Healthy Homes - Pets

Are veterinarians licensed? How do I check?

You can verify who is a licensed veterinarian using this webpage: health.tn.gov/Licensure/

The Tennessee Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners safeguards the health, safety, and welfare of people in Tennessee by ensuring all who practice as a veterinarian or a veterinary medical technician within Tennessee are qualified. Veterinary facilities are required to obtain a premises permit and follow the Tennessee Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners’ laws, rules, and regulations to ensure appropriate veterinary standards of practice.

What vaccines does my dog or cat need?

“Core” vaccines are recommended for all dogs and cats. In Tennessee it is required by law that your animal is vaccinated for rabies. “Non-core” vaccines are recommended for certain pets based on their risk of exposure to
the disease, such as through their lifestyle or geographic location. Talk with your veterinarian about your pet’s lifestyle, including any expected travel to other locations and/or contact with other animals. Your veterinarian will consider these and other factors in recommending the vaccines and vaccination schedule that will provide your pet the best possible protection throughout their life.

Your pet should receive their first vaccinations as a puppy or kitten. During the first few months of life, your veterinarian will recommend a series of vaccinations, usually 2-4 weeks apart. For most puppies and kittens, the final vaccination in the series is given at about 4 months of age. Your veterinarian may adjust this schedule based on your pet’s circumstances and needs. After the initial vaccine series is complete, every few years your pet should receive booster vaccines to keep their immune system strong and protect your pet from germs. Your veterinarian can recommend a vaccination schedule that best meets your pet’s needs.

Dog and cat vaccination resources:

How do I get my pet's rabies vaccination tag?

In Tennessee it is required by law for your dog and cat to be vaccinated for rabies. When your pet gets vaccinated for rabies by your veterinarian they will provide a tag.

The rabies tag should be placed on your animal’s collar if possible because it:

  • Shows that your animal is up-to-date on their rabies vaccination, which is required by law.
  • Lets animal control and the public know that your pet is not a risk for spreading rabies.
  • Provides a form of identification If your pet were to get out of the house or lost so that they can be returned home to you quickly.

You can look up rabies tag numbers on a lost pet using this Tennessee Department of Health website: Pet Rabies Tag Numbers

What around the house can be unhealthy for my pet?

Just like we childproof our house to protect our children, there are things you can do to make your home, inside and outside, safer for your pets.

The best way to pet-proof your house is to look around room to room and outside. Get down to their level and try to think like your pet. Are there things that might look interesting to play with? Is there something that might be harmful or valuable that your animal could reach on the ground or if they jumped up? Remember animals are creative and love to play so almost anything in reach can become a toy or something they want to put in their mouth. Here are some top pet-proofing tips to get you started:

  • Use childproof latches to keep paws from opening cabinets
  • Place medications, cleaners, chemicals, and laundry supplies on high shelves or in closed cabinets so that pets can’t reach them
  • Keep trash cans covered or inside a latched cabinet so that animals won’t eat harmful food or wrappers from the garbage
  • Keep the toilet lid closed to prevent drowning or drinking harmful cleaning chemicals
  • Place dangling or free wires from lamps, televisions, stereos, telephones, and other electronic out of reach. Pets can get tangled in them or get burned or electrocuted if they bite them.
  • Keep sharp objects of tools out of reach, in a drawer, or closed cabinet so that your pet does not step on, play, or run into them and get injured
  • Keep sewing, crafts, and string like items (especially thread) put away out of reach, your pets can think they are toys and they can get stuck in their stomach and intestines
  • Put away children’s toys and games and keep clothes off the floor. Your pet (especially puppies and dogs) like to chew on these and can get them stuck in their stomach and intestines
  • Keep human foods and plants out of reach of animals so that they do not eat something that is harmful or poisonous to them

What human foods could be harmful to pets?

Human foods can be harmful to your pets. Before giving your animal human foods, talk to your veterinarian about safe options. Depending on the type of food, your pet could show different signs of illness. The Pet Poison Helpline® has a searchable tool to look-up household items including foods that might be toxic to your pets. Use this link to access this tool: What did your pet ingest? from the Pet Poison Helpline®. As a quick reference, the ASPCA has a handy list of common people food to avoid for animals. Use this link to access this resource: People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets by the ASPCA.

If you suspect that your pet has eaten a harmful food, contact your veterinarian or an emergency animal clinic immediately.

What plants can be harmful to pets?

The consumption of any plant material may cause vomiting and stomach upset. Some plants may have additional toxic effects resulting in different signs of illness. It is best to keep all plants out of reach of your dog, cat, or other pets and to supervise them outside if they tend to regularly eat plants. Both the Pet Poison Helpline® and the ASPCA have searchable tools to look up plants that may be poisonous to your pet. Use the following links to access these tools: What did your pet ingest? from Pet Poison Helpline® and Poisonous Plants by ASPCA.

