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Frequently Asked Questions
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Q: What conditions would be appropriate to use acupuncture for my pet?
A: We frequently use acupuncture to treat arthritis, urinary incontinence, back pain and parvo. It also works well for many endocrine diseases such as diabetes, cushings disease, and thyroid disorders. Acupuncture is also beneficial in treating KCS (dry eye) and allergies. Ask us if acupuncture is right for your pet.
Q: How often should my pet get an exam?
A: Most animals should receive a thorough physical exam at least once a year. Most geriatric animals should receive exams at least once every 6 months. Any time your pet is not feeling well, your pet should have an exam.
Q: How often should my pet be vaccinated?
A: This question is a tricky one. There are many different rules for all of the different vaccines.
Puppies and kittens receive a series of vaccines. These are usually 3-4 weeks apart until they are at lease 16 weeks of age. They then receive vaccines one year later.
Most adult animals should be vaccinated with a combination vaccine and rabies every 3 years.
Bordetella vaccines should be given to any dog that is boarded, groomed, or goes to doggy day camps or dog parks. It should be given ever 6-12 months.
Feline leukemia vaccines should be given to all cats that go outdoors and cats that have contact with other cats. This vaccine should be given yearly.
Giardia vaccines can be given to any cat or dog that has recurrent problems with signs of giardia infections (vomiting, diarrhea, mucous or blood in the stool or deficating outside the litter box). This vaccine is usually given yearly.
Q: My dog's urine is making my lawn turn yellow and die, is there anything I can do about it?
A: It is crucial to treat the grass and not the dog! Over the counter supplements that claim to help prevent yellowing grass are hazardous to pets. The pills change the PH of the urine making it less potent to your lawn, however changing the PH of your pets urine can cause bladder stones, infections and incontinence. Most lawn companies can come out to your house and spray an effective treatment on your lawn to help make it more resistant to your pet's urine. You can also spray water over the grass directly after your pet has urinated to help disperse and dilute the urine more quickly and more evenly.
Q: Why should my pet lose weight?
A: According to recent studies, 30 to 40 percent of all American pets are overweight. Obesity is one of the most widespread diseases afflicting our pets. Obesity can aggravate and/or cause arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, and respiratory problems. A recent study also proved that dogs who are kept lean, can live several years longer than their overweight counterparts. This is reason enough to keep excess pounds off your best friend! A pound or two can have a hug impact on most pets. You must watch your pet’s diet, exercise and weight. The best way to keep your pet lean is to control your pet’s caloric intake and make sure he gets enough exercise. Cut back gradually on the amount of food your pet is eating, and cut out most of his “treats” throughout the day, substituting his regular dog kibble for “treats” may help him feel less resentful, but you should not add to his daily ration of food. You can supplement his food with fresh or frozen green beans to help him feel more full at, or between meals. Do not feed your pet people food, which is full of fat, salt and other ingredients that will cause him to gain weight, and could also cause indigestion and diarrhea.
Q: What is heartworm disease?
A: Heartworms are parasites (worms) that are transmitted by mosquitos and live in your pet's heart. They can cause lethargy, weight loss, difficulty breathing, coughing, weakness, heart failure and even death if the infection is not diagnosed early. Heartworm infections can be treated with great results if the infection is diagnosed and treated in the early stages. The best way to deal with heartworms is to prevent them. We can perform a bloodtest to make sure your dog does not have heartworms and then we give them a once a month medication to prevent your pet from contracting the disease.
Q: Do I really need to worry about heartworm disease in Colorado?
A: Yes!!!! Heartworm disease is in Colorado and you do need to worry about it. Dogs are born here never leave Colorado and do become infected with heartworms. Protect your pet today.
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