Frequently Asked Questions

While we have a discussion of some frequently asked questions, a wealth of information about common veterinary issues can be found at: www.veterinarypartner.com.

Bland Diets

Bland diets are for pets who have had vomiting or diarrhea, or have other gastrointestinal problems.  Basically, these diets consist of easily digestable foods with simple ingredients.  Food should be withheld for 12-24 hours from pets who have been vomiting.  Once vomiting has stopped small amounts of water should be offered.  If this is held down, then bland food may be offered every 4-6 hours.  After a few days of feeding the bland diet, begin to slowly blend in the original diet and gradually increase the proportion of the regular food over 2-5 days.

SIMPLE SHORT-TERM HOMEMADE BLAND DIET: 2 Parts cooked white rice or cooked pasta + 1 part protein source.  Protein sources include low fat cottage cheese, chicken, or turkey.  Meat-based baby foods that do not contain onion powder or onions may also be used.

Commercial diets

Mission Pet sells the prescription diets Science Diet I/D and Iams Low Residue for dogs and cats with gastrointestinal issues.  These are suitable for short or long term feeding.

Boarding

We offer boarding for cats, but not for dogs. For cats that are boarding with us, we provide a variety of diets depending on your cat’s needs or preference.  When you drop off your cat, we will ask you to fill out a form for feeding and other instructions.  You may also download this form from this website at the "downloads" link. Cats are fed twice daily, and cages are cleaned daily.  Cat’s are provided fresh water, litter boxes,  blankets and often given boxes to hide and play in. You may drop off specific food for your cat, or a special toy or other item, but we are no responsible for misplaced or damaged items.

Additional services, such as nail trims, bathing, or medical procedures may be scheduled while your pet is boarding here.  To arrange medical procedures, please call and speak with a doctor before dropping off your pet.

Dentistry

Care of the teeth is one of the most important yet often ignored aspects of health care for your pet. If not addressed, dental infection can not only cause painful problems in the mouth, but can also enter the bloodstream, damage vital organs and shorten your pet's life.

Just as people may need to have regular professional teeth cleaning, so may our pets, especially since most of them don't brush daily. Some pets may need their teeth cleaned yearly, while some may require it less often.

Periodontal disease affects approximately 85% of dogs and 75% of cats.    Therefore it is really important to maintain the oral health of your pet.  You may think you can’t brush your pet’s teeth but you can.  It just takes time and consistent effort.  You have to approach this slowly and get your pet used to you touching their head, face, and mouth.  Do it when you have time and are not rushed.  It should be a pleasant routine for you and your pet.

Brushing your pet’s teeth

  1. This works best if you spend 30-60 seconds each day at the same time with your pet. Start by just petting your pet’s head and face.  Make them feel the love and affection.  Say their name and give praise.  End the session with some “special” treat or enjoyable game.  Do not move to the next step until you and your pet are comfortable with the last step.
  2. Gradually, over the course of weeks, begin to move from touching the lips to the teeth. You may put a small amount of dog/cat toothpaste on your finger at this time, which most pets enjoy. (Do NOT use human toothpaste.)  Do not move on until you and your pet are VERY comfortable at this point. Remember to end every session on a high note with a special treat or game.
  3. Now try to use the brush on some of the front teeth.  Just get your pet used to the brush.  Again the praise, affection, and treats.  Hopefully your pet is getting the idea that this isn’t too bad.  They are getting a lot of attention, time with you, and some wonderful treats, and every session ends with a special treat or game.
  4. Now maybe you can add a few more teeth to the list. The most important thing is to avoid anything that causes your pet discomfort or anxiety. Gradually, you can move from brushing the easy to reach teeth, to the teeth in the back of the mouth.  It is ideal to brush daily, but even brushing three times a week will improve your pet’s dental health.  Use a soft brush, there are many types of brushes available. Ultimately teeth brushing will be something enjoyable for both you and your pet.

Emergencies

Signs of an emergency:

Sometimes it can be difficult to tell which signs of illness warrant an emergency visit to Mission Pet Hospital. If you notice any of these emergency signs, please contact us as soon as possible. Any changes from the norm for your pet (even if not listed here) should be considered significant.

  • Labored breathing (shallow, rapid, or deep)
  • Prolonged or recurrent weakness
  • Loss of appetite without return by next meal
  • Bleeding that will not stop
  • Pale or white gums
  • Collapse
  • Persistent diarrhea or vomiting
  • Persistent cough with difficulty catching breath
  • Straining while trying to urinate or defecate
  • Distended abdomen
  • Seizures or muscle tremors
  • Paralysis
  • Increased or decreased body temperature
  • Persistent pain
  • Lameness, limping, or non weight bearing on a leg

