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Vaccination schedules for puppies and kittens might seem straightforward, but they are not. One vaccination schedule does not apply to all situations we see.
The schedules we recommend vary from pet to pet depending on several factors. For example:
(1) Early weaning or a mother that is not fully vaccinated may necessitate earlier vaccinations.
(2) Certain breeds of dogs are especially sensitive to parvovirus and require extra parvovirus vaccinations.
(3) Cats that will be outdoors or those raised in a cattery will have a greater chance of exposure to diseases like Feline Infectious Pertonitis and Feline
Leukemia, and will need these vaccines.
(4) Puppies and kittens first vaccinated at 8 weeks will have a
different schedule than those first vaccinated at 3 or 4 months.
Vaccination schedules are based on our knowledge of immunology, virology, infectious diseases, environmental factors and breed differences. Our best advice is that you set up an appointment for your puppy or kitten as soon as possible after he is adopted. We will develop a schedule customized for your pet. Immunizing your puppy or kitten on schedule is an important part of preventative health care.
Choosing a puppy that is the right "fit" for your family is extremely important. The pet will be a member of your family for many years, and you want a compatible and enjoyable experience.
Talk to friends who have dogs and ask about the personalities and characteristics of breeds you are interested in. Spend an afternoon at a dog show to look at different breeds and talk to their breeders. Visit the Humane Society or pet stores and talk with the staff about their experiences with different breeds. Check your local library for information on dog breeds.
The staff at Meadow Hills Veterinary Center, P.S. will be happy to answer any of your questions. You are welcome to check out overnight our copy of Encyclopedia of Dog Breeds. Then, when you are ready to select your puppy, we highly recommend you view our videotape on "Choosing Your Puppy from the Litter". It offers many important tips to help choose a puppy with a personality that suits your family best.
Spay/neuter prices are based on the quality and amount of services we provide for your pet.
We strive to ensure that your pet's surgery is as safe as possible. We do not use barbituates for pre-anesthetic sedation. We use the best quality gas anaesthesia presently available to veterinarians, sevoflurane, which is used in 90% of human pediatric anesthesia cases. A pulse oximeter, EKG and respiratory monitor is attached to your pet during the entire surgical procedure. An IV catheter is placed so that fluids can be used to keep your pet's blood pressure at a safe level during surgery. A warming pad is used to reduce the danger of hypothermia.
We use the highest quality suture material. Sterile gloves, gowns, drapes and surgical instruments ensure the cleanest, germ-free operating area.
On a one-to-one basis, a hospital assistant or technician monitors your pet's post-operative recovery until your pet is breathing safely on his own.
The surgery fee includes a pre-surgical exam, an overnight stay in our hospital, post-operative pain medications and a post-surgical check the following morning before discharge. A warming pad is used to reduce the danger of hypothermia and a surgical laser is used instead of a scalpel.
We are very proud of the high quality of service we provide to your pets and you.
Recent developments in geriatric medicine make it very possible to improve the quality of life for your older pet. Not only have we become more skilled at diagnosing problems in the older pet, but new drugs have been developed to more effectively treat heart disease, arthritis, Cushing's disease, and even senility.
We would welcome the opportunity to examine your geriatric pet and make recommedations that may make those last few years more enjoyable for all.
Pets have stages of growth and age, just as do humans. We can understand this easily by checking a chart equating pet years to human years. View the chart.
It is true that pet dental care is a fairly new development in the veterinary field. It is a direct result of advances in veterinary medicine that make it possible for pets to live longer and healthier lives.
Many pet owners do not think to look at their pet's teeth until bad breath is such a problem that it no longer can be ignored. At this point we usually see large amounts of tartar build-up, severe gum disease, infected roots, abcesses, and teeth that are causing the pet a great deal of pain. Because of the infection present in the mouth, bacteria are constantly being fed into the blood stream and cause disease in the heart valves, liver and kidneys.
Our goal is to educate pet owners and promote dental care so that dental disease does not progress to the point of causing pain and poor general health. We would be happy to discuss preventative home dental care with you or to help determine whether your pet needs to be scheduled for dental treatment.
Additional information on this subject and great illustrations can be found at www.petdental.com.
Read more information on why you should choose MHVC for your pet's dental care.
As in human medicine, the anesthetics available for our companion pets are extremely safe. As a result, the anesthetic risk is greatly minimized for a "healthy" pet. However, if your pet is not "healthy," complications can occur both during and after the procedure. To minimize this potential risk, it is vital that we know your pet's complete health status before we administer an anesthetic.
Testing before anesthetic procedures can significantly reduce medical risk and ensure your pet's health and safety. A healthy appearing pet may be hiding symptoms of a disease or ailment. For example, a pet can lose up to 75% of kidney function before showing any signs of illness. Even with pets under 1 year of age, we have seen abnormalities with our own personal pets here at Meadow Hills.
If the blood work is normal we can proceed with confidence, knowing the anesthetic risk is minimized. On the other hand, if results are not within normal ranges, we will make the necessary changes with the anesthetic procedure to safeguard the pet. In others, the test abnormalities may be significant enough to postpone the procedure, and instead monitor and medically treat your pet.
Although these tests cannot guarantee the absence of complications, they can significantly minimize risk and provide you and us with some peace of mind.
It is easiest to think of blood work as a photograph, one moment in time. Organ function can change over time. We need to remember one year of a pet's life is equivalent to seven human years. Obviously it would be ideal to run the blood work moments before a procedure. The doctors at Meadow Hills feel comfortable with a 60-day window before needing to repeat the values.
In 1997 a group of local veterinarians joined with veterinarians from Prosser and Sunnyside to establish the Mid-Columbia Pet Emergency Service, P.S. These veterinarians found that when they were awake for much of the night or working a good portion of the weekend to treat emergencies, they could not sustain the high level of concentration and attention to detail that their weekday patients deserved.
For emergency cases to receive the best care at night and on weekends, the Mid-Columbia Pet Emergency Service is staffed by veterinarians and assistants who have a special interest and advanced training in dealing with trauma, emergencies, and critical care.