Jesi Posted May 10, 2006 Author Share Posted May 10, 2006 Any new news from the Vet world? Well, I haven't had any questions for a while, but there's always something new going on in my industry. I do have some exciting personal news, though, and I think it's only fitting that I share it here in this thread: In two weeks, I'll be leaving the hospital I currently work at for a more technician-based position at a small clinic in North Orlando. This means the Deej and I are moving back home to O-town soon. It also means that I'll be able to answer a LOT more technical questions here in this thread because I'll be constantly learning more in-depth information about the vet world. Not that I'm totally incapable of answering those questions now, but I'll have a whole new world of info to share with all of you. So... anybody got questions? *cracks knuckles* C'mon, I'm ready. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MusicManiac Posted May 10, 2006 Share Posted May 10, 2006 Congrats on the new job ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanno Posted May 10, 2006 Share Posted May 10, 2006 I got a new aquarium with four new goldfish. Wayne bought it for me as a surprise. It's the coolest. Any good at answering questions about fish? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drifter Posted May 10, 2006 Share Posted May 10, 2006 Is it true I should hold off on getting my cat fixed for as long as I can so his urinary tract has time to grow, thus decreasing his chance of infection in the future? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jesi Posted May 11, 2006 Author Share Posted May 11, 2006 I got a new aquarium with four new goldfish. Wayne bought it for me as a surprise. It's the coolest. Any good at answering questions about fish? My dad used to build custom fish tanks and we owned a lot of tropical (freshwater) fish when I was growing up. I'm no expert on aquariums but I can give you what I got. There are a lot of important points when trying to maintain an aquarium - it's not just a bowl full of fish like many are led to believe. Water oxygenation, filtration, and pH balancing are critical to the survival of any fish. Keeping the peace among the population is important - with multiple specimens of the same species of fish there's always a chance for breeding. Too many in the tank and just like a house, it becomes unlivable. I know there's just goldfish in there for now but try not to add any new species to the mix unless you consult with an aquarium specialist to ensure you're getting a community-friendly breed of fish. For goldfish specifically, they often will require a bit more room to roam - the recommended ratio is actually 1 fish per 10-20 gallons, depending on the species of goldfish you have! Goldfish are light and heat sensitive so be very careful with the light source that you use, and don't place the tank too close to a heating source. Don't tap the glass or have the tank in an area where it can be jostled a lot - Goldfish may have a 2 second attention span but too much stimulus will make them jittery and neurotic. any cleaning that you do of the tank or its accessories should be done with the fish in a separate, clean container, a minimum of detergent use and a maximum of rinsing with clean water. Let me underline that statement with this: Impurities left behind by detergents can cause severe neuromuscular dysfunction. The most common sign of this toxicity is the over- or under-inflation of a fish's swim bladder - their natural ballast system - causing them to swim sideways, float upside down, spiral up or down in place, and can eventually prove to be fatal. Thoroughly rinse any and all surfaces, gravel, and foriegn objects that will be exposed to the water environment before adding fish. Use a pH neutralizer in the water you put into the tank and use food recommended by your aquarium specialist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jesi Posted May 11, 2006 Author Share Posted May 11, 2006 Is it true I should hold off on getting my cat fixed for as long as I can so his urinary tract has time to grow, thus decreasing his chance of infection in the future? A cat's body, including it's urinary tract, will grow along with its body. There are a small handfull of cats whose urinary anatomy is stunted for whatever reason, and has nothing to do with being intact. Assuming your cat is male, the testicles have no direct relation to the urethra and can be safely excised surgically under light sedation as early as 8-10 weeks of age. I recommend waiting for about the age of 16 weeks just to ensure the full development of kidney and liver function, though there are many in the veterinary community who are finding that earlier castration of male kittens contributes to less territoriality, less urge to roam, and less marking in the environment. The handful of cats whose urinary tract does not develop fully and suffers from urinary blockage can live a healthy life with a procedure called a perenial urethrostomy. In this procedure the opening to the urethra is byassed, and a new one is created surgically, providing greater flow of urine from the bladder. If a cat is going to get a UTI, there's nothing you can do to prevent it aside from doing as your veterinarian instructs - if a diet change is in order, stick to it. If medication is ever required, administer it diligently and strictly according to the doctor's orders - Don't skip doses and don't save those last three pills just because. It's very, very important to finish off all medications as directed. Requesting urinalysis at least every year at the annual check-up if not ever 6 months will greatly assist your veterinarian in performing preventative medicine on your cat. Bottom line: Neuter it as soon as you can! