With the arrival of spring, from time to time I see “furry child related groups” on Facebook sharing information about new-born puppies. And you who are reading this article will have the opportunity to encounter them unexpectedly one day. When this happens When the day comes, how can you help them?
Q1: What should you do when you encounter a litter of puppies/cats that haven’t opened their eyes yet and you don’t see the mother dog next to them?
A1: First, visually check whether the puppy/cat’s appearance and body condition are abnormal, such as weight loss, poor energy, increased eye secretions, etc. This indicates that they should be properly cared for. Furthermore, you can wait and see if the mother dog goes out for activities or hunting. If the mother dog returns to the puppies/cat, there is no immediate need for rescue.
Q2: Can you touch puppies/cats in the wild? Or move them?
A2: Unless we are sure that the puppies/cats are in danger of life (such as blood loss, hypothermia, etc.) or have obvious symptoms (such as diarrhea, trauma, etc.), it is not recommended to touch or move them at will. For animals, it may infringe on their living areas. It can cause the dog mother to instinctively defend and attack, and even worse, harm the puppies/cats because of the human smell; for humans, it may increase the chance of being exposed to unknown pathogenic bacteria. If necessary, it is best to contact professional animal epidemic prevention veterinarians.
Q3: If this litter of puppies/cats seems to be in bad shape, what should I do next?
A3: After confirming that the person will not be attacked by the mother dog, place the puppy/cat in an insulated cardboard box or container with blankets, clothing or a heating pack, and immediately take it to a veterinary hospital for further examination and treatment.
According to the basic treatment mode of our hospital, including: scanning microchips, inspection and palpation of external signs of life, examination of internal and external parasites, etc., appropriate treatment will be given.
Q4: Can puppies/cats be vaccinated? What vaccines do doctors recommend?
A4: Vaccination of puppies/cats can prevent bacterial viruses and other injuries. Even if the puppies are adopted or kept in the same place in the future, they can have a healthy body.
In addition, canine heartworm disease will seriously endanger the health of the dog once it is infected. We use the company’s heartworm preventive product – Love Love, which can be injected once a year to easily and effectively control heartworm disease.
Q5: In addition to vaccination, is birth control necessary? At what age can birth control be taken?
A5: Birth control or not is one of the most frequently asked questions by pet owners. Regarding stray animals, I personally believe that the benefits of birth control are not only to reduce the number of strays, but also to control diseases related to unpregnant animals, such as sexually transmitted diseases, pyometra, etc., thereby improving the quality of life of animals and reducing the economic burden of rescue.
At present, the government and the private sector continue to vigorously advocate the implementation of neuteration surgery (TNR) for dogs and cats, and the control of stray animal populations has achieved considerable results. The public can consult local animal epidemic prevention agencies, animal hospitals or civil society organizations for relevant matters.
Q6: Can veterinary hospitals assist found puppies/cats or adult dogs in finding their owners?
A6: Yes. Veterinary hospitals, local animal shelters or animal epidemic prevention agencies can assist in scanning pet chips to quickly find anxious owners. Therefore, microchipping pets is an important step in raising them.
Finally, Dr. Mu Shaoan appealed: Because of the advancement of medicine, the quality and life span of animals can be improved and extended. Provide them with vaccinations on time, control internal and external parasites, and conduct regular health examinations. Once the disease is discovered, treat it early. Prevention is better than cure.