Research shows that Bordetella protection lasts only 90 to 120 days, requiring 3 to 4 boosters annually for continual protection. For convenience, most pet owners get the Bordetella protection only twice annually. Many dogs get the protection more frequently if they frequently come in contact with other dogs such as at groom shops, city parks,
When initiating vaccination protection, it takes two antigenic exposures to fully alert the immune system of the disease organism. Except for Rabies, a one-time dose. Thus when first protecting a pet from Lymes, Distemper, Parvo, Leptospirosis, Bordetella, Feline Distemper, Leukemia, or Feline Aids the vaccination needs to be given twice to get protection. The optimum
Pups and kittens require vaccinations every four weeks starting at eight weeks up to 20 weeks of age. The answer is somewhat complicated involving the phenomenon of maternal antibody interference with vaccine protection. Newborns receive antibodies from their mother first milk(collostrum) that block the effect of vaccines for a period of time. In other words,
Vaccination protocols have become a controversial subject in recent years, and change with advancing research. Although some drug companies claim their vaccination lasts three years, there are documented cases of Rabies disease two years into a “three year” vaccination. Therefore, because Georgia is an area where Rabies is endemic, most clinics require the vaccination to
There are several very effective and easy-to-use products designed to protect your pet from fleas and ticks. Frontline - A liquid easily applied to the skin between the shoulders of your pet. One application kills fleas and ticks on your pet for one to two months. Revolution - A liquid application also applied between the
Heartworm disease is spread by the ever-pesky mosquito. Georgia’s warm humid environment is conducive to an almost year-round mosquito population. Heartworm disease is a potentially fatal condition where spaghetti-sized worms reside in your pet’s heart and blood vessels. A pet that contracts heartworm disease will die early unless it undergoes a series of uncomfortable and
Owners typically brush only the outer (buccal) surface of the maxillary (upper) molars is brushed. The front teeth (incisors and long canine teeth) rarely need brushing, and the lingual (tongue) surface is not brushed. The back molars are the source of most dental infections and gum disease. Twice a week brushing is adequate and takes
Too much food and too little exercise cause weight gain. It is untrue that spaying or neutering causes personality changes and weight gain. It creates a less aggressive pet, but the personality and instinct to protect home and family remains the same. After the spay/neuter procedure, your pets hormonally induced nervous energy may be reduced,
Cats and dogs need regular dental examinations, but large breed dogs rarely need dental cleanings. Veterinary dental cleanings remove disease-causing plaque from teeth before it hardens into brown, foul-smelling tartar. Persistent plaque damages teeth and gums. Oral bacteria, residing in plaque, sheds through the blood stream infecting heart, liver, lungs, kidneys and the immune system.
Spaying (ovariohysterectomy) involves the surgical removal of the uterus and ovaries through a midline incision in the abdomen. Neutering, or castration, is performed on male patients. A small opening is made in front of the scrotum and the testes are removed. Neutering does not require access to the abdomen and is much less complicated and
