Frequently Asked Questions
- This is in the best interest of your pet's long-term health. Newer studies have indicated that 'slamming' the immune system may increase endocrine problems later in life. The endocrine system is instrumental in regulating metabolism, growth, development, puberty and tissue function and also plays a part in determining mood.
- This helps reduce the severity of vaccine reactions that can occur.
- You have the right to sign a release form that we will keep on file.
- Please realize that if your pet does have a vaccine reaction, the fees for treatment can be expensive and may require an emergency visit.
- Your pet may be sleepy, sore, and / or grumpy for the next 24 to 48 hours after it's vaccination(s). This is common. During this time it is important to monitor your pet's interaction with any other pets and especially children.
- Signs your pet needs medical attention are:
- Angioedema (Facial Swelling/Fat Lips).
- Urticaria (Hives/Multiple Lumps/Bumps). Difficulty breathing / respiratory distress (Breathing like Darth Vader).
- Persistent diarrhea and vomiting within an hour of the vaccination, that may last up to 12 hours post vaccinations.
- Again this is in the best interest of your pet's long-term health. Surgery or going under general anesthesia for any pet is stressful. Vaccinating an already stressed immune system is not a good idea.
- If your pet has a reaction during a surgical procedure, are they reacting to the vaccines given, antibiotics, anesthetic agents? We'd rather not have to guess.
- If you wish for the vaccines to be given when your pet is in for surgery you can sign a release form, however the fees for the extra medications given in case of a reaction will be applied to your invoice.
- There are a lot of internet pharmacies out there. Some that seem up to par are not. They get their products in an illegitimate manner. They do not get them from the products' manufacturers. What are they really selling and where did they get it from? Therefore, many products like heartworm preventatives are not covered by the manufacturers warranty for payment for treatment if your dog becomes positive.
- Has the product been stored and maintained at proper temperature to keep the medication at optimal efficacy?
- We do have our own on-line shopping available off our home page. The manufacturers will guarantee their products if purchased from our web page.
- See our policy for writing pharmacy prescriptions on our products page by clicking here.
- Here in Michigan the winters are very unpredictable. It gets warm for a day or two and the mosquitoes come out. All it takes is one infected mosquito to bite your pet.
- The heartworm preventative also worms your pet once a month for intestinal parasites such as roundworms, hookworms and whipworms, depending on the product you use.
- Because no product in 100%. There can always be human error, giving it late, etc. There may be times when your pet went outside, ate grass, and vomited up most of the medication without your knowledge.
- If purchased from our practice or our web site the company that makes the product will pay $500.00 towards the fees of treatment. Some companies cover the entire fee.
- No more than 3 days old. Any older than that then it becomes an amputation and requires general anesthesia.
- Ideally 8 week old. They should be started on their first distemper vaccination, that will require boosters every 3 weeks. Most puppies would get a Bordetella (Kennel Cough) immunization at that time also. They should also get a broad spectrum parasitic de-wormer, along with their first heartworm preventative.
- A canine spay is a complete ovariohysterectomy. Newer studies suggest that small breeds are o.k. to spay at the ages of 5-6 months. Large to giant breeds should wait 3-4 months after they have gone through a heat cycle to avoid possible osteosarcoma (bone cancer). Of course you run the risk of having her become pregnant and you must deal with her 'period' in your home. (They do sell doggy diapers in pet stores.) It is also a good idea on the giant breeds to have a gastropexy done. That is a procedure to tack the right side of the stomach to the right side of the body wall to help avoid bloat or GDV. (See Bloat below).
- Older un-spayed female run the risk of developing a pyometra, a super toxic, life threatening infection of the uterus. Spaying a dog with a pyometra is an emergency surgery and can cost 8 times more than a regular spay due to the increased risks, monitoring and recovery time.
- They also have an increased risk of developing breast cancer.
- For more information on canine spays click here. Of course we don't do exactly what is written at that site but you get a good general ideal.
