Preventative Medicine

We strive to offer the safest protocols for your pets. In accordance with recent changing recommendations, we have lengthened many vaccination intervals from annually to every three years. With your input, we will tailor an individual vaccination protocol for your dog.

Optional (Non-Core) Vaccines
Administration of these vaccines is based on individual patient risk.

Though reactions are rare, we like to educate every owner about possible complications. If you notice anything abnormal following vaccination of your pet, please call immediately. Vaccine reactions can be as mild as lethargy or as severe as facial swelling, hives or signs of shock.

We strive to offer the safest protocols for your pets. In accordance with recent changing recommendations, we have lengthened many vaccination intervals from annually to every three years. With your input, we will tailor an individual vaccination protocol for your dog.

Optional (Non-core) Vaccines
Administration of these vaccines is based on individual patient risk.

To summarize: FIV, FIP, Giardia, Chlamydia and Bordetella vaccines not routinely recommended for companion felines.

Though reactions are rare, we like to educate every owner about possible complications. If you notice anything abnormal following vaccination of your cat, please call immediately. Vaccine reactions can be as mild as lethargy or as severe as facial swelling, hives or signs of shock.

Leptospirosis is a serious bacterial disease that can be life threatening and is transmissible to humans. There are over 250 strains of the disease, many of which affect dogs. Currently we can vaccinate against four of these strains. The disease has become much more prevalent in the past 10 years and is on the rise.

How do dogs acquire the infection?
Common carriers of this disease include rats, skunks, possums, raccoons and small rodents. The organism is shed in their urine and can be picked up by dogs through sniffing of infected urine (soil), ingestion, bite wounds and contact with urine-contaminated water. Infected dogs can also act as a source of infection to other dogs and even people.

What are the signs of Leptospirosis?
Leptospirosis most commonly affects the liver and/or kidneys. Clinical signs may include fever, vomiting, lethargy, not eating, weight loss, excessive drinking and urinating, abdominal pain, back pain, diarrhea, jaundice, clotting dysfunction and joint pain.

What is the treatment?
Antibiotics are reasonably effective if they are begun promptly. However these dogs are generally so sick that hospitalization and intensive nursing care, including intravenous fluids, are required. The disease can be fatal (in 11 to 27 percent of cases), or cause permanent organ damage.

How Can Leptospirosis Be Prevented?
Vaccination. The parvo/distemper combination vaccination for dogs is now available with four strains of Leptospirosis protection. We have had vaccines against the serovars Icterohaemorrhagiae and Canicola since the 1960’s. But more commonly in our area disease is due to serovars Pomona and Grippotyphosa, which are included in this newer vaccine. More strains of protection are due on the market in the future.

Boostering the Vaccine
If this is the first time your dog is receiving this additional Leptospirosis coverage then your dog will need to return in about 3 weeks for a booster vaccination. Because this vaccine is new to the dog’s immune system it is given as a series of two injections to stimulate adequate protection. A technician will give this booster vaccine and you pay only the cost of the booster. Annual vaccinations are then needed to maintain proper immunity.

Can the vaccine cause reactions?
Of all the components of a dog’s annual vaccinations, the Leptospirosis portion is considered most likely to cause a reaction. However the company manufacturing the four Leptospirosis strain combination vaccine uses special technology to reduce the potential for adverse reactions. 1% of dogs in the PDA safety studies exhibited signs of reaction. These included lethargy, injection site pain, injection site swelling and itching at the injection site. More serious reactions can occur (from facial swelling to anaphylactic shock), but are even less common.

Miniature and toy breeds
Miniature and toy breeds such as the Chihuahua, Miniature Dachshund, Fox Terrier and Maltese had a three times greater incidence of reaction than larger breed dogs, especially as puppies. Even so, reactions were infrequent. We take all this into account when assessing risk versus benefit for vaccination.

How common is Leptospirosis?
Unfortunately, Leptospirosis is prevalent in our region. We recommend vaccination for dogs that are “at risk.” This is why we discuss the disease with every owner to determine your pet’s environment and lifestyle and potential for contracting the disease. Though we strive to educate and inform, ultimately the vaccine decision is yours. You can elect to have your pet vaccinated against the common canine viruses without any Leptospirosis protection. We feel that for most patients the benefits of protection outweigh the risk of vaccination.

Leptospirosis is zoonotic.  That means people can get it.  They can get it through contacting urine of infected animals including their own pets if the pet is shedding the bacteria.  Vaccinating reduces bacterial shedding in the urine thereby protecting the owners as well.  Leptospirosis can cause liver and kidney damage in people as well.  It can, in some cases, be fatal.

Periodontal disease is the number one disease of pets today. It is a diagnosis common to all pets, in all age groups, becoming more advanced with age. This disease affects 85% of middle-aged dogs and cats, but can affect pets as early as nine months of age. It is, however, a very preventable disease.

Factors that influence the development of oral disease include genetics, diet and home care. Many veterinarians believe that there is no more beneficial procedure for our pets than periodic professional dental cleanings coupled with home dental care.

