Medicine

Rabies Vaccination

• Given subcutaneously
• First given at 14-16 weeks old
• Booster at 1 year, then once every 3 years
• Required by the state
• Core vaccine

Distemper, Parvovirus, Adenovirus, Parainfluenza Vaccination

• Given Subcutaneously
• 3 shot series (6-8 weeks, 10-12 weeks, 14-16 weeks)
• Booster at 1 year, then once every 3 years
• Core vaccine

Leptospirosis Vaccination

• Given Subcutaneously
• 11-12 weeks of age then booster at 15-16 weeks 
• Non-core vaccine, but recommended due to severity of disease in canine patients and zoonotic disease potential to humans

Bordetella Vaccination

• Given Intranasally
• Kennel Cough vaccine
• Non-core vaccine
• Generally required for boarding and grooming facilities

Heartworm Disease

• Spread through mosquitoes 
• Annual heartworm test and prevention for spring/summer/fall if patient remains in local area
• Annual heartworm test and year round prevention if patient travels outside of the area

Flea & Tick Prevention

• Recommended for spring/summer/fall if patient has outdoor lifestyle and remains in local area
• Recommended year round for patients traveling outside of local area

• Recommended in all patients with deworming as needed

• Age recommendation based on breed and size of patient
• Recommend subcutaneous microchipping at time of surgery 

• Preventative care strongly recommended at young age to acclimate pet to handling and oral care
• Manual teeth brushing
• Water additives
• Dental chews and treats
• Oral gels
• Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) approved dental preventative use recommended – see VOHC website for updated species specific recommendations

• VOHC® Accepted Products for Dogs

Rabies Vaccination

• Given subcutaneously
• First given at 14-16 weeks old
• Booster at 1 year, then once every 3 years
• Required by state
• Core Vaccine

Rhinotracheitis, Calici, Panluekopenia Vaccination

• Given subcutaneously
• 3 shot series (6-8 weeks, 10-12 weeks, 14-16 weeks)
• Booster at 1 year, then once every 3 years
• Core Vaccine

Feline Leukemia Vaccination

• Given subcutaneously
• Recommended for kittens and at risk adult cats (ex: spending time outdoors interacting with other cats of unknown status)
• Vaccinate at 8 weeks then booster at 11-12 weeks 
• Core vaccine for kittens and at risk adult cats, non-core vaccine for all indoor adult cats with no exposure

Worm Prevention

• Annual fecal exams recommended in all patients with deworming as needed
• Periodic fecal exams and deworming recommended for outdoor cats who hunt

Flea, tick, intestinal parasite, and heartworm prevention

• Recommended depending on patient lifestyle
• Cats spending time outdoors – prevention recommended year round
• Strictly indoor cats – prevention recommended as needed (based on lifestyle)

• 4 months of age and older
• Recommend subcutaneous microchipping at time of surgery

• Dental preventative care strongly recommended at young age to acclimate pet to handling and oral care
• Manual teeth brushing
• Water additives
• Dental chews and treats
• Oral gels
• Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) approved dental preventative use recommended – see VOHC website for updated species specific recommendations

General care:

• VOHC® Accepted Products for Cats
• How to Feed a Cat
• Feline House-Soiling
• Your Cat’s Environmental Needs
• Getting Your Cat to the Veterinarian 
• Caring for your Older Cat
• Alternatives to Declawing

Common disease Info:

• FeLV and FIV
• What Can I Catch from my Cat?
• Feline Diabetes
• Degenerative Joint Disease in Cats
• Feline Hyperthyroidism

Laboratory Testing

When your pet is sick or injured, they can’t tell us what’s wrong. A thorough physical exam and history (symptoms you’ve noted at home) are the first important steps. If the diagnosis is not immediately evident upon initial assessment, your veterinarian will recommend specific diagnostic tests. These may include:

• Determination of blood cell counts: changes in white blood cell count, red blood cell counts, and platelet counts can indicate problems such as anemia, dehydration, infection, auto-immune disease, and certain types of cancerous conditions
• Blood chemistry tests: these tests assess liver function, kidney function, blood sugar, blood proteins, calcium and phosphorus levels, and pancreatic function.
• Electrolyte tests: Sodium, potassium, and chloride levels may be abnormal when your pet is dehydrated or having fluid losses through vomiting or diarrhea. Intravenous fluids and/or supplementation may be indicated when electrolytes are severely deranged.
• SNAP tests: point-of-care “snap” tests are available for certain infectious diseases such as Feline Leukemia and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus, Canine Parvovirus, Giardia, and Leptospirosis.
• Coagulation tests: these tests detect deficiency in clotting disorders, which can be present in cases of certain kinds of rodenticide poisoning and in severe liver disease/failure
• Microscopy: microscopic evaluation of bodily fluids including blood, urine; samples of skin and ear secretions, and needle biopsies of swellings or tumors can be performed in-clinic to assist in the diagnosis of systemic diseases, urinary disorders, skin and ear diseases, and differentiation of benign vs. cancerous tumors.

Blood and/or urine samples may be collected from your pet for point-of-care testing, or reference lab tests. Point-of-care tests are those tests that are done on-site in our hospital so as to be able to determine results and make treatment recommendations in the most timely fashion possible. In other cases, lab samples may need to be sent off to off-site laboratories (reference laboratories) – when the test cannot be performed with in-hospital lab equipment, or when the test results are not needed urgently.

Our veterinary team will help explain which tests are most important for your pet. It is very important to us to include you in the decision-making process for your pet, so please don’t hesitate to ask a question if you need clarification.

Diagnostic Imaging (X-Rays, Ultrasound, etc.)

Imaging such as x-rays or ultrasound, which allows diagnosis of conditions of the heart and lungs, gastrointestinal obstruction, tumors of the internal organs or bones, fluid in the chest or abdominal cavity, urinary stones or gallstones, reproductive diseases, and bone/joint disorders. For most patients, gentle restraint can be used for these procedures, however, in some cases, sedation may be necessary.

Diagnostic testing is an important step in the development of a treatment plan for your pet, allowing your veterinarian to most effectively target the underlying problem(s) and assess the probability of successful treatment. Your veterinarian can explain the purpose of each diagnostic test for your pet, and help prioritize which tests may be most helpful in determining the cause of your pet’s illness.