He Trusts You

Preventing disease is as important as curing disease. In fact, it's the most important factor in maintaining your pet's health. The old adage, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure", is as true with pets as it is with us. With proper vaccinations, spaying, neutering, parasite prevention, lab testing and dental care, we can eliminate diseases that used to end pets' lives way too early. Coupled with daily exercise and quality diets, we can improve and prolong the lives of pets and have them thrive into the future as never before!

Vaccinations

Experts in the fields of animal health and veterinary medicine agree; widespread use of vaccinations within the last century have significantly reduced the occurrences and proliferation of potentially life threatening diseases.

5 Reasons to Vaccinate Your Pet*

• Vaccinations prevent many pet illnesses.
• Vaccinations can help avoid costly treatments for diseases that can be prevented.
• Vaccinations prevent diseases that can be passed not only from animal to animal but also from animal to human.
• Diseases prevalent in wildlife, such as rabies and distemper, can infect unvaccinated pets.
• Many areas, local or state ordinances require certain vaccinations of household pets. Many areas, local or state ordinances require certain vaccinations of household pets.

“Core” vaccines are recommended for most pets in a particular area or geographical location because they protect from diseases most common in that area. They are also required by our hospital in order for your pet to be boarded or groomed.

Talk with Dr. Peterson about your pet’s lifestyle, including any expected travel to other geographical locations and/or contact with other animals, since these factors impact your pet’s risk of exposure to certain diseases.

*www.AVMA.com

Fleas and Ticks

Fleas and ticks are not just a nuisance, they are health concern. Flea infestations can cause anemia and be difficult and expensive to get rid of. Ticks are capable of spreading serious infectious diseases. Luckily, preventing infestations is easy. Cedar Creek Pet Hospital carries a number of products designed to keep fleas and ticks off your pet and out of your house. With VetSource; our online pharmacy, you can have them shipped direct to your door.

Tartar and gingivitis are the most commonly encountered problems we see in pets, and like us, they need good oral health to have good overall health. We stress annual teeth cleanings, coupled with daily brushing, to maintain your pet's good health. Since our pets can't tell us when they have a toothache, dental x-rays with every cleaning are critical to ensure that a cavity or hidden tooth-root problem does not go undetected.

• X-Rays- Proper evaluation of the teeth can only be performed with the inclusion of x-rays. Just as when we visit the dentist, x-rays evaluate the inside of the teeth, the roots, and the bone surrounding them. Painful conditions are often found with x-rays that are not seen superficially, and therefore, are an essential component to proper cleaning of the teeth. Imagine having a toothache for days or weeks (or months to years) and not being able to communicate that to a dentist to have the problem fixed. Dogs and cats have to endure the pain caused by dental disease, and only when the problem is detected with x-rays and treated properly, is the pain relieved.
• Safe Anesthesia- Unfortunately, our pets will not lay back in a chair with their mouth open to allow the treatment of their teeth. As a result, safe anesthesia is required. As with every pet that we anesthetize, we make sure that the risks are nearly eliminated by performing the following checks:
  • Complete Physical Exam performed by the Veterinarian
  • Blood Analysis to check organ system function
  • IV Catheter and Fluids to maintain blood pressure under anesthesia
  • Gas Anesthesia with a tracheal tube
  • Warming Blankets to maintain normal body temperature
  • ECG, Oxygen Saturation, Carbon Dioxide, Blood Pressure, and Respiration are all monitored to detect changes in the body before they become an adverse anesthetic reaction
  Proper use of anesthesia nearly eliminates the risks created by the adverse reactions to it. Without the checks above, the anesthetic event is left more to chance, which is avoided at Cedar Creek Pet Hospital.
• Daily Dental Care- We will teach you how to brush your pet’s teeth and maintain a healthy mouth after your pet’s dental scaling and polishing to ensure continued optimal health (and good breath) for your pet.