• Dr. Connie, why does my dog "scoot" on his rear end?

Typically, dogs scoot for one of three reasons. Some dogs, especially long-haired ones, scoot if they soil their rear ends. Others scoot because their anal sacs are full. Finally, some dogs with allergies have itchy rears, and scoot to scratch their itch! Not the most socially acceptable method, but effective! 

• Do I need to give my dog heartworm medication in the winter?

Heartworms are spread by mosquitoes, so preventatives are given during mosquito season. In the northern climates, this is a short enough season that vets often recommend stopping after the first hard freeze, then testing the dog in the spring before starting back on prevention. In  warmer climates, including Oklahoma, the mosquito season is long enough that most vets recommend year-round heartworm prevention.

• What vaccinations should my cat have?

There is increased concern in the profession these days about vaccine-related tumors in cats, so the topic of what vaccines cats need is a hot one. While a real concern, the risk of tumors is still not so great that your cat should go unprotected. There are a lot of vaccines for cats, however, and your cat may not need all of them. I think the essential vaccines for cats are rabies and a vaccine for upper respiratory viruses and panleukopenia (the last vaccine is available as nose drops, which reduces chances for tumors). Whether your cat needs other vaccines, such as feline leukemia, is something to discuss with your vet. Some cats live lifestyles that make other vaccines important, others do not. 

• What is the latest treatment for fleas and ticks?

The most effective products for fleas are either the flea pill, Program and Sentinel, or the topical applications, Frontline and Advantage. For ticks, Frontline is hard to beat. There is a tick collar, Preventic, which does nothing for fleas but is great for ticks. A new product is just being released, Revolution, which is labeled for use against fleas, ticks, heartworms, ear mites, scabies and some intestinal worms. I don't think it works on annoying house guests, though.

• Why does my pet keep getting tapeworms, even after he's been treated for them?

Tapeworms have an indirect life cycle, meaning that they are not passed directly from one pet to another. Rather, they get tapeworms from eating an intermediate host for the parasite. In the vast majority of cases, the intermediate host is the flea. So pets will get tapeworms over and over until the fleas are eradicated from your house and yard. 

• My dog is ten years old. How many years is that in dog years?

Ten. Dogs live on the same planet we do, and circle the sun once a year. They just don't live as long as humans do.