• My pet is scheduled for surgery.What do I need to do to prepare?
• At what age does my pet receive his/her first shots?
• When is my pet ready to be spayed/neutered?
• Why does my pets breath smell bad?
• Why does my pet scoot its rear end on the ground?
• At what age do puppies get their tails docked and dewclaws removed?
• My dog is on heartworm prevention year round. Why does my dog need to be tested once a year?
• When does my female pet come into heat?
• What do I do if my pet is having a difficult time urinating?
• My pet urinates frequently. What should I do?
• How do I know if my pet has worms?
• When is the best time to vaccinate my pregnant mare?
• I think my horse is showing signs of colic. What do I do?
  
  

The night before scheduled surgery, do not give any food or water after 8:00pm. Also have your pet admitted to the clinic to later than 8:30am the morning of surgery. Your pet will be ready to go home around 4:00pm at the earliest, unless otherwise specified. The clinic will call you if your pet is ready at any earlier time.

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Your pet should receive its first shots at 6 weeks old. See puppy and kitten vaccination schedule under FORMS.

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Your pet is ready to be spayed or neutered at 4-6months of age. Please call the clinic to schedule surgery for your pet.

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Most often, bad breath is caused by dental or periodontal disease. All dogs and cats are prone to dental plaque, tartar, and disease. Your pets may require a dental exam and possible scaling and polishing at least once yearly. Internal problems and complications may also contribute to bad breath. It is recommended to visit with your veterinarian to discover the cause of bad breath and to maintain proper health for your pet.

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This is a common problem and happens frequently. It probably means your pet’s anal glands are full and needs to be “expressed” or emptied. They can also become infected which can make your pet feel uncomfortable. Scooting may also be caused by parasites. It is recommended to have a fecal examination performed on your pet. There are also other medical conditions which can be causing your pet to scoot. To relieve your pet from discomfort, set up an appointment with your veterinarian.

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For certain breeds of dogs, some owners may decide to dock the tails and remove dewclaws. The recommended time to remove tails and dewclaws is 3-5 days of age. Surgery to remove your pet tail or dewclaws can be performed at any age. Contact the clinic to schedule an appointment.

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As a safeguard, Dr. Patin highly recommends annual heartworm testing-even for pets that are on heartworm preventative medicine. It is necessary to have a heartworm test prior to using any preventative. Severe or fatal reactions may occur if preventatives are given to dogs with heartworm disease. All the manufacturers of heartworm preventative, as well as the American Heartworm Society, recommend testing to prevent serious complications.

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The average female will come into heat at approximately 6-12 months of age. The heat cycle can lasts 2-3 weeks. If your pet is in heat longer than three weeks consult the veterinarian for an exam.

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Consult the veterinarian as soon as possible. This may be an indication of several serious problems that need immediate attention such as kidney and bladder stones, diseased kidneys, or infection.

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Frequent urinating can be a sign of many diseases. Consult a veterinarian as soon as possible.

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Some parasites cannot be seen by the eye alone, therefore a fecal examination should be performed to detect any of these parasites. It is important with young puppies and kittens that a fecal exam be done. Severe infestation can lead to illness, anemia, or even death.

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It is recommended to vaccinate 4 to 6 weeks before the due date of the foal. This will help boost the foal’s immune system. The mare should have all vaccinations prior to breeding to prevent abortion and also Equine Rhinopneumonitis vaccine every two months after breeding.

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Some signs of colic include rolling, biting at the sides of the body, not eating, chronic movement of lying down and getting up. Even if you are unsure, you should always consult the veterinarian as a precaution. Colic can be a serious issue if not handled in a timely manner.

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