1.

Fall is here, should I continue flea & tick prevention?

You should definitely continue your flea/tick treatment!  We are seeing ticks in abundance.  These parasites can survive until we receive a good long frost, often into December.  A lot depends on the weather and temperatures.  Last year we had an unusually warm winter so many people saw ticks all winter long.  Frontline Plus will kill the fleas and ticks.  Dogs can also use Preventic Collars if you are in a high exposure area such as near woods.

Our competitive pricing and free product, available when you buy two boxes of the same size, make purchasing your Frontline Plus from your vet a better deal than on the Internet!  Plus, we have free cat and dog toys with purchase while supplies last.  Let our knowledgeable staff assist you with your flea and tick questions.

2.

Why does my pet need to be admitted the night before a procedure?

There are actually several reasons:

• Animals are most stressed when they FIRST come into the hospital. Stress interferes with healing. Spending the night definitely helps them relax and do better under anesthesia the next day.  We understand that it is hard on the owner to leave their pets overnight, however we see how much more relaxed the animals are after they have been here for a while. 
• Animals are very good at getting into things if they are hungry. Spending the night here assures that they will be properly fasted for surgery. Having food on the stomach during anesthesia is very dangerous.
• Our staff takes various measures to prepare animals for procedures. We take bloodwork, temperature, weight, prepare pre-anesthetics, do site preparation, x-rays, place catheters, and administer fluids, just to name a few. Having patients here the night before is important for this process.

A current doctor/patient relationship is critical to the health of your pet.  Patient needs can change and their medical condition can change, sometimes without the owner being aware.  We make sure that the patient receives a complete physical exam, on an annual basis, to insure the medication or food we are prescribing is still appropriate and in the correct dosage. 

 4.

Having male dogs and cats neutered can be beneficial in many ways.  Intact males(not neutered), once they reach maturity, have an amazing ability to sense females in heat. There is the potential for pregnancy and adding to the tremendous unwanted puppy and kitten problem.  Many hazards are presented when the male is traveling to find the females, such as wild animals, other male competitors, or being hit by cars.  

From a medical standpoint, neutering decreases testicular and prostate problems such as cancer and infection. 

Behaviorally, neutering can help prevent unwanted urine marking in both cats and dogs.  Some aggression problems are exasperated by the increased testosterone in intact males.  In general, neutered pets are thought by experts to make better pets.

This can be a frustrating and concerning problem!  Please make an appointment to have your cat seen by a veterinarian right away.  The first step is to do a physical examination and test the urine to see if your cat has an infection or other medical ailment which may be causing the problem.  If the problem is not medical, your veterinarian can help you with behavioral solutions as well.

7.

Modern heartworm preventative is very safe and effective, however no drugs are effective 100% of the time.  If there is a failure, we want to find out by a blood test before the patient becomes sick.  Giving the heartworm medication to a dog who already has heartworm can be very dangerous. 

8.

I just pulled a tick off my dog.  Should I have him tested for Lyme Disease?

We recommend calling us if you see clinical signs such as lameness, fever, lethargy or decreased appetite.  This can occur 2-5 months after exposure and clinical signs would indicate a Lyme test should be done, and appropriate treatment steps be taken.  The test looks for antibodies to Lyme bacteria, which can take 1-2 months to develop.  A positive test (without clinical signs) indicates the dog was exposed, but does not mean he is infected.  His immune system may have cleared the infection.  Your veterinarian will explain all the details of your pets test result. 

 The best way to prevent exposure is with good tick control such as Frontline Plus, a Preventic collar and the Lyme Vaccine.