Frequently Asked Questions

What do I do if my dog eats chocolate? 

If your pet has eaten chocolate please seek medical attention immediately. Please note the following details so we can asses the situation properly:

  • What kind of chocolate (white, milk, dark)?
  • How much was eaten?
  • Was there any wrapping paper eaten?

 

 What do preventatives do? Which one is right for my dog/cat?

  • Frontline: Administered once a month to prevent and control of ticks, fleas, flea eggs, and chewing lice. (For dogs and cats)
  • Vectra: Administered topically once a month to prevent fleas, flea eggs, ticks, and mosquitoes. (We use this product only in dogs)
  • Heartgard: Given orally once a month to prevent heartworm disease and to treat and control ascarid and hookworm infections (For dogs and cats).
  • Revolution: For cats, administer topically once a month for protection against fleas and heartworm disease, and treatment or control of hookworms, roundworms, and ear mites.  For dogs, administer once a month to prevent heartworm disease and prevent or control flea infestations.
  • Interceptor: Given orally once a month to prevent heartworm disease, control hookworm infection, and remove and control roundworms and whipworms in dogs, and to prevent heartworm disease and remove hookworms and roundworms in cats.   It is commonly used in dogs and cats that are sensitive or have adverse reactions to ivermectin (the active ingredient in Heartgard).

  

We recommend these products over generic products that can be purchased over-the-counter at pet stores.  The products offered over the counter are generally not as effective and are more often associated with adverse reactions.

These products should be used every month year-round unless a veterinarian gives different instructions.  Stopping these products during the cooler months of the year exposes your pet to unnecessary risks. 

 

How often should my pet be dewormed and why?

Unfortunately, your pet is always at risk to be exposed to parasites. Wildlife, neighboring pets, fleas, and mosquitoes can introduce your pet to parasitic worms and protozoans.  

The problem with parasites is that your pet’s health can be compromised and many of these parasites are transmissible to humans! Children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals are most susceptible to developing infections which can lead to serious health complications. 

We recommend using a general dewormer every 6 months to kill parasitic worms and to ward off any small infections.  We also recommend checking a fecal sample to make sure that there are no infections of protozoans (giardia and coccidia), which are not eliminated by the general dewormer. 

The routine dewormers that we recommend are Drontal Plus and Revolution. We do not recommend over the counter products because we cannot guarantee their effectiveness.

 

What vaccines are required for grooming/boarding?

For all grooming and/or boarding patients, it is important that everyone who stays here has a wellness exam and their core vaccinations up to date. This is required for your pet’s safety and the safety of other animals. We like to make sure that everyone is healthy and free of infectious agents so that they cannot spread them to other patients within the facility who may already be immune compromised.

The required vaccinations for dogs are:

  • Rabies
  • DAPP
  • Bordetella within the last 6 months
  • Dewormer and/or Fecal within last 6 months

 

The required vaccinations for cats are:

  • Rabies
  • RCCP
  • Dewormer and/or Fecal within last 6 months

 

Is my pet overweight?

Obesity is a major problem in pets and often gets overlooked by pet owners.  Obesity in animals can cause a lot of the same issues it causes in people, like diabetes and extra wear and tear on joints. 

There are a couple ways to tell if your pet is a healthy weight.

Feel your dog’s ribs

  • First use your fingers to feel the ribs on you dog. If your dog is a good weight, you shouldn’t have to press very hard to feel the individual ribs. The heavier your dog is, the harder it will be to feel the ribs through the fat layer.

 

Look at your dog’s waist line

  • Like people, dogs should have a waistline. If you look at them from the side and from above, their belly should be smaller and slimmer than their rib cage.  The shape of your pet from an above view should resemble an hour glass.

 

If you are concerned about you pet’s weight and are unable to reduce it by cutting back on table scraps and treats at home, it could be related to a metabolic disorder and they will need to be seen by a veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment.  For more information about AMC's weight loss program, click here..

A helpful tip: Most food labels base the calorie recommendations on intact animal dietary needs (animals that have not been spayed or neutered). Intact animals have a higher calorie requirement. Therefore, your pet might not need as many calories as suggested.

 

My pet was sent home with an e-collar after a procedure, how long do I really have to keep it on?

As long as the discharge instructions recommend! Our veterinarians will provide you with written discharge instructions that will tell you exactly how long the e-collar should be worn.  Generally, an e-collar is recommended for 14 days after the date of the surgery to allow the incision to heal. Pets can easily chew sutures out, which can result in infection and exposure of the underlying tissue and organs. 

If your pet will not eat or go to the bathroom with the e-collar on after several attempts, please contact our office for further instructions.