How do I care for my pet's teeth?

• Dental Health for your Pet.

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What is heartworm?

• Heartworm Information.

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Which vaccines does my pet need?

• Every pet needs what we call “Core vaccines”. Core vaccines are the minimum protection required by law and/or recommended by the AVMA. Other vaccines are “Lifestyle dependant” and during your pet’s exam our doctors can help you customize a vaccine protocol designed specifically for your pet and lifestyle.

Canine core vaccines:
• DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus)
• Leptospirosis
• Rabies virus

Canine non-core vaccines:
• Bordetella (Kennel cough)
• Lyme

Feline core vaccines:
• FVRCP (Feline Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia)
• Rabies virus

Feline non-core vaccines:
• Leukemia

Puppies and kittens start their vaccines at 6-8 weeks of age and booster them every 3-4 weeks. After initial 1 year vaccines, DHPP, FVRCP and Canine Rabies vaccines are good for 3 years. All other vaccines are given yearly

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Why should I spay/neuter my pet?

• Approximately 3.7 million animals are euthanized at shelters each year, due to the sheer fact that there are not enough willing adopters. Having your pet spayed or neutered ensures that you will not be adding to this tremendous burden. Spaying eliminates the constant crying and nervous pacing of a female cat in heat and the messiness associated with the canine heat cycle. Neutering of male dogs and cats can prevent certain undesirable behaviors, such as urine marking, male aggression and the urge to roam. The health benefits to altering your pet can add years to their life. Spaying early nearly eliminates the risk of breast cancer and totally prevents uterine cancer and Pyometra, a life threatening infection of the uterus. Neutering males prevents testicular cancer and enlargement of the prostate gland, and greatly reduces their risk for perianal tumors.
• We recommend spaying or neutering your pet between 4 and 6 months of age which will usually coincide with the last series of vaccine boosters. Your pet will be examined and prepped in the early morning and surgery will take place late in the morning. Once your pet is out of surgery and in recovery, a technician will call to let you know the status of your pet and set up a discharge appointment. Questions or concerns can be answered at that time as well as after care instructions.

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Do I need to give my dog heartworm prevention every month?

• Over 250,000 (that’s right, over a quarter of a million) dogs are treated for heartworms every year. As a result our clinics follow guidelines set forth by The American Heartworm Association and the American Veterinary Medical Association which include year round heartworm prevention in the form of a once monthly oral tablet and once yearly blood screenings. Aside from heartworms, the preventive we recommend also aides in the control of the 3 most common intestinal parasites, Hookworms Roundworms, and Whipworms. The yearly blood screening is important not only because it tests for the presence of microfilaria (baby heartworms) but it also detects 3 tick borne illnesses. Yearly testing and monthly preventive is the gold standard in the protection of pets from heartworm disease.

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