What Kind Of Vaccinations Does My Pet Need?
	Does My Pet Need To Have Their Teeth Cleaned?
	Rates For Vaccinations, etc.
	What Is “Heat” And How Do I Know My Pet Is In Heat?
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What Kind Of Vaccinations Does My Pet Need?

Vaccinations are injections of dead virus or infection particles that help your body build up immunity to that disease. Because pets are initially protected by the antibodies passed from their mother, they do not need shots until those antibodies start wearing off a few weeks into their lives.

Every pet should have blood work done yearly after they reach 3 years of age to detect illnesses before they become problems.

Heartworm tests should be done yearly on outdoor pets 6 months and older to prevent heartworm infestations. Medications such as Prevention will be given to stop heartworm infestations before they start.

Kittens
We recommend testing your kitten for Feline Leukemia (FeLV) and Feline AIDS (FIV) before exposing them to any other pets in your household. This test takes 10 minutes, and costs only $30. This test is strongly recommended, and can assure you that your kitten can physically cope with the vaccination series.

Kittens need a 2-shot series. These shots are spaced 4 weeks apart, an initial shot, and then a booster, to allow the kitten to build up antibodies for the shots they have been given before another shot is distributed.

The first shot is the feline distemper vaccination (FVRCPC), followed by the feline leukemis (FeLV) vaccination after 9 weeks of age, and the rabies vaccination after the kitten is 12 weeks old. Booster shots for each of these vaccinations will follow 4 weeks later.

Puppies
Puppies need a 3-shot series starting at 8-10 weeks of age, with 4 weeks ebetween shots.

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Does My Pet Need To Have Their Teeth Cleaned?

Tooth decay and periodontal disease is just as threatening to animals as it is to people. Untreated tooth decay often leads to bad breath, tooth loss, and serious infections. The heart, kidneys, and liver can be weakened over time by the constant addition of bacteria to their bloodstream.

Stage 1
The first sign of gingivitis in your pet is bad breath, which is not present in dogs with healthy teeth. In addition to this, the dog’s gums will be swollen, and a thin layer of buildup will be present on the teeth near the gumline. At this point in the disease, your pet’s gums are swollen and trapping bacteria beneath them.

Stage 2
Early periodontal disease is indicated by severely swollen gums and increased bad breath. Your pet’s jawbone is being eroded by the bacteria trapped under their gums, and their gums bleed when probed.

Stage 3
Indicated by bleeding gums, a 50% loss of gum attachment to the teeth, and repulsive breath. At this point, bone loss is accelerated due to the high amounts of bacteria in the dog’s mouth. Teeth move when you wiggle them.

Stage 4
The final stage in the disease. Gums have receded significantly, and they bleed easily. Food and pus are trapped beneath the buildup on the animal’s teeth. Breath odor is overwhelming. Teeth move easily when wiggled.

Periodontal disease can be prevented by feeding a proper diet, and having regular dental exams and cleanings. Call us today to schedule your pet's dental cleaning!

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Rates for Vaccinations

This information can be found with our other rates.

What Is “Heat” And How Do I Know My Pet Is In Heat?

“Heat” is the period when your female dog or cat is available for mating.

Cats

The signs of heat in cats are distinct:

• She will yowl or meow loudly. This may go on for several days or until she mates.
• She may become unusually affectionate and rub her hindquarters against furniture, people, or other cats.
• She may stand in the mating position with her upper body lowered to the ground, her hind-end raised, and her tail held high and to the side. She may also tread rhythmically with her hind legs.

If she doesn’t mate, she will go back into this state continuously for 5 to 14 days every 2 to 3 weeks until she is bred or spayed. This means you can’t just ignore your cat’s heat cycle hoping it will go away.

It is best to spay your cat at a young age, at about 5½ to 6 months of age to prevent the discomfort of the heat cycle, and to prevent unwanted kittens.

Spayed cats also have fewer health problems than unspayed cats.

Dogs

The signs of heat in dogs are distinct:

• She will have a reddened and noticeably swollen vulva.
• There will be bleeding from the vulva, which will cease for the fertile period, and then return after if the dog is not bred.
• Her nipples will swell and change shape and color.
• She may rub her rear on the ground, or against other objects or animals.

If a dog is not mated when in heat, she will finish the heat cycle (length varies from dog to dog), and go back into heat approximately four months later.

It is best to spay a dog when she is not in heat (6 months of age for small dogs, 10 months of age for large breeds).

Like cats, a spayed dog may have fewer health problems, and be less trouble for the owner.

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