Frequently Asked Questions
What are your hours?
Office:
Monday, Tuesday & Thursday 7:30am to 5:30pm
Wednesday 8:00am - 6:00pm
Friday 8:00am - 5:00pm
Saturday 8:00am-12:00pm
Dr. Appointments are on one Saturday each month.
Boarding:
Pickup and Drop off times available:
Saturday 5:00pm - 5:30pm
Sunday 8:00am - 8:30am
5:00pm - 5:30pm
Why is spaying/neutering important?
Spaying and Neutering is a very important part of pet population control. Hundreds of thousands of unwanted pets are euthanized every year because there is no place for them to call home. Research has shown females that are spayed before their first heat cycle have no chance of developing mammary cancer which can be life-threatening. Also, females that are spayed have no chance of getting a pyometra which is a life threatening infection inside the ueterus which usually requires an emergency spay. Ovarian and uterine cancer chance is also eliminated. Neutering a male dog helps prevent unwanted behaviors like aggression and urine marking. Testicular cancer is not possible with a neutered male. Also, it is very unusual for a neutered male dog to get a urinary tract infection. Intact make dogs have urinary tract infections more often and they are often associated with prostate gland infections as well. Prostate enlargement is extremely rare in neutered males.
Why does my pet need to be anesthetized to clean its teeth?
Your pet needs to be anesthetized for a dental cleaning because unfortunately dogs and cats will not allow us to open their mouths and work on them for extended periods of time. 50% of tartar buildup can occur under the gumline, so when we clean a pet's teeth, we use our ultrasonic scaling tip to get under the gumline. Awake pets would not tolerate this. Also, it allows us to fully evaluate the teeth with a pet anesthetized. We can see if there is any wearing, root exposure, fractures, etc. Also, if we would need to take x-rays or perform any extractions, your pet would need to be anesthetized. Because dental cleanings can cause some mouth irritation, all of our patients do receive pain medication before the dental cleaning.
What are the most common diseases in pets?
Obesity and dental disease are by far the most common diseases in pets. Obesity affects 50-70% of dogs and cats. Obesity make pets more prone to other diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and joint problems. Dental disease affects 55-65% of dog and cats. By age 3, most dogs and cats have some periodontal disease. When tartar builds up on the teeth, it starts to harbor bacteria and infection results. This infection spreads down the tooth root and affects the periodontal ligament, causing tooth loosening and loss of teeth. Smell your dog's breath once. Bad Breath is NOT normal. Bad breath is due to infection in the mouth. The infection in the mouth can also spread into the bloodstream, affecting organs like the heart, liver and kidneys. Regular dental care is a very important part of keeping your dog and cat healthy
Why should my pet be on year round heartworm prevention?
Heartworm disease is a dangerous, but completely preventable infection where parasitic worms grow inside the chambers of your pet's heart and large blood vessels of the lungs. Left undetected, the disease can become serious and even result in death as worms eventually block blood flow to the heart and lungs. That's why heartworm prevention and early detection are so important. Pets get heartworm disease from being bitten by a mosquito that has previously bitten another infected animal in your area. Mosquitoes transmit the parasites directly from bloodstream to bloodstream. It takes from three to five months for the heartworm larvae to migrate toward the heart, where they begin to grow into reproducing adults. Some have reached lengths of up to 14 inches. Because of the severity of the disease, prevention is key. Year round administration of Heartworm prevention is recommended. Most Heartworm preventatives, including Heartgard protect against some intestinal parasites as well, so every month you are helping to eliminate intestinal parasites from your pet as well as preventing from Heartworm disease with one small chewable. Even with prevention, screening for the disease is recommended for several reasons. Although Heartgard is very effective, no medication is 100%, so by routine screening, Heartworm disease can be detected early. Plus if your pet took his Heartgard and then went outside and spit the treat up or vomtited, your pet is left unprotected. By regular screening, the infection could be caught early in the course of the disease, therefore treating the disease with less complications than if treatment would be instituted late in the disease. Merial, the company that makes Heartgard stands behind their product 100%. If your pet is on year-round Heartgard and is tested regularly, they will pay for any treatment caused by heartworm disease if this would occur.