What to do during Common Pet Emergencies

Heat Stroke
Over-exercise and hot summer temperatures can easily lead to heat stroke for dogs. A digital thermometer reading of 105 or 106 is serious enough to warrant immediate attention – HEAT STROKE CAN BE LIFE THREATENING so don’t wait. Call your veterinarian immediately for additional directions.
Ingesting a potential poison
Call your veterinarian or Poison Control Hotline for advice. Some toxins can be safely eliminated by inducing vomiting with hydrogen peroxide. Others can be helped by giving the pet activated charcoal to absorb the toxin. The key to effective poison control is matching the correct response to the poison, so seek professional advice before taking action.
Cuts & Scrapes
Many cuts and scrapes are superficial and just need a thorough cleaning and some anti-bacterial ointment. For deeper cuts, however, you may need to apply bandages and seek immediate veterinary care.
Broken limbs
A broken paw or leg is a serious injury that needs immediate veterinary care. If you can muzzle or safely handle the pet, you may want to stabilize the dangling limb with a splint before rushing it to the hospital. Otherwise, simply wrap the dog in a blanket or towel and seek medical attention immediately.
Shock
A lowered body temperature, pale gums, general weakness and cold feet are some common signs of shock. Causes range from serious illness to blood loss, hypoglycemia, severe diarrhea and poisoning. Keep the pet warm (with blankets or hot water bottles) and hydrated (warm water with honey). Seek medical attention immediately.

Pet First Aid Kit

A First Aid kit is important to have readily available in the event that a problem occurs. The items in a kit should be kept within a container that is easily transported and easily accessible. The kit can help you respond properly in an emergency situation between the time of the emergency and the time you arrive at the veterinarian’s office. Find a large water-proof tote or a plastic, sealable container to keep the following items in:

  • Digital thermometer (normal temperature is around 100.5 – 102.5 degrees; a couple degrees above that is a likely sign of infection (fever) and a few degrees below can signal shock.
  • KY jelly (to lubricate thermometer before your insert into the pet’s rectum)
  • Syringes without needles or an eye dropper (to administer liquids into pet’s mouth)
  • Bandages – gauze pads, non-stick Tefla pads, cotton gauze (to cover wounds; gauze can also be used as a make-shift muzzle but NOT in cases of vomiting)
  • Anti-bacterial ointment (to speed healing and prevent infection)
  • Cotton swabs (to clean wounds)
  • Small split (to stabilize a broken limb)
  • Medical tape (to keep bandages or splints in place)
  • Scissors (to trim hair from wound site and shape bandages as needed)
  • Tweezers (to remove dirt, pieces of glass from wounds)
  • Locking haemostatic forceps (to clap off a blood vessel or to help remove porcupine quills)
  • Deticker tool (good for removing all kinds of ticks)
  • Hydrogen peroxide – (to induce vomiting; use ONLY with veterinary instruction as some poisons can cause more damage if they travel back up the esophagus, and vomiting can lead to pneumonia)
  • Activated charcoal (absorbs poisons – again, use ONLY with veterinary instruction)
  • Rubbing Alcohol (to clean and disinfect wound)
  • Dawn dish washing soap – to wash off toxins or skin irritants that they may have rolled in)
  • Saline solution (to flush out eyes)
  • Instant cold pack (to lower body temperature of hypothermic patients)
  • Muzzle (for dogs to protect you from bites if your pet is in severe pain and cannot quietly tolerate your care)
  • Rescue Remedy (to calm distressed animals)
  • Blanket (to calm as well as keep the pet warm)
  • Hot water bottle (to keep the pet warm if you suspect hypothermia or shock)
  • Honey & a bottle of water (to ward off hypoglycemia)
  • Your veterinarian’s business card – telephone and address (write directions on the back in case a pet sitter needs them)
  • Telephone number and address (with directions) to Mission Pet Hospital and your nearest emergency clinic
  • Numbers for Animal Poison Hotline and Poison Control for Pets – 800-548-2423 or 900.680.0000 or the ASPCA Poison Control Center 888-4ANI-HELP (888-426-4435).

Pet Insurance

We have listed pet insurance companies below. We truly wish that we could tell you which one is best, but we can't. Please do your own due diligence. If you feel that you have been treated very well, or very poorly, please let us know.

A website, Pet Insurance Review, (www.petinsurancereview.com) is an good site for gathering information about different pet insurance companies. Some clients have provided pet insurance testimonials and they can be found here.

Pet Insurance Companies

Vaccines

Dog Vaccines

Basic vaccination guidelines for puppies include a single rabies vaccine given at 16 weeks of age or later, and 2 or 3 DAP (distemper, adenovirus (aka canine hepatitis), parvovirus) vaccines given at 3-4 week intervals, typically started at 8 or 9 weeks of age.  The last DAP vaccine must be given at 12 weeks of age or older.  The rabies and DAP vaccines are known as “core vaccines” as they are recommended for all dogs.  They should be administered again after one year, and thereafter, every 3 years for rabies, and every 4 years for DAP.   Additional vaccinations, such as bordetella, leptospirosis, and lyme disease, may also be given.  Vaccine recommendations are based on an individual assessment of each dog’s need, based on conversation between the veterinarian and the owner.   Rabies vaccination is required for all dogs by law.

