Frequently Asked Questions Vaccines: At what age should my puppy be vaccinated?   Puppies need four sets of vaccines. These are done at 6, 9, 12, and 16 weeks of age. With their first and last set of vaccines we run a fecal sample to check for intestinal parasites, which can be common in puppies. They receive their rabies vaccine with their final set at 16 weeks. How often does my dog need routine exam/vaccines? We recommend that all pets have two exams each year. Dogs age much quicker than humans. Bi-annual exams help us to catch problems early and treat them before they become a serious issue for your pet. At your annual exam we vaccinate against distemper, hepatitis, parvo, parainfluenza, kennel cough (Bordetella Vaccine), and rabies. We also like to check for heartworms and run a fecal sample to check for intestinal parasites. At your dog's semi-annual exam we perform a routine exam, booster the kennel cough (Bordetella) vaccine, and run a fecal sample. My dog is 13 does he/she still need vaccines? Senior pets have special needs. Dogs over seven are generally considered seniors and dogs over 10 are considered geriatric. The veterinarians decide vaccine protocols for senior/geriatric patients on a case by case basis.  In some geriatric patients the doctor will recommend a 3 year vaccine protocol with senior profile lab work in lieu of vaccinations on the off years. You should speak to your veterinarian about the best vaccine protocol for your older pet. Why do you want to see my dog twice a year? Dogs age much quicker than people. An exam every six months allows us to catch any problems before they turn into major issues. It also gives us the opportunity to check for intestinal parasites and booster their Bordetella vaccine, which protects them from the highly contagious kennel cough virus. At what age does my kitten need vaccines? Kittens should be vaccinated at 8, 12, and 16 weeks. It is also a good idea to test your kitten for Feline Leukemia at its first visit. We vaccinate all kittens with FVRCP, Feline Leukemia, and rabies. After the initial vaccines are given these vaccines need to be boostered annually. Why is my cat urinating outside of its litter box? Urinating outside of a litter box could be caused by many things. You should schedule an appointment to have your pet examined and a urinalysis run. A variety of medical conditions could affect your pets litter box habits and should be tested for and ruled out before assuming that your cat has a behavioral problem. Is it ok for my declawed cat to go outside? A cat that has no front claws would have to rely only on biting to defend itself against a predator or another cat. It is best for declawed cats to stay indoors at all times. If you feel that your cat must go outside you can get your cat a harness and leash and they can be leash walked like you would a dog. It would be great exercise for everyone!

Spay and Neuter:   Why should I spay/neuter my dog or cat?   Spayed and neutered animals make better pets and are generally healthier. Spaying your female will prevent unwanted pregnancy reducing pet overpopulation, eliminate messy heat cycles, and keep your pet from straying. It also eliminates the chance of uterine cancer, mammary cancer, and pyometra, an often fatal uterine infection. Neutering your male will prevent unwanted pregnancy reducing pet overpopulation, reduces aggressive behavior tendencies, and reduces urine marking behaviors. It will also keep your pet from straying, and eliminates the chance of testicular cancer.   How old does my puppy or kitten need to be to be spayed/neutered?   Puppies and kittens can be spayed/or neutered at 16 weeks old. It's a good idea to have females spayed between four and six months old so they do not go into their first heat cycle. Smaller breed dogs can go into heat as early as four months of age.  Male pets should be neutered early to prevent bad habits from forming such as spraying, aggression, and inappropriate behavior.   Do you recommend bloodwork prior to my pets spay/neuter?   Yes!  Pre-anesthetic lab work allows us to make sure that all of your pet’s internal values are normal before they undergo anesthesia.     The Top Four Reasons To Test Your Pet Before Anesthesia: You deserve peace of mind. Testing can significantly reduce medical risk and ensure your pet's health and safety Pets can't tell you when they don't feel well. A healthy-appearing pet may be hiding symptoms of a disease or ailment. For example, a pet can lose up to 75% of kidney function before showing any visible signs of illness. Testing helps us evaluate your pet's health up front, so we can avoid problems related to anesthesia. Testing can reduce risk and consequences. If preanesthetic results are within normal ranges, we can proceed with confidence, knowing that anesthetic risk is minimized. On the other hand, if results are not within the normal ranges, we can alter the anesthetic procedure, or take other precautions to safeguard your pet's health and reduce the risk of potential complications. Testing can help protect your pet's future health. These tests provide baseline levels for your pet and become part of his or her medical record for future reference.                 Will my pet be in pain after it's spay/neuter?   There is a certain amount of pain associated with any surgical procedure. You can opt to let us give your pet an injection of pain medication while they are under anesthesia that will alleviate any pain or discomfort for 24 hours after the procedure.   Will my dog/cat get fat after it's been spayed or neutered?   Spaying and neutering should not affect your pet’s weight, this is only a myth. What spaying and neutering does do is reduces your pet’s energy requirements.  As long as your pet is maintained on a proper amount of food, fed a balanced diet, and is regularly exercised, it should maintain a healthy weight.   Can you spay/neuter and declaw my cat at the same time?   We can! In fact we prefer to do them at the same time so they will only be under anesthesia once. We prefer to do the spay/neuter and declaw between four and six months.   How long does my pet need to be at the clinic for the procedure?   We will ask you to drop your pet off between 7:30a.m. and 9:00 a.m. for the procedure. The procedures are done during the morning which allows us to watch them wake up throughout the afternoon. If there are no complications most pets will go home after 4:30p.m. With declaw surgeries, or surgical procedures that include declawing we prefer to keep your pet in the hospital over night. They will be discharged the next morning following the surgery.

