FAQs

Appointments are preferred, however we always try our best to accommodate walk-ins. Appointments are necessary for grooming and boarding.

We accept Cash, Personal Checks, CareCredit, Visa, MasterCard and Discover.

All pets staying with us are required to be current on Canine Influenza, Rabies, Distemper and Bordetella vaccines.

The Rabies vaccination is good for 1 year. Unless a 3 year vaccine is requested by the owner.

The best time to spay or neuter your pet is between 4-6 months of age. However, it can be done at most ages.

Yearly blood work should be performed to detect infections and diseases. This helps our veterinarians detect disease early. In many situations early detection is essential for more effective treatment. The type of blood work will be determined specifically for each pet depending on his or her individual needs. This is convenient to do at the time of the annual heartworm test, but can be done at any time of year.

We recommended your pet be on heartworm prevention for the entire year. It is administered one time per month either by pill or by topical application. Depending on the specific product you and your veterinarian choose for your pet, heartworm prevention medication can prevent other parasite infestations including internal parasites (intestinal parasites) and external parasites (fleas and ticks). A simple blood test will get your pet started.

Dogs could get sick (vomiting, diarrhea, and/or death) if placed on heartworm prevention when they have heartworm disease. Even if they have been on heartworm prevention year round there is always the possibility that the product may have failed for various reasons (your pet spit out the pill, did not absorb the pill appropriately, topical medicine was not applied properly, forgot to administer medication on time, etc.) and the earlier we can treat your pet for heartworm disease the better the prognosis.

MOST companies will guarantee their product provided you use the heartworm prevention year round and are performing yearly heartworm test. When starting heartworm prevention, or if your pet has not been on heartworm prevention year round, it is important that you perform a heartworm test 6 months after starting the prevention to rule out the pre-patent period. The pre-patent period refers to the time in which a dog has early developmental larvae which cannot be detected on a heartworm test, even though your dog is already harboring heartworm infection. If you do not do this it is possible the manufacturer of the products may not cover your pet’s treatment should they test positive for heartworm disease in the future.

Yes. Heartworm disease is transmitted through the bite of a mosquito and all mosquitoes get into houses.

No. Heartworm disease is a blood-borne disease that is transmitted through mosquitoes. A simple blood test is needed to confirm whether or not your dog has heartworm disease.

It is important to prevent fleas. Not only are they uncomfortable for your pet, fleas are also carriers of disease. There are many medications for the treatment and prevention of fleas. Many medications are in a combined form with the monthly heartworm medication. Not only is this convenient, but it reduces the cost of two medications! Although fleas are more prevalent in summer months, they can survive year round in a home.

Dental disease involves more than just bad breath. Approximately 80% of patients that visit us on a daily basis need professional teeth cleaning. When bacteria irritates the gum line, the gums become inflamed in the early phases of the disease-causing gingivitis. Left untreated, this leads to periodontal disease which causes loss of the bone/support structure of the tooth and subsequent tooth loss. In addition, the bacteria are consistently released into the blood stream allowing for systemic infections which can cause organs, such as kidney, liver, and heart to function improperly.

How often your pet needs his/her teeth cleaned varies with many factors. Your pet’s teeth and mouth should be examined on a regular basis by our veterinarian. We will keep you informed specifically for your pet how often dental examinations and dental cleanings should be performed.

It can sometimes be difficult to tell! If you are not sure, but suspect your pet may be hurting or is just not acting right, call to have an examination. Some signs of pain are more obvious, such as limping. Some signs are more subtle and can include: not eating, a change in behavior or normal habits, being more tired and having less energy. Of course, these symptoms can also be caused by many problems!

Canine Bordetella is a respiratory disease called Infectious Tracheobronchitis (kennel cough). It is easily transmitted through the air. It is a viral infection complicated by bacteria. It is treated with either an intranasal or injectable vaccine.

Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease. It is spread by wildlife (raccoons, skunks, opossums, squirrels, rats) and domestic animals. It can be passed to people. Canine Lepto has risen dramatically in recent years. Infected animals shed Lepto bacteria in the urine. To prevent Lepto in your dog, discourage your pet from drinking standing water and vaccinate yearly.