Where Can I Find Emergency Information on the Internet?

United Emergency Animal Clinic
San Jose: 5440 Thornwood Dr. (408) 578-5622
Campbell: 905 Dell Ave. (408) 371-6252

Veterinary Partner
Do you have questions about animal health, medications, therapies, surgery, behavior, or safety? Did your veterinarian suggest you visit this site to learn more about a health issue concerning your pet?
 
Companion Animal Parasite Council
An independent council of veterinarians and other animal health care professionals established to create guidelines for the optimal control of internal and external parasites that threaten the health of pets.
 
ASPCA Poison Control
A resource for any animal poison-related emergency, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you think that your pet may have ingested a potentially poisonous substance, call (888) 426-4435. A $65 consultation fee may be applied to your credit card.

Or Call Animal Poison Control Center : (888) 426-4435 

What is poisonous or toxic to my animal?

Below are the ASPCA’s top 10 Pet Poisons

Human Medications
Pets often snatch pill vials from counters and nightstands or gobble up medications accidentally dropped on the floor, so it’s essential to keep meds tucked away in hard-to-reach cabinets.

Insecticides
One of the most common incidents involved the misuse of flea and tick products—such as applying the wrong topical treatment to the wrong species. Thus, it’s always important to talk to your pet’s veterinarian before beginning any flea and tick control program.

People Food
People food like grapes, raisins, avocado and certain citrus fruit can seriously harm our furry friends, and accounted for more than 15,000 cases in 2008. One of the worst offenders—chocolate—contains large amounts of methylxanthines, which, if ingested in significant amounts, can cause vomiting, diarrhea, panting, excessive thirst, urination, hyperactivity, and in severe cases, abnormal heart rhythm, tremors and seizures.

Rodenticides
Last year, the ASPCA received approximately 8,000 calls about pets who had accidentally ingested rat and mouse poisons. Many baits used to attract rodents contain inactive ingredients that are attractive to pets as well. Depending on the type of rodenticide, ingestions can lead to potentially life-threatening problems for pets, including bleeding, seizures and kidney damage.

Veterinary Medications
Vet medicines such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, heartworm preventatives, de-wormers, antibiotics, vaccines and nutritional supplements can be toxic if misapplied or improperly dispensed.

Plants
Common houseplants such as azalea, rhododendron, sago palm, lilies, kalanchoe and schefflera are often found in homes and can be harmful to pets. Lilies are especially toxic to cats, and can cause life-threatening kidney failure even in small amounts.

Chemical Hazards
Antifreeze, paint thinner, drain cleaners and pool/spa chemicals can cause gastrointestinal upset, depression, respiratory difficulties and chemical burns.

Household Cleaners
Household cleaning supplies, as bleaches, detergents and disinfectants can be toxic to adults and children, and pets. They can cause serious gastrointestinal distress and irritation to the respiratory tract.

Heavy Metals
Heavy metals such as lead, zinc and mercury. Lead is especially harmful, and pets are exposed to it through many sources, including consumer products, paint chips, linoleum, and lead dust produced when surfaces in older homes are scraped or sanded.

Fertilizer
It may keep your grass green, but certain types of fertilizer can cause problems for outdoor cats and dogs.

What symptoms should I look for and when should I call my vet?

If you witnessed or suspect your pet consumed a potentially poisonous plant, food, chemical, medication, always call the vet immediately for advice.

If your pet is showing symptoms of vomiting or diarrhea (more than one episode), tremors/shaking, seizures, extreme lethargy, difficulty breathing or any other behavior considered to be unusual for your pet, call your vet immediately.

If your pet shows signs of pain, such as  increased panting, restlessness, behavior changes, crying out, difficulty rising, limping, reluctance to walk/exercise, changes in appetite, dislike of being brushed or petted, call your vet immediately.

