Parasites:
A parasite lives upon or within another living organism. There are a variety of parasites that infect various organs or body systems. External parasites: living primarily on the skin (Fleas, Ticks, Mites) Internal Parasites: are found in the blood vessels and heart as in Heartworms, or in the intestine as in Roundworm, Hookworms, Whipworms, Tapeworms, Coccidia and Giardia.

Transmission: Most infections are acquired by ingestion of microscopic eggs from other pet’s feces but can also be passed at birth from the mother as in Roundworms. They can also be acquired from insects such as Mosquitoes transmitting Heartworms and Fleas transmitting Tapeworms.

Zoonoses
(transmission from pet to Human):
Some parasites are considered a serious public health risk (especially to children, seniors and immune suppressed adults).

Every Year:
• About 10,000 kids in the US are infected by pet-born parasites.
• 750 kids will suffer parasite-related blindness, or even death.
• 73% of pediatricians see cases of pet-to-human diseases
• Tapeworms can be transmitted to a child by accidentally ingesting a FLEA

Tip 1:
Preventative deworming
is vital to your pet's and familie's health and well-being
 

Intestinal Parasite:
Roundworms, Hookworms, Whipworms, Tapeworms, Coccidia and Giardia
Almost ALL puppies and kittens are born with parasites or acquire them during nursing. In newborn pets the damage can be severe, causing extreme illness and death

Fleas transmit Tapeworms, hence keeping your pet flea-free is critical. For more information click HERE

Fecal Exam:
Fecal Exam checks for intestinal parasites (Roundworms, Hookworms, Whipworms) as well as protozoa (Giardia, Coccidia).

Remember, some pets can have parasitic infection while showing no signs of disease.

Tip 3:
Don't forget to bring a fresh fecal specimen twice a year for testing.
Our Lab implements the Zinc-Sulfate Floatation with Centrifugation,
which is the gold standard method

Fleas:
Several thousands of flea eggs are laid wherever your pets go, thus most of the flea cycle is NOT on your pet but rather in your pets surroundings. Flea Shampoo, Flea Dips and Flea Collars are an insufficient flea control program.

Many pets are allergic to fleabites and consequently suffer intensive itching. In addition, severe infestation of fleas can cause blood loss Anemia (potentially deadly in infants).  For more information please click HERE.

Fleas, Heartworm, and Parasites Preventives:

Revolution: Revolution for dogs and cats, is applied once monthly between the shoulder blades to help prevent fleas and heartworm disease. It prevents and controls ear and skin mites in both species and is effective against the American Dog Tick in dogs. In cats its also used for the treatment of roundworms and hookworms. Fleas on your pet should die within 48 hours of the Revolution application.  Revolution is available for cats and dogs and may be applied to puppies and kittens as young as 6 weeks of age.
 
Advantage-Multi: Advantage Multi for dogs and cats, is applied once a month between the shoulder blades to help prevent fleas and heartworm disease. It prevents and controls ear mites as well as roundworms and hookworms in both species. Fleas on your pet should die within 48 hours of the Advantage application. Advantage-Multi is available for cats and dogs and may be used on kittens as young as 8 weeks of age and puppies at 7 weeks

Frontline: Frontline is a topical flea and tick control that is applied between the shoulder blades every 30 days. Fleas on your pet should die within 48 hours of the Frontline application. Frontline is available for cats and dogs and may be used on kittens as young as 8 weeks of age and puppies at 10 weeks.

Heartgard: Heartgards available for dogs and cats in chewable form. It's an effective treatment against heartworms, roundworms and hookworms. Heartgard is available for dogs and cats and may be given to puppies and kittens as early as 6 weeks of age.

Sentinel: Sentinel is a heartworm preventative and flea control pill that is given to dogs every 30 days. Sentinal will not kill live fleas on your pet. It is an effective flea control because it renders the flea’s eggs sterile thereby prevents an environmental infestation.

Tip 5:
Heartworm blood test should be done before the first
application and once a year thereafter
 

Mites:
Mites are parasites most commonly found in the ears and skin of pets.

Some mites can be contagious to both people and other pets. For more information please click  (Sarcopitc Mange)  and  (Ear Mite)

Tip 6:
A few of the Monthly Flea applications also
contain ear and skin mite preventives

Heartworm:
Heartworms are a blood parasite transmitted by an infected mosquito. The adult form is often found in the heart and lung's blood vessels of your pet.
 

Heartworm can cause serious disease and even death. For more information click HERE

Tip 7:
Heartworm preventives have to be given monthly

Ticks:
The dog tick lives in the outdoors and can detect warm-blooded animals.
The dog tick then finds an easy place to dig in, like the ears or belly of a dog.
Using its mouthparts it begins feeding.
 

Ticks can carry and transmit many diseases (Lyme, Ehrlichia and Rocky
Mt. Fever).  For more information click HERE

Handouts:
Wellness (Kitty Puppy)
Vaccine Schedule Chart (Kitty, Puppy)
Heartworm Blood Test
Fecal Test (English)
Preventive Deworming (Spanish, English)

Vaccinations:
We recommend an appropriate Wellness care schedule for your pet based upon its age and lifestyle.

