Informational Videos
We encourage you to check out our video selection below to learn more about your pet’s health. Our team firmly believes that an educated pet owner is better equipped to provide excellent care for their pet, and we want to give all of our clients the tools they need to succeed. As always, if you have questions about your pet’s health or concerns about their needs, please contact our team.
Puppy Vaccination Q&A
Why should I vaccinate my puppy?
Vaccinations help prevent diseases that are found in nature, brought in by insects, or brought in by contact with other pets. Some of these diseases can be very serious and even fatal in some instances.
When should I start vaccinating my puppy?
We like to begin vaccinations at six to eight weeks old. We do a series of vaccines, typically three to four weeks apart, and we conclude around 16 weeks of age.
Why can’t you give them all of their vaccinations at once?
We do multiple puppy vaccines to make sure your puppy’s immunity has had an anamnestic response, which is the booster from seeing it the first time to a higher peak the second time. We want to make sure they get a peak plateau of immunity.
Can I take my puppy outside before the vaccination series is complete?
We want to make sure that we do not allow any exposure to other people’s pets without knowing their medical history and try to avoid areas where other pets go. It’s good to have social interaction, but we recommend bringing them into a confined area where we don’t have the ability to potentially contract anything. We try to minimize the risks as fully as possible.
Are there any side effects to the vaccines?
The expected side effects of vaccines are soreness in the injection site and lethargy the day of or the day after. Any swelling, vomiting, diarrhea, etc., should be made aware to your vet.
Kitten Vaccination Q&A
When should I start vaccinating my kitten?
We typically like to start vaccinating kittens at six to eight weeks old. We do vaccines every three to four weeks until they reach 16 weeks of age.
Why can’t you give them all of their vaccinations at once?
We’re looking for the window when they stop depending on their mother’s immunity and start building up their own. Kittens need to have multiple exposures to most of these vaccines during that period of time to get a peak anamnestic, or immunity, response.
What vaccines are given to kittens?
We recommend all kittens receive a feline distemper vaccine and feline leukemia vaccine. The feline leukemia vaccine is one that we recommend for the first vaccine protocol for kittens. And then, if they’re going to be indoors and outdoors past that first year or have exposure to indoor and outdoor cats, we like to continue that vaccination.
We like to make sure that kittens receive their first dose of the feline leukemia vaccine so that they don’t have as much exposure risk and they have some baseline immunity to it. We also test them to make sure they don’t have feline leukemia prior to administration.
Are there any side effects to the vaccines?
Typically the only after-effects of these vaccines are sleepiness the day of or the day after. And we like to make sure that we don’t have any swelling, vomiting, or diarrhea after the fact.
Do I need to bring anything to my kitten’s vaccination appointment?
We ask that you bring a fresh stool sample. Parasite evaluation is best done with a fresh fecal sample. You can bring the sample in a Ziploc bag (it’s OK if there is some litter on it). That way, we don’t have to go in and collect a stool sample ourselves.
Microchipping Q&A
Why should I microchip my pet?
Microchipping your pet at a young age ensures they’re not getting out, running away, or being taken.
What is a microchip?
A microchip is approximately the diameter of a grain of rice and is inserted between your pet’s shoulder blades. As soon as the microchip is inserted, we start the identification process. We ensure they’re registered with your information, and your pet is protected in a national database for the rest of its life.
Cat Crib Q&A
What is a Cat Crib?
Cat cribs are our treatment area exclusively for cats. The enclosures have a glass front, allowing our patients to see through without feeling as though they’re in the zoo, so to speak, with the caging. It’s also very cat-specific, meaning we see any pets other than our feline patients here. If you look, we also have certain things that are appropriate for felines to calm the area down.
What are the benefits of a cat-exclusive area?
Cats, when they travel, typically tend to be quite stressed, which is, unfortunately, a reason why we don’t get to see them as often because they’re difficult to get to come in. We use a plug-in diffuser and a pheromone spray that provides the opportunity for the cats to feel a calming sense in the area that they’re in. So again, it provides a fear-free opportunity for our patients while they’re here.
How often should I bring my cat to the vet?
We want to make sure we’re seeing your feline family member at least annually and preferably every six months. We typically do certain wellness vaccines, etc., annually; as they get older, sometimes it’s stretched out up to three years in the time span. We don’t want to wait that long to have a chance to look at your cat family member.
Otitus Externa (Ear Infection) Q&A
Why Does My Dog Get Ear Infections?
It is very common for dogs to get ear infections, also known as “Otitus Externa”. Dogs have horizontal ear canals that tend to hold and trap water inside. This makes their ear canals more susceptible to ear infections. These ear infections can also be secondary to allergies.
What Types of Ear Infections Can My Dog Get?
Dogs can get both bacteria and yeast infections in their ears. This is why it is important to take your dog to their veterinarian for treatment of any ear problems or discomfort so that they can make sure your dog is getting the most effective treatment for their ear problems.
How Do I Treat My Dog’s Ear Infection?
Taking your dog to the veterinarian is the first step. Once there, the veterinarian can perform an ear cytology. This is a test where the veterinarian or technician will swab a sample from your dog’s ear canal and examine the findings under a microscope to see what type of infection your dog has. These samples can also be sent off to a special lab for further examination. Once the veterinarian knows what type of infection your dog has, they can prescribe the proper treatment, as well as thoroughly clean the ears. Your veterinarian can also recommend steps you can do at home to prevent future ear infections.
What Are Some Signs That My Dog Might Have An Ear Infection?
If your dog’s ears are red and look irritated, and/or they have a discharge coming from them, it is a good idea to have them checked for an ear infection. Also, if your dog is shaking their head or scratching at their ears, these are both signs of a possible ear infection.