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Frequent Asked Questions

Is boarding available at your clinic?
Yes. We offer both short and long-term boarding.

How old must my pet be in order to be spayed or neutered?
Spaying and neutering your pet are recommended as early as 4 months of age. An exam to determine the health of your pet prior to undergoing any anesthesia or surgical procedure is required. A current rabies vaccination is also required at the time of surgery.

Is declawing my kitten cruel? When should it be done?
Declawing your cat can eliminate inappropriate scratching with no detrimental behavioral or medical consequences. Declawing your cat can be done as early as 4 months of age and can be performed at the same time as your pet's spay or neuter.

My cat is drinking more water than usual. Should I be concerned?
Increased water consumption in both dogs and cats should be brought to the attention of your veterinarian. This can be a sign of one of many diseases, such as diabetes, kidney disease, or a uterine infection. Many of these conditions are treatable and your veterinarian may recommend blood work or other tests to determine the cause of the increased water consumption.

What is Lyme Disease?
Lyme disease is an illness that can be passed to animals and people through a bite from the Ixodes tick. The tick must be on the dog for 24 to 48 hours before transmission of the disease occurs. These ticks are very tiny in the nymph stage that occurs during spring and summer. When they are engorged they are about the size of a small apple seed. In our area most ticks are common dog ticks but the ticks responsible for Lyme disease are found in this area. Preventive medicine is best. Ask your veterinarian.

How do I decide which vaccines are right for my cat and my cat's lifestyle?
Let's go over first what each vaccine is for.

FVRCP, which stands for Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, and Panleukopenia (also known as feline distemper).

Rhinotracheitis and Calicivirus are respiratory diseases that are passed from one cat to another by droplets in the air from coughing or sneezing.

Panleukopenia is common and can affect cats of any age. It is almost impossible to prevent exposure; all cats should be vaccinated.

Feline Leukemia is a virus that suppresses the cat's immune system, leaving it unable to fight off other infections. If permanent infection occurs, death always results.

FIP, or Feline Infectious Peritonitis, is another virus that infects cats. Though the risk of getting this disease is low, cats that get it always die, usually within six months.

All warm-blooded animals can become infected with the rabies virus. Since rabies is also a threat to humans, all states require this vaccine for all dogs and cats.

Now that you know what each vaccine is for, lets check out what your cat's lifestyle is. If you have a kitten, I would first have a Feline Leukemia test done. Now, if your cat is a homebody that loves to lounge inside with his people, I would have him/her vaccinated with FVRCP and Rabies. But if your cat enjoys checking out the neighborhood and meeting up with friends, I would get all the vaccines available. You can never be too careful.

What is Heartworm Disease?
All dog owners should be aware of the serious parasitic condition called heartworm disease. These parasites do not live in the intestinal tract; they seek out the heart. They live in the chambers of the heart and damage the valves and the blood vessels leading to the lungs. This parasite is carried by mosquitoes and can be found in almost every state of the U.S.

How does my dog get heartworms?
Heartworm infection is spread by mosquitoes. When a mosquito "bites" an infected dog, it takes up blood that contain microscopic immature forms of heartworms called microfilariae. The microfilariae incubate in the mosquito for about two weeks, during which time they become infective larvae. Then, when the mosquito bites another dog, the infective larvae are passed into the second dog, infecting it. The infective larvae migrate through the tissues of the body for about three months, enter the heart where they reach adult size in another three months.

What are the symptoms of heartworm?

• Coughing
• Tires easily
• Listlessness
• Weight loss
• Rough hair coat

In many cases, these are advanced symptoms. Some dogs do not appear to have symptoms in the early stages.. .others do. If not detected and controlled with proper treatment, heartworm can lead to congestive heart failure and death. Remember, preventive medicine is the best cure.

Is it normal behavior for my dogs to eat grass?
Dogs often eat grass. Sometimes they eat grass when they have upset stomachs. The extra grass can induce vomiting. Other dogs eat small amounts of grass regularly with no apparent side effects. If this occurs occasionally, I would not be concerned; if it happens regularly, I would mention it to your veterinarian.

Why does my dog scoot across the carpet?
A pet "scooting", or dragging the hind end on the carpet, grass, or your favorite rug is something most pet owners have witnessed at one time or another. More common in mid to smaller sized dogs, but occasionally seen in larger dogs or cats. Why? Well, most often it is because their anal sacs are bothering them. This does not rule out the possibility of other causes -- perianal tumor that is infected or bothersome, diarrhea, parasites, etc. But most often, it is an inflammation, infection, or impaction of the anal sacs.

My cat really goes crazy over catnip, is it dangerous?
Cats are unique in their response to catnip, and the response can be very dramatic in some cats - rolling, licking, rubbing, drooling, jumping, running. Other cats appear to become very sedate after exposure. And, as mentioned above, up to 30% of the cat population does not respond at all to catnip. In any case, for all of the (sometimes entertaining) behaviors seen, catnip is completely nontoxic to cats. If a large quantity of  fresh catnip is consumed, you may see some vomiting or diarrhea, but this is rare and self-limiting. If your cat experiences this, limit or withhold catnip.

What can happen if my pet's teeth aren't cleaned?
Both plaque and tartar damage the teeth and gums. Disease starts with the gums (gingiva). They become inflamed - red, swollen, and sore. The gums finally separate from the teeth, creating pockets where more bacteria, plaque, and tartar build up. This in turn causes more damage, and finally tooth and bone loss.

This affects the whole body, too. Bacteria from these inflamed oral areas can enter the bloodstream and affect major body organs. The liver, kidneys, heart, and lungs are most commonly affected. Antibiotics are used prior to and after a dental cleaning to prevent bacterial spread through the blood stream.