Frequently asked questions

Go immediately if your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is bleeding heavily, is having a seizure, has a swollen hard belly, cannot pass urine, or may have eaten something poisonous. Do not wait for an online reply in these cases.

Most puppies get their first combination vaccine (distemper, parvovirus, hepatitis, parainfluenza, often with leptospirosis) at 6 to 8 weeks, then boosters every 3 to 4 weeks until about 16 weeks. Your vet will adjust the schedule for your puppy. See the vaccination guide.

Kittens usually start the core vaccine against panleukopenia, calicivirus and herpesvirus at 6 to 8 weeks, with boosters every 3 to 4 weeks until about 16 weeks, and rabies at around 12 to 16 weeks.

Yes. Rabies is present across India and is always fatal once signs appear, in animals and people. Keep your dog’s and cat’s rabies vaccine up to date as your vet advises, usually every year.

Keep your puppy away from streets, parks and unknown dogs until about two weeks after the last puppy vaccine, because parvovirus and distemper are common. You can still socialise it at home and with healthy, vaccinated dogs.

Puppies and kittens are usually dewormed every two weeks until three months of age, then monthly until six months. Adults are commonly dewormed every three months. Your vet will choose a safe product for your pet’s weight.

Use a vet-recommended tick control product all year, check your dog daily (ears, neck and between the toes), wash bedding and treat the sleeping area. Tick fever can be fatal, so see a vet if your dog has fever, pale gums or dark urine.

Fever, dullness, loss of appetite, pale gums, dark red or brown urine, nosebleeds and small bruises on the skin. Tick fever needs a blood test and prompt treatment by a vet.

Sudden vomiting, foul-smelling or bloody diarrhoea, refusing food and extreme weakness, usually in unvaccinated puppies. Parvo is an emergency: take the puppy to a vet the same day.

No. Many human medicines, including common painkillers, are toxic to dogs and especially to cats. Only give medicines your vet has prescribed for your pet.

Chocolate, grapes and raisins, onion and garlic, xylitol (in some sugar-free sweets and gum), alcohol, caffeine and cooked bones are dangerous. Lilies are deadly to cats. If your pet eats any of these, call a vet.

Plain home food can be part of a diet, but roti (Indian flatbread), rice and dal (lentils) alone lack enough protein, calcium and vitamins for a dog. Ask your vet about a balanced home diet or a complete commercial dog food.

Many adult dogs and cats cannot digest lactose and get diarrhoea from milk. Puppies and kittens need their mother’s milk or a proper milk replacer, not cow’s milk.

Feed puppies 3 to 4 small meals a day until about 6 months, then 2 meals. The amount depends on breed, age and food type, so follow the food pack guide and check that you can feel, but not see, the ribs.

Give shade and plenty of fresh water, walk only in early morning or late evening, avoid hot roads that burn paws, and never leave a dog in a parked car. Heavy panting, drooling, collapse or vomiting can mean heatstroke, which is an emergency.

Most dogs need a bath only every 3 to 4 weeks with a dog shampoo. Bathing too often dries the skin. Brush regularly, and dry your dog well, especially in the monsoon, to prevent skin infections.

Common causes are fleas and ticks, skin infections, mites (mange) and allergies to food or the environment. A vet can check the skin and find the cause; do not apply kerosene, motor oil or other home remedies.

Many vets advise spaying or neutering around 6 months, though large-breed dogs may benefit from waiting longer. It prevents unwanted litters, uterine infection (pyometra) and some cancers. Discuss timing with your vet.

Wash the wound with soap and running water for 15 minutes and see a vet the same day. Your dog may need a rabies booster and wound treatment. If a person is bitten, they should see a doctor immediately for rabies post-exposure treatment.

Cats hide illness. Watch for hiding, not eating for more than a day, weight loss, vomiting, changes in litter box use and straining to urinate. A male cat straining with no urine is an emergency.