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drifter Posted May 11, 2006 Share Posted May 11, 2006 Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanno Posted May 14, 2006 Share Posted May 14, 2006 Hey thanks a million Rubys Angel, but i fear it may be too late, the little buggers are now starting to swim sideways! A couple of them are down the bottom of the aquarium and won't budge although they are still breathing. I only noticed this yesterday and tried changing the water but i think i made matters worse. When wayne bought the aquarium he was never told to leave it to settle for the filter to work properly, he added the fish in straight away before giving it time. I went back to the place he bought it, got all the info i required to save them but i think its too late now. The specialist advised me to use some anti bacterial thingy once a week (which i've been doing religiously). Its a supplement to use that keeps the enviroment healthy, but the water is still very cloudy. So at this moment in time we're gonna wait for them to go belly up and start from afresh. Although i hate seeing them suffer. We do have a couple of different species which might have added to the problem, some have bullied others! I can't believe i'm so sensitive about this subject, may god piss on all those who laugh at me!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jesi Posted May 15, 2006 Author Share Posted May 15, 2006 Hey thanks a million Rubys Angel, but i fear it may be too late, the little buggers are now starting to swim sideways! A couple of them are down the bottom of the aquarium and won't budge although they are still breathing. I only noticed this yesterday and tried changing the water but i think i made matters worse. When wayne bought the aquarium he was never told to leave it to settle for the filter to work properly, he added the fish in straight away before giving it time. I went back to the place he bought it, got all the info i required to save them but i think its too late now. The specialist advised me to use some anti bacterial thingy once a week (which i've been doing religiously). Its a supplement to use that keeps the enviroment healthy, but the water is still very cloudy. So at this moment in time we're gonna wait for them to go belly up and start from afresh. Although i hate seeing them suffer. We do have a couple of different species which might have added to the problem, some have bullied others! I can't believe i'm so sensitive about this subject, may god piss on all those who laugh at me!!! Eugh, I'm sorry about your fishies :( You may need to get a pH and mineral adjustment solution to help to neutralize the water further. Tap water, at least in the US, is loaded with chemicals in water treatment plants and by itself is generally unhealthy to fish. On the flip side, using straight distilled water isn't good - most species of fish are tolerant to water that has SOME mineral deposits in it. So the solution is to adjust the pH and specific gravity (mineral concentration) of the water they're in. If you want some advice when you're ready to rebuild your tank, let me know and I'll give you a couple species of fish that do well together in a community. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanno Posted May 15, 2006 Share Posted May 15, 2006 alas i found two dead this morning sob sob, didn't realise how upset i'd be!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nanno Posted June 1, 2006 Share Posted June 1, 2006 Ok Rubys Angel, i'm now ready for any info you wanna throw my way. I'm startig my aquarium from scratch after i got over the horendous death of my five fish! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jables Posted July 16, 2006 Share Posted July 16, 2006 RA, first of all, HI! Don't believe we've ever even crosed paths in this place. We both know of eachother's work, but for the most part we never converse. Anyways, do you have any idea about pet Psychology as well as biology 'cause I gots a pickle. Cole's our nigh-1-year-old Belgian Sheppard X, and he's the bestest puppy inna whole wide world. Last weekend we got a kitten(Lani's ruling since the puppy's more-or-less mine) and since then he's been wreaking havoc. Admittedly we're not the most ardent & disciplined of owners(we both 9-5 it and probably only get to walk hom on average about twice a week, but I when I take down his dinner i spend at least a half hour with him & on weekends we hang with him a lot) but since he realised we had a new pet he's just gone apeshit, forgetting or breaking a lot've the training & disciplines we've set, and it's pretty obvious he's vying for attention. Thing is we only have so many hours inna day, and the crap he's getting into he's never done before and he's making it really hard to appreciate him. Any tips? