Frequently Asked Questions About General Pet Issues
What should I consider an emergency for my pet?
Trouble breathing, trauma, bleeding, stumbling, having a seizure, difficulty delivering puppies or kittens, and many eye problems are emergencies.

Why does my pet have to come in annually if he/she got the 3-year rabies vaccine?
Because he/she still needs an annual examination for the early detection of disease, and there are other vaccines that may be needed for your pet yearly. Only the rabies vaccine is currently documented to protect for three years.

My pet has another ear infection, why can’t I pick up the same medicine he had last time?
In many cases, problems that seem the same may not be caused by the same disease. For example, Lucky might have an ear infection again, but last time it was caused by bacteria, and this time by yeast, and different medications are indicated. Also, it is illegal for a veterinarian to prescribe medication without seeing the patient to formulate a working diagnosis, and the old medication might by outdated.

What is a microchip and how does it work?
How do those microchips work? The ID microchips are about the size of a rice grain. Implanted under the pet's skin, they show your pet's personal ID number when he is scanned. This number is linked to your information in a computer database, so that the data can be kept current. All the shelters in the Denver area and many veterinary clinics have scanners. They would be able to identify your pet and contact you immediately when the pet arrived at the shelter or clinic. This can be especially important if your pet is injured.

Why does the hospital recommend blood testing before procedures requiring anesthesia?
Pre-anesthetic blood testing allows us to evaluate your pet's basic physiologic condition and will let us know if we need to take extra precautions with your pet. It may indicate that we should avoid a procedure altogether until a discovered problem can be corrected.

When will my pet have her first heat?
Most cats and dogs have a first heat period between 6 and 12 months of age. This heat cycle has the most profound influence on increasing her risk of breast cancer. This is why, unless you are planning to breed her, we recommend spaying at six months of age. If she has had a heat period, we recommend waiting 6-8 weeks before scheduling a spay. This allows her reproductive tract to return to it's quiescent condition, making the surgery easier on her.

Is Heartworm preventative necessary in Colorado?
Heartworm disease has very low prevalence in Colorado. We recommend preventative treatment during the mosquito season because if your dog does become infected with heartworms it can be life threatening and it is so easy to prevent.