FAQ

Q. My dog doesn't go outside very often; is it still necessary to test for heartworm?

A. Yes - Heartworm is transmitted through mosquitoes, which are not only a danger if your pet lives outdoors, they can travel inside your home too. Remember, it only takes one mosquito to infect your pet.

After the mosquito bites, it infects the dog with the larvae stage of the worm, also known as the microfilariae. This larvae goes through several cycles as it travels through the dogs system, until finally reaching the heart and lungs and the adjacent vessels. Early signs of heartworm are; coughing, weight loss, low energy levels, and difficulty breathing. This causes congestive heart failure and eventually, death.

Q. When is it a good time to have my dog/cat spayed/neutered?

A. Cats & dogs are best spayed (female) and neutered (male) between 4 and 6 months of age. Any older then 6 months, the pedicles and blood vessels are larger and more progressed with a greater blood supply and is therefore harder on your pet.

Q. I heard that you had a special laser unit for surgery? What is the benefit of laser over scalpel?

A. The benefit of laser surgery over scalpel surgery is immense. The laser surgery unit is a focused beam of light that is used to cut the tissues like a scalpel blade would. Difference being that laser actually cauterizes as it cuts, sealing the blood vessels and nerve endings, resulting in less blood and less pain. It is also proven to quicken healing time and to have less chance of infection. Especially in declaws, the benefit can be seen in the pet. If you’ve ever had a cat declawed using the traditional method, then you will be able to agree that your pet is very tender on the feet for several days afterward. With the laser, cats jump around after surgery like the declaw never took place! So it’s very evident that laser makes surgery a lot less painful for them.