Place the kitten in a clean, shallow litter tray after meals and naps. Keep the tray in a quiet place away from food, scoop it daily and never punish accidents. Most kittens learn within a few days.

Yes. Dental disease is very common in dogs over three years old. Brush with a dog toothpaste a few times a week, and ask your vet to check the teeth at each visit.

Occasional vomiting can follow eating grass or eating too fast. Repeated vomiting, blood in vomit, a swollen belly, vomiting with diarrhoea in a puppy or a dog that seems weak need a vet the same day.

Give fresh water and a bland diet such as plain boiled rice with boiled chicken for a day. See a vet if there is blood, vomiting, weakness, or if it lasts more than 24 hours, and straight away for puppies.

Indian breeds such as the Indian Pariah (Indie) dog, Rajapalayam, Mudhol Hound and Chippiparai cope best with heat. Heavy-coated breeds such as Huskies and Saint Bernards struggle in Indian summers and need air conditioning.

Indie dogs are healthy, intelligent, adapted to Indian weather and usually need fewer vet visits than many pedigree breeds. Adopting also gives a homeless dog a family.

Senior dogs need vet check-ups at least twice a year, a softer bed, gentle daily walks, joint care and attention to weight. Watch for drinking more water, lumps, stiffness and confusion.

Puppy biting is normal teething and play. Stop play when teeth touch skin, offer a chew toy instead, and give plenty of exercise and rest. Never hit a puppy.

Take the puppy out after waking, eating and playing, and every 2 hours, to the same spot. Praise it straight away when it goes there. Clean accidents without punishment. See Puppy Training for Beginners for a 30-day plan.

No. Some dog products, especially those containing permethrin, are deadly to cats. Use only products labelled for cats and prescribed by your vet.

Vaccination is the only reliable protection, as there is no cure. Commonly used vaccines are given as eye or nose drops in the first week, a booster at 3 to 4 weeks and an injection at 8 to 10 weeks, with regular boosters for layers. Ask your local veterinary hospital for the schedule used in your area.

Sudden deaths, gasping and coughing, greenish watery droppings, twisted neck or paralysis, and a sharp drop in eggs. Isolate sick birds and contact your vet or veterinary hospital the same day.

The main vaccines are for Ranikhet (Newcastle disease), Marek’s disease (given at the hatchery), infectious bursal disease (Gumboro) and fowl pox. Your local veterinary hospital can advise a schedule and often provides vaccines.

Common causes are too little calcium in the diet, heat stress, older hens and some diseases. Provide a layer feed and crushed shell grit, plenty of clean water and shade. Many soft eggs together can be a sign of disease.

Hens lay less during moulting, in short winter days, in very hot weather, when old, broody, stressed, poorly fed or sick. Sudden drops across the flock can signal disease and need a vet check.

Desi (indigenous) hens usually lay about 60 to 100 eggs a year. Improved backyard breeds such as Kadaknath, Vanaraja, Gramapriya and Kuroiler can lay more under good feeding and care.

Broilers are meat birds that reach market weight in about 5 to 7 weeks. Layers are breeds raised for eggs and start laying at about 18 to 20 weeks. They need different feeds.

Give a balanced commercial feed suited to their age (chick, grower or layer), with kitchen greens and grains as extras. Laying hens need extra calcium. Never feed mouldy food, which can poison the flock.

As a rough guide, allow about 2 to 3 square feet per adult bird inside the shed for backyard birds, and more outdoor space for free-range birds. Overcrowding causes heat stress, fighting and disease.

Give shade, ventilation, cool clean water in many drinkers, and feed in the cooler hours. Reduce crowding in summer. See our summer heat guide for chickens.

Sneezing, watery or swollen eyes and a smelly discharge are signs of respiratory infections such as infectious coryza or mycoplasma. Separate the bird and get a vet to diagnose and treat it.

Coccidiosis is a gut infection caused by tiny parasites. It causes bloody or watery droppings, ruffled feathers, weakness and deaths, especially in young chicks on damp litter. Keep litter dry and see a vet for treatment.

