Frequently Asked Veterinary care Questions
GVS - Providing a lifetime of care for your pet.
Why are annual vaccines important and what vaccines are required for my pet?
Vaccinations are used to promote an immune response against a specific disease. Vaccines that are required for every pet regardless of lifestyle are called core vaccines. Non-core vaccines administered for dogs and cats depend on lifesyle and an environment specific to each pet. Dogs are required to have a Rabies vaccination by law and Parvovirus, Canine Adenovirus, and Distemper vaccinations are highly recommended. Cats are also required to have a Rabies vaccination by law, and additional Feline Panleukopenia, Feline Herpiesvirus, Calicivirus and Feline Leukemia are also strongly recommended due to the highly contagious nature of these viruses. Greenbrier Veterinary Services follows the vaccine guidelines recommended from the AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) and AAFP (American Association of Feline Practitioners).
What is the best way of taking care of my pet's teeth?
The best way to achieve good oral health for your dog and cat is brushing their teeth daily with an approved toothbrush and paste designed for pets. If brushing is not an option, giving dental chews and oral care diets also help decrease tarter. Pets start forming tarter and calculus on their teeth around nine months of age, so including daily oral cleaning early in life is key to your pet's dental health. More importantly, having your pet seen by a veterinarian every 6 to 12 months for routine examinations, professional cleaning, and dental radiographs also greatly decreases the chances of periodontal and cardiac disease.
Why is annual Early Detection Bloodwork important to my pet's health?
Annual wellness blood work monitors a dog or cat's blood profile and serum chemistries which reflect organ function and the overall health of your pet. Wellness blood work is good preventative medicine because charting your pet's blood chemistries leads to the early detection of both sudden or gradual changes as your pet ages. Yearly monitoring of bloodwork helps diagnose disease processes quickly and more accurately. Canine blood work monitors for hypothyroidism, liver and kidney disease, pancreatitis, and heart disease. Feline blood work looks for diabetes, kidney disease, heart disease, and hyperthyroidism.
Why should my cat(s) be seen by a veterinarian?
Every cat needs routine veterinary care, even strictly indoor cats, because they need annual vaccines, parasite prevention and deworming to guard against what other pets or humans may bring into the house. Cats hide their sickness very well, so changes in behavior like hiding in dark places, a decrease in appetite, or not jumping up in their favorite window may be small clues that your cat may not be feeling well. Because symptoms can be subtle, an owner may or may not notice these changes until a cat's illness has further progressed. Routine examinations by a veterinarian every six to twelve months monitors overall health, serious dental issues, abnormal change in weight, haircoat, and unusual changes in normal "healthy" cat behavior. Preventative blood work is a great diagnostic tool and highly recommended to detect any "silent" changes in your pet's health more rapidly. If any changes are detected, an earlier diagnosis allows for a quicker intervention and efficient treatment. Following these recommendations with your veterinarian improves the longevity and quality of your cats life.
How do I take care of my mature or geriatric pet? Do they have different or special needs?
Dogs and cats are considered mature or a senior adult at age seven. Age is not a disease but does affect the maturing pet making them more susceptible to issues like arthritis, kidney disease and varying cancer-related illnesses. One way to help your pet as he or she ages is by replacing their diet with a senior formula catered specifically to their changing dietary needs. As dogs and cats mature, their nutritional and exercise requirements change. A senior diet promotes good joint mobility, helps brain function, and strengthens your pet's immunity against age-related diseases. Another way to care for your aging pet is to learn how to detect when they are feeling pain in their joints and body. Most pets do not vocalize pain and try to hide their pain and discomfort from their owners. Through education and awareness of pain symptoms in pets, an owner can make more informed decisions about medical intervention and treatment. The most important way to increase your pet's longevity, comfort and overall health, is by scheduling an examination with your veterinarian every six months. A professional examination with preventive or diagnostic blood work continuously monitors your pet's overall health including overseeing blood pressure levels, body condition, pain and discomfort levels, heart monitoring, eye pressure checks and onset dental concerns. Being aware of age-specific changes in your pet and routinely discussing concerns with your veterinarian leads to your senior pet having a great quality of life.
How would a House call visit be beneficial to me and my pets?
Scheduling a house call appointment with a veterinarian is greatly beneficial for both owner and pet because stress and anxiety levels are greatly decreased having the visit take place in the comfort and safety of your own home. Your pet is more relaxed in their own familiar environment and, as an owner you, do not have to deal with loading the pets into a carrier and into the car. Many pets benefit from house call visits like elderly pets that have special mobility restrictions, nervous or aggressive pets, home-bound owners that find it difficult to drive or pet owners that have multiple pets. Another added benefit of using a veterinarian house call service means having personal pet health care catered specifically for your pets while receiving the full attention of the veterinarian in your home setting.
