When you first bring your puppy in, we begin by asking for a full history, such as where you got the puppy and how long you've had it. We also like to know if the puppy is doing well at home. Then we will perform a complete exam from head to toe, which includes taking the puppy's temperature and checking for any health abnormalities. We conduct an intestinal parasite check by taking a small stool sample and examining it under a microscope for worm eggs and fleas. If the puppy is old enough, usually around eight weeks, we administer the first vaccine. We also provide you with a 'puppy pack' to take home, which includes some puppy food, training information, pet health insurance details, and some samples for heartworm, flea, and tick prevention.

Laser therapy is excellent for arthritis. If your dog is slow to get up or their back legs shake when they're standing, or if they're having difficulty with bowel movements, these could be indications. Other signs include not being able to get up on the bed, inability to extend their legs fully, or their feet appearing curled. If your dog used to have muscular thighs and now there's visible atrophy or indentation, that's a sign that something's wrong, perhaps with the hips and knees. Cold laser therapy is definitely beneficial if maintained. It has helped many of our patients, especially older pets. We perform laser therapy on both dogs and cats, many of whom come in weekly. This is not a one-time treatment but needs to be maintained. The benefits can be life-changing for animals. It's used for conditions such as osteoarthritis, hip dysplasia, soft tissue injuries, back pain, neck pain, and any type of pain your pet may be experiencing. However, it should not be used on the eyes as it can cause retinal damage. That's why we wear goggles and our dogs wear doggles to protect their eyes.

Laser therapy uses light waves that penetrate into the deeper layers of the tissue. It stimulates blood flow, reduces inflammatory mediators, and therefore reduces pain. Increasing blood flow helps get things going, which reduces inflammation. Laser therapy can be used for treating arthritis, skin infections, and ear infections. It's a versatile tool, and we use it on pretty much everything here. I particularly find it beneficial post-op surgeries as it gives the tissue a kickstart to heal a little faster. It's also useful in cases where complications arise, such as an infection developing at the site of an incision. In such instances, we use cold laser to stimulate the healing and help the skin heal back in.

Whether issues are addressed during the initial oral exam depends on what we find. If there are serious problems such as a fractured tooth causing a tooth root abscess, we would start treatments like anti-inflammatories and antibiotics immediately, and schedule a dental procedure. However, for most other findings, treatments would be scheduled for a later date and a dental surgery appointment would be set.

Dental radiographs are crucial and should be a standard of care. They allow us to examine the unseen parts of a tooth, particularly the root and the tissue underneath the gum line. The radiographs help us assess the health of the root, pulp cavity, and periodontal ligament, which holds the tooth in place. With these radiographs, we can detect tooth root abscesses, infections, and bone damage. They also help us make decisions about whether a tooth needs to be removed or if it can be saved through medical treatments.

During a dog dental exam, a veterinarian will check for various signs of oral health. First, we check the color and hydration of the gums. Pink, hydrated gums are a good sign, while dark red, purple, sticky or dry gums may indicate problems such as dehydration or gingivitis. We look for obvious signs of disease, like fractured or missing teeth or oral masses. We also look for tartar or calcified tartar on the teeth. That's what we have to scale and crack off the tooth, and that's a big reason why we require anesthesia with our dentals. It's not a comfortable procedure. When they're asleep, they don't feel it, which is great. The degree of tartar build-up helps us grade the dental health from one to four, where one is just minor build-up and four indicates severe disease necessitating tooth extraction.

You can refer to the ASPCA toxins site or call the poison control hotline. If the substance ingested is, for example, chocolate, the toxic dose for your dog can be calculated based on their weight and the amount and type of chocolate consumed. Also, consult your veterinarian's office as they might direct you to call poison control.

Identifying the need for CPR can be difficult. By the time a patient requires CPR, if their heart has stopped or they're not breathing, there's little you can do at home. Signs include collapse, gums turning purple or blue, loss of pink color on the tongue, absence of breathing, limpness, and non-responsiveness. These are definite indications for CPR. Classes on pet first aid and CPR are available in local communities. I will tell you that the percentage of pets that can actually be saved by these procedures is relatively low, just like in humans, unfortunately. However, it is a good thing to know.

You'll know because you're observing them. Indications such as bleeding, limping, or clear cuts signal that first aid is necessary. A bone stuck on the lower jaw also requires immediate attention. If your dog appears to be choking, inspect their mouth for blockages. This should be done quickly as there's limited time for resuscitation if they lose their airway. If your dog's behavior isn't normal and mirrors a situation where a child would need first aid, it's likely that your dog needs first aid too.

Yes, there is a medication called dewormer. If you are using HeartGuard Plus, which we recommend, it contains a dewormer that will deworm your dog once a month. they are out in the environment, they are coming into contact with all kinds of things out here in full shirt. A lot of wildlife can transmit intestinal parasites in their feces and/or urine, so making sure your pet is on a monthly dewormer with their heartworm is a great idea. We also do annual fecal screenings to detect the presence of intestinal parasites.

I cannot tell you how many times these dogs have no symptoms. It's a routine health check that allows us to find out they’ve got hookworms, roundworms, or tapeworms on the rear end. The dog may have no symptoms, so that's why these tests are so important in annual exams.