Day-old chicks need a brooder with a heat source, starting at about 32 to 35 degrees Celsius (90 to 95°F) and lowering it each week. Chicks huddled under the heat are cold; chicks spread to the edges and panting are too hot.

Close birds in a secure shed at night, use strong wire mesh with small holes, raise feed off the ground, and remove spilled feed that attracts rats.

They can share space if there is enough room and clean water, but ducks make water areas wet and dirty, which encourages disease. Keep chick brooding areas separate.

Feather pecking is usually caused by crowding, boredom, too much light, heat or a diet low in protein. Give more space, scattered greens and a balanced feed, and separate injured birds until they heal.

Fowl pox causes wart-like scabs on the comb and wattles, and sometimes yellow patches in the mouth. It is spread by mosquitoes and contact. A vaccine prevents it.

Isolate sick birds, stop moving birds and eggs off the farm, wear gloves, and contact your vet or the local veterinary hospital the same day. Sudden deaths can mean Ranikhet or bird flu, which must be reported.

No. Do not eat or sell eggs or meat from sick birds or birds under treatment. Follow the withdrawal period on any medicine your vet prescribes.

Kadaknath meat and eggs sell at higher prices in many markets, but birds grow slowly and lay fewer eggs. Check local demand and buy chicks from a reliable hatchery before you start.

Decide between layers, broilers or backyard breeds, check local demand, plan a well-ventilated shed, buy chicks from a reliable hatchery, follow a vaccination schedule and keep records. Our free poultry templates on the Downloads page help you track costs.

Watch for a bird standing apart, fluffed feathers, closed eyes, not eating, a pale or dark comb, abnormal droppings or breathing sounds. Separate it early to protect the rest of the flock.

Backyard hens can live 5 to 8 years, but laying drops after the first two or three years. Commercial layers are usually replaced after about 72 to 80 weeks of age.

No. Hens lay eggs without a rooster. You only need a rooster if you want fertile eggs to hatch chicks.

Remove all birds and litter, scrub surfaces, wash with water and detergent, apply a disinfectant, let the shed dry fully and leave it empty for at least one to two weeks before new birds arrive.

Look for a hot, swollen or painful udder and milk with clots, flakes, blood or a watery look. Many cases show no visible signs, so a monthly California Mastitis Test (CMT) helps catch hidden infection early.

Keep sheds clean and dry, wash and dry hands and teats before milking, milk completely with a full-hand method, dip teats in antiseptic after milking, and feed animals after milking so they stay standing.

Common causes are illness (fever, mastitis), heat stress, a sudden feed change, too little water, stress or approaching heat. If the animal is dull or stops eating, call a vet.

Signs include restlessness, frequent bellowing, mounting other animals or standing to be mounted, a clear stringy discharge from the vulva, a swollen vulva and a drop in milk. Buffaloes show weaker signs, often at night, so watch closely.

A common rule is the AM-PM rule: if heat is first seen in the morning, inseminate in the evening; if seen in the evening, inseminate the next morning. Your AI technician can advise.

Common causes are poor nutrition, low body condition, mineral deficiency, uterine infection and retained placenta. Feed a balanced ration with mineral mixture (a mineral supplement for livestock) and ask a vet to examine the reproductive tract.

Mineral mixture supplies calcium, phosphorus and trace minerals missing from many Indian rations. Regular feeding improves milk yield, fertility and growth. Follow the pack guidance for the amount.

Milk fever is low blood calcium, usually just before or after calving in high-yielding animals. The animal becomes weak, cold and unable to stand. It is an emergency that needs a vet straight away.

This may be bloat, often after eating lush green fodder or legumes. Stop feeding, keep the animal standing and walking, and call a vet immediately, as severe bloat can kill within hours.

Many vets advise deworming calves regularly in the first months of life and adults two to three times a year, especially before and after the monsoon. A dung test helps decide what is needed.