Periodontitis, inflammation of the tissues and structures surrounding the teeth, not only causes bad breath but more importantly, pain, discomfort and potential tooth loss. A pet with periodontitis can send a bacterial shower into the bloodstream every time they chew. These bacteria can affect the heart valves, lungs, liver and kidneys.

Clinical signs of disease in the oral cavity may include bad breath, excessive salivation, appetite changes, facial swelling, weight loss, pawing at the mouth and behavioral changes. Many of our clients are surprised when we point out dental disease in their pets on physical exam. A thorough oral exam is one of the most important parts of our physical exam. Inevitably, we suggest home dental care and perhaps professional dental care for your pets, depending on severity. Home dental care is a classic example of preventative medicine.

We can’t change the genetic code of your pet, but we can significantly slow the progression of dental disease through home care.

We teach all puppy and kitten owners basic teeth brushing techniques as part of grooming and training. Daily brushing is ideal. It takes 6-8 hours for bacteria to attach to the tooth’s surface. The bacteria then absorb calcium from saliva and become mineralized, forming tartar or calculus. This is why brushing is recommended daily, to continually break this cycle. While brushing a few times a week is helpful, brushing weekly does not inhibit the formation of calculus. Do not use human toothpaste when brushing your pet’s teeth. Human toothpaste may cause tummy upset and the fluoride levels can be toxic to their kidneys. We recommend and sell CET enzymatic toothpaste, in chicken and vanilla mint flavor.

Though there is no substitute for brushing, because it mechanically breaks up the plaque, there are other home care options when brushing simply is not possible. These include swabbing the teeth with medicated wipes, rinsing the mouth with an antiseptic prescription rinse and offering chews, such as CET Enzymatic Chews and Greenies. While chewing on hard crunchy foods and treats may reduce calculus, be aware that chewing on real bones, rocks and even ice can cause fractures of the teeth.

Start home dental care now. Incorporate this as part of your puppy/kitty training program. This is one of the best gifts you can give your pet!

We recommend spay/neuter at five to six months of age, prior to sexual maturity. Sexual maturity generally occurs between five and twelve months of age, depending on genetics.

An ovariohysterectomy, or spay, involves the complete surgical removal of a female’s ovaries and uterus. The ovaries produce hormones that are responsible for heat cycles and potential behavior problems. It is a myth that females should be allowed to go through one heat cycle before spaying. If sterilization occurs before the first heat cycle the incidence of mammary cancer development later in life is greatly reduced.

In the case of some large and giant breed dogs, we recommend waiting until 18 months of age to spay.  This allows more complete development and closure of the growth plates in the bones reducing the incidence of developmental orthopedic disease (hip dysplasia, etc.).  Dr. Steve can discuss if this is the right choice for you and your dog. 

Spaying also prevents pyometra, a serious uterine infection. This condition causes the pet to be very sick and can be fatal. Emergency surgery is usually required.

Often our male clients cringe at the mention of castration, but as with females the benefits are lifelong. Neutering is the male sterilization procedure. It involves the surgical removal of the testicles. One of the most important benefits involves the prostate gland, which under the influence of testosterone will gradually enlarge over the course of the dog’s life. This enlargement can become uncomfortable and affect bowel and urinary function. Prostatic infections can also occur and can seed to the kidneys. Other health benefits of neutering include the prevention of certain types of tumors of the testicles and anus.

In addition to the health benefits, some undesirable, hormone-driven behaviors can be controlled. Intact male dogs and cats are prone to wander in search of females, increasing their risk of fighting with unvaccinated/diseased animals and being hit by cars. Females in heat may vocalize excessively, show nervous or anxious behavior and attract unwanted males.

Spaying and neutering is also a commitment to your community. Approximately 71 percent of cats and kittens, and 55 percent of dogs and puppies entering shelters are euthanized. One female cat and her offspring can produce 420,000 cats in 7 years. One female dog and her offspring can produce 67,000 dogs in 6 years.

Veterinary science has proven that spaying/neutering your pet is in the best interest of your pet’s health. Please don’t avoid this routine surgery because of myths or fears. We strive to make this one-time procedure as safe and pain-free as possible. Please discuss any questions or concerns about these procedures with our staff!

If you have a large breed, deep-chested dog, you should consider a prophylactic gastropexy (stomach tacking) at the time of neuter or spay.  Large breed deep chest dogs, especially Great Danes, are predisposed to Bloat.  This is a condition where the stomach fills with gas and can flip on itself closing off flow of gas and ingesta.  The stomach continues to fill with gas and puts pressure on the main vessels giving blood flow to vital organs in the abdomen.  It is often fatal.  We encourage you to read more about it here:https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951541

While the stomach filling with gas is not fatal, the flipping or twisting of the stomach is.  We can prevent this by tacking the stomach to the inside of the abdominal wall.  This can be done at the time of spay or neuter for an additional fee.

Bloat is termed the “Mother of All Emergencies” for a reason.  Prevention, especially in Great Danes, is key.  St. Bernards and Weimeraners are second and third for incidence of bloat.  Other breeds can be affected.