FAQ

Microchip

Is it necessary to plant a microchip to my pet?

Planting a microchip by the veterinary doctor is necessary and according Bulgarian law obligatory manipulation. The microchip is small as rise bean capsule, which is implanted subcutaneous in the area of the neck.
Unfortunately the most comprehend opinion, is that dog or cat marked with a microchip can be traced with GPS and in case of loss or steal they can be found, but this is not true. The microchip once implanted in to skin in the place of the intervention stays there for entire life, but the signal which is transmitted is very weak and can be intersect with the help of a special designed reader, placed very close to the neck of you pet. In spite of all placing a microchip is recommended, because this is the only way to recognize this is yours home pet in case of dispute or travel abroad. The procedure is simple, the unique number that the reader extract from the microchip is compared with the number entered by the veterinary doctor in the passport of the pet. Except in the passport the unique number of the microchip, with one with the names and the address of the owner are entered in integrated database in NVMD (National Veterinary Medicine Department). Access to this database has the veterinary doctors and if you don’t have the passport of the pet, the owner can be extracted from the database and be verified.
Every microchip is in set with 6 unique identical barcodes, one of which is placed in the passport of the pet by the veterinary doctor in the moment of marking, and the rest of the codes are kept from the owner in case of lose of the passport, for representing them when the pet leave the country, or building of family pet trees, certificates and etc.
The procedure if placing a microchip is quick and painless operation, which can be managed in every time of pet’s life.  We recommended this to be made in time of placing the first vaccine, with the giving of the passport.
The microchip is placed in the hole of special needle, which is attached to a syringe, piston of which push the microchip in to skin (subcutaneous) of the pet. The animal feels only the pricking.
By standard the microchips are placed on the left side of neck and it’s not expect to migrate, in other words when you go to the veterinary doctor for the next vaccine Your doctor will search the microchip with the reader at exact place of the standard intervention point and if the number is matching the number of the passport he will continue with the manipulation.
The price of placing a microchip in the current moment is 30 lv., which is not tie together with appointing a hour for the manipulation.

Parasites

The internal parasites are not only problem for the home pet but also for the owner. For the dog and cat the most encounter parasites are flat and round worms (taenia and helminth), which lives in the stomach and the guts.
They irritate the mucosa directly, creating an “entry point” for infections, and if small pets cases of blocking the guts. The problems related with the health in case of infestation are large not only for the pet, but also for the owner. That’s way we try to systemize from one side the problem and from another the correct measures for prevent it.
The biggest social problem for the people is the dog tapeworm (Echinokochys taenia). The size of the worm is approximately 4-5 mm and with licking of the pelt she spread to the entire pet body. Then when you play with your home pet you can swallow the taenia, without notice. If this happens this eggs get in to the organism of the human and in the brain, liver, lung are constituted a taenia bubbles.
Your dog only can get ill from dog tapeworm if only eats raw meat, internal animal organs, that’s way you have never do the feeding with this raw products, and keep good hygiene.
To people there is a disease which is called a creeping rash, caused by a worm (Ankilostom), which source is the dog again. It’s starts with a itching to the skin in the area of the feet. All medicaments for anti parasites can eliminate these worms.    
The people are not the final host for the worm and larva’s didn’t grown to adult, but they can penetrate wall gut, and can reach the liver, lung, skin. The parasites can cause disease which symptoms are stomach pain, cough, gasp of breath, skin itch and rash.
To the dog and the cat the worm caused a vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss.
Growth of all this parasites includes complex cycles of grown, where the human is middle host. The period of this cycle is 3-4 weeks and that’s way is important the pets to be de-wormed monthly by the veterinarian with the help of combined medicaments against worms and taenias. Only the regular use of anti worm’s medicaments can guarantee that the dog and the cat will not secrete these dangerous eggs. Large amounts of eggs are secreted in the environment by the small dog, that’s way the de-worming process has to be made by early life of the small dog – the second week after birth. If there is a parasite in the dog excrements, the procedure has to be repeated again after 14 days.  
It’s necessary every pet owner to teach there own pet to take pills. This can be made, by opening pet’s mouth and put the tablets on base of the tongue, then close the mouth and wait until the pet swallow the pill. Dependently from the spectrum of parasites which are known, the company’s produce a large variations of medicaments. For the correct choice in accordance of the size of the animal and the quality you want it’s very important to have a consultation with our doctors or representatives.  



Vaccines

Do I have to vaccinate my pet?