Call 762.233.2380 to schedule an appointment.
Vaccinations are used to promote an immune response against a specific disease. Vaccines that are required for every pet regardless of lifestyle are called core vaccines. Non-core vaccines administered for dogs and cats depend on lifesyle and an environment specific to each pet. Dogs are required to have a Rabies vaccination by law and Parvovirus, Canine Adenovirus, and Distemper vaccinations are highly recommended. Cats are also required to have a Rabies vaccination by law, and additional Feline Panleukopenia, Feline Herpiesvirus, Calicivirus and Feline Leukemia are also strongly recommended due to the highly contagious nature of these viruses. Greenbrier Veterinary Services follows the vaccine guidelines recommended from the AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) and AAFP (American Association of Feline Practitioners).
What is the best way of taking care of my pet's teeth?
The best way to achieve good oral health for your dog and cat is brushing their teeth daily with an approved toothbrush and paste designed for pets. If brushing is not an option, giving dental chews and oral care diets also help decrease tarter. Pets start forming tarter and calculus on their teeth around nine months of age, so including daily oral cleaning early in life is key to your pet's dental health. More importantly, having your pet seen by a veterinarian every 6 to 12 months for routine examinations, professional cleaning, and dental radiographs also greatly decreases the chances of periodontal and cardiac disease.
Why is annual Early Detection Bloodwork important to my pet's health?
Annual wellness blood work monitors a dog or cat's blood profile and serum chemistries which reflect organ function and the overall health of your pet. Wellness blood work is good preventative medicine because charting your pet's blood chemistries leads to the early detection of both sudden or gradual changes as your pet ages. Yearly monitoring of bloodwork helps diagnose disease processes quickly and more accurately. Canine blood work monitors for hypothyroidism, liver and kidney disease, pancreatitis, and heart disease. Feline blood work looks for diabetes, kidney disease, heart disease, and hyperthyroidism.
Why should my cat(s) be seen by a veterinarian?
Every cat needs routine veterinary care, even strictly indoor cats, because they need annual vaccines, parasite prevention and deworming to guard against what other pets or humans may bring into the house. Cats hide their sickness very well, so changes in behavior like hiding in dark places, a decrease in appetite, or not jumping up in their favorite window may be small clues that your cat may not be feeling well. Because symptoms can be subtle, an owner may or may not notice these changes until a cat's illness has further progressed. Routine examinations by a veterinarian every six to twelve months monitors overall health, serious dental issues, abnormal change in weight, haircoat, and unusual changes in normal "healthy" cat behavior. Preventative blood work is a great diagnostic tool and highly recommended to detect any "silent" changes in your pet's health more rapidly. If any changes are detected, an earlier diagnosis allows for a quicker intervention and efficient treatment. Following these recommendations with your veterinarian improves the longevity and quality of your cats life.
How do I take care of my mature or geriatric pet? Do they have different or special needs?
Dogs and cats are considered mature or a senior adult at age seven. Age is not a disease but does affect the maturing pet making them more susceptible to issues like arthritis, kidney disease and varying cancer-related illnesses. One way to help your pet as he or she ages is by replacing their diet with a senior formula catered specifically to their changing dietary needs. As dogs and cats mature, their nutritional and exercise requirements change. A senior diet promotes good joint mobility, helps brain function, and strengthens your pet's immunity against age-related diseases. Another way to care for your aging pet is to learn how to detect when they are feeling pain in their joints and body. Most pets do not vocalize pain and try to hide their pain and discomfort from their owners. Through education and awareness of pain symptoms in pets, an owner can make more informed decisions about medical intervention and treatment. The most important way to increase your pet's longevity, comfort and overall health, is by scheduling an examination with your veterinarian every six months. A professional examination with preventive or diagnostic blood work continuously monitors your pet's overall health including overseeing blood pressure levels, body condition, pain and discomfort levels, heart monitoring, eye pressure checks and onset dental concerns. Being aware of age-specific changes in your pet and routinely discussing concerns with your veterinarian leads to your senior pet having a great quality of life.
How would a House call visit be beneficial to me and my pets?
Scheduling a house call appointment with a veterinarian is greatly beneficial for both owner and pet because stress and anxiety levels are greatly decreased having the visit take place in the comfort and safety of your own home. Your pet is more relaxed in their own familiar environment and, as an owner you, do not have to deal with loading the pets into a carrier and into the car. Many pets benefit from house call visits like elderly pets that have special mobility restrictions, nervous or aggressive pets, home-bound owners that find it difficult to drive or pet owners that have multiple pets. Another added benefit of using a veterinarian house call service means having personal pet health care catered specifically for your pets while receiving the full attention of the veterinarian in your home setting.
Call 762.233.2380 to schedule an appointment.