The main vaccines in India are for foot-and-mouth disease (every six months), haemorrhagic septicaemia and black quarter (before the monsoon), brucellosis (female calves, once) and lumpy skin disease where advised. Government programmes provide many of these free.

High fever, blisters in the mouth and on the feet, drooling, lameness and a sharp drop in milk. Separate the animal and inform your vet. Vaccination every six months prevents it.

Lumpy skin disease causes fever and firm lumps across the skin, with a drop in milk. It is spread by flies, mosquitoes and ticks. Vaccinate as advised, control insects and isolate affected animals.

A milking cow can drink 60 to 100 litres (16 to 26 US gallons) or more a day, and more in summer. Provide clean, cool water at all times; low water intake directly reduces milk.

Buffaloes such as Murrah give milk with higher fat and suit thick-milk markets. Crossbred cows give more milk per day. The best choice depends on your market, fodder and local experience.

A good Murrah buffalo commonly gives about 8 to 16 litres (2 to 4 US gallons) a day, depending on genetics, feeding and lactation stage. Yield is highest in the first few months after calving.

Make sure the calf drinks colostrum within the first hour or two of birth, clean and dip the navel in antiseptic, keep it in a dry, draught-free place and deworm it as your vet advises.

Calf scours can be caused by infection, too much milk, dirty housing or missing colostrum. Keep the calf hydrated with an oral rehydration solution and call a vet if it is weak, stops drinking or has blood in the dung.

Good options include hybrid Napier, maize, sorghum, berseem (Egyptian clover) and lucerne (alfalfa). Mixing a legume (berseem or lucerne) with cereal fodder improves protein. Silage helps when green fodder is short.

Provide shade, good airflow, clean cool water, and bathe or sprinkle buffaloes in hot hours. Feed more in the cooler parts of the day. Heat stress lowers milk and fertility.

Popular breeds include Sirohi and Marwari (hardy, suited to Rajasthan), Jamunapari and Beetal (milk and meat), Barbari (small, good for stall feeding) and Black Bengal (meat, prolific).

Goats commonly have one to three kids. Breeds such as Black Bengal and Barbari often have twins. Gestation is about 145 to 155 days.

Important vaccines include PPR (peste des petits ruminants), enterotoxaemia (overeating disease), goat pox or sheep pox, foot-and-mouth disease and haemorrhagic septicaemia. Your veterinary hospital can advise a schedule.

High fever, discharge from the eyes and nose, mouth sores, diarrhoea and breathing trouble. It spreads fast and kills many goats. Isolate sick animals and inform your vet immediately; vaccination prevents it.

Signs include pale inner eyelids, bottle jaw, weight loss, diarrhoea and a rough coat. Check eyelid colour regularly and ask a vet about a dung test before deworming.

Also called overeating disease, it usually strikes well-fed young goats after a sudden change to rich feed or grain, causing sudden death or severe illness. Vaccination and gradual feed changes prevent it.

Allow about 10 to 15 square feet per adult goat in a raised, dry, well-ventilated shed, plus space to move outdoors. Goats hate wet floors, which cause foot and lung problems.

Check hooves monthly and trim every 4 to 8 weeks, depending on the ground. Overgrown hooves cause lameness and foot rot.

Goats are herd animals and become stressed when kept alone. Keep at least two goats together.

Common dangers include oleander (kaner), lantana, castor plant leaves and seeds, wilted wild cherry and mouldy fodder. Remove these from grazing areas.

Not eating for more than a day is a warning sign in cattle, goats and sheep. Check for fever, bloat, diarrhoea or injury and call your vet or the 1962 mobile veterinary helpline where available.

NLM is a central scheme that supports entrepreneurship and breed improvement in poultry, sheep, goats and pigs, and feed and fodder units, with capital subsidy, insurance and extension support. Details are on the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying website.

NLM entrepreneurship projects get a 50% capital subsidy, commonly up to Rs 25 lakh (1 lakh = 100,000 rupees) for rural poultry units, Rs 50 lakh for sheep and goat breeding farms, Rs 30 lakh for pig farms and Rs 50 lakh for feed and fodder units. Check current limits on the portal before applying.

