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Pre-Surgical Information
Spaying or neutering your pet is a big step! There is a lot to consider
when we are planning your pet’s surgery. Here is some information to help
you make wise decisions.
Click here . . .
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Special LibraryOur Special Library
is a collection of informative articles on a variety of health topics.
Click here . . .
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Discharge InstructionsClick here for
information on how to care for your pet at home.
Click here . . .
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 Puppy
Visit
Three
You're all grown up now! As your puppy grows up and prepares to
enter the world of the Big Dogs, there are a few things
you need to know to make the transition safe and happy.
Vaccinations from Here on Out
We follow the New Guidelines published by the American
Animal Hospital Association.
Click here for a
link with more information. Your puppy has just
finished the initial puppy series. The next time
we need to vaccinate your puppy is in one year from now.
The One-Year boosters are vital for establishing
long-lasting immunity. At the one-year visit, we
will need to boost everything we have given so far.
After that, some diseases, like Distemper, Parvo, and
Rabies will only be boosted every three years.
Other diseases, like Leptospirosis, Bordetella, and
Parainfluenza, will need to be boosted each year.
The annual Physical Exam is very important. Dogs
age about seven years for every year that passes.
A lot can happen in seven years. I am terrible
about going to the doctor myself, but even I go at least
every seven years! Each year the veterinarian will
examine your dog, and evaluate things like weight, skin
lumps, tooth problems, ear problems, etc. The
annual exam is the first line of defense your pet has
against poor health.
Spay and Neuter Surgery
Every Year Hundreds of Thousands of Dogs
are put to
sleep just because they don't have homes. Hundreds
of thousands more starve, are run over, etc. for the
same reasons. In my humble opinion, the only
reason not to have your pet spayed or neutered is if you
have firm and definite plans on breeding him or her.
Click here for a link
to a more detailed discussion on why to spay or neuter
your pet.
The Best Time to have your dog Spayed or Neutered
is five months of age.
Spaying and Neutering are major surgery, make no mistake
about it. Some places do it quite cheaply.
Others charge more. The difference is that the
Humane Societies and the Pounds do the spay and neuter
surgeries kind of like the army does haircuts.
Nothing fancy, one size fits all, git-'r-done. The
more expensive places do surgery more like a human
hospital, with excellent pain control, the safest
anesthesia, and the latest surgical instruments and
techniques.
At Sunnyside Veterinary Clinic, we believe in Choices.
Some clients want the very best for their pet.
Others are content with a little less. Either way is OK,
just so you know what you are getting and what you are
not getting. To help you make these important
decisions, we have prepared a couple of articles you
will want to read.
Click Here to go the
The Consumer Guide to Elective Surgery: Best
Practices.
Click here to go to the companion article,
Surgical Options. In it you will find enough
information to help you make some informed decisions and
help your pet avoid a "bad haircut" of a surgical
experience.
Parasite Control
Far from a favorite topic of conversation, internal
parasites, or "worms," as they are commonly called, are
nonetheless a major problem. The problem is two-fold:
"Worms" not only infect your dog, they can infect your
children as well! Dogs pick up worms as microscopic
larvae. These larvae are too small to be seen, but
are waiting for your dog in the park, on the neighbor's
lawn, in the fields, etc. Some dogs may not have
any worms, but many do. Many mature dogs have
worms and never show any signs at all. There are
various tests for worms, some better than others, but
even the best have a certain percentage of
false negatives. I believe it is best to simply deworm every dog at least once a year. This is
cheaper than testing, the deworming medications are
safe, and it avoids the potential of a false negative
test. The reasons why are serious. There is
a considerable public health issue with dog worms. I
feel that at a minimum, all dogs should be dewormed at
least once a year.
Young children are also very susceptible to dog worms,
and can catch them from your dog. Dog worm infections in
children can be very serious. Adult humans are at very
minimal risk of acquiring a puppy worm infection unless
they have an immunosuppressive condition.
And don't forget about Vaccine Reactions. Although
a reaction is less likely the second vaccination,
reactions are still possible.
Click here for more
information.
This concludes your Third Puppy Wellness visit
e-handout. If you have any questions, be sure to
ask. We look forward to seeing you again when we
spay or neuter your puppy. The next vaccination
visit will be one year from now.
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