Symptoms that may indicate an underlying medical condition:  changes in appetite or water intake, vomiting/diarrhea (more than one episode), behavior changes, change in elimination habits (frequency of litter box use/going outside), persistent coughing, sneezing, discharge from eyes or nose, odor from the skin or ears, itching, limping, lethargy or excitability.

Why microchip your pet?

What better way to prevent the permanent loss of your best friend. The Whole Pet Vet uses ResQ, a universal ISO-compliant microchip. You can register your pet for FREE on PetLink and travel anywhere in the world. If they get lost, a universal ISO-compliant scanner can read the chip and get your pet returned home to you! There is NO ANNUAL fee to maintain your pet’s information in the database! The chip is a single injection and offers a lifetime of protection.

Why use heartworm prevention?

Heartworm disease is caused by a parasite carried by mosquitoes.  If an infected mosquito bites your dog or cat, the parasite can enter the bloodstream and travel to the arteries surrounding the heart, leading to potentially life threatening complications. Fortunately, the disease is easily prevented by monthly heartworm preventatives that should be used year round to ensure protection.  We also recommend testing your dog once a year and/or if he/she has missed more than one month of prevention. This helps us ensure the efficacy of the medication being used.  Unfortunately, our climate can be kind to mosquitoes, which makes year round prevention all the more important in this area.

Should I use flea or tick prevention medicines?  If so, which ones are right for my pet?

Fleas and ticks thrive in California climates, and we recommend year round prevention for our at risk patients.   There are a variety of options for this, all of which can be safe and effective if used correctly.  Talk to our doctors about which medication would be best for your pet, and how to avoid an infestation in your home!

How much should your pet weigh?

Good question! Especially with “mixed” breeds these days it’s hard to know. A good method is to use the Body Conditioning Guidelines (PDF Download).

What should I feed my pet?

There are many diet options to choose from based on the breed, lifestyle and age of your pet.  Whichever diet you choose, it is important to be sure the diet is balanced to meet your pet’s nutritional needs. Surprisingly, many medical conditions can be treated with a diet change alone. Talk to our doctors who can aid you in making the right choice for your pet.

What can I do to help prevent tartar on my pet’s teeth?  

We like to live by the standard of “good to chew, better to rinse, best to brush” when it comes to dental care. Brushing your dog or cat’s teeth may seem like a daunting task, but we can help you incorporate it into a daily routine with a little patience and lots of rewards. When brushing is not an option, we can help you find an oral health care regimen that works for you and your pet.  Remember, diet plays an integral role in oral health, so always ask your doctor about dietary options to aid in the prevention and treatment of periodontal disease.  Remember, all pet chews must be used with supervision.  For more information on dental healthcare for your pet visit the American Veterinary Dental College website.

Should I use supplements for my pet?

Your doctor may recommend a dietary supplement for your pet, based on your pet’s nutritional needs, medical condition and  lifestyle.  Supplements can be used to aid in the management of arthritis, skin/coat conditions, and some behavioral conditions.  We carry a variety of high quality, veterinary grade supplements including Missing Link, Omega 3 fatty acids, and Glucosamine.

How often should my pet visit the vet?

For healthy pets, we recommend a visit every 6 months for a Wellness Exam. A Wellness exam is a thorough physical examination of an animal when it is "healthy" or showing no new symptoms or concerns.  Although, happily, the average lifespan for dogs and cats has increased dramatically (i.e. from 7 years in 1930s to >12 years today), pets still age at a more rapid rate than people.  As a result, their health status can change in a matter of months.  Like people, cats and dogs are individual in the way they age.  Age can be affected by the breed, size of the animal, and lifestyle risk factors.

The AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) recommends twice yearly wellness exams, and we agree.  Twice yearly wellness exams allow our doctors the chance to assess any changes in your pet's physical exam findings, and make recommendations for any baseline screening tests (blood/urine testing, EKG, BP, X-rays, etc.) that can aid in early diagnosis and treatment as well as disease prevention.