by Christopher Forsythe, DVM

I get asked a lot of questions every day, and I find myself trying to answer the same things in new and interesting ways. I mean, who wants to become the robot from Lost in Space crooning “Warning Will Robinson” every seven minutes when a client asks you for the umpteenth time a question you have already answered many times? I thought this would be a good time to answer some commonly asked questions that crop up in my hospital more frequently than fleas dance on feral cats.

What types of worms can my pet get? And can I get them?

The common type of worms seen in dogs and cats in our area are round worms and tapeworms. The infectious forms of these worms are the eggs, which incubate for several weeks in the ground where an animal has defecated. Toddlers are at greatest risk if they play there and put their hands in their mouths. They can swallow eggs and become infected with worms in their eyes or brains.

Pets pick up the common form of tapeworm by eating fleas or ingesting rodents which carry the infectious form. Children can get a tapeworm too if they accidentally eat a flea when cuddling with a pet or rubbing up against the face of a severely infected animal.

Isn’t it good to let my puppy have a litter first before I spay her?

No, it is much better to go ahead and have your pet spayed or neutered at around six months of age rather than wait for a litter. The stress of a litter and the perils that coincide with breeding and raising puppies or kittens far outweigh the risks of having surgery. Females who are left “intact” not only risk pregnancy but pyometra (pus in the uterus), a life threatening uterine infection, cystic ovaries, as well as cancer and hormonal diseases from the elevated estrogen in their bodies.

It is also just an old wife’s tale that males should be allowed to sire a litter before getting neutered, unless we are talking about a show dog that will kept as a stud. The notion that a dog will somehow end up a better watchdog with sharper protective instincts if he has testicles is no more valid than the belief that the Great Pumpkin is an Olympic figure skater.

Why does my pet need a dental? Can’t you do it with him awake?

When a dental is recommended for your pet it is because there is a significant amount of tartar and gingivitis in his mouth. Tooth infection and gum inflammation cause pain and discomfort and can lead to root abscesses. Dangerous germs can spread through the blood stream from the mouth and go to the pet’s heart, liver, kidneys, and bladder and cause disease.

Cleaning a pet’s teeth properly involves scaling not only the visible crown, but the significant area up under the gum line where many of the germs reside. This invasive scaling is painful and therefore requires the pet to be under general anesthesia. During this scaling, the doctor can assess whether teeth need to be extracted or filled, which would also require anesthesia.

My pet is on Rimadyl for arthritis. Why does he need a blood test every six months?

Most veterinarians require routine blood rechecks for pets who are on long term medications, such as Rimadyl, other NSAIDS, PPA (for urinary incontinence), thyroid medication, or heart medication. All medications can have side effects, and monitoring blood values at regular intervals allows us to make sure your pet is not having any liver, kidney, or other vital organ complications.

With pets taking Rimadyl, for example, we want to make sure the liver enzyme ALT stays within normal range, because there is a concern that some dogs may develop liver problems over time with long term use. While many owners are concerned about the cost of the drug and the cost of repeated blood tests, they are also happy to know the medication is not taxing the liver too much despite its prolonged use.

If it’s just a fatty mass, why do you need to do surgery and take it off?

Even benign fatty lipomas are still tumors, and they require a blood supply to grow. That blood is supplied by your dog, and as the mass grows, more blood is required to feed it. With increased blood the mass can begin to grow quicker and get much bigger. I have seen invading lipomas become very damaging as they grow and invade surrounding tissue. Many clients show me a large, bulbous fatty blob hanging off their poor pet’s arm and say “We’ve had this checked and it’s only fat.” I look at the poor dog, then back at the owner who seems perfectly happy to let his pet walk around with a fried Twinkie hanging off his elbow and say “We should probably just go ahead and take it off.”

Why is veterinary care so expensive? From a package of Advantage to a forelimb amputation, clients are always curious about why things cost so darn much.

This question seems to transcend which ever veterinary hospital they go to. Friends and colleagues of mine at various hospitals who cater to different levels of clients report that everyone wants to know why veterinary medicine is so expensive.

I try to explain each and every aspect of the veterinary experience to my client via an estimate before we run tests and procedures. This client education helps explain at least why we are doing what we need to do. Aside the requirement of a skilled doctor and nursing staff to diagnose and properly correct presented diseases, there is the overhead. There is rent and other expenses to pay. Veterinary medicine requires drugs and medicines, many of which can be quite expensive. Supporting medical equipment such as fluid pumps, blood testing machines, dental equipment, and X-ray machines, all add up and are factored into the basic fee structure.

The key to fees for veterinary medical care is value. If you receive good quality care at your veterinary office delivered by caring professionals who truly care about your pet, you are probably getting good value despite the cost. You should never be afraid to ask questions about the invoice if you need more information about your pet’s condition.

Now that you’ve read the most common things that get mentioned at my hospital, you can get ready to ask your vet some questions the next time you make a visit to his or her office. Will the questions overlap? Something tells me yes!