Questions to Ask Before Scheduling Pet Surgery

When your cat has kittens, she’ll need some help keeping them healthy and thriving. Here we review how to care for newborn kittens and their mom, including when to check in with your Little Rock veterinarian. Post Birth Check and Care After the first week following the birth, you should take the whole family (cat family that is) to your Little Rock veterinarian for a check-up. This is a crucial wellness appointment where the kittens are checked for signs of struggle, and that mom is healing properly. Home Care Basics Following the birth you should follow these basic care guidelines: Check in on mom and kittens regularly to make sure they are fine, and the kittens are feeding Provide a quiet, warm place for the mother to care for her new family Make sure there are warm blankets and consider using a heat lamp to keep kittens warm if mom needs to eat or use the bathroom Stack a pile of towels in their box so you can frequently remove soiled towels easily Follow mom’s cues and leave the family alone if she seems to feel uncomfortable with your attention Keep mom’s food and the litter box nearby The mother should be cleaning her kitten’s abdomen and anal area after nursing. If she isn’t, use a warm, damp washcloth to simulate her licking as it helps keep kittens healthy while also ensuring they go to the bathroom. These basics will keep mother and kittens comfortable and healthy. Signs Kittens are Thriving Understanding the milestones for your kittens will help ensure they are developing properly. Some important signs to watch for include: Day 3: Kittens’ eyes should be opening, and their umbilical cords should fall off. 2 weeks: Kittens will try to stand and begin crawling and their teeth will begin to appear. 3 weeks: Kittens become playful and can walk on their own. This is also the time to encourage them to use the litter box, with a premium non-clay litter. Although the kittens are still nursing, you can also introduce wet food. A vet for kittens Little Rock AR pet owners visit can tell you the best food to try. If your kittens are not meeting these milestones, it is best to consult your Little Rock veterinarian. Two red flags that a kitten is not thriving are too much sleep and failing to gain weight. Caring for Mom When a mother cat is nursing, she requires a higher quality food. A Little Rock veterinarian can recommend the proper specialty food ideal for postpartum mothers. You should also keep an eye on her for signs of issues including: Mastitis Mastitis develops when bacteria infect the milk ducts. This blocks the ducts causing painful inflammation. Check for: Swollen hot teats Bruising around or on the teats Signs mom is pushing kittens away when they try to feed You do require a visit to your closest Little Rock animal hospital if you notice signs of mastitis as your cat will need antibiotics. Uterine Metritis This infection occurs in the uterus following birth. Symptoms include: Foul-smelling discharge Lethargy Fever Loss of milk production A trip to the local Little Rock animal hospital is a must as this is a serious infection. Often cats are hospitalized due to metritis. If you have new kittens, become a New Patient at the Shackleford Veterinary Clinic! Click here for more information.

Puppy Care Information from Your Little Rock Veterinarian The arrival of newborn puppies is an exciting time, but also comes with a lot of responsibility. Providing proper care helps establish a loving and healthy life for your new pups. Here we review how to care for newborn puppies, including the importance of regular checks with your Little Rock veterinarian. Proper Nutrition for Your Newborn Puppy In the first few weeks of life, puppies feed on their mother’s colostrum. This is why puppies are not sent to their forever homes until they are about 8 weeks old. Their mother’s “milk” has all the nutrients they need, but more importantly, provides essential antibodies that help your puppies fend off illness with a healthy immune system. To ensure puppies are getting enough nutrients you should weigh them regularly following a typical schedule: At birth After the first 12-hours 24-hours 48-hours 3 days old 5 days old 1 week old Visits to your Little Rock veterinarian – such as the great doctors at SRVC – can provide accurate weights to ensure your pups are thriving. Comfortable Temperature Newborn puppies should be kept in a warm area free of drafts. You can consider using a heat lamp if you find the environment is too cold and drafty. Just keep the light far enough away so the heat reaches the pups, but they can move away if they feel too warm. Monitor their temperature by touch. If they feel cold, warm them up slowly before they feed again. Potential Health Problems Check your pups for signs of health issues once they finish their first feeding including: Suck reflex Urethra and anus Signs of cleft palate Healthy coat They should also have pink, moist gums. Your vet can do a thorough check and look for potential health issues. Newborn Puppy Vaccines As their mother’s antibodies start to lose their effect between six and eight weeks, this is the time to set up their first vaccines. During the first two months, you also want to keep your puppies away from other dogs to avoid exposure to germs or parasites. Caring for Mom Making sure the pup’s mom is healthy is particularly important in the first weeks as your puppies’ health depends on their mother’s health. Some important things to watch for: Canine Mastitis Some mothers develop canine mastitis, a bacterial infection in lactating breast glands. It is important to watch for signs of mastitis as not only is it painful and dangerous for the mother, but it can also interfere with your pups getting the proper nutrients. Signs of mastitis include: Hot, dark, red teats Painful teats Mom snapping at her pups when they try to nurse If you notice these signs, set up an appointment with your vet or take the mother to the closest Little Rock animal hospital. Proper Feeding The nursing dog’s nutrition is just as important as the pups, as they depend on their mom to keep them healthy. Speak to your Little Rock veterinarian about the proper diet for the mother, as it is often necessary to switch to a diet with higher fat content. As well, make sure mom has eaten within 24-hours of delivering her litter. If not, she should see the vet. Also…don’t forget that as your puppy grows to do annual wellness visits with your Veterinarian and keep your puppy healthy throughout its life. Shackleford Road Veterinary Clinic (SRVC) loves serving families and their new furry friends! You can request an appointment here or call us at (501) 224-6998.

