At Pet Vet, we believe the best way to care for your pet is to prevent problems before they start. Our preventative and wellness services are designed to support every stage of your pet’s life—from their first visit as a puppy or kitten, to regular wellness exams as they age. We take a proactive approach to keep your furry family members feeling their best.
Your pet needs to be protected against various diseases, whether they are a puppy or kitten. These diseases are dangerous for your pet and can cause a lot of harm if they get infected.
The good news is that pet vaccines can help keep your pet protected so you don’t have to worry. We help animals prevent disease before it takes hold and work to keep pet populations safe from infection.
Ensuring the health and well-being of your furry companion is a top priority for any pet owner. At Pet Vet in Steinbach, we understand the critical role that vaccinations play in safeguarding your dog’s health. Our pet hospital offers comprehensive vaccination services administered by experienced veterinarians dedicated to providing the best care for your pets.
Vaccinations are a crucial component of preventive veterinary care. They protect dogs from a variety of potentially fatal diseases, including rabies, distemper, parvovirus, and kennel cough. By vaccinating your dog, you not only protect your pet but also contribute to the overall health of the animal community by preventing the spread of infectious diseases.
Vaccinations are typically divided into two categories: core and non-core. Core vaccinations are essential for all dogs, regardless of lifestyle or location, because they protect against diseases that are widespread and pose severe health risks. These include:
Non-core vaccinations are recommended based on the dog’s risk of exposure to specific diseases, which may depend on factors like geographic location and lifestyle. Examples include vaccines for Lyme disease, leptospirosis, and Bordetella (kennel cough).
At Pet Vet in Steinbach, our veterinarians will create a personalized vaccination schedule tailored to your dog’s specific needs. Puppies typically begin their vaccination series at 6 to 8 weeks of age, with booster shots given every 3 to 4 weeks until they are about 16 weeks old. Adult dogs will require periodic booster shots to maintain immunity.
When you bring your dog to our animal hospital for vaccinations, our veterinarians will conduct a thorough physical examination to ensure your pet is healthy enough for the vaccines. This examination helps us identify any potential health issues that might affect your dog’s ability to respond to the vaccines effectively.
After your dog receives their vaccinations, it is important to monitor them for any adverse reactions. Most dogs experience only mild side effects, such as soreness at the injection site or mild lethargy. Severe reactions are rare but can include symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, or swelling. If you notice any unusual behavior or symptoms, contact our pet hospital immediately.
Protecting your dog’s health through regular vaccinations is an essential part of responsible pet ownership. At Pet Vet in Steinbach, we are dedicated to providing high-quality veterinary care to ensure your pet’s well-being. Are you looking for a veterinarian near you? To schedule a vaccination appointment or to learn more about our services, call Pet Vet at (204) 326-6562 today. Your dog’s health and happiness are our top priorities.
Vaccinations are crucial for your cat’s health and preventing various diseases. They help protect your feline from serious illnesses that could affect his or her quality of life. Regular vaccinations are a fundamental part of responsible pet care and help ensure your cat stays healthy. Before visiting Pet Vet in Steinbach, Manitoba, for care, learn more about cat vaccines below:
There are several core vaccinations that every cat should receive. These vaccinations include the following:
In addition to the core vaccinations, there are non-core vaccines that our veterinarians may recommend, including:
Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV): This vaccine is recommended for cats who go outdoors or are in contact with other cats. FeLV can lead to immune system problems and cancer.
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV): This vaccine may be advised for cats who are at higher risk of exposure to the virus. FIV affects the immune system and can lead to a variety of health issues.
Kittens typically begin their vaccination series at 6 to 8 weeks of age, with follow-up booster shots given every 3 to 4 weeks until they are about 16 weeks old. Adult cats usually need booster vaccinations annually or every three years, depending on the specific vaccine and our vets’ recommendations. Adhering to this schedule ensures continuous protection against infectious diseases.
Vaccinations protect your cat from serious and potentially life-threatening diseases. They also help prevent the spread of infections to other animals and reduce the severity of illness if your feline does contract a disease. Keeping up with vaccinations ensures your cat remains healthy and active throughout his or her life.
Furry family members mean almost as much to you as their human counterparts – if not just as much. Why wouldn’t you, therefore, give them all the same tools to live long, stay strong and experience maximum health?
Of course you would, and vaccines are an inescapable part of any pet health plan. They help animals fight disease before it takes hold, and keep pet populations as a whole safe from infection. To see exactly why vaccines are so important and how best to ensure your pet’s safety, it’s critical to understand how they work.
Here are some of the most common questions, and their answers.