The vaccines are extremely important to Your pet. The diseases for which the vaccines are put, have no cure, or don’t have enough medicaments. The vaccine is the most efficient, and in the most cases the only way to protect our home pet. In the point of view by the price, it’s very important we to save from the vaccine, in other case to pay very expensive treatment.    
Here we can see more detailed information about the vaccines:

The vaccines are very important for Your home pet, especially while he is a baby. For to grown healthy and happy the animal need to be protected from some infection diseases, with placement of vaccine in the earliest times of his life. After birth the small pet’s receive antibodies from there mother, from the colostrum, which presents there passive immunity. In time this immunity weakens and it’s necessary the organism to be stimulated, so it can build a strong and continuously immunity against dangerous diseases.
These are the most infections, for which you have to vaccinate your pet:

For the dog:

- Canine distemper (Dog plague) very dangerous virus disease, which has a numerous symptom’s, like fever, catarrhal inflammation of mucous membranes (eye leak, diarrhea), skin rashes, neurological signs (depression, uncontrolled movements, unintended defecation). The infection can happen by food or by air.
- Infectious hepatitis – It is a virus disease, which is very dangerous for the small pets (3 months), in most cases with lethal end. It began with high temperature 41o and fever, illness appears in the throat (Tonsilitis), unilateral or bilateral eye irritation, vomiting of gastric content with bile, respiratory and nervous systems. The disease is spread with through all secretes feces, saliva, urine of the infected animals.
- Parvovirus gastroenteritis (Parvovirousysh) - widespread infectious disease mainly seen in young dogs. Manifested by fever during the first 2-3 days, vomiting, diarrhea (mixed blood), abdominal tenderness, development miokardit.The infection can be made by infected animals through vomited content and loose feces.
- Parainfluentsa - affects the respiratory tract.
- Leptospirosis - a disease in various mammals, including humans, which in a typical case occurs after brief fever in normal or low temperature with acute renal failure, weight loss (anorexia), lethargy, depression, vomiting, jaundice, increased urine flow (polyuria), increased thirst (polydipsia), jaundice, focal necrosis of the skin and intestines. Treatment is difficult and the disease spread is long. Separation of leptospirithous it with secretions from mucous membranes and is primarily transmitted with the urine. The infection is made by elementary way-water contaminated with infected secretions urine or other.
- Rabies, one of the most horrific human zoonoses. This is an acute infectious disease. It’s characterized with changes in behavior, twitter and paralytic phenomena. There are three forms of rabies to dogs: impetuous, silent and atypical flowing rabies.The most often seen is the impetuous rabies. The main pervasive way for the transmission of the disease is the bite or direct contamination with saliva. Clinically observed there is change in the behavior, itching in the bite, depraved appetite, difficulty swallowing and salivation, paralysis of the larynx and voice alteration. With progression of the disease the look is seems scared, slightly sagging lower jaw, paralytic changes affect the respiratory and masticating muscles. The death occurs as a result of suffocation. Treatment for the dog is not available, for the humans there is a anti-rabies serum, which has to be applied in the beginning of the infection. Prevention for the dog is only by vaccine.
For the cat:
- Feline rhinotracheitis - infectious viral disease that affects the lining of the upper respiratory tract, the infection is accompanied by fever and fatigue. Susceptible are the animals of all ages, but the most susceptible are the young. Virus is excreted by infected cats through leakages from the nose and mouth. Clinically observed there is fever, fatigue, lack of appetite, slime discharge from the mouth and nose, reddening and swelling of the eyes, nasal congestion and ulceration of the tongue. Treatment is complicated and mortality in young cats is high. Best prophylactic is the Immunotherapy at the early age.
- Viral fever (Kalitsiviroza) - an acute viral infection that occurs with rhinitis, conjunctivitis, stomatitis, bronchopneumonia with cough and shortness of breath, on the tongue and mouth there is a bubbles that pass into ulcers, acute arthritis.
- Panleukopenia (Feline Plague) - highly contagious and it is a high mortality (60-90%) disease, which occurs with vomiting, watery diarrhea, fever to 42 ° C, profuse pus discharge from the nose and mouth, reduced amount of leukocytes in the blood, abortions in pregnant animals, stillbirth and mummification.
- Chlamydia – the causes in to cats are agents smaller than bacteria. Resemble viruses, because multiply intracellularly and there are a energy dependable of them, but difference  is that they are sensitive to antibiotics. The place for spreading the agents is the conjunctiva and the method of transmission is through direct contact with sick animals from the infected eye secretions and worn. Kittens are infected most often during birth from the birth of the mucosal tract. In Clinically observed situation there is a discharge from the eyes and spasm of the eyelids, conjunctiva is red and swollen. Disease often occurs suddenly under the influence of stress and adult cats.The treatment implemented on time is successfully with appropriate antibiotic therapy. The vaccination protects the cats from disease or significantly inhibited the acute phase of infection. The vaccine is most effective, and in some cases the only way to prevent these infectious diseases. Even in the point of view strictly by the price is very reasonable not to save from the vaccine, but from the very expensive treatment. There is a veterinary medicines, which offers vaccines that are available for dogs and cats - MERIAL, Intervet, VIRBAC, Fort Dodge, Pfizer and others.

