Welcoming a Couple of Kittens

Q: Well, after all these years of owning dogs, we recently found two kittens living under our house and are unable to find the mother, so we have decided to keep them. They are pretty young but are able to eat cat food on their own. Since we are keeping them, what do they need as far as vaccinations or special diets? Can we use the dog’s flea powder on them since they did have a lot of fleas? Is it OK to bathe them? They do not appear to be as afraid of the dogs as they once were but still hiss and spit at them occasionally. Is there anything else that we need to do to take care of them? Is there any risk of diseases that these kittens might give to the dogs?

P.J. Cooke, Santa Ana

A: I hope you really enjoy the new additions to your family. Your best bet is to have these kittens seen by your veterinarian so that he or she may determine their age and sex and give them a good physical examination. They will need to be checked for ear mites, fleas, skin mites and ringworm and treated if necessary. If they’re old enough--about 6 to 8 weeks--you can start their vaccinations. If they are older than 9 weeks, I would recommend having them tested and vaccinated against feline leukemia virus. Be sure to bring a stool sample so your vet can have it examined for intestinal parasites.

Check the labeling on your flea powder to see if it can be used on kittens or check with your veterinarian before using it. Ask your vet for proper shampoos to use for the kittens. I would start these kittens on a good-quality kitten food and avoid giving them milk, which may give them diarrhea. Keep a close tab on the confrontations between the dogs and the kittens. Make sure their litter box is kept clean and out of reach of the dogs. Good luck with your new pets--I know you will enjoy them as they grow up.

Q: I have been told by my vet that I shouldn’t give any bones to my dog because he might choke on them. My neighbor always gives her two dogs large beef bones and says she has had no problems. What do you think?

Rena Velasquez, Garden Grove

A: I also recommend that you avoid giving bones, especially chicken or pork bones, to your dog because there is a risk of having splintered pieces get caught in the throat or lodged in the esophagus, where a very serious infection or injury could develop. It is better to give your dog hardened biscuits such as Milk Bones or Bonz, which are hard enough to give him something to chew on and are digestible. Also large, rawhide-like chew toys are fine as long as your dog doesn’t try to swallow them in large pieces. I have seen dogs with broken or partially fractured teeth from trying to chew on large bones. Try the processed biscuits. I don’t think your dog will know the difference, and they will probably be healthier for him.