Questions?

Why do my pets need vaccinations?
What vaccinations should my puppy/dog get?
What vaccinations should my kitten/cat get?
When should my pet get its vaccines?
What are the benefits of spaying /neutering?
What about declawing?
What about ear cropping?
Who do I call if my pet has an emergency?
Do you make house calls?
Do you treat exotic animals?
What are heartworms?
Why do my dogs need to be on heartworm prevention year-round?
Why should I buy my heartworm & flea/tick meds from a veterinarian instead of the internet or mail-order?
What is the normal body temperature for my dog, cat, or horse?
Why do indoor pets need Rabies vaccinations?
What is a Coggins test for my horse?

Q. Why do my pets need vaccinations?
A. Vaccinations prevent communicable diseases, some of which are deadly.

Q. What vaccinations should my puppy/dog get?
A. Puppies should be vaccinated against Canine Distemper, Canine Adenovirus Type 1 and 2, Canine Parainfluenza, Canine Parvovirus, Canine Leptospirosis, Canine Coronavirus, and Rabies. Vaccines for most of these diseases can be given in a combination shot or separately for a certain disease. Dogs should get boosters for the same diseases as puppies, but can also get vaccinated for Bordetella if you are planning on showing or boarding your dog.

Q. What vaccinations should my kitten/cat get?
A. Cats should be vaccinated against Feline Panleukopenia (Feline Distemper), Feline Rhinotracheitis, Feline Calicivirus, and Rabies. Cats that go outdoors, or that have contact with outdoor cats, should also be vaccinated for Feline Leukemia and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV).

Q. When should my pet get its vaccines?
A. Puppies: start 6-8 weeks, then every 4 weeks until 3-4 months a (series of 2 or 3) Rabies can be done at 3 months. Boosters should be given 1 year later. Rabies is then given every 1-3 years, and every year for most other diseases. Kittens start 6-8 weeks, then every 4 weeks until 12 weeks (usually a series of 2 or 3) Rabies can be done at 8 weeks. Cats should be revaccinated yearly.

Q. What are the benefits of spaying /neutering?
A. Pets that are spayed or neutered lead healthier, happier lives. Spaying/neutering prevents unwanted litters of puppies and kittens and reduces the number of animals that end up in animal shelters. Neutered male dogs are less likely to mark, roam, get into fights, be shot at, and stolen. Neutered male cats get into fewer fights and don't spray urine. Spaying a female dog before her first heat will prevent breast cancer, the most common cancer in dogs. Neutering a young male dog prevents testicular cancer.

Q. What about declawing?
A. The best time to declaw is at 4-6 months, at the time the cat is spayed or neutered. Declawing can be done at an older age, but is harder on the cat. The younger and smaller the cat, the faster they recover. At H&H Veterinary Services, we will only declaw the front.

Q. What about ear cropping?
A. We do not perform ear crops.

Q. Who do I call if my pet has an emergency?
A. After hours calls to the clinic are automatically transfered to the doctor on call.

Q. Do you make house calls?
A. Yes, we make house calls and farm calls.

Q. Do you treat exotic animals?
A. We treat small mammals, including ferrets, rabbits, and rodents. We do not treat birds, reptiles, or exotic zoo animals at this time.

Q. What are heartworms?
A. Heartworms are worms that live in a dog's or cat's heart and major blood vessels. Click here for heartworm statistics.

Q. Why do my dogs need to be on heartworm prevention year-round?
A. Although mosquitoes (the carriers of heartworm disease) are most active during the warmer months, it can stay warm enough for mosquitoes to survive into November. If your pet is on preventative year round, there is less of a chance that you will forget to start giving your pet's heartworm preventative when it warms up again. Also, if you should happen to forget to give a month's dose, continuous heartworm prevention will lesson the risk of developing heartworms, even if your pet was unprotected for a month.

Q. Why should I buy my heartworm & flea/tick meds from a veterinarian instead of the internet or mail-order?
A. Manufacturers of heartworm and some flea and tick prevention products sell only through licensed veterinarians. Products obtained for sales over the internet may be outdated or labeled for use in other countries. When you purchase product from your veterinarian, the company will uphold all guarantees and warranties, which they will not do if purchased elsewhere. Veterinarians also make sure that the product you choose is the right one for your pet, as the different products work best for certain pets and situations. You can also purchase single doses from us, or return or exchange unused/unexpired products to us if you would like to try a different brand or product. We honor all manufacturer's coupons and rebates, and many times have them here for our clients to use. We want you to get the best value for your money.

Q. What is the normal body temperature for my dog, cat, or horse?
A. The normal rectal temperature for a dog or cat is 100 to 102 degrees Fahrenheit. The normal rectal temperature for a horse is 98 to 102 degrees Fahrenheit (toward the high end for foals).

Q. Why do indoor pets need rabies vaccinations?
A. In the state of Indiana, the animal most likely to carry rabies is the bat. Between 5 and 10 bats are diagnosed with rabies every year in this state. As bats sometimes like to live in houses, cats can very easily find these bats, particularly if the bat is ill from rabies. An unvaccinated animal in this situation can catch the disease and pass it on to unsuspecting family members. Treatment for rabies can cost thousands of dollars per person, and is fatal if not treated in time.

Q. What is a Coggins test for my horse?
A. A Coggins test checks for Equine Infectious Anemia (EIA) in the blood of horses. EIA is a potentially fatal, non-treatable disease that is spread form horse to horse via flying insects.

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