How do I know if my pet needs to see a doctor? If your pet has experienced a significant decrease in appetite or activity level, is vomiting, having diarrhea, coughing, sneezing, limping, itching or losing hair, or his eyes look abnormal, he probably should be seen. Trouble breathing, trauma, bleeding, stumbling, seizuring, difficulty delivering puppies or kittens, and many eye problems are emergencies. Sometimes it's hard to tell at home, but don't hesitate to call and talk to one of our nurses or doctors if you aren't sure. Why does my pet have to come in annually if she got the 3-year rabies vaccine? Because she still needs an annual examination for the early detection of disease, and the other vaccines still need to be administered every year. Only the rabies vaccine is currently documented to protect for three years. Why can't I just pick up the same medicine that worked last time? It seems like my pet has the same problem he had before. In many cases, problems that seem the same may not be caused by the same disease. For example, Rover might have an ear infection again, but last time it was caused by bacteria, and this time by yeast, and different medications are indicated. Also, it is illegal for a veterinarian to prescribe medication without seeing the patient to formulate a working diagnosis, and the old medication might by outdated. What is a microchip and how does it work? How do those microchips work? The ID microchips are about the size of a rice grain. Implanted painlessly under the pet's skin, they show your pet's personal ID number when he is scanned. This number is linked to your information in a computer database, so that the data can be kept current. All the shelters in the Yolo County/Sacramento area and many veterinary clinics have scanners. They would be able to identify your pet and contact you immediately when the pet arrived at the shelter or clinic. This can be especially important if your pet is injured. Why does the hospital recommend blood testing before procedures requiring anesthesia? Preanesthetic blood testing always us to evaluate your pet's basic physiologic condition and will let us know if we need to take extra precautions with your pet. It may indicate that we should avoid a procedure altogether until a discovered problem can be corrected. Why do I have to keep my pet's bandage dry and what would happen if it got wet? Bandages serve to keep a wound clean and dry. Moist or dirty wounds are more susceptible to infection, and heal more slowly. If the bandage gets wet, it actually holds moisture against the wound, providing an ideal environment for the growth of bacteria. If a bandage gets wet, you should call us immediately to schedule a bandage change. Remember that the bag we send home to cover the bandage when the patient goes outdoors is for temporary use only-it actually holds paw sweat (pets' feet do sweat) inside the bandage, making it wet. Why does a dental prophy (teeth cleaning) cost more for my pet than for myself at my dentist? Dogs and cats require anesthesia in order for the veterinarian to perform dental procedures, which adds to the cost of the overall procedure. Our hospital uses the same type of equipment your dentist uses on your teeth for scaling and polishing. Why won't my cat use the litterbox? There are many different reasons for a cat to stop using the box. A bladder infection should always be ruled out. Other causes include painful crystals or stones in the bladder, and behavioral problems. What do I do if I think my pet has eaten something poisonous? Call us right away-many poisons do not show signs immediately. Do not induce vomiting unless instructed to do so by us or another poison authority. When will my pet have her first heat? Most cats and dogs have a first heat period between 6 and 12 months of age. This heat cycle has the most profound influence on increasing her risk of breast cancer. This is why, unless you are planning to breed her, we recommend spaying a six months of age. If she has had a heat period, we recommend waiting 6-8 weeks before scheduling a spay. This allows her reproductive tract to return to it's quiescent condition, making the surgery easier on her.