The main schemes for vaccination of the Dogs are:

First vaccine – 45 – 50 days old

Second vaccine – 8 – 9 week old

Third vaccine – 12 week old

The main schemes for vaccination of the Cats are:

First vaccine – 7 – 8 week old

Second vaccine – 12 week old

It’s very important that you strictly follow the age, so the time can be exact and the immunity can be build properly. If you miss one of the vaccinations, the scheme will change. The vaccine is placed only on healthy animals. The responsibility for the health of the animal is all Yours – so make sure it’s done!!!


Castration

Is it necessary to castrate the animals and if yes, why?

Summary that we recommend is the following: the early castration of female animals, this means before the first rut (around 6 month), and if of course the animal will not be used for breeding. To the male animals the castration is more a matter of choice it depends from the animal and its individual features (cats that marked, aggressive dogs).

The answer of the question “Why” is little wider:

When it comes to early castration of females (ovarihisterektomiya in dog or cat) should be highlighted a number of advantages for which it is worth carrying out this operation. Here is a brief summary:

(1) – It is better for the animal
From a medical point of view, castrated females live longer and are healthier, because it avoids a number of disorders associated with gonadal function.

The early castration can protect or reduce the risk of the following diseases:

1. Mammary tumors
2. Tumors of the uterus and ovaries
3. Pyometra
4. Diabetes
5. Hormone – related anemia
6. Pseudo pregnancy
7. Hormonal skin diseases
8. Unwanted behavior (aggression or etc.)

Stick to point the earlier castration before the first rutty, leading to a slight risk (about 0.5% in castrated animals) for the development of tumors of the breast. Only in a one rutty the risk increased to 23%, or 40 times! The reason is the high estrogen levels, which are released during the rut (oestrus). And only after the third rut risk remains around 32 percent, independently that the castration will be made or not. These are statistics, but unfortunately they correspond to reality - some of the common operations performed in our clinic are such as removal of tumors of the breast. Surgical removal is not always solve the problem-90% of tumors in cats and dogs under 60% are malignant and can produce fatal metastases in vital organs.
Another often disease to the adults not castrated females is pyometra (purulent inflammation of the uterus). This hormonal disorder is life-threatening and requires urgent surgical treatment. Unfortunately our clinic very often have to perform this operation because of pyometra ovarihistrektomiya, and often the condition of patients is severe and life-threatening because of the septic condition. With castration the risk of this disease is removed.

On the other hand it is important to emphasize that one breeding and birth have no positive effect on the health of the mother, contrary to many owners.

The question is not just say - "let we have her has a babies”, the female health may be at greater risk during pregnancy and a possible difficult birth than during a routine castration!

(2) It’s better for You.

The owners of the uncastrated animals should be ready for the following unpleasant moments, the female animals has a bloody discharge from the vulva for 2-3 weeks or longer, it may be associated with serious cleaning. During the rut there is a possible changes in behavior, aggression, seeking men animals, it is possible that your animal to escape. It must be borne in mind the risk of unwanted pregnancies and the difficulties associated with the prevention it.

For the owners of castrated animals there is a tax discounts.

(3) It is better to reduce the population of stray animals on the streets. A non-castrated female cat and it’s generations can multiply to 420 000 over seven years.

On castration of males, it is not always performed because of medical prescriptions.  
Most often are castrated the male cats, because they urinating in various places (sexual conditioned behavior), a desire to "walk" and search for female cats, this often involves a fall from high floor! The castration prevents fights with other cats and plenty of other injuries related to the search for females. Also castrated cats are often more comfortable and owners rarely have problems with cat aggression.

Most not rare in the clinic we meet with owners that have no willing to castrate their male dogs. However and here the castration can prevent some of following diseases:

1.Reducing the risk of prostate disease
2. Perineal hernia
3. Peri-anal adenomas
4. Hormonal skin lesions
5. Testicular tumors
6. Unacceptable behavior-aggression

It is unlikely that your dog has a strong desire to roam, the marking of territory.