Home

Meet the Team

Clinic Tour

Paws & Claws Spa

Services & Products

FAQs

Emergency

Pet First Aid

Photo Gallery

Contact Us

Q Why should I treat my pet for fleas and ticks?
We have a high instance of fleas and ticks in this area. Fleas and ticks are known to carry parasites and disease that are harmful and sometimes fatal to our pets if not treated. With fleas the most common problem is tapeworms. Tapeworms are a flatworm that will attach itself to the wall inside the small intestine of the host. A pet that has a severe infestation of fleas can also suffer from anemia. In this case the fleas can become fatal.
 
Ticks can cause many problems. Anemia from tick infestation is a problem among cats and dogs. Tick fevers such as Ehrlichia Canis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Babesia Canis, and Lyme Disease are seen in dogs. With cats are affected by two hemoparasites known as Hemobartonella and Cytauxzoonosis. All these conditions can be fatal to your pet if not properly treated in a sufficient amount of time.
 
Keeping a flea and tick preventative on your pet year round can help reduce your pets chances of contracting one of these serious diseases or parasites. We have a few different products you can use for the elimination of fleas and ticks. We have shampoos and dips, but these products only last a few days. We have 3 products that will last 30 days. The first product is Frontline Plus. Frontline will protect your pet against all life stages of the flea and the adult stage of ticks in this area (except seed ticks). Frontline is ideal for pets that spend a lot of time outdoors and live in a high tick populated area. Frontline is available in a spray or in a top spot.

The second product we offer is Vectra 3d. It protects against fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes. It will not eliminate the need for a heartworm preventative, but it does help in the fight against mosquitoes.
 
The last product we offer is Revolution. It is a drop that is applied to the skin in between the shoulder blades. Revolution will protect your pet against fleas, ticks, ear mites, sarcoptic mange, heartworms and because cats are such good groomers they take the medicine internally and that protects them against intestinal parasites. Revolution is ideal for indoor pets, pets that do not spend a lot of time outdoors, or do not live in a high tick populated area. Before dispensing revolution to your dog we require a negative heartworm test.

Q Why does my dog need to be on heartworm preventative year round and be tested yearly?
In Arkansas mosquitoes can live year round. Mosquitoes are the only way for your pet to contract heartworms. The mosquitoes will bite your pet and inject the microfilaria into your pet’s blood stream. It takes 6 months for the microfilaria to become adult heartworms. Heartworm disease is an important but preventable disease and because we all forget to give a pill one time and we've all had a pet spit a pill out behind our back it is important to test your pet yearly.

Q Why should I spay/neuter my pet?
Having your pet spayed/neutered will greatly reduce their chances of having cancer of the reproductive system. This will also solve many of our problems with the over population of domestic animals. "Consider the fact that in six short years, one female dog and her offspring can give birth to 67,000 puppies. In seven years, one cat and her young can produce 420,000 kittens."-HSUS.org. The younger this procedure is performed will reduce their chances of developing cancer and adding to the already over populated communities. Female dogs and cats can also develop infections of the reproductive system as they get older. Another benefit of neutering your male pets is that it will decrease the need to roam and reduce aggression and urine marking.

Q Why should I vaccinate my pet?
In the state of Arkansas it is required that all dogs and cats receive a Rabies vaccination annually do to the high instance of wild life in our area. In dogs we recommend that they receive a Distemper, Parvo, Lepto, Hepatitis, and Parainfluenza vaccination every year. For dogs that board or go to the groomer on a regular basis we recommend a kennel cough vaccine in conjunction with the other vaccines.
 
In cats we recommend an Upper Respiratory and Feline Leukemia vaccine. For cats that remain in strictly indoors we will do these every other year, but still administer the Rabies vaccine annually.

Q Why do I need to have my pet’s teeth cleaned?
One of the most common diseases we see in pets with poor dental health is periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is a chronic bacterial infection that affects the gums and bones supporting the teeth. Over time the infection can literally eat away the bone supporting the teeth. This leads to other problems such as tooth lose and in severe cases broken jawbones.

There are 4 stages of Periodontal Disease:

Stage 1              
Gingivitis

Gum tissue around the teeth can become inflamed and swollen. Plaque and tartar areusually present on the teeth.

Stage 2              
Mild Periodontitis

Inflammation progresses to an infection that starts to detroy gum and bone tissue around the teeth. This can lead to discomfort for your pet, and bad breath may be noticeable.

Stage 3                
Moderate Periodontitis
The continuing infection destroys more tissue around the teeth, often causing bleeding of gums and loosening of teeth. The discomfort and pain can affect eating habits and behavior.
 