If you suspect that your pet has eaten a poisonous plant, contact your veterinarian or an emergency animal clinic immediately.

My pet ate something that could be harmful, what should I do?

If you think your pet ate something harmful or you notice symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, or trouble walking or breathing, here's what to do:

Contact your veterinarian or if unavailable an emergency veterinary hospital and a pet poison hotline. Below are some recommended poison hotlines for your animal (Note: there is a cost associated with these resources).

  • Pet Poison Helpline®: 855-764-7661
  • ASPCA Poison Control: 888-426-4435

Try to identify the concern by getting a sample of the food item or clipping of the plant. Grab your cellphone to take a photo. Collecting pet vomit could help in some situations. Do not make your animal vomit unless instructed by your veterinarian.

Make notes about as much information as possible to give to your veterinarian, including:

  • The suspected plant, item eaten, type and strength of medication
  • The time of day the item was eaten
  • Amount eaten
  • Your pet’s weight
  • Any symptoms your pet is experiencing
Ready.gov Prepare Your Pets for Disasters

How do I make a pet emergency preparedness kit?

When a severe storm or accident suddenly changes your living situation, you do not always have a lot of time to prepare. Therefore, it is important to have an emergency plan. Pet parents should plan for how to care for their pets during an emergency situation.

The CDC provides a helpful checklist to get your pet preparedness kit together. This checklist can be found at the following link: Pet Disaster Kit Checklist. It includes important documents to have on hand for your animal, directions on the amount of food, water, and medications you should have stocked, and additional supplies you will need in an emergency.

In case you have to board your animal during an emergency, it is recommended that you have information about your animal and their needs filled out before the emergency occurs. The CDC has a helpful form that you can fill out and keep with your kit in case of an emergency. This form can be found at the following link: Pet Boarding Instructions. Having this information on hand can help quickly get you and your pet situated in a safe place.

What other actions can be healthy for my pet?

Consider getting your pet microchipped. These special electronic tags are given by your veterinarian. They safely go under your pet’s skin, do not come off like a collar, and is no more painful than a typical injection. They can be registered with a nationwide pet tracking organization and keep proof of who your pet is so that if they are lost, they can be returned to you. Remember to update your microchip information if you move or change your phone number so that you can be reached in case your animal is lost.

Consider having your dog or cat spayed or neutered. Having your pet spayed or neutered helps keep your individual pet and the animal population healthy. Some benefits can include:

  • Preventing infection or disease such as uterine infection and reducing the risk of breast cancer in females
  • Neutering males can eliminate the risk of testicular cancer or an enlarged prostate
  • Reducing unwanted behavior such as marking and breeding instincts.
  • Your pet having a longer life. On average, spayed or neutered dogs and cats live longer than other dogs or cats. This is likely related to health and behavior benefits of the procedure.

Examine your pet for ticks after playing outside and use flea, tick and heartworm preventative. Fleas and ticks can carry harmful germs for you and your pet. Talk to your veterinarian about flea and tick preventatives to keep your pet and your family safe and healthy. Make sure to check your animals for ticks when they come in from being outside.

Pick up your pet’s poop. This reduces the risk of germs being transmitted to other pets and people. It also helps you monitor your animal’s health by identifying any changes in their stool or seeing if they have any unexpected material in their poop like kid’s toys or other objects.

Practice good pet hygiene. Remember to wash your hands with soap and water after handling your pet. This can help reduce the transmission of germs to people and other pets. Additionally, wash water and food dishes daily to prevent the growth of harmful germs like bacteria that could make you and your animal sick.

Schedule a yearly exam for your pet at a veterinary office. This will help keep your pet up-to-date on needed vaccinations and identify any health risks early. This can also help prevent unplanned and costly veterinary bills in the future.

Are there any pets not allowed in TN?

Yes, animals that are inherently dangerous are not allowed in Tennessee.  For example, large animals like alligators, baboons, tigers, or venomous snakes are not allowed to be kept as pets.  Also, people cannot keep wild animals from Tennessee as pets. This includes squirrels, raccoons, and opossums.

Baby turtles less than 4 inches are also not allowed by Tennessee law.  Baby turtles often have a germ in their poop called Salmonella that can make people, especially children, sick.

What is the One Health approach?

The One Health approach identifies that the health of people, animals, plants, and the environment are closely connected and depend on one another. This approach recognizes that to achieve the best health outcomes we need to focus on the well-being of all these things, and not just a single piece. This is because of the continued interaction and dependence that exists between people, animals, and our environment. One Health is everywhere, and the approach can be applied in our homes and neighborhoods, as well as at the local, regional, national, and global levels, with the goal of achieving the best health and well-being for all.

These websites have more Information about One Health:

More Pet Resources

CDC: Healthy Pets, Healthy People
www.cdc.gov/healthy-pets/index.html 

Ready.gov: Prepare your Pets for Disasters
www.ready.gov/pets