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Veterinary Care Basics
- 1. How to Tell if a Cat or Dog May Need Veterinary Care
- 2. Choosing a Vet
- 3. Basic, Commmonly Used Drugs
- 4. Veterinary Specialists
- 5. Can Your Dog Be a Blood Donor?
- 6. Getting the Most Out of Your Pet's Veterinary Visits
- 7. Holistic Pet Care
- 8. Medical Procedures on Young Animals
How to Tell if a Cat or Dog May Need Veterinary Care
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HSUS
This information sheet is designed to help non-veterinary shelter staff evaluate the health of cats and dogs. Its not a comprehensive guide and will not give you all the answers, but it lists the more common signs of health and illness in dogs and cats. Also, its not meant to replace veterinary care or advice, but only to help you decide if a cat or dog may need veterinary assistance.
The best way to evaluate the general health of a cat or dog is to give the animal a thorough nose-to-tail examination. Ask a friendly veterinarian or vet tech from your community to come to your shelter and train you and other staff. Then establish your own routine, and thoroughly and methodically examine each animal using the same series of steps each time. That way, you wont overlook some of the more subtle yet often serious health conditions often missed with a quick once-over. Dogs and especially cats can hide illnesses or other ailments, so try not to let them fool you!
Use the checklist below when evaluating animals after they first come in to the shelter. And don't forget to observe animals for signs of health problems during their entire stay such as when you're cleaning or just giving the animals a little TLC. To make sure staff observations are recorded systematically, your shelter may wish to develop a health report card that accompanies the animal during his or her stay at the facility.
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NORMAL RANGES FOR TEMPERATURE, HEART RATE, AND RESPIRATORY RATE Temperature (rectal) 100102.5 Fahrenheit Heart rate (at rest) Respiratory rate (at rest) 1626 breaths/minute |
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EYES GOOD SIGNS
WARNING SIGNS
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EARS GOOD SIGNS
WARNING SIGNS
NOSE
GOOD SIGNS
WARNING SIGNS
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MOUTH
GOOD SIGNS
WARNING SIGNS
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BREATHING/ RESPIRATION
GOOD SIGNS
WARNING SIGNS
SKIN/HAIR
GOOD SIGNS
WARNING SIGNS
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LEGS/FEET
GOOD SIGNS
WARNING SIGNS
ANAL/GENITAL
GOOD SIGNS
WARNING SIGNS
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GENERAL APPEARANCE
GOOD SIGNS
WARNING SIGNS
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Courtesy of
HSUS
www.hsus.org
Animal Sheltering Magazine
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