
A hotspot is a superficial pyoderma, which is a surface infection of the skin. Hotspots can develop from excessive licking or scratching. They can be secondary to insect bites or any other minor trauma to the skin surface. Hotspots are usually in circular red-ulcer form and should only be treated by the veterinarian.

Q. When should I stop using tick preventative?
It is safe to stop tick preventative when snow covers the ground or daytime high temperatures stay below 15°F.

Q. What measures can I take to prevent my kitten from scratching up the furniture and will she/he ever grow out of it?

  1. Training: One trick you can try would be to shake a jar of coins, or make a loud noise when you catch the kitty in the act of scratching the furniture.
  2. Always offer your feline friend something more appealing to scratch rather than your leather or cloth furniture. Many pet supply stores carry scratching post and sprinkling catnip on it can attract the cat.
  3. Clipping the nails frequently will prevent or lessen the impact on the furniture.
  4. Our office also supplies cat nail caps called Soft Paws®. The gel caps are applied with an adhesive and may stay on for 3-4 weeks. This allows your cat to freely scratch without the damage. In the staff’s experience, many cats will outgrow the urge to scratch every surface in the house.