- Vaccinations: We provide complete puppy and kitten vaccination protocols and annual vaccinations for adult pets. A detailed handout with vaccination schedule, diseases covered and prices can be provided. We also offer vaccine titer packages for adult pets, and special protocols for vaccine sensitive pets. After vaccines, your pet may feel sleepy or lethargic for 1-2 days; this is normal. If any puffiness or swelling is noted around the eyes or lips, hives, vomiting, diarrhea, or any other changes that cause you concern, please contact us immediately. These reactions are rare, and can usually be treated effectively with oral or injectable medication.

- Heartworm Prevention: Florida has one of the highest heartworm prevalence in the nation. Dogs, cats, and ferrets are susceptible to heartworm disease. This parasite is transmitted by mosquitoes, so indoor pets, pets behind privacy gates, and pets on balconies that have no contact with other animals are also at risk. Heartworm infection can cause progressive heart and lung disease, and can be fatal if not treated. Treatment is costly and not without risk to the pet's health; in contrast heartworm preventions are safe, very effective, and inexpensive. Heartworm prevention is advised all year round, and for adult pets we recommend testing for heartworms at least annually. Your pet must be negative for heartworms prior to starting or restarting many of the monthly preventions. We stock three basic types of preventions: monthly pills, or chewable chunks, and monthly topicals. Sentinel covers heartworms, hookworms, roundworms, whipworms, and also prevents flea reproduction. Interceptor covers the same parasites except for fleas. Heartgard is a beef flavored chewable that covers heartworms, roundworms, and hookworms. Revolution is a topical that covers heartworms, hookworms, roundworms, ear mites, and fleas.

- Parasites: An intestinal parasite check, "fecal", is advised at least monthly for puppies and kittens, every 6 months for older pets, and for pets with abnormal stool. Also for puppies and kittens, at least two doses (usually given 2 weeks apart) of a parasiticidal drug for hookworms and roundworms is recommended since these parasites activate during pregnancy and are passed from the mother to her offspring. Intestinal parasites can cause serious diarrhea, vomiting, and anemia. Several species of parasites can be transmitted to humans causing serious illness, and disease. Bring in a small sized sample, about the size of a grape, or we can collect the sample during your pets visit. Hookworms, roundworms, coccidia, and giardia are common parasites detected by fecal analysis. Tapeworms may not be detected with every fecal, but they are easily seen as small white segments resembling rice grains or millet seeds on the stool or around the rectal area. These parasites may cause digestive problems or itchiness around the anus. Most parasites can be treated with medications or 2 treatments of a parasiticidal drug given two weeks apart during your pets visit. A follow up fecal check is advised after treatment.

- Flea and tick control: in Florida we need to control fleas and sometimes ticks, all year long. Fortunately, newer products are much easier and safer and more effective against these parasites. Avoid "loolalike" products sold at department, grocery, and pet stores. These are often reformulations of older, more toxic products and have caused severe reactions in some pets. Also fleas are resistant to many of the older products, and they are not as effective. We recommend a soap free shampoo like Vet Solutions Aloe and Oatmeal Shampoo or Hylyt Shampoo be used for bathing pets on topical flea products, since these shampoos will not wash off the product. Apply flea control after the coat thoroughly dries. Advantage is very safe, applied from a safe single dose tube to the skin over the shoulder blades. It is reapplied every 30 days. Frontline controls both fleas and ticks and is applied from a one dose tube over the skin of the shoulder blades every 30 days. Sentinel and Revolution also helps with flea control.

- Diet and Feeding: improper nutrition can result in many problems. Small breed puppies can develop low sugar or hypoglycemia, a potentially life threatening loss of energy. Large breed puppies can develop hip, elbow, or other leg and joint problems if overfed or over supplemented as they grow. Kittens and cats can have urinary tract inflammation or life threatening urinary blockage if fed poor quality foods. We recommend Eukanuba/ Iams small, medium and large breed puppy diet for growing puppies two to three times daily. For kittens we recommend Iams kitten food, free choice or twice daily for older kittens. Supplements such as Nutrical for small breed puppies, or Vet Solutions Puppy or Kitten formula milk replacer for nursing puppies and kittens may be recommended. Adult pets should be fed twice daily meals of Eukanuba, Iams, or Hills maintenance or lower calorie adult foods. Pets older then 7 years of age can be switched to a diet with better digestibility and lower fat such as Eukanuba Senior. Some pet's doctor will provide the specific food needed in these situations.

- Housetraining and crate training:
For cats and kittens, instinct helps litter box training. Provide a litter box for each cat or kitten, plus one extra in an easily accessible site that is away from household traffic areas, feeding areas and noisy appliances. Most cats accept a fine clay litter. Alternately sand/ vegetable composites may be accepted. Clumping litters should be avoided with young kittens since it may cause intestinal blockage if consumed during grooming. Puppies and dogs need to be housetrained using positive reinforcement and natural den instinct. A crate or carrier can be used as a "den", a natural safe place for sleeping. Instinctively a dog will not urinate or defecate in its den unless absolutely unavoidable. Size is important the crate should be just large enough to allow the pet to stand, turn around, and lay down. For growing large breed puppies a large crate can be blocked off with a piece of a cardboard box that can be shortened and discarded as the puppy grows. A puppy can usually hold its bowels for as long as its age in months plus 1. For example a 2 month old puppy should be able to hold their stools for 3 hours. The puppy should be fed on a regular schedule every day, and allowed outside within an hour of every meal, and every few hours thereafter until bedtime. Pick a regular site to avoid confusing the puppy at first. When the puppy urinates or has a bowel movement praise him or her immediately. It may be helpful to use a signal or word such as "get busy" every time to encourage the puppy to relieve itself on command in the future. Allow playtime only after "business" is done and preferably in separate area. Do not punish a puppy for accidents found in the house. This only makes the puppy fearful and confused, and will not prevent future accidents. Clean up the site using appropriate cleaners, then follow with a pet odor removal product such as Equalizer. This is an important step, since the puppy will reuse the accident site if they still detect the odor in that site. If done properly housetraining should take 2-4 weeks.