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The NZA Posted July 16, 2006 Share Posted July 16, 2006 RA - so today, there was this dog in the stairwell at my apartment. I wasnt sure exactly what was wrong, Senshik thinks it was run over and the wounds seemed to support that. He didnt look like he had a whole lotta time left. I had to get to work, but Sen managed to leave a few hot dogs and some water for him, which she said he enjoyed, which is good cause i didnt think he could move, he was just breathing slow and blinking here and there. we called security, but i half-wish idve called animal control and said he was snapping at kids or some shit, cause they woudlnt come just for a dying dog, but someone needed to put him down. my question is: what do you think is best here? ive been around a few cats & dogs now that some asshole or another has hit & left for dead, and it breaks my heart but i dont want them to suffer any further. Id put them down myself, but i dont have a gun, and a blunt object's a bit harsh. seriously, whats your take here? this is bound to happen to me again sometime, what with all the strays, and all the people in such a hurry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jesi Posted July 16, 2006 Author Share Posted July 16, 2006 Ok Rubys Angel, i'm now ready for any info you wanna throw my way. I'm startig my aquarium from scratch after i got over the horendous death of my five fish! I'm really sorry I haven't responded to this... I've had a LOT on my plate and I feel like I've hardly been able to get to a computer in over a month. If you haven't already, I'll be happy to help you set up a new acquarium, however with the entrance of your new kitten it sounds like you've got your hands full! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jesi Posted July 16, 2006 Author Share Posted July 16, 2006 RA, first of all, HI! Don't believe we've ever even crosed paths in this place. We both know of eachother's work, but for the most part we never converse. Anyways, do you have any idea about pet Psychology as well as biology 'cause I gots a pickle. Cole's our nigh-1-year-old Belgian Sheppard X, and he's the bestest puppy inna whole wide world. Last weekend we got a kitten(Lani's ruling since the puppy's more-or-less mine) and since then he's been wreaking havoc. Admittedly we're not the most ardent & disciplined of owners(we both 9-5 it and probably only get to walk hom on average about twice a week, but I when I take down his dinner i spend at least a half hour with him & on weekends we hang with him a lot) but since he realised we had a new pet he's just gone apeshit, forgetting or breaking a lot've the training & disciplines we've set, and it's pretty obvious he's vying for attention. Thing is we only have so many hours inna day, and the crap he's getting into he's never done before and he's making it really hard to appreciate him. Any tips? My first question is: Is Cole an indoor dog, or does he spend most of his time outdoors? Generally I don't believe in keeping dogs outdoors more than for 10-20 percent of the day, time enough for a potty break and some exercise. Animals in general will retaliate if they feel like another presence in the house is moving them a step down the totem pole from Master's attentive hand. Belgian Shepherds (even though he's a mix it sounds like that's his primary trait) THRIVE on attention. They don't do well with isolation, and ultimately need to feel like they're part of the pack. They also need extensive socialization as puppies, and attentive (but not harsh) training. THey will conveniently forget everything they've ever learned if it means Mom and Dad give them attention. Because negative attention is better than no attention at all. This new kitten means that his already limited attention quota has been cut in half, and if you put yourself in his fuzzy shoes, you'd be a little pissed off too. So this is going to be an intensive thread of back and forth. I've got lots of advice for you but let's start with the big question. What specifically is his lifestyle like, and second to that, what is he doing that's unfavorable for you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jesi Posted July 16, 2006 Author Share Posted July 16, 2006 RA - so today, there was this dog in the stairwell at my apartment. I wasnt sure exactly what was wrong, Senshik thinks it was run over and the wounds seemed to support that. He didnt look like he had a whole lotta time left. I had to get to work, but Sen managed to leave a few hot dogs and some water for him, which she said he enjoyed, which is good cause i didnt think he could move, he was just breathing slow and blinking here and there. we called security, but i half-wish idve called animal control and said he was snapping