Things to Remember or Bring on Your First Visit

• Bring all veterinary medical records. Even if you have don’t have detailed copies, we can call your previous veterinarian(s) to request your pet’s complete record.  This gives us the best biography of your pet’s health.
• Bring any medications you are giving to your pet. These include flea medication, vitamins, and supplements. Our staff can evaluate the medications, check dosing and expiration dates, and refill anything you need while you are here.
• Write down or take pictures of the food and treats you are feeding. Nutrition and pet weight is just one of many areas we will offer guidance.
• Please arrive 5-10 minutes early. We will review any changes to your contact information. 
• Lastly, bring a list of questions to ask. It’s easy to forget all the things you wanted to discuss when you’re here in the exam room.

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What to Expect at Your Wellness Visit

When health problems are identified, a medical plan will be outlined to evaluate the problems in depth. If your pet appears to be healthy for routine preventive care, we will discuss which immunizations are advised, as well as parasite prevention including heartworm disease, intestinal parasites, and ectoparasites (fleas, ticks, etc.). Annual age-appropriate lab tests, testing for heartworm and/or tick-borne diseases, and fecal tests for parasites will be recommended for your pet. Finally, your pet’s nutrition, diet, and exercise routines can be assessed and optimized to help your pet be in the best physical condition for their lifestyle and age. Remember, keeping up with preventive care for your pet is the best way to keep your pet happy and healthy for life.

During routine preventive exams, your veterinarian will assess:

• Overall Body Condition
• Eyes
• Ears
• Nose
• Mouth
• Throat
• Heart and Lungs
• Abdominal Organs
• Musculoskeletal System
• Neurologic System
• Urogenital System
• Lymph Nodes
• Skin/Coat

Immunizations
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Canine and feline immunizations are divided into core and non-core vaccines. All dogs and cats should receive core vaccines. Non-core vaccines are given based on you and your pet’s lifestyles. Be sure to ask our veterinary staff for guidance on the vaccines your pet needs.

Core Canine Vaccines

• Rabies: State law requires that all dogs and cats be immunized within four months of birth.
• Distemper: Canine distemper does not require animal-to-animal contact to become infected. Because the disease is fatal, even indoor-only pets should be inoculated.
• Canine Hepatitis: Adenovirus is transmitted through contaminated feces or saliva and can be fatal.
• Parvovirus: Parvovirus comes from contaminated feces, causing severe dehydration and death if not treated.
• Parainfluenza: Dogs contract parainfluenza through nasal secretions. 

DHPP, a combination vaccine that protects against distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, and parainfluenza, is also available and normally administered to puppies early in their initial vaccination series. 

Non-core vaccines include the following:

• Canine Influenza
• Bordetella
• Leptospirosis: zoonotic disease (contagious to humans) that causes renal and liver failure. 

Canine influenza, Bordetella, and Leptospirosis are often required if your dog is kenneled or attends a pet care facility.

Core Feline Vaccines

• FVRCP: This vaccine protects against Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis and Calicivirus, which are highly contagious upper respiratory infections, and Panleukopenia (feline distemper).
• Rabies: Like dogs, cats are required to have up-to-date rabies vaccinations.
• Chlamydia: The vaccine, which may be included in FVRCP, is a bacterial infection of the eye.
• Bordetella: This vaccine protects against a bacterial infection that affects the upper respiratory system.

Non-Core Feline Vaccines

• Feline Leukemia (FeLV)

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Immunization Schedules
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As your pet ages, their immunity requirements change. Talk to the staff so an individual vaccination program can be developed.

Canine Vaccine Schedule

• 6 to 8 weeks. DHPP
• 10 to 12 weeks. DHLP and Bordetella
• 16 to 18 weeks. DHLP, Bordetella, and Rabies
• Annually. DHLP, Bordetella, and Rabies

Feline Vaccination Schedule

• 6 to 8 weeks. FVRCP
• 10 to 12 weeks. FVRCP and FeLV 
• 16 to 18 weeks. FVRCP, FeLv, and Rabies
• Annually. FVRCP, FeLv, and Rabies

Pet Surgery
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If your pet is having surgery, you can rest assured that our staff will provide the very best care possible for your pet.
Our facility offers the following surgical services for companion animals:

• Routine spay and neuter
• Dentistry
• Tumor removal
• Abdominal and soft tissue procedures
• Orthopedic surgery

In the best interests of our pet, we require a physical examination appointment with one of our doctors prior to scheduling procedures. Before the procedure is scheduled, our staff will explain the process including:

• Any pre-surgical testing that is recommended – baseline laboratory testing is beneficial so that there are no surprises on surgery day. Knowing that your pet has normal blood test results can help prevent anesthetic complications or surgical complications such as excessive bleeding, which can occur when patients have low platelet counts or abnormal clotting. When there is liver or kidney disease, this may affect the choices of anesthetic drugs recommended by your veterinarian, to prevent anesthetic complications and promote a smooth anesthetic recovery.
• Food and water intake restrictions prior to surgery – a period of fasting may be necessary prior to your pet’s procedure. Our staff will let you know what is advised.
• What procedures are to be done on the day of surgery – from initial intake to sedation and general anesthesia, anesthesia monitoring, the procedure, and recovery, the staff will walk you through what will happen with your pet once you leave the hospital.
• Discharge and aftercare for your pet – some patients may be able to go home the same day as their procedure, whereas others may need an overnight stay or referral to a 24-hour care facility. The veterinary team will advise you as to what is best for your pet, and also discuss aftercare for your companion and any rechecks needed.

