Frequently Asked Questions/Pet Clinic |
I have a new puppy. When should I start vaccinations? Vaccinations are generally started at 6-8 weeks of age. A distemper combination (DHLLP) is given every 3-4 weeks until the puppy reaches 16 weeks of age. The distemper combination is typically boostered annually, however other vaccine options also exist. The rabies vaccine is given at 16 weeks of age and is good for one year. After that, the rabies vaccine is administered every three years. Are there any other vaccinations required for dogs? The rabies vaccine is required by law for dogs. In addition, all dogs should have a distemper combination vaccine on an annual basis. Dogs that attend daycare and boarding facilities, receive grooming services, or participate in group training classes are required to receive the Bordetella vaccine. This is a series of two injections given 3-4 weeks apart, then boostered annually. It can also be provided as an intransal as well. Dogs that frequent environments where deer ticks reside should be immunized against Lyme disease. Lyme vaccine is also administered in a series of two injections, 3-4 weeks apart and then boostered annually. I have a new kitten. When should I start vaccinations? Vaccinations for kittens are generally started at 6-8 weeks of age. A distemper combination (FVR-CP) is given every 3-4 weeks until the kitten reaches 12 weeks of age. It is then boostered annually. The rabies immunization, while not required by law, is highly recommended. It is given at 16 weeks of age and is good for one year. After that, rabies vaccines are administered every three years. I want to bring a new cat or kitten into my home. Do I need to test my new pet before introducing it to other family members? We strongly suggest testing for feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus. These diseases are both highly contagious and fatal for cats and family members. Prior to bringing any new kitten or cat into your home, your pet should receive the FeLv/FIV test to check for these serious viruses. A simple blood test provides results in 15 minutes. If the test results are negative and your cat will spend time outdoors, we advise immunizing against feline leukemia with a two-shot series given 3-4 weeks apart and then annually. At what age can my pet be spayed or neutered? Spaying or neutering should take place by 6 months of age. Spaying a female prior to her first heat cycle significantly reduces the incidence of mammary tumors, ovarian cancer, and uterine infection, and has the obvious benefit of no unplanned pregnancies. Neutering a male pet at 6 months helps prevent future prostate problems and greatly reduces the occurrence of serious behavior issues, such as inappropriate elimination ("marking territory"), aggressiveness, and the desire to run in search of a mate. In addition, many daycare facilities, including The Animal House Groom & Board, cannot accept unneutered dogs after 6 months of age. Why does my dog need to be tested for heartworm disease prior to putting him on heartworm preventative? It is important to test your pet for heartworm disease before starting preventative to ensure the heartworm parasite has not already been contracted. My pet is really sick or hurt and I want to get in immediately. Will you take emergency or urgent care patients? Yes, during regular business hours. If you are concerned, your pet can be seen that day. Please call first so we can do an assessment over the phone to determine urgency and how to most efficiently handle your pet’s problem. When the clinic is closed, emergency care is provided by the Green Bay Animal Emergency Center, located at 933 Anderson Dr #F, Green Bay, 920-494-9400. What type of payment do you accept? We accept cash, check, MasterCard, Visa, and Discover. Payment is required at the time of service. Is it really safe to put my pet under anesthesia for a procedure? Any time anesthesia is administered, a certain amount of risk exists. If your pet is generally healthy and in the normal weight range, it is likely the risk will be slight. In almost all cases the health benefits of performing the procedure are far greater than the anesthetic risk. To decrease risk to the lowest possible level, we recommend a pre-anesthetic screen on all pets, healthy or not, prior to all anesthetic procedures. This simple blood test, performed the morning of surgery, flags our veterinarians for possible complications by assessing kidney and liver values, glucose levels, etc. Should there be a health concern, additional testing may also may be advised prior to the scheduled procedure. When should I bring in a stool sample? Typically your adult pet is checked for intestinal parasites once a year, during the annual exam. If you have a puppy, we recommend running two fecal tests several weeks apart to ensure your puppy is parasite free. If your pet is sick with vomiting and diarrhea we will also ask that you bring in a sample at the time of your office visit. Pets can pick parasites up very easily from other animals. Undiagnosed parasites make your pet miserable and can result in chronic diarrhea. It is important for your pet’s health and comfort to follow our guidelines. |
Services FAQ
