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| Do you recommend bloodwork prior to my pets spay/neuter?
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Yes! Pre-anesthetic lab work allows us to make sure that all of your
pet’s internal values are normal before they undergo anesthesia.
The Top Four Reasons To Test Your Pet Before Anaesthesia:
You deserve peace of mind. Testing can significantly reduce medical risk and ensure your pet's health and safety Pets can't tell you when they don't feel well. A healthy-appearing pet may be hiding symptoms of a disease or ailment. For example, a pet can lose up to 75% of kidney function before showing any visible signs of illness. Testing helps us evaluate your pet's health up front, so we can avoid problems related to anaesthesia.Testing can reduce risk and consequences. If preanesthetic results are within normal ranges, we can proceed with confidence, knowing that
anesthetic risk is minimized. On the other hand, if results are not within the normal ranges, we can alter the anesthetic procedure, or take other precautions to safeguard your pet's health and reduce the risk of potential complications.
Testing can help protect your pet's future health. These tests provide baseline levels for your pet and become part of his or her medical record for future reference. |
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| At what age should my puppy be vaccinated?
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Puppies need four sets of vaccines. These are done at 6, 9, 12, and 16
weeks of age. With their first and last set of vaccines we run a fecal
sample to check for intestinal parasites, which can be common in
puppies. They receive their rabies vaccine with their final set at 16
weeks. |
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| How often does my dog need routine exam/vaccines?
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We recommend that all pets have two exams each year. Dogs age much
quicker than humans. Bi-annual exams help us to catch problems early
and treat them before they become a serious issue for your pet. At
your annual exam we vaccinate against distemper, hepatitis, parvo,
parainfluenza, kennel cough (Bordetella Vaccine), and rabies. We also
like to check for heartworms and run a fecal sample to check for
intestinal parasites. At your dog's semi-annual exam we perform a
routine exam, booster the kennel cough (Bordetella) vaccine, and run a
fecal sample. |
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| My dog is 13 does he/she still need vaccines? |
Senior pets have special needs. Dogs over seven are generally
considered seniors and dogs over 10 are considered geriatric. The
veterinarians decide vaccine protocols for senior/geriatric patients
on a case by case basis. In some geriatric patients the doctor will
recommend a 3 year vaccine protocol with senior profile lab work in
lieu of vaccinations on the off years. You should speak to your
veterinarian about the best vaccine protocol for your older pet. |
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| Why do you want to see my dog twice a year? |
Dogs age much quicker than people. An exam every six months allows us to catch any problems before they turn into major issues. It also gives us the opportunity to check for intestinal parasites and booster their Bordetella vaccine, which protects them from the highly contagious kennel cough virus. |
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| At what age does my kitten need vaccines? |
Kittens should be vaccinated at 8, 12, and 16 weeks. It is also a good idea to test your kitten for Feline Leukemia at its first visit. We vaccinate all kittens with FVRCP, Feline Leukemia, and rabies. After the initial vaccines are given these vaccines need to be boostered annually. |
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| Why is my cat urinating outside of its litter box? |
Urinating outside of a litter box could be caused by many things. You should schedule an appointment to have your pet examined and a urinalysis run. A variety of medical conditions could affect your pets litter box habits and should be tested for and ruled out before assuming that your cat has a behavioural problem. |
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| Is it ok for my declawed cat to go outside? |
A cat that has no front claws would have to rely only on biting to defend itself against a predator or another cat. It is best for declawed cats to stay indoors at all times. If you feel that your cat must go outside you can get your cat a harness and leash and they can be leash walked like you would a dog. It would be great exercise for everyone! |
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