Vaccines administer a very low dose of a pathogen to a pet, so that their immune system can “learn†to fight it. When a virus or bacteria enters the animal’s body for the first time, they will not possess an immunity, but introducing the disease prompts their system to manufacture antibodies to help fight it, explains the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Those antibodies then live in their bloodstream from then on, so should they encounter that pathogen in real life, full-strength, they will already have the tools to fight it.
This is a tricky question. Some animals who receive vaccines do develop total immunity. Others only develop partial immunity. Still others, if they don’t receive booster shots regularly, may lose part or all of their previous immunity.
That’s why the concept of “herd immunity†is so important. When the entire population susceptible to a particular disease is vaccinated, the disease can’t find a foothold. Therefore, even if an animal didn’t have 100 percent immunity, it wouldn’t matter, because other animals couldn’t get infected and pass it on.
However, today’s reports show that not nearly enough animals are getting vaccinated. Let’s all work to change that.
Your pet needs “core†vaccines and may need “non-core†vaccines. Core vaccines for dogs include canine parvovirus, canine distemper, infectious canine hepatitis and rabies. Core inoculations for cats include feline panleukopenia, feline calicivirus, feline rhinotracheitis and rabies.
Depending on your individual dog or cat, your vet may recommend other vaccines as well. For instance, if your cat is at risk of developing feline leukemia, your vet may advise a vaccine to help combat the chance.
Usually, no. Vaccines are safe and well-vetted, and we’ve been using the same ones on dogs and cats for years. At most, pets may experience a bit of mild fever or discomfort associated with the low dose of the disease they’ve received. In rare cases, however, you may notice a serious allergic reaction: itching and swelling of the skin and face, vomiting and diarrhea, or difficulty breathing. If you notice any of this, please seek veterinary assistance right away.
Mostly, though, vaccinations are a routine part of any pet’s life, and there’s nothing for you to worry about.
Want to learn more about vaccinating today? Feel free to get in touch with us at (204) 326-6562!
Parasites love cats and dogs. They consider them the perfect host. You, on the other hand, would much prefer that they go away. Thankfully, there are many ways to keep parasites like heartworms, fleas, and ticks away. The methods can range from medication to injections to topical creams. Your pet will be happy to be healthy and not be itching or scratching.
Fleas and ticks carry diseases that can cause serious harm to your pet. The most common problem associated with fleas is flea allergy dermatitis, which causes excessive itching, skin inflammation, sores and hair loss. The second most common problem associated with fleas is tapeworms. Fleas can carry tapeworm eggs, and when the flea bites your pet, the egg can be deposited under your pet’s skin, causing a tapeworm infestation.
Ticks are known to carry many different types of bacteria that can cause zoonosis, rocky mountain spotted fever and Lyme disease. Lyme disease causes lethargy, pain in your pets joints and a decrease in appetite. Rocky Mountain spotted fever can cause skin lesions, vomiting, problems with your pet’s nervous system and depression. Zoonosis is known for causing bloody diarrhea, fevers, runny noses and watering eyes.
For pets who are small or advanced in age, a severe flea infestation can cause anemia, which is characterized by rapid breathing, lack of appetite and excessive sleeping. If you suspect your pet has anemia due to fleas, it is an emergency situation.
When it comes to preventing fleas and ticks, there are several different types of medications available, including sprays, oral tablets, spot-on treatments and flea collars. Pet Vet can help you decide which method is best for your pet, depending on his or her lifestyle.
Heartworms are not a new topic of conversation for pet owners, but that does not mean that heartworm disease is completely understood. As this is a potentially fatal condition, it is critical that you know what they are, how to prevent them, and what happens if your pet becomes infected. Our team at Pet Vet in Steinbach has put together this guide to answer those questions and more.
Heartworms are essentially worms that live in the heart, lungs, and blood vessels, as the name suggests. These foot-long worms are more than just a gross presence in a pet’s body. They are dangerous, causing issues such as heart failure, lung disease, and other organ damage.
When a pet first becomes infected, you might not notice any signs or symptoms. However, as the infection progresses, you might observe the following symptoms:
If you notice any of these signs, seek care from your vet immediately. Heartworms can be fatal, so it is critical to get treatment as quickly as possible.
Preventative measures are always best when dealing with heartworms, as they are transmitted by mosquitoes, making any pet susceptible to contracting them. Therefore, heartworm prevention medication is integral.
Your veterinarian can determine the best form of preventative care to ensure optimal protection. However, preventative measures do not guarantee that your pet will not be infected, so it is also essential to have your pet tested each year.
Unfortunately, as symptoms rarely manifest in the early stages, heartworm disease can be advanced by the time treatment begins.
When possible, heartworm treatment will include specific drugs that kill both the adult worms and the larvae, as well as antibiotics to fight potential infections. Your pet will likely need to stay in the hospital and rest for about a month. After successful heartworm treatment, preventative medications are given to protect your pet from that point forward.