- Bathing and grooming: Use only approved shampoos and conditioners. Since many pets will also be using flea control products, a soap free shampoo such as Vet Solutions Aloe and Oatmeal shampoo or HyLyt is recommended since these products will not wash off your pet's flea prevention. Pets can be bathed every 1 to 4 weeks, since good quality shampoos will allow frequent bathing without harm to your pet's coat. For dry coats a conditioner such as Vet Solutions Aloe and Oatmeal conditioner, or Hylyt Crème Rinse can be applied after bathing. The pet's eyes should be protected from soap burn with Puralube eye ointment ¼ inch ribbon in both eyes prior to bathing. Nails should be trimmed regularly. In light colored nails, the quick can be seen as a pink triangle at the base of the nails. Dark colored nails can be trimmed carefully from the narrow tip, a small amount at a time. Regularly handling your puppy or kittens feet will make them more tolerant of nail trims, since this area is usually sensitive. Longhair pets or pets with special coat types should also be groomed regularly.
- Grooming services: our professional grooming service offers breed specific coat care, trimming and scissoring. We also provide medicated shampoos when needed, hot oil skin and coat treatment, nail filing, and plaque and fluoride treatments for teeth. Grooming is available by appointment 7 days a week. A puppy can be scheduled for its first grooming as young as 8 weeks old.

- Cleaning the ears: Use a veterinary ear cleaner such as Vet Solutions Ear Cleaner to clean your pets ears once to twice weekly. Pour cleaner directly into the ear canal, (be generous, you cannot hurt the ear and excess will simply pour out) then gently but firmly massage the side of head under the ear opening to loosen wax and debris for 20-30 second. For wiggly pets the ear cleaner can be saturated onto a cotton ball first, the cotton ball then squeezed into the ear canal. A squishing sound is normal, and lets you know that the massage technique is working. Using the dry cotton balls, wipe the outer ear canal and remove the visible wax. The cleaning process can be repeated as needed for very dirty ears. Avoid using cotton swabs since it is easy to injure the ear if your pet moves suddenly.

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- Brushing the Teeth: Good oral care is essential for good health. By the age of 3, 80% of all pets will have some dental disease in progress. This can result in bad breath, tooth loss, infections, abscesses, and heart and kidney disease. Brushing your pets teeth is the best form of dental care. Start simple with pet specific toothpaste and a finger brush like Enzadent. Let your pet lick the flavored toothpaste first like a treat. Then gently wipe the teeth and gums with the finger brush. At first just get your pet used to having its face handled, and the sensation of the brush. Keep the sessions short and practice daily. As you progress concentrate on the outside surface of the back teeth and the gum line. Afterwards tartar and plaque can accumulate quickly so continue to brush daily for 30 seconds. We also offer Dentacetic Wipes that can be used if brushing is not an option. Other supplemental dental care can include Eukanuba or Iams dental diets with dental defenses, Enzadent chews, T/D treats, and Enzadent oral rinse.

- Identification: Microchip placement can be done at any time during your pets visit. It is a permanent and legal identification that cannot be altered or removed like a collar, or tag and will last the life of your pet. All local animal control agencies check found pets for microchips in this area. Cats with the Immunodeficiency Virus vaccine should be micro chipped since the vaccine will alter the results of this common test run by the animal control agency. We use the AVID Friendship; contact 1-800-336-2843 for more information.

- Boarding and Daycare: We offer a climate control boarding facility, with large indoor runs, small dog ward and separate ward for cats. Dogs are walked three times daily and optional playtime is available from a dedicated kennel staff. All boarders are bathed or groomed prior to going home. Special diets, feeding instructions, and medications can be accommodated.

- Emergency service: We are available from 8am to 7 pm weekdays, and 8am to 5pm on Saturday, and 10am to 4 pm on Sunday, for appointments, emergencies, and walk-ins. Although our extended hours will be convenient for most of your pet's medial care, occasionally your pet may need attention overnight or on a holiday. Emergency clinic information is available on our answering machine if you reach us after hours.

- Spaying and neutering: After completion of the puppy and kitten boosters at 4 months of age, a spay (female ovariohysterectomy) or neuter (male castration) can be scheduled. Pets not in planned breeding programs should be spayed prior to maturity to prevent medical and behavioral problems. We will schedule your pet for a day at the hospital and you will meet the surgical technician between 7 and 8 in the morning of the surgery. Pre-anesthetic blood tests will help determine if your pet is well enough for surgery. Pain relief injections are given the day of the surgery and pain relief medications are sent home as well. Intravenous fluid helps your pet recover faster from the surgery, and proves access to the vein in case other medications are needed. Your pet can go home usually after 4pm that same day, with detailed post operative recovery instructions. Sutures are removed in 10 days, and normal activities can then resume. A detailed estimate sheet for your pet will be provided.