Frequently Asked Questions

When should my puppy/kitten be seen for their first visit?
Ideally, when pups/kittens are 8-9 weeks of age they should start their first set of vaccinations and preventative health care such as dewormings, heartworm prevention and flea and tick control. An exam is important at this age to determine if there are any genetic conditions such as luxating patellas or heart murmurs, and to detect the presence of parasites such as ear mites or intestinal parasites, which if left untreated, can have detrimental affects on a young pet’s health and well being.

When can I spay/neuter my pet?
This procedure is usually performed between 4-6 months of age in both dogs and cats. This time frame is optimal to help minimize complications with anesthesia and is considered generally less painful at this age. Pain management is still important and will be provided with these procedures. An additional benefit is that this age is prior to the onset of puberty and so many undesirable behaviors such as urine marking (in both species) are minimized as well as some reproductive system cancers and diseases. The best benefit is unwanted pregnancies!

Why does my dog need a heartworm test every year?
Even if your dog faithfully takes his/her heartworm preventative every month, there is always a chance that they did not actually eat it and put it somewhere in your house for safekeeping such as behind your couch! Although this behavior is more common in small breeds, no medicine is 100% effective. By checking your dog’s heartworm status each year, if an infection is detected early, it can be more successfully treated than in the later course of the infection. If left untreated, heartworms multiply in the heart’s chamber preventing proper functioning of the heart and creating heart failure and death.

Why does my elderly pet need an exam every 6 months?
As a dog and cat age, every one of their years does not equal one of ours. Their physiological systems change very rapidly the closer they are to being considered senior citizens, and therefore develop failures in these systems quicker. Also, cancers of the mouth, skin and eyes become more prevalent, making early detection essential to the successful treatment of these diseases. Any large breed dog is considered a senior at 7 years of age, a small breed dog or cat at 8 or 9 years of age