Veterinary Protocol

All rescue Tibetan Spaniels must receive the following pre-adoption veterinary care from a licensed veterinarian before placement in their adoptive homes. The protocol ensures that the Tibbie has received preventative care and any necessary treatments before adoption and that the adopter is fully informed of any health issues that exist at the time of adoption. TSCA Rescue must inform the Trust of any health issues discovered during the protocol.

Routine Examination and Treatment

Bentley

Bentley

The following veterinary care is required:

  • Rescue Tibbies must be neutered or spayed. At time of spaying, the veterinarian should check for mammary tumors.
  • All vaccinations must be up to date, including rabies and DHPP.
  • Rescue Tibbies must be on heartworm medication. If the dog is not currently on heartworm medication, blood work is to be completed to rule out heartworms, and heartworm medication is to begin after heartworm testing returns a negative result.
  • A fecal sample should be taken and, if necessary, worming medication administered.
  • Nails are to be checked. If they are seriously overgrown, they are to be trimmed to an appropriate length, under anesthetic if quicking is necessary.
  • Teeth are to be checked and, if excessive tartar and periodontal disease are present, they should be cleaned.
  • Skin and ears are to be checked and, if extensive care is needed, they should be treated.
  • All procedures requiring anesthesia should be completed under one general anesthetic, if possible.

Special Considerations

  • Any rescue Tibbie who is eight years old or older should have complete blood work to ascertain the health of an aging Tibbie.
  • If a rescue Tibbie shows signs of hyper-pigmentation, is noticeably overweight, is lethargic, and/or has appreciable thinning of coat, thyroid testing should be done at the same time as heartworm testing.
  • Any rescue Tibbie who shows signs of aggression should have a full panel of blood work, including thyroid testing and cortisol level check. If the blood work is normal, the Tibbie should be evaluated for liver disease, which can cause aggressive behavior due to the build-up of ammonia toxins in the blood.  A fasting bile acid test, followed by feeding and a repeat of the bile acid test is to be performed. The Tibbie should also be immediately placed on a low protein/vegetarian diet and watched for behavior changes.
  • A rescue Tibbie from a shelter or puppy mill should receive all of the veterinary care described above. In addition, if a breeder will be fostering the rescue Tibbie on his/her premises, brucellosis testing should be done.