Geriatric Gauge

As a pet parent, you know a lot about your dog's habits and routines. But will you know when your dog's kidneys begin to slow down? Since your dog can't tell you how she is feeling, regular wellness visits are essential in detecting the developments that come with aging.

In these exams, we can discuss proper senior nutrition, how to keep your senior dog active and do blood work to check for certain health problems and diseases. When caught early enough, many diseases can be properly treated, slowed down or, sometimes, even cured completely. Why not be proactive when it comes to your dog's health?

By maintaining a regular senior wellness exam schedule, issues can be diagnosed and managed or corrected before any serious damage occurs. Ensure your dog lives a health and active life for as long as possible!

Schedule an appointment today!

(PS: You have two more days to get $25 off the Senior Wellness Diagnostics Package!)

In Dog Years

You may have more in common with your pet than you realize. Like humans, dogs need to get health care more often as they grow older. We recommend that senior dogs visit us at least twice a year; more often if certain health issues are present. Just like people, dogs can develop arthritis, diabetes, cancer, hearing loss, liver and kidney disease, hypothyroidism and various other diseases. Wellness visits can help diagnose some of these diseases earlier or, in some cases, prevent them altogether.

Don't assume new behavior is just because of "old age." If you notice any change in your dog's behavior, be sure to contact us about the concerns you have. These behavioral changes can be signs of very treatable medical problems. Improve your dog 's quality of life and help make the "golden years" as comfortable as possible - maintain a proper wellness visit schedule!

Set up your appointment today! And, get $25 off the Senior Wellness Diagnostics Package during the month of September.

Get with the Program

Just like anything else that is good for your pup, vaccinations are best when used in moderation. Underuse can leave your dog exposed and vulnerable to potentially serious diseases, and overuse can cause other issues and concerns. The only way to ensure your dog's vaccination protocol is correct for his unique situation is to maintain his annual - or more frequent! - wellness exams.

These exams give us an opportunity to review your pup's current health status, administer vaccination titer tests and adjust his vaccination schedule if changes in your dog's health or lifestyle warrant it. They are, without a doubt, the best tool we have for ensuring your best friend's continued good health.

Regardless of whether your pup requires vaccinations, his personalized wellness exam schedule should be maintained to help protect your happy future together!

If your pet is due or overdue for a vaccination, schedule an appointment today! And don't forget - you can get 15% off a wellness exam through the end of August (only 6 more days)!

Inoculation Intervals

There has been a lot of debate recently about what a proper vaccination schedule for your dog should look like. Some vaccinations, like rabies, have their frequency dictated by state, provincial or local laws. Other vaccinations have recommended guidelines for when they should be given initially and how often boosters should occur. And for other vaccinations, titer tests have developed that help determine if your pup is still inoculated against the disease the vaccine was designed to protect him from.

The bottom line to all of this is that vaccination schedules are no longer cut and dried. We take into account your dog's age, lifestyle, current health status, environment, and many other factors when determining which vaccines are appropriate for your best friend and how often they should be administered. If a vaccination protocol has not yet been established for your pup, contact us today to schedule a review of his current health status and set up his vaccination program!

If your pet is due or overdue for a vaccination, schedule an appointment today! And get 15% off wellness exams through the end of August!

Epidemic Obstacle

While vaccinations should never be considered a guarantee that your dog will not contract a disease, they provide the best available protection for your canine companion against serious illnesses. Vaccines are available for a variety of diseases, but the most commonly used vaccines protect against the following:

Distemper

A viral disease that causes systemic infection in canines. Survivable, but with costly treatment and long-term, adverse health effects.

Canine Parvovirus

An extremely infectious disease with a high mortality rate if untreated. Transmitted by both direct and indirect contact with infected feces.

Canine Hepatitis

A virus that attacks the liver and kidneys and can cause chronic health issues.

Rabies

A deadly disease that attacks the brain and spinal cord. It is fatal if contracted.

If your pet is due or overdue for a vaccination, schedule an appointment today! And, through the end of August, get 15% off a wellness exam.

Your Four-Legged Travel Buddy

Bringing your dog along on a family vacation can be a wonderful experience for everyone, especially if you've carefully prepared.

Traveling by Air

Reserve a space for your dog on the plane with you. In-cabin flying is safer for your pet and allows you to be close. (If your pet isn't allowed to travel in-cabin, we strongly recommend you board her at home rather than send her as cargo.) Your pet will have to go through security, just like you. While your dog will not be required to go through the X-ray machine, your carrier might, so be sure to bring a leash.

Traveling by Car

Your dog should be securely restrained in some way whenever she's in the car. That may mean using a carrier, a special car harness or seat belt for your dog. Use a seat belt to securely anchor the carrier during transit. Your dog should ride in the backseat of the car, and you should never leave your dog in the car alone.

Schedule your travel preparation appointment today - get 15% off through the end of July!

Planes, Trains, Automobiles - And Your Dog

Traveling can be a stressful experience all by itself. Adding your dog can make it even more hairy. Here are some tips for a smooth trip.

If you're flying...

Research your airline's policies regarding pet travel. Some airlines allow dogs below a certain size to ride in the cabin, but only to certain destinations and with specific carriers.

If you're traveling by car...

Get your dog used to car rides by taking short trips first; then increasing the trip length. Study your route so you can identify where to take rest stops. Also, identify veterinary practices at your destination, just in case. We would be happy to share our recommendations.

The most important travel preparation you can make is to visit our office. We can make sure your dog is up-to-date on vaccinations and provide appropriate paperwork. We can also microchip your pooch if she doesn't already have one. Make sure your contact information is up-to-date with the registry and on your dog's collar and tag.

Set up your travel preparation appointment today, and save 15% on travel prep/wellness exams through the month of July!