Q: Why do you recommend annual and semi-annual exams for my pet?

• Veterinarians recommend regular wellness exams for the same reason your physician and dentist recommend them – if you can detect a problem in its early stages, it’s more likely to be treated and resolved with less expense, less difficulty, and better success.
• As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Vaccinations, heartworm prevention and routine deworming are important components of wellness care and can prevent diseases that are not only life-threatening but very expensive to treat.
• Your veterinarian can recommend a wellness program based on your pet’s breed (some breeds are predisposed to certain health problems), age, lifestyle and overall health.

Q: Why Does My Pet Need An Exam for Vaccinations?

• As pet advocates, we want to provide the highest level of care for every patient. Vaccinations are superior at preventing infectious diseases but they are best administered when your pet is healthy. We will complete an exam and make sure your pet’s health is optimal at the time of vaccination. We base our treatment on what is best for your pet because your pet’s health is our priority. Your veterinarian is most qualified to identify underlying disorders which must be corrected prior to the administration of vaccines.

Q: Why does my pet need flea control when he/she does not go outside?

• Indoor pets get fleas, so if you don’t want fleas, you should treat your pet for fleas whether he/she goes outside or not. Fleas can enter your home on your clothing, or other pets. To prevent fleas effectively, all of your pets should be on flea control.
• Some flea controls also work against heartworms and intestinal parasites. One female flea is capable of producing hundreds of thousands of offspring. By using a safe and effective flea control product, you can protect your pet and household from a devastating infestation. We can recommend a product that will provide the best protection for your pet.

Q: Does an indoor cat/dog need heartworm prevention?

• Heartworms are a parasite of the circulatory system and they are almost completely preventable by giving heartworm preventative to your pet. Without this prevention, the parasite can shorten your pet’s life considerably and alter the quality of your pet’s life as well.
• Heartworms are carried from pet to pet by mosquitoes. Have you ever seen a mosquito in your house? That mosquito can be a carrier of heartworm larvae. Indoor and outdoor pets should be on preventative all year round.

Q: How do microchips work?

• A microchip is a small, electronic chip enclosed in a glass cylinder that is about the same size as a grain of rice. The microchip itself does not have a battery—it is activated by a scanner that is passed over the area, and the radio waves put out by the scanner activate the chip. The chip transmits the identification number to the scanner, which displays the number on the screen. The microchip itself is also called a transponder.  It is injected under the skin using a hypodermic needle. It is no more painful than a typical injection, although the needle is slightly larger than those used for injection. No surgery or anesthesia is required—a microchip can be implanted during a routine veterinary office visit. If your pet is already under anesthesia for a procedure, such as neutering or spaying, the microchip can often be implanted while they’re still under anesthesia. When an animal is found and taken to a shelter or veterinary clinic, one of the first things they do is scan the animal for a microchip. If they find a microchip, and if the microchip registry has accurate information, they can quickly find the animal’s owner. Having your pet microchipped more than doubles your chances of reuniting with your pet if he/she gets lost.

Q: Can I Catch Any Diseases or Parasites From My Pet?

• One of the worst diseases anyone can catch from a dog or cat is rabies. All cats and dogs over four months old must be vaccinated for rabies. Rabies can be transmitted to a dog or cat by various wildlife including foxes, bats, and raccoons. This disease is almost 100% fatal so be a responsible pet owner and keep your pet’s rabies status current.
• Roundworms and hookworms are intestinal parasites which can also infect people if they do not follow good hygiene. These parasites are passed in the stool of infected pets. In people, these parasites can cause internal organ damage, blindness, or a skin rash. So it is important to keep your pet on preventative to keep these parasites away from you and your family.
• Other diseases that are capable of infecting people are sarcoptic mange and ringworm. Mange is caused by a parasite that burrows in the skin of the pet causing hair loss and itching. Ringworm is caused by a fungus which can infect the skin and cause itching. We have medication to treat these disorders in pets and can make recommendations to keep you free from infection.

Q: Should I Have My Pet Spayed or Neutered?

• Every year, millions of unwanted dogs and cats, including puppies and kittens, are euthanized. The good news is that responsible pet owners can make a difference. By having your dog or cat sterilized, you will do your part to prevent the birth of unwanted puppies and kittens. Spaying and neutering prevent unwanted litters and may reduce many of the behavioral problems associated with the mating instinct.
• Spaying eliminates heat cycles and generally reduces the unwanted behaviors that may lead to owner frustration. Neutering male dogs and cats reduces the breeding instinct and can have a calming effect, making them less inclined to roam and more content to stay at home.
• Early spaying of female dogs and cats can help protect them from some serious health problems later in life such as uterine infections and breast cancer. Neutering your male pet can also lessen its risk of developing benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate gland) and testicular cancer.
• The procedure has no effect on a pet’s intelligence or ability to learn, play, work or hunt. Most pets tend to be better behaved following surgical removal of their ovaries or testes, making them more desirable companions.

Q: Can I purchase Medications Online?

• You have several options when your pet needs a prescription medication: you can get it from your veterinarian if they keep it in stock; your veterinarian can write (or call in) a prescription to a local pharmacy that stocks the medication; or your veterinarian can provide a prescription so you can get the medication from an online pharmacy.
• There are several reasons you should consider getting your pet’s medications from your veterinarian: if your veterinarian has the medication in stock, you immediately have it and you don’t have to wait to get it from a pharmacy; your veterinarian or a veterinary technician can answer your questions, provide you with instructions for use, and maybe even demonstrate how to give your pet the medication; and if you order from a pharmacy and the medication isn’t properly shipped (for example, it is allowed to get too hot or too cold) or isn’t properly packaged, it could be ineffective or damaged and unusable; whereas if you get it from your veterinarian, you know it has been properly handled until it reaches you and they can inform you how to make sure you handle the medication properly.

Q: What Should I Do For My Pet In The Summer?

• Never, ever leave your pet in the car.
• Make sure your pet has unlimited access to fresh water.
• Make sure your pet has access to shade when outside.
• Take walks during the cooler hours of the day.
• When walking, try to stay off of hot surfaces (like asphalt) because it can burn your pet’s paws.
• If you think it’s hot outside, it’s even hotter for your pet – make sure your pet has a means of cooling off;
  Keep your pet free of external parasites (fleas, ticks) and heartworms – consult your veterinarian about the best product for your pet.
• Consider clipping or shaving dogs with long coats (talk to your veterinarian first to see if it’s appropriate for your pet), and apply sunscreen to your dog’s skin if she or he has a thin coat.

Q: I Don’t Know If I Have Enough Money To Pay For My Pet’s Care, What Can I Do?

• First and foremost, we are advocates for pet care. We care about the health of your pet and want the best for your pet so he/she can enjoy a long and loving relationship with you. However, with ownership comes responsibility and a pet owner needs to remember that the pet is completely dependent on the owner for survival. Keeping your pet healthy by getting examinations and vaccinations and preventatives on time helps to ensure a good quality of life for your pet. Nevertheless, situations do arise that require extra responsibility and financial commitment from the pet owner. We do not have the financial resources to extend credit to pet owners. However, we do have third party payment options that allow pet owners to make payments over time. We need to pay our bills and employees just like any other business so we expect full payment when services are rendered.