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FAQ . . .
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Q: Why do you recommend pre-surgery
bloodwork?
A:
When you place your pet in our hands, you trust us to
provide the best possible medical care. That is
why we may recommend these tests when your pet is
having a medical problem or is scheduled for anesthesia.
Regardless of age, physical examination and medical
history of your pet, we recommend diagnostic testing to
identify health problems and begin treatment as early as
possible. These test are especially helpful when
your pet just isn't feeling right and symptoms are hard
to define.
If your pet is going to be placed under anesthesia, we
strongly recommend pre-anesthetic testing.
Anesthesia is extremely safe for healthy pets.
However, if your pet is not healthy ,
complications can occur both during and after the
anesthetic procedure. We can
minimize potential risk when we know the health status
of your pet before administering anesthesia.
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Q:
My old pet seems healthy, why should I put it on a
wellness exam program?
A: Your pet seems to be
happy and robust. The truth is, the gradual onset
of disease in seemingly healthy pets will often go
unnoticed. Once symptoms do appear, the condition
may be difficult and costly to treat and diagnose.
This is why a Wellness Exam is so important to your
pet's quality of life. Diagnostic testing is the
most sensitive and accurate method of early detection of
subclinical health problems.
A Wellness Exam includes
laboratory tests your veterinarian can use to diagnose
blood disorders, kidney and liver disease, diabetes,
infection, cancer, thyroid disease and other hormonal
problems. Many of these conditions can be
prevented, controlled, or completely reversed if
diagnosed early.
A Wellness Exam also gives
your veterinarian a benchmark from which to measure
future test results should your pet become ill.
A Wellness Exam is just
one element of a complete wellness program that promotes
pet health. Regular dental care, vaccinations or
vaccine titers, control of parasites, proper nutrition,
regular exercise and an appropriate environment also add
vitality and years to your pet's life.
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Q:
What is zoonosis?
A: Zoonosis refers to a
parasite or disease, like rabies, that can be passed
from animals to humans. Members of your family can
unknowingly pick up zoonotic parasites at the park, on a
sidewalk, or even in their own backyard. Children
are especially vulnerable to zoonotic parasites, mostly
because children play outside and sometimes have a
tendency to put object in their mouths.
The most common zoonotic
parasites are roundworms and hookworms. In fact,
in U.S. alone, nearly 20% of children contract
roundworms from their pets each year.
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Q:
What can I do to protect my pet and my family from
Zoonosis?
A: The good news is that
most zoonotic infection can be prevented or treated.
The Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) recommends
continuous, year-round protection for your dog as the
best way to reduce the risk of infection.
Here are some other easy
ways to help protect your family from the risk of
zoonosis:
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Have your veterinarian
check your pet's health at least once a year,
including a fecal sample analysis,
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Treat your adult dog
monthly with a broad-spectrum dewormer, and have
your puppy dewormed by a veterinarian at an early
age (as young as 4 weeks old).
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Make unprotected
sandboxes off-limits. Cover sandboxes when not in
use.
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Instruct children to
wash their hands often, especially after playing
with pets, after playing outdoors, and before
eating.
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Promptly collect and
hygienically dispose of any animal feces in your
environment.
The risk of zoonosis
should not scare anyone away from the unique and
rewarding experience of owning a pet. It is,
however, a reminder of our responsibilities toward our
pet and toward our families and community.
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