Silicon Valley Pet Clinic

What kind of food should I feed my pet and how much?

We recommend high quality food where the first ingredient is proteinlike chicken, beef or pork not corn or meat by products. Manufacturers such as Canidae and Natura (which includes California Natural and Innova) are two of our top choices. With so many different companies out there it's hard to make an informed choice. We urge you to educate yourself on the food you are buying for your pet. Visit the manufacturers websites and ask questions.

As for the amount of food you should feed your dog, lets just say that I have a seventy five pound dog and I feed her about 3/4 of a cup of good quality food twice a day. She is not skin and bones and she is not overweight either. I also give her carrots as a treat and she loves them. Consult with your veterinarian about the amount of food to feed your dog, every dog is different and while my dog does just fine on the amount of food I give her, others might need twice that amount depending on their activity level.

When is the best time to spay or neuter my pet?

Normally we prefer to wait until the pet has matured enough so it will not have any problems with its joints in the future. Waiting for your male puppy or kitten to be 8 to 10 months old would be preferable, unless they are starting to act in a manner unfit for social living. If your male dog begins to mark all in sight or try to get too chummy with the girls then it may be time for his life altering operation. The same can apply to your cat. Females you can normally spay around six months of age or three to four months after their first season.

How do I keep my pet's teeth clean and when
should they get dentistry work?

The best way to keep your pet's teeth clean and avoid any work done is to brush their teeth every day. This may sound like a joke but it actually only takes less than five minutes to brush your dog's and cat's teeth. The best way to get them started is to get the pet toothpaste and let them taste it then apply some to your finger and rub it on the outside of their teeth. When your pet is accustomed to having something rubbing it's teeth you can introduce a finger brush or a toothbrush.

The best way to tell if your pet may need dental work is by its breath. You can also look at the teeth and see if there is tartar. Normal teeth are white and the gumline is a healthy pink color. If all you can see is yellow or off-white crusting on the teeth and red inflamed gums, your pet might need a dental. Consult your veterinarian.

When my pet scratches, is it fleas?

Normally, if your pet is scratching incessantly, it may be flea related. Just because you can't see the fleas doesn't mean they are not there. If your pet's main attraction is towards the rear by the tail, it may very well be fleas. Black specks in your pet's coat may indicate the presence of fleas. There are many products out there that claim to kill fleas and they do but they don't kill 100% of the fleas. Also many over the counter flea products for cats like Hartz or bio spot, can actually be deadly to them.

The safest way to go is to buy Advantage or Frontline from your veterinarian. Those products are guaranteed by the manufacturer only if bought through a licensed veterinarian. While they are more expensive than other products, they are well worth it.
If you have treated your pet for fleas and it still scratching it may be having allergic reactions to something environmental or ingested (food). Consult your veterinarian to find the cause and get relief for your pet.

Is neutering my pet going to stop its marking behavior?

While it may reduce the amount of marking your pet does, neutering isn't always a guarantee that the marking will stop. Dogs that have been neutered since an early age have been known to mark. It all depends on your dog or cat.

Why does my male dog 'hump' other male dogs?

Mounting is a dominant behavior. Even if your male dog is neutered, if he is a dominant dog, he will mount other dogs, regardless of the gender. Females have been known to mount as well.

Why does my dog smell other dogs' butts?

Smelling another dog's rear end is a dog’s way of getting information about each other. It's normal for dogs to sniff each other and move on.

My cat is up at all hours of the night running and
playing while I'm trying to sleep. Is this normal?

Cats are normally nocturnal creatures, so yes this is normal. The best way to avoid this is to try and tire your cat out during the day and crate it at night. While it sounds like an easy fix it may take weeks for your cat to get used to its new schedule.

My cat is urinating outside of its litterbox, how can I fix this problem?

Cats are pretty clean animals so the first thing I would do is make sure the litter box is clean. If your cat still goes outside the box I would recommend you take your cat to the vet and make sure it doesn't have a urinary tract infection.