FAQs
1- When do you recommend to spay or neuter?
Dogs and cats should be spayed around 5-6 months preferably before the first heat cycle. At this age all baby teeth should have fallen out and the retained ones will need to be extracted.
2- Should my cat be on Heartworm preventive?
It is highly recommended. Even indoor cats are at high risk. In a recent study, 28 percent of the cats diagnosed with heartworm were inside only cats. Heartworms are transmitted by mosquitos, so even indoor cats can be at risk. Cats are infected with adult heartworms at about 10-15% of the dog rate as they are not natural host for this parasite. In many highly endemic areas for example Florida and Texas gulf coast, the adult heartworm infection rate is equal to or HIGHER than Felv and FIV infection rates.
Heartworms affect cats differently than dogs but the disease they cause is equally serious. Cats do not need an adult heartworm to exhibit clinical signs; in fact, larvae are main cause of problems. The “heartworm disease” is a misnomer, as it mostly affects the lungs in cats. Signs that can be seen in cats include loss of appetite, blindness, collapse, convulsions, coughing, difficulty breathing, vomiting/ diarrhea, lethargy, weight loss and even sudden death.
Diagnosis is difficult in cats and there is no approved products in the United States for the treatment of feline heartworm infection. Prevention is easy and should be continued all year round.
3- When should I declaw my kitten?
Declawing kittens when they are young leads to smoother and quick recoveries. We feel the best age for declawing is 10-12 weeks of age but can be done up to 6 months of age. Your kitten will receive pain medication with their anesthesia as well as local anesthetic to each paw. Padded bandages will be placed for the first night of recovery. The morning after surgery, the bandages will be removed and your kitten will be able to go home with pain medication that day. We recommend soft litter material (shredded newspaper can be used) for up to 10-14 days after surgery to prevent trauma.
4- My pet has a surgery scheduled, how do I prepare?
For routine elective surgeries, pet needs to be fasted overnight no food after 8:00 PM the night before surgery. Water can be available all night long but pick it up as soon as you get up. For diabetic patients or tiny patients, contact our office for more instructions. Pre surgery admission for procedures is between 7:30 - 8:00 AM.
5- Can I schedule my pet’s appointment via email?
You can request the date and time of appointment and the staff member will contact you. If you have an urgent problem or an emergency, it is better to call us directly.
6- Can I get estimates via email?
Each pet is different. You may request an estimate for a procedure via email and the staff member will contact you by phone to determine what is needed. Your pet must be seen by a doctor in order to provide an accurate treatment plan and associated costs.
7- Why does my cat need an annual exam? He seems just fine!
Animals by their very nature try to ‘HIDE’ their illnesses. Therefore, we strongly recommend complete physical exam every 6 months which includes parasite control and health screening through blood, urine and fecal tests. These are important components designed to prevent and diagnose diseases early in order to keep your pet living longer and healthy life.
8- My pet is in pain, can I give her something from my medicine cabinet?
The answer is NO!
Ibuprofen (aka Advil or Motrin) can definitely be toxic to dogs, cats and other pets- even in small amounts. Depending on the dose ingested, significant gastrointestinal damage or even kidney damage could result.
Tylenol can be very toxic/ life threatening to dogs and especially cats.
If you feel that your pet needs pain relief for any reason, we highly recommend that you get in touch with your veterinarian- even if you have not already.
9- Does the hospital bill for services?
No, all payments is due at time of service. For your convenience, we accept Cash, Check, Visa, MasterCard, Discover and Care Credit.
