Puppies need their first check-up by 8 weeks of age. They
will be checked for Hernias, heart murmurs or other abnormalities. The stool
needs to be checked for intestinal parasites, and your pet will be de-wormed if
necessary. Your puppy will get his first Distemper/parvo combination vaccine,
and can be started on heartworm prevention. After this visit, your puppy needs
another distemper/parvo booster at 12 and 16 wks. His first Rabies vaccine can
be given at 12 weeks or older.
[top]
When does my pet need to be spayed or neutered?
We recommend at 5 months of age.
Your dog or cat should have had all their boosters by now, and will be reaching
puberty at 6 months old. Studies show that there are health benefits to
spaying/neutering earlier, such as decreased chances of infection and quicker
recovery.
[top]
I have a new kitten. What vaccines does it need and when?
When kittens are about 8 weeks of age, we recommend giving them an examination
to look for heart murmurs, hernias, or other abnormalities, and their first
feline distemper combination vaccine. The stool needs to be checked for
intestinal parasites, and your pet will be de-wormed if necessary. The ears
need to be checked for ear mites. We always recommend testing your kitten on
the first visit for Feline Leukemia and Feline Aids, especially if you have
other cats in your household. We will booster the kitten distemper combination
vaccine at 12 and 16 weeks, and can give Feline leukemia vaccine at the same
time for outdoor cats. The rabies vaccine can be given at 12 weeks or older.
[top]
What does my adult dog need yearly to be up-to-date and healthy?
Every year your dog needs an annual exam. Their Distemper/parvo combination
vaccine and a fecal test for intestinal parasites is recommended each year.
After their Rabies 1 yr. expires, your dog needs a rabies booster every 3
years. For dogs that have been on heartworm preventative continuously, you have
the option of heartworm testing every 2 years. We have an in-house test that
also includes Lyme and Ehrlichia disease tests, with the heartworm test. We
have vaccines for kennel cough and lyme disease which can be given if needed.
Also, we can give you a consultation on the various heartworm, flea and tick
preventatives, to help find the one most useful and economical for you and your
pet.
[top]
What does my adult cat need yearly to be up-to-date and healthy?
Every year your cat needs an annual exam, their distemper combination vaccine,
and a fecal test for intestinal parasites. After their Rabies 1 yr. expires,
you cat needs a rabies booster every 3 years. Outdoor cats need their Feline
leukemia vaccine yearly as well. Also, we can give you a consultation on the
various heartworm, flea and tick preventatives, to help find the one most
useful and economical for you and your pet.
[top]
What is the best thing to feed my cat or dog?
Both species do best on a quality, dry food. This is best for their teeth, and
most economical for you. I would avoid store brands and stick with higher
quality food brands like: Purina One, Proplan, Iams, Eukanuba, Hill’s Science
Diet or IVD foods. We sell IVD and Proplan. All puppies should be on a puppy
food for one full year, and the same goes for kittens. Pets reaching ages of
8-10 years should be put on a mature or geriatric diet, which has less protein,
calories, and higher fiber. Many pets have food allergies that may cause
certain symptoms such as year-round itchy skin, loose stool and sometimes
vomiting. Ask Dr. Roberson for a consultation if you think your pet has food
allergies.
[top]
What is the best product for fleas and ticks?
This depends on several factors. I would avoid over the counter medications,
because most are pyrethrin based, which can be toxic for your pet, especially
cats. Also, these pyrethrins are highly water-soluble and wash off of your pet
easily. Lastly, they do not work long enough to help break the flea’s life
cycle, which is what you need to help get rid of fleas. We have Sentinel
(Program with Interceptor), Advantix, and Frontline for dogs and Frontline and
Revolution for cats. Ask a staff member for a consultation. We can help
determine what best product to use in your situation, i.e. flea allergic, tick
problem, frequent bathing or swimming. We can help you pick the most economical
choice as well.
[top]
Why is it important to take care of my pet’s teeth?
There are important health reasons, besides the obvious one of making the
breath smell better. Studies show that pets live longer if they have less
dental tartar and disease. Every time your pet swallows, he/she absorbs
bacteria which can cause liver, kidney and heart disease. Ever had a toothache?
Your pet also experiences pain with periodontal disease, which they are very
good at masking. Furthermore, gum disease can lead to abscessed teeth which
will fall out or may need to be extracted. Your pet needs his/her teeth in
order to properly chew their food, although they can do well with some missing.
Who doesn’t want to keep their pet out of pain and make them live longer?
[top]
What do you mean when you tell me my pet needs dental home care?
We mean that your pet’s teeth are not bad enough to warrant a professional
teeth cleaning in the office, but are developing enough tartar to need some
extra work on your part. This includes giving your pet dry food, dental treats
and toys. You need to purchase a veterinary toothpaste (with enzymes), and
using a child’s toothbrush or veterinary finger brush, gently brush the
outsides of all your pet’s teeth. Remember to praise and reward your pet when
you get done. You may want to quit if he/she is getting agitated and finish the
next day. It is harder to brush the teeth of smaller dogs and cats, so a
medicated mouthwash may be easier. Any treatment should be used daily, or as
often as possible.
[top]
What is the difference in a professional teeth cleaning vs. home care?
When your pet gets their teeth cleaned in the office, they will be completely
anesthetized in order to get the best possible cleaning. We have the same
instruments that your dentist office has to scale, polish and apply fluoride to
the teeth. The main difference is that we can get deep under the gum lines and
into pockets around the teeth. We can evaluate the health of all the teeth and
perform extractions as needed. This will give you a fresh start with your pets
mouth, but you will need to continue dental care at home.
[top]
My dog is sneezing, does it have allergies?
It is a common misconception that dogs (and cats) get upper respiratory
infections from allergies just like we do. Actually your pet exhibits allergies
by getting red, irritated, itchy skin. They can be allergic to inhalant
allergens (pollens), fleas, and/or food. Fifty percent of dogs exhibit
allergies by getting red, hot ears. If your pet is sneezing a nasal discharge,
please give us a call, because it may need to be put on antibiotics for an
infection. Please call for an appointment if you think your pet does have
allergies, and we can recommend a treatment plan to make them more comfortable.
[top]