The following are vaccines which may be given at Mission Pet.  Additional dog and cat vaccines exist, such as corona virus, giardia, and ringworm, which we typically do not administer or keep in stock.

  • Rabies, a virus causing a fatal brain disease.  It’s usually transmitted from saliva via bite wounds, but urine or blood are also infectious.  Locally, rabid bats have been found in Golden Gate Park.  In San Francisco, there have not been any terrestrial animals found with rabies for many decades.  However, it has been found in terrestrial animals in other Bay Area cities.  In California, bats transmit most cases, with fewer cases transmitted by skunks and foxes.
  • Distemper, (the “D” in DAP), is a virus causing an often fatal disease with respiratory, gastrointestional, and neurological symptoms.  Typically transmitted through airborne droplets from infected animals.
    For more information
  • Parvovirus, (the “P” in DAP) is a virus causing often fatal disease with gastrointestinal symptoms.  This virus is highly contagious, either through feces or direct contact between dogs.  Viral particles can live in the environment for months to years, and resists most household disinfectants except 1:30 dilute bleach solution.
    For more information
  • Adenovirus (the “A” in DAP, also known as canine hepatitis), a virus which may cause liver, gastrointestinal, neurologic, respiratory, and ocular symptoms.  Typically transmitted through nasal discharge, saliva, urine, or feces.
    For more information
  • Leptospirosis, a bacterium causing fever,  loss of appetite, joint pain, nausea, increased urination, and ultimately, kidney, and liver failure.  Many animals carry it, and humans may be infected.  It is usually contacted when an animal comes in contact with water contaminated with an infected animal’s urine.   Animals who tend to drink from or play in standing water or larger bodies of water, in warmer climates, are at risk.
    For more information
  • Parainfluenza, a virus which causes a hacking cough, which is often worse with exertion or exercise, and one of a number of viruses and bacteria which may be labeled kennel cough (aka Infectious Tracheobronchitis).  It is highly contagious, and in most cases self-limiting after 1-3 weeks.  It may be contagious for up to 2 weeks after symptoms resolve.
    Bordatella bronchiseptica, a bacterium which causes a hacking cough, which is often worse with exertion or exercise, and one of a number of viruses and bacteria which may be called kennel cough (aka Infectious Tracheobronchitis).  It is highly contagious, and in most cases self-limiting after 1-3 weeks.  It may be contagious for up to 2 weeks after symptoms resolve.
    For all causes of kennel cough, antibiotics and cough suppressants may help the symptoms resolve sooner.  In rare cases kennel cough may lead to pneumonia.  Vaccination with the kennel cough vaccine (containing bordetella bronchiseptica +/- parainfluenza) may decrease the likelilhood of kennel cough, but dogs still may contract the disease, as the vaccine does not protect against all causes of the disease.
    For more information
  • Note that the viruses and bacteria which are labeled kennel cough are different from Canine Influenza (eg canine flu), a newly emerging virus with similar symptoms.  This disease, while extremely rare, may be fatal, and requires veterinary attention.
    For more information
  • Lyme (Borrelia burdorferi), a bacterium causing cute arthritis with lameness, fever, anorexia, swelling in joints, possibly swollen lymph nodes.  It is extremely rare.  The vaccine may be protective, but this is not definitive.  Ticks must be attached for 48 hours to transmit the disease, and tick prevention is the best way to prevent this disease.
    For more information

    • Cat Vaccines

    For cats, core vaccines are the basic distemper shot (FVRCP). Some authorities consider the rabies vaccine to be a core vaccine, but due to the fact that many cats that we see almost never go outside, we often do not give it. However, if you consider the consequences of rabies exposure (which can certainly happen indoors) and the legal consequences of owning a biting animal (what happens to the animal generally is dependent on its vaccine status), it is not hard to see why this vaccine is important. Additional vaccines for cats include feline leukemia virus (FeLV).

    FVRCP

    Feline Distemper, (the “P” in FVRCP) is caused by a parvovirus, is a life-threatening disease. The virus is considered ubiquitous, meaning it is found in virtually every place that is not regularly disinfected. The infection is highly contagious among unvaccinated cats, which are usually kittens and young adult cats living in groups. Barn cats, feral colonies, animal shelter groups, pet stores, and rescue facilities are at high risk for outbreaks.

    Herpes Virus (the “FVR” in FVRCP) is an upper respiratory disease, which can also cause eye problems. It is very commonly causes mild symptoms such as sneezing, nasal congestion, and conjunctivitis in kittens, but can occassionally cause severe disease. The virus is airborne and very contagious in susceptible animals.

    Calicivirus (the “V” in FVRCP) can cause a range of symptoms, from very mild eye problems, to life-threatening pneumonia. Some of the more virulent strains can be fatal. The disease is transmitted by contact with an infected cat or object (bowl, cage, brush, blanket, etc.) that harbors the virus.

    Feline leukemia virus (FeLV), a retrovirus, is an infection of cats. It is the cause of more cat deaths, directly or indirectly, than any other organism and is widespread in the cat population, although it is relatively rare in San Francisco.