Pet Care

Owning and caring for a family pet doesn’t have to be a difficult or burdensome experience.

Immunization/Vaccination

Prevention of infectious diseases is one of the most important steps you can take to maintain your pet's health. Infectious diseases are caused by microscopic organisms such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Animals can contract these diseases from other animals, people, or the environment. If your pet's immune system does not prevent an infection and it is left untreated, serious complications may occur including death. Luckily, through research and scientific development, vaccines have been developed to help protect animals against many diseases.

When vaccines are injected into the body they stimulate the immune system to produce antibodies. Vaccines try to prepare the immune system to fight certain diseases. While it is not possible to vaccinate for every possible infectious disease, vaccines have been developed towards preventing the most common and serious ones. You will read about the different diseases we vaccinate for and then we will tailor a vaccination schedule specific to your pet.

Parasite Control

Heartworms Heartworms are parasites that inhabit the hearts and lungs of infected cats and dogs. Vomiting is a common clinical sign in affected cats; unfortunately, sudden death is another sign. There is no treatment for heartworm disease in cats but there are several options for heartworm preventative. Affected dogs often have difficulty breathing, cough, tire easily from exercise, and lose their appetite. Treatment for heartworm disease in dogs is available but the best treatment is prevention. There are several options for heartworm preventative. Read more...	Roundworms Roundworms are a common parasite in puppies and kittens. Some puppies and kittens are born with them. They are acquired from the mother or by ingesting contaminated soil, feces, or prey. Roundworms live in the intestines and can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and/or weight loss. Routine deworming is a safe and effective way to control these infections. Read more (cats)... Read more (dogs)...	Hookworms Hookworms are a problem in warm, moist climates. Cats and dogs become infected by ingestion of eggs from the ground or through skin contact with the eggs. They cause diarrhea, weakness, and anemia as a result of intestinal bleeding. People can also contract hookworms via skin contact. Treatment and prevention is safe and easy. Read more...
Tapeworms Tapeworms are acquired by eating uncooked meat and certain prey, ingesting rabbit feces, and also by ingesting fleas. Infestation may be hard to detect until segments of the tapeworm are found in fresh stool or around the anus. Appropriate deworming medication along with flea control is paramount to clearing a tapeworm infection. Read more...	Fleas and Ticks Both fleas and ticks are a problem in the southeastern United States. Ticks carry diseases such as Lyme's disease and fleas can carry tapeworms in addition to causing skin problems. There are several products available to treat and prevent flea and tick infestations. Read more...	Ear Mites Ear mites are little parasites that can cause ear infections. Read more...

Canine Disease

When caring for man’s best friend, there are many different medical complications that can threaten the health and prosperity of your canine. Dog diseases occur in the family pet just as frequent as their owners have to deal with specific health concerns. Just as humans receive shots and vaccinations to prevent the development of common diseases and conditions, dogs should also be given a regular set of immunizations to help prevent the heartache that comes with sickness, especially when preventable.

Adenovirus Adenovirus type-2 is often a component in upper respiratory disease. Adenovirus type-1 may cause severe kidney damage or death. Adenovirus type-2 is an important component in canine cough. Read more...	Parainfluenza Canine parainfluenza is another cause of canine cough. This disease is easily spread to other pets. It can cause a severe infection in puppies or debilitated dogs. Read more...	Parvovirus Canine parvovirus affects the intestines and bone marrow often causing severe dehydrating diarrhea and the inability to fight infection. This disease is widespread and can be especially dangerous for young puppies. Read more...
Distemper Canine distemper is a wide-spread, often fatal disease affecting the respiratory and nervous systems. Read more...	Leptospirosis Canine leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that can lead to kidney and liver damage. This disease is easily spread to other pets and humans. Read more...	Coronavirus Canine coronavirus infection is a highly contagious disease causing vomiting and diarrhea in dogs of all ages.
Bordetella Canine bordetella is a bacterial infection. It is highly contagious and can occur alone or in conjunction with parainfluenza, adenovirus type-2, and other respiratory problems. Read more...	Lyme's Disease Lyme's disease is a bacterial infection transmitted by ticks. The disease often causes a fever, joints to be painful, and platelet numbers to drop. Dogs that spend any time outside, especially in grassy or wooded areas should be protected. Read more...	Rabies Rabies is one of the world's most publicized and feared diseases. It is caused by a virus and this disease is almost always fatal. It affects the nervous system and is transmissible to humans, usually through the bite of an affected animal. Read more...

Feline Disease

Cats are susceptible to a variety of feline diseases and disorders that can adversely affect their health and in some instances can be life threatening. Feline diseases occur in the family pet just as frequent as their owners have to deal with specific health concerns. Just as humans receive shots and vaccinations to prevent the development of common diseases and conditions, cats should also be given a regular set of immunizations to help prevent the heartache that comes with sickness, especially when preventable.

Panleukopenia Panleukopenia, also known as feline distemper, is caused by a virus. This disease affects both cats and kittens. Symptoms include listlessness, lack of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, and blood in the stool. Read more...	URI Upper Respiratory Infections is a group of viral and bacterial diseases of the upper respiratory system with cold-like symptoms. Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Feline Calicivirus and Pneumonitis are included in the group. These diseases are highly infectious and contagious. Read more...
Feline Leukemia Feline Leukemia is a deadly disease caused by a virus that inhibits the immune system. Various types of cancers and other chronic, debilitating diseases develop in association with this virus. It is transmitted from cat to cat via urine, saliva, and other body fluids. Read more...	Rabies Rabies is a fatal disease caused by a virus that attacks the nervous system. The virus is shed in saliva and is transmitted by the bite of an infected animal. Rabies is transmissible to humans and by law animals must be vaccinated. Read more...
Feline Infectious Peritonitis FIP is caused by a coronavirus and does not produce signs of disease for months or even years after infection. FIP typically affects cats between six months and five years with signs including fever, weight loss, appetite loss, and depression. Fluid may accumulate in the chest and the abdomen. The kidneys and central nervous system can also be affected. This disease is fatal. Read more...	Feline Immunodeficiency Virus Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) is a lentivirus that affects domesticated housecats worldwide and is the causative agent of feline AIDS. FIV can attack the immune system of cats and infects many cell types in its host. It can be tolerated well by cats, but can eventually lead to debilitation of the immune system in its feline hosts by the infection and exhaustion of certain cells. Read more...