Parasites: Internal: I found worms in my dog’s feces. What kind are they and how can I get rid of them? If the worms look like spaghetti they are most likely round worms. If they look like grains of rice they are most likely tape worms. There are several other types of worms that are not visible to the naked eye. If you see worms in your pet’s stool, if they are licking or dragging their backside, or have diarrhea you should schedule an appointment for us to do a fecal sample and check to see what type of parasite your pet has. Once we have determined what parasite(s) your pet has we can give appropriate medication based on their weight. My dog is rubbing his behind on the carpet does he have worms? Dogs "scoot" for a variety of reasons. It could be worms, anal glands, or just an itch. You should schedule an appointment and let the doctor do a fecal exam as well as check your dog's anal glands. What are heartworms and why do I have to test for them yearly? Heartworms are parasites that are injected directly into the bloodstream by mosquitoes. They mature and move into the heart where they can cause serious damage. Oklahoma generally has a mild winter so the mosquito population does not always disappear in winter months. Year round heartworm preventative is necessary. Even though your dog is on heartworm prevention, it is still a good idea to test for heartworms annually. Your dog may have spit out or vomited their pill when you weren't looking, and occasionally pills are forgotten. Is there any way to prevent Heartworms?   Heartworms can be prevented with a flavored pill given once a month. We prefer Iverheart® or Interceptor®. Both of these can be purchased in either six month packages or by the single dose. Because heartworm prevention is a prescription drug, your pet does need to have an exam on file within the last year and be current on vaccines or a substitute protocol.   I forgot to give my dog his heartworm pill is it safe to give it to him?   If you are using Iverheart® or Interceptor® you can give your pet his heartworm prevention as normal. You should have your pet heartworm tested at your next checkup just to be sure that they have not contracted heartworms. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your pets missed medication do not hesitate to give us a call.   External:   My dog/cat is scratching a lot. Does he/she have fleas?     Itching can be caused by numerous things and fleas can be one of them. The easiest way to tell if your pet has fleas is to put them on a white towel or paper and brush them. If you notice any fleas jump or any black dirt fall onto the paper you may have a flea problem. You can purchase an over the counter flea or flea/tick product depending on your needs. For pets that are strictly outdoors or indoor/outdoor we recommend Frontline® because it protects against both fleas and ticks. For pets that are strictly indoors we recommend Advantage®. If you do not notice any fleas or flea dirt you should schedule an appointment to see a doctor. Scratching could be the sign of a skin problem, dry coat, and even allergies.   Do I need to use flea/tick medication all year?   Oklahoma has relatively mild winters. Unfortunately fleas and ticks can be a problem all year round. Pets that spend time outdoors or have access to other pets that might be infected should be on flea/tick prevention all year round. All pets should be treated throughout the spring, summer, and fall when fleas and ticks are most prevalent.   Why is my dog/cat loosing hair?   There are many reasons your pet could be loosing hair. There are several different types of parasites that could cause hair loss or it could be allergies or rubbing. You should schedule an appointment to have one of the doctors diagnose it and give you appropriate medication.