AGAH Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does my dog need to be on heartworm preventative year round?

A:    Yes. Heartworm preventative needs to be given at least 2 months after the last potential mosquito bite because the microfilaria (or "baby" heartworms) can live in the bloodstream that long. Because of our short and mild winter season in this area, heartworm preventative would need to be given at least through February, and then started up again in April. Theoretically you could stop during the month of March, but most people would then forget to restart in April. For this reason we recommend to just keep all dogs on it year round. This is true even if the client's dog "never goes outside!"

Q:    Can I use Q-Tips to clean out my dog's ears?
A:    NO! Using Q-tips can potentially cause damage to the ear drum &/or middle ear. Q-tip use can actually push debris further in the ear instead of removing it. Clients can place cotton on the end of their finger and safely swab any areas they can reach with their finger.

Q:    How do I apply Frontline/Advantix? Do I spread it down the back?
A:    Squeeze entire contents of vial in one spot. For dogs place between shoulder blades. DO NOT USE ADVANTIX ON CATS. For cats place Frontline on back of neck.

Q:    How many times does my puppy get a Bordetella vaccine? (Does it need to be boostered?)
A:   Typically a dog only gets one Bordetella vaccine. The exception to this is if the puppy is unusually young when it gets its first dose (under 12 weeks).

Q:    When does my kitten/puppy need to begin vaccines?
A:    Most kittens and puppies start their vaccines around 8 weeks of age. Puppies can be started as young as 6 weeks, especially if it is a litter and the owner wants them vaccinated before they are given away. For new pets, it is best to recommend 8 weeks of age.

Q:    Can I get heartworm prevention medication for my other pet?
A:    Have we seen the other pet before? Has it had a heartworm test performed within the last year? If you answered "no" to either of these questions, then we cannot dispense heartworm pervention.

Q:    Do you have room this weekend to board my 3 month old puppy?
A:    No. We can never board a 3 month old puppy because it is too young to have gotten all its vaccines, and we cannot board incompletely vaccinated animals. Suggest to the client to look into pet-sitters at their home.

Q:   What is the difference between the 3 year and the 1 year rabies vaccine for cats?
A:    There is about a 1 in 10,000 chance that a cat might develop a tumor at the site of the rabies injection with the 3 year vaccine. It is thought that the cause of this may be because of the "vehicle" that the vaccine is carried in. The 1 year vaccine does not use this particular kind of vehicle, so there may be a reduced chance of the tumor developing when this vaccine is used. We still are not sure at this time what the true cause of these rare tumors is. The client saves a little money by using the 3 year vaccine, but they will still have to come back yearly anyway for the rest of the vaccines.

Q:    Does my cat need to get the leukemia vaccine?
A:    If the cat spends any time outside, or if another cat in the household goes outside, it is recommended to get the vaccine. If the cat is truly indoors 100% of the time the vaccine may not be needed. It is important to be aware that the vaccine does not guarantee 100% protection against catching the disease. If you are at all unsure if it is appropriate for a particular cat, ask the doctor.

Q:    Why should I put my new pet on a Puppy/Kitten Vaccine package?
A:    If an animal is on a vaccine package all fecals and dewormings are provided at no extra charge. Also when the animal gets spayed or neutered, they get 10% off the price of the alter (provided it is done within a reasonable amount of time after completing the vaccine package for your puppy or kitten).