Q: How old does my pet have to be for a rabies shot?
A: The doctor normally gives the rabies shot at 4 months of age. We recommend vaccinating against canine distemper and parvovirus (feline distemper and feline leukemia).

Q: How old should my puppy (or Kitten) be to start its shots?
A: We recommend starting the vaccinations at 6 weeks of age. We give them in a series 3 weeks apart so that your pet will have good immunity.

Q: Why does my dog need shots other than the rabies shot?
A: There are several highly contagious diseases that we can protect your dog from through vaccination. Because most of these diseases are fatal, we want to give your pet the best protection.

Q: Can I catch Lyme disease from my dog?
A: Studies show that the disease is not directly transmitted from dogs to humans. Lyme disease is transmitted by ticks. If your dog has ticks, you may run a risk of being bitten by one, too. You can catch Lyme disease from a tick only, not from your dog.

Q: Can I catch feline leukemia from my cat?
A: To date there have been no documented cases of feline leukemia being transmitted to people, nor any higher incidence of leukemia in people with cats. However, if your cat tests positive for feline leukemia, we recommend that you talk with the veterinarian.

Q: We adopted a stray cat. Should I do anything special before I let it play with my other cats?
A: You should have the new cat examined by the veterinarian before exposing it to your other cats. The new cat should be tested for FIV and feline leukemia—two deadly diseases that could be transmitted to your cats. Also, we strongly recommend that you have your new cat vaccinated as soon as possible.

Internal Parasite Questions

Q: What is a Parasite?
A: A parasite is an organism that lives at the expense of another living being. In our pets, these usually take the form of intestinal worms (internal parasites) and fleas and ticks (external parasites).

Q: How can I tell if my pet has worms?
A: Some parasites, such as tapeworms, are visible to the naked eye, but others must be detected under the microscope. If you will bring in a stool specimen, we will be glad to examine it microscopically to see if your pet has worms.

Q: What are heartworms, and how do I tell if my pet has them?
A: Heartworms are parasites that live in the animal’s heart or in the large blood vessels on the lungs. To test for heartworms, we draw a small blood sample and examine it under the microscope or run a special test. (Ask your doctor about your clinic’s protocol.) Heartworms can be prevented easily using medication, but we have to be sure your pet tests negative before beginning the prevention.

Q: What causes heartworms?
A: Heartworms are transmitted by mosquitoes. If a mosquito bites a dog that infected with heartworms and then bites your cat or dog, your pet could become infected with heartworms. We highly recommend that all dogs take medication for heartworm prevention to keep this from happening. Heartworm preventive medications are also available for cats.

Q: Can I catch anything by cleaning out my cat’s litter box?
A: Toxoplasma oocysts pass out in the feces of cats and can cause problems if transmitted to pregnant women. That’s why pregnant women and immunosuppressed individuals should not clean out litter boxes. With normal sanitary precautions, litter boxes pose no problem for the other people.

Q: Where do adult pets get worms?
A: Most intestinal parasites are transmitted in the pet’s stool. When a dog steps in contaminated stool or ingests the egg, the parasite enters his body. Keeping the yard clean and having your pet checked for worms regularly will prevent most parasites infestation. Heartworms are transmitted by mosquitoes. Testing your dog for heartworm infection and keeping him on heartworm prevention will prevent heartworms from becoming a problem.

Q: My dog has been scooting its behind on the floor. Does that mean it has worms?
A: Scooting can be a sign of tapeworms. We recommend that you examine your pet closely for signs of tapeworm infection. Tapeworm segments pass out of the pet’s rectum and often catch in the fur on the legs and tail. If tapeworms are not the problem, the doctor will look for another cause, such as impacted or infected anal glands.

Q: What are these little white segments I’ve been noticing on the fur on my pet’s legs and tail?
A: You are most likely seeing tapeworm segments that are becoming stuck in the hair when they pass out in the bowel movement. We recommend that you bring us a sample segment, if possible, so we can determine which kind of tapeworm your pet has. We can then deworm your pet and help you prevent them from getting them again.