Pet Preventative Healthcare

New puppies should be examined as soon as possible to be sure they are in good health and started on preventive care to keep them healthy. We recommend all pets have a comprehensive physical examination prior to vaccination. Just as with people, a physical examination may be the most important component of an office visit, allowing us the opportunity to completely examine your pet and discuss any medical conditions. At each visit your puppy will be weighed and we will check your puppy's skin and coat, teeth and gums, eyes, ears, heart and lungs. During the course of your puppy's visits we will discuss diet, exercise, flea and tick prevention, potty training, puppy behavior, Lyme Disease, whether your puppy needs a Bordetella vaccine and the benefits of spaying or neutering.

A small amount of fresh stool is needed to check for the intestinal parasites that are frequently found in puppies. Roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, tapeworms, coccidia and several other species are commonly found in this geographical area. Proper diagnosis can only be made by a microscopic examination of a stool specimen in the laboratory. For puppies, we recommend two stool exams.

We will dispense a dose of deworming medicine for your puppy that is effective against tapeworms, whipworms, roundworms and hookworms. Drontal Plus will help prevent the shedding of parasite eggs that are a public health concern, especially for children.

We will dispense a chewable heartworm prevention tablet for your puppy. Heartworms are parasites that are spread by mosquitoes and they are prevalent in this area. Heartgard Plus not only protects against heartworms, but also roundworms and hookworms, which can affect humans, especially children. As your puppy grows we will prescribe a dose of medication appropriate for their weight. Heartgard Plus should be given monthly on a year round basis.

A Distemper Combination Vaccine will protect your dog against:

• DISTEMPER
  A viral disease that causes diarrhea, pneumonia, ocular and nasal discharge and can cause nervous system abnormalities (twitching, convulsions, etc.). The mortality rate is high.
• CANINE HEPATITIS
  A viral disease of the liver that has a high mortality rate.
• PARAINFLUENZA
  A viral disease of the respiratory system.
• PARVOVIRUS
  The agent responsible for an acute digestive system disease. Vomiting and severe diarrhea accompanied by dehydration result in a high mortality rate.

In order to establish immunity, we recommend a series of injections, beginning at 7-8 weeks of age, and given at 4-week intervals. The last vaccine must be given no earlier than 15 weeks of age. Most puppies will receive three distemper vaccinations. A single annual Distemper Combination booster is recommended for continuing protection of adult dogs.

We will dispense a chewable heartworm prevention tablet for your puppy. Heartworms are parasites that are spread by mosquitoes and they are prevalent in this area. Heartgard Plus not only protects against heartworms, but also roundworms and hookworms, which can affect humans, especially children. As your puppy grows we will prescribe a dose of medication appropriate for their weight. Heartgard Plus should be given monthly on a year round basis.

Implanting microchips, permanent identification such as Home Again, can be done during any office visit or at the time of your pets spay or neuter surgery (about 6 months of age). In addition, our clinic is always stocked with Homeless Pets Pet Tags.

Spaying of females and neutering of males is recommended for all pets not intended for breeding. Risk of breast cancer and testicular disease may be significantly reduced as well as certain undesirable behaviors. We recommend surgery when your pet is about 6 months old.

Other vaccines you should know about:

LEPTOSPIROSIS is a bacterial disease of the liver and kidneys. This vaccine is no longer included with our Distemper Combination due to the risk of reaction and lack of protection against common types of this disease.

BORDETELLA (Kennel Cough) is a highly contagious airborne disease, resulting in a cough lasting up to three weeks. It is not life threatening for healthy animals. An annual vaccination is recommended for all dogs that may be boarded, shown, or in close contact with other dogs. *Most kennels require a current Distemper Combination booster and Bordetella vaccine.

CORONAVIRUS is an intestinal virus. It is not life threatening. Vaccination is only recommended if required by a kennel for boarding.

LYME DISEASE is a tick borne bacterial infection, which can cause arthritis and fever. The prevalence of this disease in our geographical area is not fully known, but indicators show it is on the rise. Vaccination may be recommended for dogs traveling to areas where Lyme disease is more prevalent.

