Deanne Pawlisch, CVT, MA

Certified Veterinary Technician

Deanne Pawlisch is a Certified Veterinary Technician, who does corporate training for veterinary practices and has taught at the NAVTA-approved Veterinary Assistant Program at the Harper College in Illinois. Deanne has been a Board Member of the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Foundation in San Antonio, Texas since 2011. She holds a BS in Anthropology from Loyola University and an MA in Anthropology from Northern Illinois University.

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Q&A Comments (53)

I have almost earned my kittens trust. How can I now train him to use the litter box? He is 3 months old and if I can't train him today or tomorrow, my mom said she will throw him out!
Kittens need a soft substrate and privacy. Make sure your litterbox is accessible to the kitten (the sides should not be so high that he struggles to get into it). Keeping the litter box clean by scooping it daily and washing it out weekly is also recommended. Cats prefer non-scented small grained litter. You should have 1 litterbox per cat in the household, plus one extra. If your kitten is not using it litterbox, have a veterinarian examine him and submit a fecal and urine sample for lab testing. This will rule out any physical problems your kitten may be experiencing.
I've taken in an orphan kitten that was born in the wild. She always hisses at me and seems scared. I've tried to give her space and talk to her in a friendly tone, but she's still scared.
Be patient! Semi-feral kittens may take longer to socialize. Make sure that your kitten has an area that it can call its own, away from the hustle and bustle of the household. Make feeding time enjoyable and an opportunity to interact. Start with sitting in the room where the cat eats. Work up to hand feeding your kitten. Avoid eye-contact if your kitten acts nervous. Go slow, be patient, and use treats to let her know that you are a source of food.
How often should you feed your neon tetra?
Neon Tetras should be fed 2-4 times daily. Keep track of how much food they eat at a given feeding, so you do not overfeed them.
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Co-authored Articles (73)

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Diagnose and Treat Anal Gland Disease in Cats

The anal glands are 2 pouches inside of a cat’s anus. These glands secrete fluid every time your cat has a bowel movement. Sometimes, these glands can get impacted or infected. If your cat has problems with their anal ...

How to Tell if a Chicken is Male or Female: Easy Tips and Tricks

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Tell Your Puppy's Age

If you have rescued or found a puppy, you may not know exactly how old they are. Looking at the size of the puppy can give you a rough estimate, but different breeds grow at different rates. The easiest way to determine ...

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Diagnose the Cause of a Swollen Abdomen in Cats

A swollen abdomen is a potential symptom of a wide variety of ailments in cats. Swollen abdomens may occur quickly or over time. Regardless of the timeline, though, you should treat a swollen abdomen as a potentially ser...

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Tell How Old a Betta Fish Is

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Treat Diarrhea in Parakeets

Diarrhea can occur in parakeets for many reasons. Your parakeet may be sick, upset, or stressed out. It is important to treat diarrhea in parakeets, since it can quickly lead to dangerous dehydration and may be a symptom...

What to Do When a Dog Has an Intestinal Obstruction

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Diagnose and Treat Stud Tail in Cats

Stud Tail is a rare skin condition that afflicts cats. It results from excess oil buildup and manifests in growths similar to human acne. While Stud Tail is a somewhat mild condition and should not impact the cat’s lo...

Treating a Dog’s Fever at Home: The Best Remedies

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How to

Care for a Baby Wild Mouse

If you have found a lost baby mouse, you may be inclined to take care of it. Although it is a lot of work, nursing a baby mouse to health can be done effectively. Your most important tasks will be to feed the mouse and p...

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Spot Signs of Illness in Lovebirds

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Blepharitis in Cats: Diagnosis and Treatment Options

Learn what’s causing your cat’s swollen eye & how to helpDoes your cat's eyelid look red and swollen? If so, blepharitis could be the culprit. This condition involves swelling of your cat's eyelid, and it most often ...

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Know if a Canary Is Male or Female

If you have canaries it can be very helpful to know whether they are male or female. Identifying the sexes of your birds can help you avoid having them mate, which is important if you don't want a bunch of new baby birds...

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Diagnose Your Tree Frog's Illness

Tree frogs can be great pets that are generally easy to care for. However, they can develop a variety of illnesses, and it can be a bit of a challenge to figure out exactly what they have. It is a good idea to know the g...

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Diagnose and Treat Dislocated Joints in Cats

Joint dislocations can be painful and serious health problems for cats. A joint dislocation occurs when the point at which two or more bones meet is disrupted or damaged. This can occur at any joint, but it usually occur...

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Treat a Cat with Blood in Its Stool

If you notice that your cat’s stool contains blood, it is important to act fast. Start by contacting your vet and making an appointment. Follow their advice regarding medication and treatment options. While at home, ma...

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Identify a British Shorthair Cat

There are two basic ways to identify British shorthair cats. One way is to look at the cat’s physical characteristics. British shorthairs have broad chests, wide jowls, short, powerful legs, and thick necks. You can ev...

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Hold a Snake

If you want to build a strong relationship with your pet snake, you may be interested in how to safely hold it. However, young snakes are not used to being held and need to be accustomed to the experience. To acclimate p...

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Care for Slugs

Learn how to properly house, feed, and water your pet slugIf you are looking for an unusual pet, a slug is a great choice. Caring for slugs is easy for both older and younger kids, and it helps them gain responsibility. ...

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Identify and Treat Warbles in Cats

A “warble” is a nontechnical term of identification for a botfly (''Cuterebra'') larva. These small, worm-like larvae live in burrows on the ground and can enter a cat’s body through nose, mouth, or anus. Then, the...
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