Pet Diagnostic Care
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A thorough physical exam and history (symptoms you’ve noted at home) are the first important steps.

If the diagnosis is not immediately evident, your veterinarian will recommend specific diagnostic tests.

These may include:

• Laboratory testing for baseline blood counts and organ function tests, or infectious disease. Blood and/or urine samples may be collected from your pet, for point-of-care testing, or reference lab tests. Point-of-care tests are done on-site in our hospital to determine results and make treatment recommendations in the timeliest fashion possible. In other cases, lab samples may need to be sent off to off-site laboratories (reference laboratories) – when the test cannot be performed with in-hospital lab equipment, or when the test results are not needed urgently.
• Imaging such as x-rays or ultrasound, which allows diagnosis of conditions of the heart and lungs, gastrointestinal obstruction, tumors of the internal organs or bones, fluid in the chest or abdominal cavity, urinary stones or gallstones, reproductive diseases, and bone/joint disorders. For most patients, gentle restraint can be used for these procedures, however, in some cases, sedation may be necessary.
• Microscopy is quite useful in the evaluation of lab samples such as ear swabs, skin impressions and scrapes, and needle biopsies of tumors. These tests are helpful in diagnosis of dermatologic and ear conditions.
• Ocular conditions may warrant evaluation for tear production (Schirmer Tear Test), corneal injuries (fluorescein stain), or abnormal intra-ocular pressures (Tonometry).
• Diagnostic testing is an important step in the development of a treatment plan for your pet, allowing your veterinarian to most effectively target the underlying problem(s) and assess the probability of successful treatment. Your veterinarian can explain the purpose of each diagnostic test for your pet and help prioritize which tests may be most helpful in determining the cause of your pet’s illness.

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Digital Radiography

These images can help diagnose problems and conditions with the bones and joints, such as broken bones, swelling in the joints and other types of bone abnormalities. X-rays can also be used to diagnose problems with the internal organs, like the heart, lungs, spleen, liver and kidneys.

Digital Dental Radiography

We also offer full dental x-ray to evaluate the health of your pet’s teeth. They can also be used to find any other potential oral conditions your pet may have such as bone loss or tumors. This service can be completed while your pet is under anesthesia and during their dental cleaning.

Diagnosing Your Pet’s Ailment or Injury

Our veterinary staff can rapidly diagnose your pet’s injury or condition via x-rays and bloodwork. Once Pioneer Vet Clinic understands the depth of your pet’s illness or injury, a treatment plan will be developed to help your pet heal and restore your pet’s health. If you have any questions or concerns about your pet’s health and his or her diagnosis, we would be happy to answer them and provide you with guidance to help make your pet comfortable during the healing process.

Dental Care

This occurs because of bacterial infection along the gum line, due to the formation of plaque. Plaque is a sticky substance containing millions of bacteria that forms along the tooth surface and gum line. Without frequent removal, plaque eventually hardens into tartar. Left untreated, this leads to gradual destruction of the gum tissue and supportive structures around the teeth, which can result in tooth loss. Not only is periodontal disease harmful and painful because it results in loss of teeth, but it can also cause damage to important vital organs such as the:

• Heart
• Liver
• Lungs
• Kidneys

When it comes to dental disease, most pet owners don’t realize the extent of the problem until it is quite advanced, hence the importance of yearly to twice-yearly physical examinations. This includes a thorough oral health care assessment. In the early stages of dental disease, your veterinarian can recommend home dental health care measures such as tooth brushing, dental treats and rinses, and dental diets. When professional dental care is needed for your pet, general anesthesia is necessary. Your veterinarian will discuss the procedures involved in a COHAT (comprehensive oral health assessment and treatment) plan with you when dental care is needed. Most often, this will involve a day at the veterinary hospital to plan and perform the procedures, which may include doing:

• Pre-Operative Lab Work
• IV Catheterization
• General Anesthesia
• Dental X-Rays
• Teeth Cleaning and Polishing
• Dental Charting
• Extractions when indicated.

Upon discharge, the veterinary team will review any instructions pertaining to post-dental medications, special feeding instructions, and when to resume home dental care. Your pet will thank you for remembering to take care of his or her mouth and live a longer and happier life as a result.