New kittens should be examined as soon as possible to be sure they are in good health and started on preventive care to keep them healthy. All pets must receive a comprehensive physical examination prior to vaccination. Just as with people, a physical examination may be the most important component of an office visit, allowing us the opportunity to completely examine your pet and discuss any medical conditions. At each visit your kitten will be weighed and we will check your kitten's skin and coat, teeth and gums, eyes, ears, heart and lungs. During the course of your kitten's visits we will discuss diet, exercise, flea prevention, litter box training, kitten behavior and the benefits of spaying or neutering.

A small amount of fresh stool is needed to check for the intestinal parasites that are frequently found in kittens. Roundworms, hookworms, tapeworms, coccidia and several other species are commonly found in this geographical area. Proper diagnosis can only be made by a microscopic examination of a stool specimen in the laboratory. For kittens, we recommend two stool exams.

We will dispense a dose of deworming medicine for your kitten that is effective against roundworms and hookworms. Nemex will help prevent the shedding of parasite eggs that are a public health concern, especially for children.

We will dispense a chewable heartworm prevention tablet for your kitten. Heartworms are parasites that are spread by mosquitoes and they are prevalent in this area. Heartgard not only protects against heartworms, but also hookworms, which can affect humans, especially children. As your kitten grows we will prescribe a dose of medication appropriate for their weight. Heartgard should be given monthly on a year round basis.

A Distemper Combination Vaccine will protect your cat against:

• PANLEUKOPENIA
  Also called feline distemper. This viral disease is highly contagious and has a high mortality rate. Severe diarrhea, depression, vomiting, dehydration, loss of appetite and fever are the most common symptoms.
• RHINO-TRACHEITIS
  A viral disease, one of the most common respiratory infections in cats. This disease is highly contagious. Symptoms include nasal and ocular discharge, loss of appetite, depression, sneezing and excessive salivation.
• CALICIVIRUS
  A highly contagious viral respiratory disease in cats.
• CHLAMYDIA
  The bacterial cause of a contagious respiratory disease. This vaccine is no longer included in our distemper combination due to possible reactions.

In order to establish immunity, we recommend a series of injections. Two Distemper Combination injections are recommended for kittens; the first injection given as early as eight weeks of age, the second four weeks later. The vaccine used for these injections is a combination of Rhino-tracheitis, Calicivirus, and Panleukopenia. A single annual Distemper Combination booster is recommended for continuing protection of adult cats.

Rabies is a viral disease that can affect animals and humans. We recommend Rabies protection for all cats. The first vaccination is given at about four months of age. Dundee Animal Hospital recommends "Pure Vax", a one year vaccine, for cats. This newly developed vaccine is extremely safe and decreases injection site inflammation.

This permanent identification can be done during any office visit or at the time of your pets spay or neuter surgery (about 6 months of age).

Spaying of females and neutering of males is recommended for all pets not intended for breeding. Breast cancer and certain undesirable behaviors may be significantly reduced. While this surgery is recommended when your pet is about 6 months old, it can be done at any age. Declawing, if desired, is usually done at the same time as the spay/neuter surgery.

Other vaccines you should know about:

FELINE LEUKEMIA VIRUS is a contagious and fatal viral disease of cats. Leukemia, a blood cancer, is only one of many outcomes of infection with FeLV. Another cancer, lymphosarcoma, is actually a more common FeLV disease. Still more common, though, are "associated diseases" that result when FeLV impairs a cat's immune system. Kittens can be infected with Feline Leukemia virus from their mother, or acquire it from close contact with another infected cat. We recommend that all kittens and new cats have a blood test for Feline Leukemia Virus. Vaccination for Feline Leukemia is recommended for all outdoor cats or cats that are at risk for exposure. Two injections are required to establish immunity against FeLV; the first injection can be given as early as nine weeks of age, the second four weeks later.

FELINE IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS is a contagious and fatal viral disease of cats usually acquired through bite wounds. Symptoms are similar to Feline Leukemia Virus. We recommend that all kittens and new cats have a blood test for Feline Immunodeficiency Virus.