Heartworm
Once a disease in just the southern US we are now seeing heartworm making its way into the Pacific Northwest as well. Heartworm disease is transmitted by a very small mosquito. The larvae travel through the animal’s bloodstream until they settle down and mature into adult worms in the right atrium of the heart. The adult worms begin producing heartworm larvae that travel throughout the pet’s body only to be picked up by other feasting mosquitoes to infest other animals. The adult worms crowd the heart and eventually, by causing the heart to work overtime pumping blood around them, lead to heart failure. Disease prevention is much simpler than treatment!

There are a variety of options available for dogs and a once-a-month topical available for cats. Call the clinic and ask about protecting your pet today!

Dogs:

Rabies -------- Required by law in all counties. The rabies vaccine usually can be given between 4-8 months of age. The first vaccine requires a one year booster and then should be updated every three years.

DA2PP -------- Distemper, Adnenovirus, Parvovirus, and Parinfluenza virus vaccine. Required for boarding in most/all Portland area kennels. Puppies should receive their first immunization at 6-8 weeks of age followed by boosters every 3-4 weeks until 16 weeks of age. The distemper vaccine should then be updated annually.

Fleas
Year round in the Northwest, quite easily the biggest pest that pet owners have to deal with is fleas. With the multitude of products available for long-acting flea treatment there is no reason for your pet to suffer from flea bites or flea bite allergy.

If you frequent parks, take walks with your pet, or socialize your animals at all there is a high likelihood that they will be exposed to fleas many times throughout flea season. If your pet is itching and you cannot find any sign of fleas it is still possible that fleas are the culprit. With the high number of fleas present in Oregon many animals have developed flea bite allergy. This is a condition that can cause your pet to be intensely itchy due to the full body histamine release brought about by their exposure to flea saliva from even just one flea. Monthly dosing with a topical flea preventative will keep your pet comfortable all season long.

Ticks
While not a common pest within city limits, your pets can be exposed to these dangerous parasites if not protected before traveling into the wilderness. There are a few different options for preventing tick infestation during the summer months, all of which require a topical application of a tickicide that lasts at least a month. If you are planning a camping or hiking trip this flea and tick season please see us for your pet’s protection.

Advantage
The introduction of Advantage® finally provided pet owners a safe, easy to use and highly effective adult flea control product. This is an exciting product that has revolutionized flea control in our practice and decreased the suffering of numerous dogs. When applied to your dog in the correct dosage 98-100% of the fleas on your pet will be killed within 12 hours. Fleas that jump back on your pet will be killed within 2 hours. This protection will continue for at least 4 weeks. Reapplication at monthly intervals is necessary to provide continued flea control. Your pet can enjoy one bath between treatments, swim, or be exposed to sunlight without adversely affecting the effectiveness of Advantage®.

Frontline
Frontline® is a fast, effective, and convenient treatment for the control of both fleas and ticks in dogs, cats, puppies, and kittens. Frontline® contains two different compounds that work together to kill adult fleas, flea larvae, and flea eggs. It prevents the development of all stages of the flea. In addition to flea control this product also provides superior tick control and prevention. It is labeled effective against all four common disease-carrying ticks for one month. Frontline® is approved for puppies and kittens 8 weeks of age or older. The compounds in Frontline® remain in the oil glands of your pets' skin and are not absorbed into their body, and its effectiveness remains after bathing, water immersion, or exposure to sunlight.

We use only the best quality products to care for your pets, and recommend them for home use as well. Most of these items are available for purchase at our clinic; please call for prices and sizes.

Nutrition First with Purina Veterinary Diets

Manage conditions with diets that provide a proper balance of nutrients, while targeting specific dietary needs.

Don’t forget your puppy or kitten pack on your pet’s first visit to the clinic for a coupon for a free trial of Purina ProPlan.

Annual Exams and Vaccinations
We strongly recommend annual examinations for all pets. Our doctors will be happy to evaluate your pets’ individual lifestyle to determine which vaccines are appropriate.

Kittens and puppies receive special protection from common diseases by the simple vaccination process. It's important to make sure they get the whole series when young, to protect them into their adult years.

Cats:

Rabies -------- Required by law in Multnomah county and recommended for ALL cats regardless of their environment in other counties. The first vaccine requires a one year booster, and then should be updated every three years.

Bordetella -- Kennel cough vaccine. Highly recommended for dogs that will be exposed to other dogs - such as in a boarding situation or in the neighborhood dog parks. The bordetella vaccine is required for boarding in most Portland area kennels. This vaccine should be updated annually.

FVRCP -------- Distemper - Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, and Panleukopenia vaccine. Kittens should receive their first FVRCP vaccine at 6-8 weeks of age followed by boosters at 3-4 week intervals until 16 weeks of age. Adult cats that were well vaccinated as kittens should update this vaccine annually.

FeLV------------ Feline Leukemia Virus vaccine. Kittens should receive this vaccine at nine weeks of age followed by a booster 3-4 weeks later. Adult cats should have this vaccine updated annually.

As your pet ages we can provide comprehensive care to help maintain a healthy lifestyle. Regular dental cleaning and blood work are some of the few procedures we offer. Please ask about our senior wellness plans!