Search Results for: dogs
Module 3: Healthcare practices for common medical conditions in shelters
Estimated Reading and Video Viewing Time: 4 hrs It’s a Monday…… Dr. Wright has been in her new position as Medical Director at Gatorland Animal Services for a couple of weeks. She feels much more organized now that she has best practice SOPs for preventive health care and trained the vet techs and kennel staff Read more »
Gatorland Animal Services SOPs
After reviewing SOP tips and examples, Dr. Wright drafted SOPs for intake processing of dogs and cats at Gatorland Animal Services using best practices for identification, microchip scanning, physical examination, vaccination, parasite control, and testing for FeLV/FIV and canine heartworm infections. Check out Dr. Wright’s SOPs. If you were a vet tech or kennel staff Read more »
Daily Medical Rounds
An important part of preventive health care is monitoring the health status of every animal every day, starting at intake and throughout its stay in the shelter. This monitoring is accomplished through Daily Medical Rounds. Daily Medical Rounds are a key foundation for effective healthcare management and maintenance of animal health in shelters. When properly Read more »
Module 2: Preventive health care and health surveillance
Estimated Reading and Video Viewing Time: 4 hr We’ve Always Done It This Way Doc… It’s Dr. Wright’s first day as the new Medical Director at the Gatorland Animal Services municipal shelter. To get off to a good start, she asked the Shelter Manager for the medical protocols to review. The Manager said the staff Read more »
Parasite Control Best Practices
ASV Guidelines Statement on Parasite Control “Shelters have a responsibility to reduce risk of parasite transmission to humans and animals. An effective parasite control program should be designed with the supervision of a veterinarian. Animals should receive treatment for internal and external parasites common to the region and of public health concern as well as Read more »
Disease Screening: FeLV and FIV
After vaccination and parasite treatment at intake, shelter animals still require regular care. Protocols for routine wellness care are important for ensuring that pets remain healthy during their shelter stay. Wellness care not only includes continuing vaccination and parasite treatment at the recommended intervals, but also includes screening for important infections such as FeLV/FIV in Read more »
Disease Screening: Canine Heartworm Infection
A survey of 504 shelters in the Southeast found that heartworm testing of adult dogs was performed by 41% of open-admission municipal shelters, 80% of limited-admission nonprofit shelters, and 98% of rescue/foster groups. Only 35% of the municipal shelters administered heartworm preventive medication to the dogs in their care, compared to >80% of private nonprofit Read more »
Vaccination Best Practices
Association of Shelter Veterinarians ASV Guidelines Statement on Vaccination: “Vaccines are vital lifesaving tools that must be used as part of a preventive shelter healthcare program. Vaccination protocols used for individual pets in homes are not adequate in most population settings. Strategies must be specifically tailored for shelters because of the higher likelihood of exposure Read more »