PREVENTATIVE MEDICINE is everything you can do to keep your pet healthy and detect problems before they threaten his or her quality of life.  Much of this area involves educating the client to give ideal daily care at home.  Please do not hesitate to ask us questions you may have about keeping your pet free of disease.  We would be happy to share what we do to keep our own pets healthy with our clients.

• Your pet should have a thorough physical examination at least annually and preferably every six months.  This is especially important for the very young and the aging animals. Evaluation will include checking eyes, ears, nose, lymph nodes, nervous system, heart and lungs, palpation of the abdomen, skin and  nail evaluation,  body condition scoring and assessment of any pain that may be troubling the animal.  Please bring any concerns to our attention at each visit.
• Vaccinations are recommended based on risk of exposure for each animal in its environment, health condition, history, and activities.  Here are some examples:
• Rabies, for example, can affect any warm blooded animal including humans, and is deadly.  Vaccination for rabies rarely causes any problems and it is required by law in our area for dogs, cats, and ferrets over 12 weeks of age. 
• Rhinotracheitis virus in cats can be transmitted very easily and vaccination does not offer long lasting or complete immunity so boosters are usually recommended annually.
• Lyme disease is transmitted by ticks and is uncommon in this area.  Dogs that travel to higher risk areas and spend a great deal of time camping or hiking may benefit from vaccination.
• Feline leukemia virus in cats is transmitted by saliva to saliva contact and young animals are the most susceptible.  We recommend all kittens have the first year series and subsequent vaccination is based on number of cats in the household and potential for exposure to outdoor cats.
• Bordetella is a highly contagious disease of mostly dogs but occasionally cats.  We recommend all puppies receive a dose and follow up booster are required for boarding, grooming, and training classes.  Dogs that go to dog parks, travel a lot, or participate in competitive events should be protected as well.
• Leptospirosis is a disease that was included in most canine vaccines many years ago.  It was rare for years but is becoming more common again as wild animals have been forced to live closer to humans and pets due to housing developments in previously farmed or forested lands.
• Titers can be done to estimate existing protection for canine distemper and parvovirus.  This is recommended for adult animals that have severe reactions to vaccinations.  We accept annual titer testing but do not guarantee it as a protection from diseases.          

• Heartworm testing is recommended for all dogs once a year.  Heartworms are parasites that live in the large vessels of the heart and lungs as adult and circulate in the blood stream as larvae (juveniles).  Animals get infected with heartworms by the bite of a mosquito that picked it up from a previously infected dog.  Cats and ferrets and dogs can be infected with dogs being the usual host. Detection of heartworm is done by a testing a small amount of blood for proteins found on the outside of the female heartworm.

• Dogs over six months of age should be blood tested once a year
• in the spring and use monthly prevention from May through December or
• any time of year and use monthly prevention year round.

Cats that go outdoors can be protected by monthly application of feline Revolution.  This excellent product kills fleas and intestinal parasites and prevents infection from heartworm.  There is no cure for heartworms in the cat and the most common symptom is vomiting.

Puppies less than six months of age should start monthly prevention right away and be tested the following year.

There are many choices for prevention including oral medications such as Heartgard, Interceptor, Triheart, and Iverhart.  These medications prevent intestinal parasites also but not fleas.

The topical preventative is Revolution and it kills fleas and intestinal parasites as well.
If your dog tests positive for Heartworm it is treatable and the sooner the disease is caught, the less damage is done to the heart and vessels.

Feline Retrovirus Testing is recommended for all kittens and newly adopted cats.  These tests are for Feline Leukemia (FeLV), and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus, (FIV). Leukemia is highly contagious by saliva to saliva contact primarily of young cats.  FIV is transmitted by birth or bites.  Intact males are commonly infected by bite wounds and female cats may infect their kittens through their placentas.  There is no cure for these diseases although some cats can be asymptomatic carriers of FeLV, and cats with FIV usually live quite a long life.  Many of the area shelters test for these diseases but always be sure to test a new cat before it comes into contact with your other cat family members.