December is here and that means the holidays are upon us! You may need some help when it comes to gifting your loved ones some thoughtful and unique gifts. Here at Shackleford Road Veterinary Clinic, we love supporting local retailers and artists! We have pulled together a fun gift guide filled with animal themed gifts perfect for any animal lover in your life- or you! We won’t tell if you add a gift for yourself under the tree! Treats, Toys, and Games Box Turtle is an adorable boutique that stocks a selection of cheeky plush dog toys available in an array of sizes and style. Our favorite might be the “ Woof Clicquot Champagne Bottle ” and the “LickCroix Barkling Water”. How cute would all of these stuffed toys be in your pet’s toy basket? We declare puzzles the ultimate comeback of the year! “ Dogs with Jobs ” 500 piece puzzle will help pass the chilly temps of these cold winter months. If reading is more your style, WordsWorth Books will most definitely have something in your genre. They stock thousands of titles, with some of our pics being: “The Power of Positive Dog Training” “Inside of a Dog” For the Kids: “Little Kids First Big Book of Pets” Local dog treat shop, Just Dogs Gourmet , has a wide selection of festive dog treats including custom options. They have a “Frequent Barkers Club” that gives members access to exclusive discounts and promotions. Find their shop in the Chenal Promenade or online. Here at Shackleford Road Veterinary Clinic, we stock a full line up of some of the best dog and cat treats on the market. We have items that cater specifically to your pet’s health goals and with our December promo, you can get 10% off all treats in clinic! Practical Gifts A new sturdy dog leash is always appreciated and Domestic Domestic has one that is uber useful! Perusing their shelves online and in person at their Heights location, you will find many practical gift options for the pet lover in your family including this sturdy 6 foot dog leash that has a carabiner clip and is made from recycled polyester. Their store specializes in stocking items crafted in the USA which is an added bonus! The year 2020 is almost over, (and the crowd sighed with relief), time to get your 2021 wall calendar! There is no better option than the Humane Society of Pulaski County’s rescue pet calendar which helps fund their efforts. Meet some of the year’s rescue pets and support this local shelter with this great gift option! Custom Gift Options Hand stamped custom pet hang tags are the perfect gift that identifies your pet’s name in style while also giving back to the community! Bang Up Betty offers tags that include name, address, and phone number. Each hang tag ordered provides a donation to Out of the Woods Animal Rescue. For the pet owner who has everything, enter pet portraits! Mariposa Studio is a local photographer with extensive experience in family and pet photography. Don’t worry about your pet “behaving”, the studio touts that the best photography comes from capturing the true nature and mischievousness of your pet. If you’d rather have an abstract or bright depiction of your pet, Amber Taylor does beautiful watercolor pet paintings ready to frame and is offering custom ornaments painted with your pet, perfect for gifting! Happy gifting and we hope you all have a wonderful December!