Some Vet approved Information..
Heartworm, Flea, and Tick Season Are Here!!  Is your pet protected??
Many of us think of heartworm and flea prevention when the seasons change and the weather begins to get warm, but did you know that we recommend year round heartworm prevention and flea prevention begining in March and continuing through November?  Heartworm disease is highly prevalent in the Midwest, and is transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito. It only takes one mosquito to infect your pet and prevention is as easy as giving your dog a beef flavored chewable once each month!  Even indoor dogs are at risk since they go outside to use the bathroom and mosquitoes can sometimes find their way into our homes.  Heartgard Plus also helps to control and prevent some of the most common intestinal parasites, like roundworms and hookworms.  Indoor dogs are also at risk for fleas because many animals that travel through our yards are carriers.  Just a quick trip outside to use the bathroom can lead to a flea infestation if there are fleas in our outdoor environment.  Flea and tick season can be at it's worst at the begining of spring and end of fall, before the second hard frost.  In dogs Frontline Plus should be applied to the skin between the shoulder blades once monthly to prevent fleas and ticks, or every other month if ticks are not a concern.  Frontline Plus must be applied to cats every month.
Do you need a monthly reminder to give your Heartgard Plus or Frontline Plus? 
The importance of fecal (stool) examinations:
You just got the mail and there is a friendly reminder from the vet that your pet is due for annual vaccinations and a fecal examination...  You think to yourself, why do these people always want me to go to the yard or litterbox and package up my pet's latest gift, travel to their office and hand it over in a lobby full of people.  Everything has been fine at home, why do they need this??

  • Many boarding and grooming facilities require yearly stool checks to help prevent the spread of parasites while pets are in their care.
  • Intestinal parasites can rob your pet of valuable nutrition, causing diarrhea, vomitting, lethargy, dull hair coat, and more...
  • Some intestinal parasites are transmissable to humans... That's right your family could become infected.  For more information on intestinal parasites, please visit The Companion Animal Parasite Council.
  • There are many intestinal parasites that you may not see with the naked eye.  Examples are coccidia, whipworms, and hookworms.  These often are only visible in ova (egg) form under a microscope during a fecal flotation.


While you may see nothing, this is what we may find:
Hookworm Ova
Roundworm Ova
Whipworm Ova
With this in mind, we will see you at your next visit with a small amount of your pet's most recent stool sample!  We only need about a teaspoon!
Your Veterinarian Is Your Pet's Dentist And A Technician Or Assistant Is Their Hygienist!

We all know the importance of routine dental care, brushing, and flossing, but how often do we think about dental care for our pets?  The answer is probably not as often as we should.  During a physical examination, Dr. Sackman may recommend that your pet have a dental cleaning.  Dental cleanings are important in dogs and cats because up to 85% of adult pets have periodontal disease.  This can cause pain, halitosis (bad breath), and tooth loss.  Plaque leads to bacteria, and bacteria can enter the bloodstream, eventually affecting major organs and contributing to heart, liver and kidney disease.  A thorough dental cleaning and home dental care can help to reverse some problems and prevent further problems!

At home there are several things you can do:
  • Brush your pet's teeth with a veterinary toothpaste (the human kind contains fluoride which can cause problems since pets often swallow their toothpaste and cannot be taught to rinse and spit).  Start slowly and always use caution when you brush your pets teeth.  If you have a puppy start early and the process will become an accepted part of their routine.
  • Provide your dog with a dental kong toy (if they like to chew and are closely supervised this can help aid in the prevention of plaque and tartar build up).
  • Feed a dry diet.  Dry diets help to prevent plaque and tartar from building up.
  • Consider feeding Prescription Diet T/D in place of one of your pet's treats.  T/D is specifically formulated to help with dental disease and is a highly palatable treat!
  • Discuss homecare when you visit our office.  We may have other solutions or suggestions for your pet, including oral rinses and CET Chews.  Fpr more information follow this link: Virbac Animal Health.

A Little About Dental Cleanings:
  • Your pet will need to be fully anesthetized and appointments are scheduled for a surgical time.  Your pet will go home later that same day with a healthy beautiful smile!
  • Your pet will often be sent home with anti-inflammatories (since we clean under the gumline there may be some discomfort for a few days) and antibiotics (because bacteria may also enter the bloodstream during a cleaning).
  • Some pets will require dental extractions and we may not know until we are able to do a complete exam and sometimes even some cleaning.  Dr. Sackman does most dental extractions; however we may occasionally find the need to send you to a dental specialist.  These options will be discussed with you as needed.
  • Sometimes pet's teeth have dental staining.  This is an actual stain in the enamel and cannot be removed even with a thorough dental cleaning.


A Dental Cleaning and Polishing
Midway through the dental, note that the large tooth in the back has only half been cleaned.  That is a thick layer of brown tartar on the front!
All of the teeth have been cleaned and polished!  No more plaque and tartar!  A fresh, clean, healthy start!
Another Before Shot!  EWWW!
And The After!
A special thanks to "Baylee" and his mom for allowing us to use his dramatic results for our website!
Heartgard Plus and Frontline Plus have ongoing promotions to make prevention a little easier!  If you buy 12 doses of the same size Heartgard Plus, we will mail in a $12.00 rebate for you.  If you buy 6 doses of the same size Frontline Plus, you take home your seventh dose free!
If your pet got lost would they be carrying ID??
Most pets never plan on getting lost and neither do their parents.  While collars and collar ID tags are a great idea, they can easily be lost while your pet is out or simply forgotten.  We recommend the placement of a Homeagain Microchip between the shoulder blades to provide a safe and permanent form of identification.  Most pets barely react when the microchip is implanted, and it cannot be felt when properly placed.  For more information about Homeagain Microchips, please speak to a staff member or visit www.homeagain.com.
Coccidia
Do you need a monthly reminder to give your Interceptor?