- A canine neuter is usually referred to as a castration. Most breeds can be neutered at 5-6 months of age. The benefit of waiting until they are older is cosmetic. They will have a more masculine look. Large breed males neutered at an early age usually have longer legs, which affects their bone growth. It is also a good idea on the giant breeds to have a gastropexy done. That is a procedure to tack the right side of the stomach to the right side of the body wall to help avoid bloat or GDV. (See question 12 on Bloat).
- Older un-neutered males run the risk of developing prostate problems.
- For more information on canine castration, click here.
- Bloat or GDV (Gastric dilatation-volvulus) is "stomach torsion," or "twisted stomach." GDV is an extremely serious condition, and should be considered a life-threatening emergency when it occurs. Dogs can die of bloat within several hours. Even with treatment, if not caught early enough, as many as 25-33% of dogs with GDV die.
- Dogs fed once a day are twice as likely to develop GDV as those fed twice a day. It appears that dogs who eat rapidly or exercise soon after a meal may also be at increased risk.
- Breeds at an increased risk are any giant breed or any breed with a deep narrow chest, which includes the following breeds with any mix of these breeds, but is not limited to:
- German Shepherd
- Bouvier de Flandres
- Great Dane
- Boxer
- St. Bernard
- Doberman Pinscher
- Bloodhound
- German Shorthair Pointer
- Irish Setter
- Gordon Setter
- Borzoi
- Irish Wolfhound
- Dachshund
- Labrador and Golden Retriever
- Basset Hound
- Akita
- English Sheepdog
- Standard Poodle
For more information on bloat click
here.
- A feline spay is a complete ovariohysterectomy. It should be fine to spay at the ages of 4-6 months. You may declaw them at that time as well.
- For more information on a feline spay click here.
- A feline neuter is usually referred to as a castration. Cats should be neutered at 6-7 months of age. Newer studies suggest that neutering earlier than that could affect their urogenital health. They may have an increased risk of FLUTD (Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disease). That is when their urinary tract gets plugged with crystals in their urine. It is quite expensive to treat and maintain. In severe cases it can result in death. If you wait any later you risk them spraying that fetid urine, spraying in your home. Neutering will usually stop this behavior but not always. It does cost extra to have them neutered here when they are already spraying. We have to take extra time out to clean their kennel several times to help keep our clinic odor free.
- For more information on feline castration click here.
- You can do that as young as 3 months of age, as long as they are 3 pounds in weight. We only declaw the front paws here. Dr. Sweet will only do all four paws in extenuating circumstances so you would have to speak directly to him before we schedule your appointment. Your kitten will go home with an antibiotic injection that will last up to two weeks, oral pain medications for 3 days and shredded litter for their litter box. We do not declaw cats older than 3 years old or more than 10 lbs. in weight. It's just too hard on them. A declaw requires surgically removing the nail at the first knuckle.
- All of our declawed patients go home with:
- An antibiotic injection that lasts for two weeks, so no more oral antibiotics!
- Oral pain medication that is squirted between the cheek and gums for 3 days.
- Shredded litter for the litter box.
For more information on feline declaws click
here.
- We do not recommend PET STORE puppies (or kittens). The majority of them come from Puppy and Kitten Mills and have a more than their fare share of medical or behavioral problems.
- If you would like to try a rescue group, check out the link at the bottom of our links page for Pet Adoption. Remember some of these pets were turned over to rescue groups because they had behavioral or medical issues as well. Some were just abandoned or mistreated by their previous owners.
- For a Breeder Check List check out the Almost Home Dachshund Rescue Society (AHDRS). Look on the left side of their web page about 3/4 the way down. They also have information about puppy mills too.
- If you are looking for a specific breed in this area try the Ann Arbor Kennel Club's Dog Breeders Directory.
* If you are a client of ours and would like to see other questions and answers here please feel free to
e-mail us.
