Answers to Your Questions
The annual exam is much more than just a cursory check-up. It is most often during these exams that a veterinarian can pick up the early warning signs of a serious problem that will affect the dog in the future. Serious problems can often be corrected or at least slowed in progress when they are detected early.
Millions of dogs become lost each year. It is important that your dog has identification at all times. Technology has made it possible to equip your pet with a microchip for permanent identification. We carry Home Again microchips which gives you access to services such as the Home Again National Pet Recovery Database, 24/7 customer support, an emergency hotline, and more.
There are two ways to find out if your puppy or dog has intestinal worms. One is obvious; you will see the worms or worm segments in your dog’s stool. We have over the counter medication available to treat worms in either a pill, powder or liquid form.
There are many types of worms, but the most damaging ones are hardly visible. A fecal sample tested by your veterinarian is the best solution. In addition, you may wish to request that a blood sample be taken to screen for Heartworm infestation. Heartworms are fatal if not treated in a timely manner.
The veterinarian will draw blood and put it in a snap test. The test takes about 10 minutes and if the dog is negative, it can be given a ProHeart injection, be sent home with Interceptor Plus, or be given any heartworm product that day. Heartworm medication must be given all year around.
For puppies, they need a series of shots starting anytime after 6 weeks old. They receive a series of four shots, each 3 to 4 weeks apart. Before they are 12 weeks old, they will need a 5-way booster vaccination and when they are 12 weeks old they can get their rabies shot and a 9-way vaccination. We sell the 5- way, 9-way, and the rabies in the store but we recommend you get at least the rabies vaccination done by our vet to get the paperwork that goes with it.
The entire flea life cycle can take place in less than 3 weeks.
6 weeks. In 3 weeks, a flea can pass through its entire life cycle and can lay 1000 eggs. In another 3 weeks, those eggs can hatch and lay 1,000 eggs each, so within 6 weeks, it is possible to have a million new fleas.
To control a serious flea infestation indoors and outdoors, repeat treatment every 2 – 3 weeks for at least 6 weeks. Once the fleas are under control, maintenance requires treatment every 4 – 6 weeks thereafter. At the same time you’re treating the house and yard, use flea treatment such as Frontline or Advantix or Comfortis on the pet.
Having a basic understanding of pet nutrition and the nutrients provided by various ingredients will help you make an educated decision on which diet is best for your pet. Don’t forget, though, that a diet that has a perfect label or apparently perfect nutritional content may not necessarily work for your pet. We have samples of various foods that can help you make a decision of the best food to feed your dog or pet.
Vitamins are something that can be supplemented starting anytime. We have a variety of vitamins that provide extra calcium, iron and just an overall multivitamin. Once a dog gets older, over 6 or 7 depending on the breed, it is a good idea to supplement with a treat or vitamin that had extra glucosamine and chondroitin for the bones and joints of those older dogs.
Small-breed dogs are more likely to have dental disease than large-breed dogs because they generally do not chew on toys as much as large-breed dogs. Occasionally, small-breed dogs are fed a softer diet than that of large-breed dogs, which decreases the “scraping mechanism” that dry dog food plays on the teeth. Finally, there is likely some genetic predisposition in certain breeds that makes them more susceptible to dental diseases.
Feel free to give us a call at 405-733-4648!