FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Question 2

I have been told my pet needs its teeth cleaned regularly. Is this really that important?

Answer 2 – The tartar and staining on your pet’s teeth actually contain bacteria. Left untreated, it can cause premature periodontal disease, heart disease, liver disease, and kidney failure. Dental care is important for a long, healthy life.

Question 3

Where are the heartworms?

Answer 3 – Heartworms are parasites that dogs and cats can get from mosquitoes. The mosquito bites them, depositing larvae that migrate to the heart where they become adults. Despite fur, mosquitoes can still bite dogs and cats and transmit the disease. To protect your pet it is important to have yearly heartworm testing and keep them on a monthly preventative at home. There is no treatment for cats, therefore prevention is imperative. Heartworms are only directly transmitted between pets by a mosquito bite.

Question 4

My pet needs to have surgery, but I am concerned about anesthesia. Is it safe?

Answer 4 – There is always a risk with anesthesia, however, that risk is minimal if appropriate steps are taken before and during surgery. A thorough physical examination will be done to make sure there are no apparent abnormalities. If there are any abnormalities, we will discuss what we believe may be a better treatment protocol for your pet prior to anesthesia. During anesthesia, a technician will monitor your pet continuously.

Question 5

Are there diseases I can get from my pet?

Answer 5 – Yes, but with routine veterinary care your risk should be minimal. The most common diseases are intestinal parasites, giardia, leptospirosis, ringworm, toxoplasmosis, cat scratch fever, and rabies. We recommend every pet’s feces be examined twice yearly for intestinal parasites because humans are at risk of getting parasites from pets. Leptospirosis and rabies are both diseases that can be vaccinated for. Our veterinarians can discuss preventative health plans to help keep your pet and family safe.