at kids or some shit, cause they woudlnt come just for a dying dog, but someone needed to put him down. my question is: what do you think is best here? ive been around a few cats & dogs now that some asshole or another has hit & left for dead, and it breaks my heart but i dont want them to suffer any further. Id put them down myself, but i dont have a gun, and a blunt object's a bit harsh. seriously, whats your take here? this is bound to happen to me again sometime, what with all the strays, and all the people in such a hurry. I'm sorry to hear about this dog. Sadly it happens a lot anywhere you go - Miami has it so bad that it even has its own animal cop show on Animal Planet. I commend Senshik for at least offering food and water, however if this dog was as bad off as it sounds, it really should have been collected by animal control and euthanized. For future reference, there are three or four American Animal Hospital Association-accredited veterinarians within 3 miles of your place, which I'll list at the end of this. The other thing you could have done was call Animal Control. Contrary to belief they WILL come pick up an injured animal, regardless of whether it's posing a threat to other animals or people. Miami-Dade Animal Services phone number is (305) 884-1101. Write that down and keep it on your fridge 'cos it sounds like you'll likely need it again. In the future if you see an animal that is sick, injured, appears to have been abused or neglected, or is being visibly abused, call that number and tell the operator what you've seen. If you have the ability/availability, try to collect the animal up and take it to a nearby vet. That office will at the very least take the animal in and keep it contained while animal services has time to respond. Vets near your home: Trail Animal Clinic Inc 6464 SW 8th Street Miami, FL 33144-4893 Phone: (305)261-0793 Fax: (305)261-7632 Veterinarian: Dr. Calvin Smith (3.0 miles) _____________________________ Country Club Animal Hospital 4115 South West 72nd Avenue Miami, FL 33155 Phone: (305)663-3300 Fax: (305)663-9025 Veterinarian: Dr. Ray Bailey (3.6 miles) _____________________________ Animal General Hospital 7390 Northwest 74th Street Miami, FL 33166 Phone: (305)887-1764 Fax: (305)883-4594 Veterinarian: Dr. Thomas Campbell (4.8 miles) If you have questions about the potential health status of any animal you find, you can always call these or any vet you find in the yellow pages. After hours (generally after 6pm) you can call an after-hours emergency clinic (After Hours Pets & Vets Low Cost Emergency on NE Miami Gardens Drive - 305-949-9999) Or in a pinch you can always call me - four zero seven six nine zero three nine three seven. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jables Posted July 18, 2006 Share Posted July 18, 2006 Cole's strictly outdoors. We let him in occasionally at out old place, and he had a designated couch, so when I had days off inna week he'd come in & watch some tv with me. Thing with the new place is, it's a bigger yard but smaller interior, and there's a strict no dogs inside policy set by the owner, which we're inclined to go along with since we've aquired a lotta nicer furniture & whatnot since. He lives strictly in the back yard(which is a decent size, has a few trees & plenny of cover, dogs on either side he interacts with) and come summer we'll prolly let him up on the pool deck so's he can sit with us(there's no point now cause we don't hang near the pool). Since we moved here, we've made it clear & he's understood the deck & the garage are strictly off-limits, yet lately any chance he gets he'll mess with that(to the point he a) figured out how to open the back door to the garage, which we now have to keep locked and b) is even kinda... burrowing into the roller door to the garage now so he can get in there) It wouldn't be so bad except we drive in of a night, he comes barrelling out the garage door to the front & heads straight for the road. Aside from that we thought we'd gotten his digging under control but apparently not, & now I spend a chunk've my weekend filling the trenches along our fence which sides onto the local park. He's smart as all hell & makes me proud, but the straw that near-broke the camel's back was the other day when he dug through our bin on the front porch(never been an issue leaving it there before) and spread crap from arsehole to breakfast. I was just insane with rage & had to get Alana to take him out back 'cause I didn't wanna just take it out on him. Since I last posted here I've redoubled my efforts with the walks, so from here on in he'll be going out every night 'cause yeah, putting myself in his shoes I could see at least part've the problem. You've nailed his personality pretty damned well RA, so if there's any tips you can shoot us we'd be very appreciative. Thanx. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panch Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 Can't you get over that debacle years back and come back already? I said I was sorry. Wait, did I? Whatever. I'm sorry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.