| Monday | 8am - 7pm |
| Tuesday | 8am - 6pm |
| Wednesday | 8am - 6pm |
| Thursday | 8am - 7pm |
| Friday | 8am - 5pm |
| Saturday | By Appointment |
| Sunday | Closed |
Most vaccines are given as a series up to a certain age then continued as boosters either annually. The following information outlines general guidelines in the 3 species of pets that are commonly vaccinated.
Dogs :
DHPP - (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvo virus) - This vaccine containing 5 components is begun during adolescence and is given at monthly intervals 2 or 3 times depending on the age when started. First vaccinations are usually given at 8 weeks of age. It is boostered annually.
Bordetella - May be given any time during adolescence at 8 weeks or older as a series of two injections 1 month apart and continued annually.
Rabies - Given at the last puppy vaccination and boostered in 1 year then every year thereafter. Required by law in dogs.
Cats :
FVRCP ( Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia) - Begin at 8 weeks of age, repeat in one month and booster annually.
FELV ( Feline Leukemia Virus ) - Begin at 8 weeks of age, repeat in 1 month then annually.
Rabies - Given at the last kitten vaccination and repeated annually.
We answer this question with a definite "yes". Many companion animals are put to death in this city every year due to over population. In addition to that benefit, certain medical conditions are prevented by spaying and neutering. The biggest health benefit is a reduction in breast cancer.
In most cases between 5 and 6 months of age.
Crying out or vocalizing repetitively when touched or picked up may be an obvious sign of pain although, a very frightened animal might react similarly. More subtle signs may include restlessness, panting when not hot ( in the case of dogs ), trembling, refusal to eat or reluctance to do a common activity. All of these signs must be viewed in the context of any given situation to be identified as induced by pain since anxiety can produce very similar signs.
The problem here of course is that there is a language barrier between humans and animals. You would like to just ask him how badly he feels and how long he has felt that way. People have a hard enough time deciding when they should see their own doctor. A general rule is that if you spot a problem that you know would cause you to seek medical attention if it were you instead of your pet, then your pet needs to be seen. More subtle problems that persist for more than a day or so at least warrant a phone call to the clinic so that we may begin the problem identification process.
All reputable pet food manufacturers include a feeding guide with their foods. One must remember that these guidelines provide a starting point only and that you will know within a relatively short period of time (1 to 2 weeks) if your animal is being over or under fed simply by observing his body. He should of course not appear gaunt but his ribs should be easily felt with your fingers. Unfortunately, far too many of the animals we see are overweight which predisposes them to a number of health problems.
Some dogs do not become adequately immunized against certain preventable diseases (Parvo most notably) until the puppy vaccines are complete. Therefore avoidance of locations where many dogs of unknown background congregate or have been seems to make sense. However puppies do need to to be socialized by being exposed to many sites, sounds, and experiences so we recommend taking them to less "canine intensive" sites and exposing them to known healthy, vaccinated dogs belonging to friends. Since some diseases and parasites are transmitted by exposure to feces, you need to control where your puppy puts his nose when on his walks.
Proper chew toys will keep your puppy happy and healthy. Having appropriate chew toys around can help minimize destructive chewing behavior, as your puppy gets older. We DO NOT recommend bones for chewing as they can lead to fractured teeth, GI upset or intestinal blockage.
Aspirin and ibuprofen can be fatal if used inappropriately, so please contact your vet before administering any medications.
Give chocolate to loved ones, and you could end up poisoning them. That is, if the loved ones are your pets. Even small amounts of theobromine, an ingredient in chocolate, can cause vomiting and restlessness in pets. Larger doses can be fatal. While most pet owners expect a dog to develop an upset stomach after eating a large amount of chocolate, few realize its toxic potential. The lethal dose of theobromine depends on the size of the dog and the type of chocolate. Ounce for ounce, baking chocolate has six to nine times as much of the substance as milk chocolate does.
Estimates of the smallest amounts that can be fatal are:
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4 to 10 ounces of milk chocolate or 1/2 to 1 ounce of baking chocolate for small dogs, such as Chihuahuas and toy poodles.
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1 to 1 1/2 pounds of milk chocolate or 2 to 3 ounces of baking chocolate for medium-sized dogs, like cocker spaniels and dachshunds.
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2 to 4 1/2 pounds of milk chocolate or 4 to 8 ounces of baking chocolate for large dogs, including collies and Labrador retrievers.
Cats have much different eating habits and seldom are poisoned by chocolate. While a very small amount of chocolate may not harm some dogs, it’s safest to avoid giving it to them at all. If an accident occurs, a veterinarian should be consulted. Treatment may require inducing vomiting, stabilizing the animal’s heartbeat and respiration, controlling seizures and slowing the absorption of theobromine. If the animal already is comatose, its stomach may need to be pumped.