Individuals, self-help groups, farmer producer organisations, joint liability groups and Section 8 companies can apply online at nlm.udyamimitra.in with a project report. The subsidy is released through the lending bank in two instalments.

AHIDF supports investment in dairy and meat processing, animal feed plants, breed improvement farms, vaccine units and waste-to-wealth projects. Eligible borrowers get 3% interest subvention for up to 8 years, and loans of up to 90% of project cost for small units. Apply through the Udyami Mitra portal.

Yes. Farmers who keep dairy animals, poultry, goats or sheep can get a Kisan Credit Card for working capital such as feed, medicines and labour, even without land ownership. Apply at your bank with ID, photo and the application form.

Since January 2025, the RBI allows banks to give agricultural and allied loans, including for animal husbandry, of up to Rs 2 lakh without collateral.

KCC loans for animal husbandry get government interest subvention, so farmers who repay on time usually pay about 4% a year on loans up to the subvention limit. Ask your bank for the current rate.

It is a central scheme to develop and conserve indigenous cattle and buffalo breeds and improve milk production. It supports artificial insemination at the farmer’s doorstep, sex-sorted semen (up to 50% of its cost) and IVF pregnancies (Rs 5,000 support per pregnancy).

Sex-sorted semen gives about a 90% chance of a female calf, helping dairy farmers grow their herd. Under the Rashtriya Gokul Mission, farmers can get up to 50% of its cost as support. Ask your local AI centre or veterinary hospital.

Yes. Under the National Animal Disease Control Programme, the government funds free FMD vaccination of cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goats and pigs every six months, and one-time brucellosis vaccination of female calves aged 4 to 8 months. Animals are ear-tagged and registered.

Ear tags give each animal a unique ID linked to its owner in the national database. Tags are needed for free vaccination records, insurance and many scheme benefits, so let the vaccinator tag your animals.

1962 is the toll-free number for Mobile Veterinary Units in many states, including Rajasthan. A veterinary team can visit your village to treat sick animals. Availability varies by district.

It is free livestock insurance for Rajasthan families. Each family can insure up to 2 milch cows or buffaloes (or one of each), 10 goats or 10 sheep, or 1 camel. The family pays no premium. Apply online at mmpby.rajasthan.gov.in or at an e-Mitra centre with your Jan Aadhaar.

Rajasthan residents with a Jan Aadhaar card and annual family income below Rs 8 lakh. Animals must be ear-tagged and not insured under another scheme. Gopal Credit Card holders and Lakhpati Didis get preference, and beneficiaries are chosen by lottery.

Report the death immediately (call 181, visit an e-Mitra centre or the nearest veterinary clinic). A vet does a post-mortem, and you file the claim form with documents within 21 days. Payment goes to your bank account.

It gives cattle-rearing families in Rajasthan an interest-free short-term loan of up to Rs 1 lakh for one year, for feed, fodder and animal care, through cooperative banks.

Yes. The National Livestock Mission includes a livestock insurance component with a subsidised premium for cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goats and pigs. Contact your district animal husbandry office for details.

Check the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (dahd.gov.in), your state animal husbandry department, and our Government Schemes articles. Scheme rules and dates change, so confirm before applying.

Every article is written by Dr. Vaishnavi Karmawat, B.V.Sc. & A.H., a registered veterinary practitioner with 3 years of experience working with pets, poultry and farm animals.

Yes. All articles, guides and templates on the Downloads page are free. Articles can be read without an account; to download a file, log in free with Google or your email.

Yes. Use the Ask the Vet form or email care@vetvaishnavi.com with the animal’s age, breed, weight and what you have noticed. You will get a reply by email within 2 to 3 days.

No. Answers on this site are general guidance. Only a vet who examines your animal can diagnose a problem and prescribe treatment.

All books are listed on the Books page with links to buy them on Amazon as Kindle eBooks.