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FAQ

Please submit any non-urgent questions here.

Urgent Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the dose of Benadryl to give my dog for her seasonal allergies?

  • Benadryl (Diphenhydramine) 1 mg per pound. They come in 25mg and 50mg tablets. You give this dose twice a day.

  • If the Benadryl is not resolving the itchiness within 7 days, then we recommend scheduling an exam with one of our veterinarians.

Bee

Q: I think my dog was stung by a bee and now his face is swollen.
What can I give him?

  • Since bee stings and other bug bites can quickly lead to anaphylactic shock (a severe allergic reaction beyond just a swollen face), we recommend that you schedule an exam with one of our veterinarians immediately.

Q: Can I give my dog aspirin for her limping?

  • Aspirin is more likely to cause stomach ulcers, vomiting and kidney failure if not appropriately used. We recommend that you do not give aspirin unless directed by a veterinarian.

  • You can schedule an exam with one of our veterinarians to assess the cause of lameness and discuss dog friendly treatment options.

Q: Are there any over the counter treatments for diarrhea?

  • The first step is to feed a bland diet such as boiled white meat chicken or lean ground beef mixed with rice. For dogs, this should be a 50-50 mixture. For cats, it should be 75% meat, 25% rice. Meat flavored baby food is another alternative.

  • You may also try Kaopectate ½ to 1 ml per pound every 2-6 hours.

  • If the diarrhea is not improving within 1-2 days and/or your pet is having other health problems (ie, vomiting, not eating, etc), then you should schedule an exam with one of our veterinarians.

dog in a car Q: What can I give my dog for car sickness? How about my cat?

  • You can give both your cat and dogs Dramamine (meclizine) 30-60 minutes prior to desired effect.

    • Cats: 12.5 mg 1-2 times per day.

    • Dogs: 25mg 1-2 times per day.

  • We also offer Cerenia, an effective medication for car sickness. Please contact us to discuss this medication in more detail.

Q: My dog just ate something he should not have. What can I give him to induce vomiting? How about for my cat?

  • It is always best to call a veterinarian before inducing vomiting at home. Some materials can do more harm by coming back up the esophagus. If it has been longer than 4 hours since they ate the material, it may no longer be in the stomach and inducing vomiting will have no benefit.

  • For dogs, you can give hydrogen peroxide 1 ml per pound. You may repeat once more if needed. If they still have not vomited you should have your dog seen by a veterinarian.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: At what age is it best to spay/neuter?

A: We typically recommend 4-6 months of age for spay/neuter.

Q: I can’t get rid of fleas in my house and have bathed my dog and used Hartz, what can I do?

Dog

A: Fleas do not instantly disappear with one or two treatments, and there is no quick fix. Over the counter flea products such as Hartz are not always effective and are harmful in some cases (adverse reactions like tremors and seizures, skin irritation can occur — more often in cats than dogs). We recommend using a good quality flea control such as Vectra 3D, K9 Advantix, Advantage, etc. every month on every pet in the house (make sure product is cat or dog appropriate) and to treat the house with an area spray to kill eggs and larvae. Due to the flea life cycle, it may take 2-4 months to get rid of an existing infestation. Adult fleas spend all of their time on the pet and are only a small part of the problem. We need to decontaminate the environment of eggs and larvae. It may also help to add a growth regulator like Program or Sentinel to prevent flea eggs from hatching.

Q: Do pets have to be under anesthesia for dental cleanings?

A: Yes, it is very important to use general anesthesia for dental cleanings in pets. We need to be able to probe and assess all the teeth properly which is not possible in an awake or only slightly sedated animal. We also need to be able to clean under the gumline where periodontal disease is most prevalent and, if extractions are needed, the pet is asleep and we are able to extract teeth without scheduling another procedure. Finally, we need to protect the airway with an endotrachal tube to deliver oxygen and anesthesia but also to prevent water, tartar bits and bacteria from entering the windpipe during the cleaning. This is only possible in a fully sedated pet.

Q: What payments do you accept?

A: Cash, check, credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express), and Care Credit are all payment options.

Q: Why do my pets need: vaccines, flea/tick products, fecal exams, etc? They are indoors only.

Cat

A: Vaccines are important for all pets, though some may not be needed if risks are low. However, ravies vaccination is required by law in Pennsylvania for ALL dogs and cats, even if they are indoor only since rabies is universally fatal and not treatable if contracted. Indoor only pets are at lower risk but they could escape and become exposed or bats, which carry rabies, could get into the house.

Flea/tick products are important for indoor pets since fleas/ticks may “hitchhike” in on people or other pets who go outdoors and indoor pets. Heartworm disease can also affect indoor only pets when mosquitoes enter a home.

Fecal exams are important since indoor only pets may get parasites from potting soil, ingesting bugs or rodents in the house, worm eggs may stick to shows, get on carpet and be ingested, etc.

Q: Why does my puppy/kitten need multiple exams and vaccines, overvaccinating?

A: Most kittens and puppies need a series of vaccines to make sure that they build proper immunity to disease. Antibodies from the mother may interfere with antibodies introduced from a vaccine so it is important to give multiple vaccines until the pet is at least 16 weeks or 4 months old.

Overvaccination is rarely an issue but vaccinations with non-core vaccines and for some individual patients should be weighed with potential need vs. risk. This is a discussion for the client and the veterinarian.

Q: My pet was just there for a sick appointment, why do I have to pay for another visit for his vaccines?

A: We want to make sure your pet is healthy enough for vaccines. Rabies vaccines must be administered by a doctor. We may make exceptions and have pets return for a nurse or tech visit rather than a full doctor visit for some vaccines, but it would depend on the health of the pet, Doctor discretion, etc.

Q: Why check fecals on indoor cats?

A: Indoor cats can acquire parasites from digging in or ingesting potting soil, ingesting insects or rodents in the house or picking up tapeworms from having fleas. While parasites are not as common in indoor cats, they can be affected and checking a fecal sample on every pet is recommended by the companion animal parasite control board (CAPC) as well as the CDC to reduce the transmission of zoonotic parasites that can cause disease, sometimes serious illnesses, in children or immune compromised individuals.

Informational Handouts:

Feline Idiopathic Cystitis
Fleas
Food Allergies
Guinea Pig Care
Heart Murmurs
Intervertebral Disc Disease
Parrot Health
Your Itchy Pet

Other Topics:

Bloodwork Guideline
High Blood Pressure
Pet Diabetes
Heartworm Disease
Advantages of Neutering Your Pet
Obesity
Oral Health
Internal Parasites
External Parasites
Advantages of Spaying Your Pet
Snake Care
Seasonal Health Risks

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