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Must
I always have an appointment to see a veterinarian?
We welcome
"walk-ins." You may come anytime to our office. You will have
less waiting time when you schedule an appointment in advance.
For that reason, we encourage you to make an appointment at
a time convenient for you. However, there are always unexpected
emergencies and these have first priority!
What
if my pet has a medical emergency after regular office hours?
We are
open 60 hours a week, but unfortunately emergencies occur
when we are closed on nights or weekends. After hours, our
office phone calls are forwarded to the Brandon Veterinary
Specialists. The clinic is staffed with professionals who specialize
in emergency care. There is always a veterinarian with staff
ready to help you. If necessary, your pet can remain hospitalized
overnight. They provide continuous veterinary care and monitoring
throughout the night. The next morning, your pet is discharged
and returns to our care.
What
are heartworms and how does my pet get them?
Heartworms
are deadly internal parasites 10-14 inches long that live
in the hearts of dogs and cats. Mosquitoes transmit heartworms.
We recommend that all dogs and cats (in our area) receive
heartworm preventative medication year round.
What
is the best way to prevent fleas on my pet?
There
are several excellent safe prescription products for flea
control. The choice of which product should be made with the
help of our trained staff. Over the counter flea products
are usually not strong enough to do the job and some have
potentially harmful side effects.
My
pet has bad breath! What does teeth cleaning involve?
Since
dogs and cats can't brush their teeth, it is common for them
to have periodontal disease as early as 3 years of age. Once
this inflammation begins, it not only causes bad breath, but
tooth and gum disease leading to infections in the blood and
other organs. Pet's teeth should be cleaned and they must
be anesthetized to properly scale, clean and polish their
teeth. Prior to anesthesia, their overall health status is
evaluated-including a blood test to "look" at their internal
organ function. It is like lifting the hood of your car to
see inside to evaluate the engine. If all looks good, your
pet is admitted one morning and discharged in the afternoon
with healthy gums, pretty white teeth, and sweet breath.
How
often should my pet be examined by a veterinarian?
Puppies
and kittens should be seen at birth, at 3 weeks, and at 6
weeks to start their scheduled immunizations. Adult dogs and
cats should be seen at least once a year. Remember that pets
age 5-7 times faster than we humans. One year in their life
is equal to 5-7 years of our lives. Senior pets should have
a thorough wellness exam at least every 6 months.
What
are some signs that my pet is sick?
Some animals
tend to hide their pain and sickness to avoid appearing weak
or vulnerable to other animals. Symptoms may be vague or very
subtle. Some symptoms that should make you suspicious of illness
include:
- weight
loss
- loss
of appetite
- changes
in bowel movements or urination
- changes
in sleep habits
- less
playfulness or unusual behavior
- loss
of hair or change in appearance of coat
What
and how often should my pet eat?
We strongly
recommend feeding premium pet foods, although premium pet
foods cost more per pound, pets consume less. Therefore, the
real cost per week is not much more than a grocery store variety
of food. Plus, you will be proud of your pet's beautiful hair
coat and their vitality when they eat premium foods. Premium
(prescription) diets have less "filler" so there is less stool
left in the yard. Feed once or twice a day depending on your
pet's preference.
What
vaccines does my cat or dog need?
We believe
that a vaccination program should be tailored to meet each
individual pet's needs. You and Dr. Slaughter, Dr. Waldy or
Dr. Ott will decide which vaccines are necessary for each
pet, and how frequently the vaccines are needed.
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