Kitten: (FV-RCPC vaccination)
Usually given at week 7, 10, 13 and 16 weeks of age
A Vaccination booster is given once a year thereafter (Rabies every 3years)

Kitten vaccine series protects against:
Distemper,
Rhinotracheitis,
Calicivirus,
Panlekopenia,
Chlamydia
Feline Leukemia Vaccine is given after the first series
Rabies Vaccine is given at the last series
Feline AIDS and FIP vaccines are optional and given twice as early as 4 months, they are recommended to homes with outdoors cats.

Tip 8:
Feline Leukemia and AIDS blood test should be preformed before
the vaccine is given

Puppies: (DHPP-C vaccination)
Usually given at week 7, 10, 13 and 16 weeks of age
A Vaccination booster is given once a year thereafter (Rabies every 3years)

Puppy vaccine series protects against:
Distemper,
Hepatitis,
Parainfluenza,
Parvovirus,
Coronavirus,
Bordatella (kennel cough) vaccinations is given at week 12 and 13.
Rabies is given at the last series and is required by law and needed for licensing.
Dental Vaccine given at week 16 and 19.
Lyme’s Vaccine is optional.

Tip 9:
For the first time we now have a “Dental Vaccine”, for more
information click HERE

Spaying and Neutering:  
In female the operation is recommended in order to avoid unwanted pregnancy, sexual transmissible diseases and Pyometra (pyometra is puss in the uterus due to infection that will be deadly to your pet if an emergency surgery is not performed). In addition spaying your dog before the first “heat” will prevent Breast Cancer.

In males the operation can prevent unwanted behavioral problems as well as prostate disease and cancer of testicles. 

Handouts:
Female In Heat (Spanish, English)
Female Spay (English)
Dog Neuter (English)

Tip 10:
Spay and Neuter should be done as early as 4-6 months of age

Dental Care:
Adult cats and dogs with excessive tartar are constantly swallowing bacteria, which may lead to kidney problems later in life. Bad breath plaque and gingivitis are warning signs of Periodontitis. Just as in people, periodontitis in pets is a serious health risk. For more information click HERE

Handouts:
Dental Vaccine (Spanish, English)
Dental Essentials (Spanish, English)
Dental and Systemic Disease (English)
Dental Plan (Dog Cat)

Tip 11:
We now offer a LOW COST discounted Dental Wellness package

Microchip Identification:  
The chip is the size of a grain of rice and is inserted underneath the skin. The i.d number and owner information is then registered online. If a pet is lost and recovered, any agency or veterinarian who has a chip scanner can read the number and the owner can then be traced.

Annual Blood Test:
Recommended at 8 years of age and annually thereafter for the early detection and treatment of common problems associated with aging. (see age table and our Wellness Plans)

Diets:  

VETERINARY PRESCRIPTION DIETS

We offer a wide selection of PRESCRIPTION DIETS in all sizes. We have in stock all the important prescription diets from the following premium vendors:

      1. Eukanuba / Iams
      2. Science / Hills
      3. Royal / IVD
      4. Royal / Waltham

iVET DIETS

We are pleased to announce the addition of iVet Professional Formulas dog & cat foods and treats as an extension of our hospital’s Health Maintenance Services. iVet offers a high quality food at a very competitive price.

iVet is very palatable, has high quality ingredients, and NO by-products! It also does NOT have any soy or wheat in it, which can sometimes cause allergies. iVet does include high guaranteed levels of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids which are important for a healthy skin and coat.

FREE Gourmet iVET Bag
We are pleased to report to you that we were able to negotiate with iVET management a FREE full size bag try for all our customers. That’s right, we can give you a free (8-lb/DOGS  3.5-lb/CATS) trial bag of iVet foods.

iVET Diets List:

• Gourmet Puppy (small and Large breeds) & Kitty

• Gourmet Adult / Cats & Dogs

• Gourmet Low Fat / Cats & Dogs

• Gourmet Senior / Dogs

For more information about iVET diets please click HERE

ECONOMY SIZE:
For large breeds and multi pet households, iVET offers an ECONOMY LOW COST large size bags (18 lb and 37lb for Dogs and 18lb for Cats)

HEALTHY Treats
iVET offers delicious and actually good for your pet, truly  a "Healthy Reward" in a variety of healthy LOW FAT and HYPOALLERGENIC  yummy treats.

 For more information about iVET treats please click HERE

Vitamins and Supplements:

The truth is that the majority of all dog and cat food sold in the USA whether canned or dry is processed. With wet food, the cans are heated to 400-500 degree to kill bacteria. Dry pet food is also heated to 250-400 degrees, and then extruded to form the small kibbles. While killing germs in each case is critical, this processing degrades the natural nutrition of the indigents.

If the story sounds familiar, it should. Lie our pets, we live in a world where the majority of our food has been pasteurized, homogenized, and otherwise processed to kill harmful microorganisms and preserve shelf life. To make up for the degradation of natural nutrition, many Americans resort to vitamins and nutritional supplements.

While almost ANY supplement is better than NO supplement, its generally agreed that those made from WHOLE foods are superior to those made from synthetic products.

Our goal is to provide professional, nutraceutical formulations exclusively for pets. We only prescribe the highest quality of raw whole food material. Our wide selection will allow you to enhance your pet's diet and physical health.

We teamed up with three of the best companies in the filed, all of whom provide a direct line to their respective experts for a case-by-case consult.

To learn more about our partners please use the links to their websites.

1. RX Vitamin
2. Standard Process
3. Resources-Genesis

PET FOOD RECALL Recommendations:
The primary health findings have been related to kidney and liver health.
To find out the recommended nutritional support for those two organ systems please click HERE