Stage 4              
Severe Periodontitis
Extensive infection is tearing down even more of the attachment tissues (gum and bone). Teeth are at risk of being lost.

The condition of your pet’s mouth can directly affect the body’s internal organs. The bacteria in the mouth is absorbed into the blood stream where it then goes to the heart and is then sent to the other organs in the body. If your pet has a “bad” mouth, the over growth of bacteria can actually damage the heart, liver,and kidneys.

Pets need good dental health too. The mouth can be a gateway for disease and infection. Brushing your pet’s teeth daily and having their teeth professionally cleaned by a licensed veterinarian or veterinary technician will help them live a longer, healthier life.

Q Why should I microchip my pet?

Traditionally owners have used ID and registration tags or tattoos to identify their pets. Unfortunately tags can be lost and yes tattoos are permanent but not always an effective way of identifying a pet. Microchips, on the other hand, are also permanent and have been a more effective way of identifying our pets.

Say you are on a trip with a friend and you both decide to bring your dogs along. Your pet has an ID and Rabies tag and a microchip. Your friend’s pet only has an ID tag. The pets decide to go off on an adventure of their own and when you go out to look for them you find their collars out in the woods. Your dog is found and taken to a local humane society where they have microchip scanner. The scanner is able to identify your pet and have him returned safely to you. Your friend’s pet is now off on his own with no way of identifying him.

Technology has really come a long way over the years. Microchips have been used in identifying livestock, horses, and our pets, but there have been some concerns on the effectiveness of the microchips. Most countries follow the International Organization of Standardization (ISO) when it comes to microchipping, but unfortunately in the United States not all microchips and scanners follow these standards. As the result of this, not all scanners will read all types of microchips. Steps are being taken to resolve this problem. If you do decide to microchip your pet, be sure to ask your veterinarian what type of chip they provide or recommend and be sure it follows ISO standards.

Currently we offer the ResQ^TMmicrochip manufactured by the Bayer Corporation. ResQ^TMis the first ISO-compliant microchip system for companion animals available at animal shelters and veterinarians' offices in the United States. Using ISO-compliant technology safeguards pets and helps increase the chance that the pet will be reunited should it ever become lost, compared to pets that only wear ID tags. Each ResQ^TM microchip contains an individual, preprogrammed code that is permanent and cannot be altered. ResQ^TM microchips are unbreakable, do not require a battery, and are designed to last the pet's lifetime.

To find out more about ISO standards and compare brands go to resq.petparents.com.

Q What is Canine Osteoarthritis?

Canine osteoarthritis is a chronic degenerative disease that affects the bones and soft tissues of the joints causing pain and decreased flexibility. Arthritis affects 70 million humans (1 in 3 adults) and 11 million dogs (1 in 5 adult dogs). Osteoarthritis can be a debilitating disease for both people and their canine counter parts. Our canine friends can’t tell us that their knees stiffen or their hips hurt after prolonged play or when they go up and down stairs. They depend on us to recognize the signs of pain and expect us to get them to the veterinarian for proper treatment.

Signs of pain are not always easy to recognize. Like most animals, dogs are “genetically programmed” not to show any vulnerability. Each dog responds differently to pain depending on factors such as age, general health, and breed. Signs can also vary depending on the severity of the arthritis.

Common Signs & Symptoms of Arthritis:

Lethargy

Stiffness

Limping

Reluctance to move

Aggressive or defensive reactions to touch

Unusual barking or whining

Uncharacteristic hiding

Decreased activity

Difficulty rising from a resting position

Lagging behind on walks

Yelping or whimpering

Treating Arthritis

Unfortunately with arthritis we can not turn back the clock, but there are effective ways of reducing pain and inflammation caused by arthritis. We can do this with the use of anti-inflammatory medications, analgesic medications, or supplements such as glucosamine. Other alternatives include controlled exercise such as swimming, weight control, or even surgery in severe cases of hip dysplasia.

Q What are some things that could be toxic or dangerous to my pet?
There are many common household items that can be hazardous to your pet’s health. It is always a good idea to keep such items stored in a place where your pet can not find them.

Here is a list of items that can be DEADLY if ingested by your pet:
 
Household Items:

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (ibuprofen, naproxen, etc.)

Acetaminophen (aka: Tylenol)

Cold and flu medications

Antidepressants

Vitamins

Home insect products

Rat and mouse bait

Bleach

Diet pills

Disinfectants

Fabric softener

Lighter fluid

Moth balls

Anti-cancer drugs

Solvents (paint thinners, etc.)

Fleas and tick products

Drain Cleaners

Liquid Potpourri

Slug and snail bait

Oven cleaner sprays

Lime/scale remover

Fly bait

Detergents

Tobacco products