CLIENT EDUCATION
HEARTWORM
Heartworm disease is one of the most threatening diseases our companion animals face daily. It is caused by a parasitic worm called Dirofilaria immitis. The worms are spread and transmitted through the bite of a mosquito. While we know some of your loved ones are primarily indoor pets, it only takes one bite from an infected mosquito to contract the disease. Unfortunately, mosquitos also love to sneak inside and can pose a threat within your home as well. Blood tests and prevention are the easiest way to avoid dealing with heartworm altogether.
Please view our promotions page for additional information on starting your pet's heartworm prevention journey today. We have rebates on heartworm prevention!
FLEAS
Fleas are yet another pest that can be very annoying and stressful to our furry friends. Whether they are indoor or outdoor pets, fleas cling to anything they can and will pose a threat wherever you allow them to. Keeping your pets on flea prevention year-round is the simplest way to keep fleas away from you, your pet, and your home!
TICKS
We've talked about heartworm and fleas, however, there is one more pest left to educate on. At least 15 ticks species reside in Illinois, all of which can cause major issues for your pets. If a tick were to attach itself to your pet, it is important to carefully remove it making sure the head comes with its body. Because the ticks burrow into the skin, this can be a challenge but the tips to the left will help! If you are unable to remove the tick at home, give us a call and we can help you with the process! Please contact us after removal to do a blood test to ensure no disease was spread. To avoid any ticks landing on your pets, we highly recommend prevention medication. Our preferred tick prevention also protects against fleas!
Please view our promotion page for rebates on "Nexgard", our preferred flea and tick prevention medication.
HAZARDOUS FOODS
While we know that "puppy dog" eyes can make you cave into giving your pet table scraps, it is important to know what is and isn't good for your pets. Please see the infographics to the right for more food education.
VACCINES
Vaccines are an essential part of your pet's health. Rabies and Distemper vaccines are highly recommended for both cats and dogs annually, while other vaccines are lifestyle-based and optional. Noncore vaccines include FeLV for cats and Bordetella, Leptospirosis, Lyme, and Canine Influenza for dogs.
ANNUAL WELLNESS
One of the easiest ways to keep up with your furry loved ones is to do an annual exam! While it may feel like a visit is only necessary when your furry friend is sick, visiting annually helps us stay on top and prevent any health issues from occurring. In the occurrence of a sick visit, having a health history and strong background on your pet can help us greatly.
SPAY AND NEUTER
While getting your animal fixed is an optional procedure, we highly recommend you spay or neuter your little one. Having this procedure done will maximize the overall health and wellbeing of your loved one. We recommend that you schedule this to be done around 6-8 months of age (if able), but please speak with Dr. Milazzo first as she can give you a more accurate time frame, additional info, benefits, etc. Some benefits are listed on the infographics to the left.
FELINE DECLAW
As frustrating as it can be to witness your cats scratching your belongings, we highly encourage you against declawing your feline friends. Declawing is a procedure in which the cat's claw and third toe bone are surgically removed under sedation. Our clinic does not offer this service because of its several post-op health concerns. Some of those health concerns include chronic paw pain, infection, tissue necrosis, lameness, and back pain. We highly encourage healthier alternatives to declawing such as nail trims, positive reinforcement training, nail caps, pheromone sprays/diffusers to ease stress, and scratching posts/boards/toys.
ALL INFOGRAPHICS CAN BE MAGNIFIED BY CLICKING ON THE IMAGE.