In some cases, however, the disease has advanced too far, making it too dangerous to administer medications to kill heartworms. Instead, your veterinarian will focus on treating organ damage and making your pet as comfortable as possible. Unfortunately, in such cases, pets are not likely to live beyond a few additional months, which is why preventative measures are so important.
One of the most essential steps to both puppy care and kitten care is visiting the vet regularly – beginning as soon as possible after you’ve adopted them. Young animals need vaccinations to keep them healthy and to keep your family safe. Additionally, these visits help detect current or potential health issues so that they can be addressed early and properly.
Puppies and kittens require a few items that you probably don’t have lying around your home. It’s usually best to have these on hand before bringing your new pet home, but if that’s not possible, make a trip to the store as soon as possible. Make a list before you head out so you don’t forget any of the following items:
Like babies, puppies and kittens can get into anything when they’re roaming. You should take the time to assess your home – preferably on all fours – to find anything that could be dangerous. This includes cleaning supplies, cords that can be chewed on, and small objects they can swallow. Now is also a good time to determine where you will keep all of your pet’s items. You want your pet to know where the litter box and their food and water are, so pick a spot you will be happy with now.
You’re going to be managing many bathroom duties – especially in the beginning. This includes walks and cleaning out the litter box. Setting a schedule from the start helps both you and your pet get into a good routine.
Your pet deserves the best care. Our local staff is dedicated to providing not just emergency care, but ongoing wellness for your family pet.
Animals of all kinds need consistent, regular professional medical attention throughout their lives. Veterinary wellness checkups enable you to help ensure that your pet receives the proper diagnostic, examination and preventative treatments necessary to ensure optimal health daily.
When your pet gets their annual wellness checkup, here’s what you can expect. First, your pet will be checked over in a general way that starts with a physical examination. This is done to help catch any potential obvious problems such as deformities, growths, areas of pain or discomfort, or mobility issues.
During the visit, you’ll discuss your pet’s health at home, and you’ll have the opportunity to convey anything that may be concerning you, such as changes in behavior or appetite, or anything else that’s changed since the last visit. Your vet will also ask you specific questions in order to highlight common potential issues, as well as to get a better sense of the animal’s lifestyle at home.
Next, your pet’s file will be carefully reviewed, with an eye toward ensuring that all preventative treatments and any local government mandated animal treatments are brought up to date during the annual wellness checkup. These may include things like:
Annual wellness checkups provide the chance for your pet to receive needed diagnostic procedures and treatment in a wide range of service areas. Additional services that may be conducted during your pet’s annual veterinary check up include items such as:
Older pets often develop a range of age-related issues, such as loss of appetite, mobility challenges and failing eyesight. Veterinary wellness checkups support the health aging of your beloved pet to help ensure quality of life for as long as possible.
At a minimum, you should strive to have your new puppy or kitten get a visit when they are about eight weeks of age. Early wellness checkup can reveal health conditions you should be aware of, as well as to build a baseline of health that can be used throughout your new pet’s life. In addition, if you’re a new pet owner, you can receive valuable advice and tips on caring for your young pet, such as tooth brushing techniques and parasite control.
These are just some of the many services and treatment options available during routine veterinary wellness checkups at Pet Vet. We are dedicated to providing the most advanced care for your pet in Steinbach, and we can’t wait to be a part of your pet’s whole life health!
Blood tests are an essential part of diagnosing what is ailing your pet, just as they are in human medicine. Blood tests can tell the veterinarian a myriad of things, from whether your pet is dehydrated to whether he or she has anemia to whether your cat or dog is suffering from cancer.
Red blood cells are used to determine a number of factors. The packed red blood cell count can detect a condition called polycythemia. A high count indicates dehydration, while a low count can be an indicator of anemia. The hemoglobin concentration test measures the oxygen-carrying capacity of your pet’s blood, and the red blood cell count can tell your vet how well your pet’s body is functioning. Testing the white blood cells is equally useful. A high white blood cell count is indicative of infection, whereas a low white blood cell count can mean a weakened immune system.
When your pet is sick, you don’t want to wait days to get the results of blood tests and start his or her treatment. Neither do you want to drive all around Steinbach from the vet’s office to the lab and back. Our in-house diagnostic lab decreases the time and energy necessary to get your pet the blood tests he or she needs. Plus, you’ll get the results much more quickly than if you use an outside lab. We also believe it’s easier for your pet to only deal with one technician and one visit than to have him or her visit two separate facilities.
Having a sick pet can be a scary thing. After all, they are part of the family. Pet Vet wants to ease some of your anxiety and get your pet on the road to wellness quickly. That’s why we’ve invested in an in-house diagnostic lab. Call us today at (204) 326-6562 to learn more about our in-house testing lab or to make an appointment for your pet.