One of the best things you can do for your pet is to keep him or her healthy. And one of the easiest and least expensive ways to do that is by bringing in your pet for regular exams and vaccinations. Dogs and cats (and other pets) age far faster than people, so significant changes in your pet’s health can happen in a short time. Wellness programs allow us to diagnose diseases and conditions early when they’re easier to treat or manage. Often, we can help prevent diseases entirely, just by ensuring that your pet has received appropriate vaccinations and preventives. We recommend that healthy adult dogs and cats visit us once a year. Puppies, kittens, senior pets, and pets with health issues or illnesses need more frequent checkups. We’ll work with you to create an individualized wellness program, including a vaccination and prevention protocol customized specifically for your pet. Call us today to schedule your pet’s wellness exam.

Puppy Wellness

Congratulations on your new puppy! Thank you for choosing us to help protect and care for your new addition to your family.

Our puppy wellness program is designed to help get your puppy started on the right path to a long and healthy life. The first few months are a critical period in your puppy’s development, and we can give you the support and tools necessary to help him or her grow into a well-mannered, healthy dog, including information and advice on nutrition, training, behavior, and socialization.

Schedule your puppy for his or her first exam as soon as possible. Until your puppy has received a series of vaccines, he or she is susceptible to many serious but preventable diseases. We will make sure your new dog is protected against rabies, distemper, and parvovirus, among other diseases. Your puppy will also need to be tested and treated for parasites, which are extremely common in young dogs.

Most puppies have roundworms, which are intestinal worms that can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal signs (although dogs can have worms without showing any symptoms). It is important for puppies to be treated for roundworms, not only to rid them of the infection but also to prevent you and the rest of your family from becoming infected. Roundworms are a zoonotic parasite, which means they can be transmitted from pets to people. By ensuring that your puppy is properly treated, you can keep your entire family safe from these and other parasites.

We look forward to meeting your new puppy! Schedule your appointment today.

Kitten Wellness

Congratulations on your new kitten! Thank you for choosing us to help protect and care for your new addition to your family.

Our kitten wellness program is designed to help get your kitten started on the right path to a long and healthy life. The first few months are a critical period in your kitten’s development, and we can give you the support and tools necessary to help him or her grow into a well-mannered, healthy cat, including information and advice on nutrition, litterbox training, and behavior.

Schedule your kitten for his or her first exam as soon as possible. Until your kitten has received a series of vaccines, he or she is susceptible to many serious but preventable diseases. We will make sure your new pet is protected against rabies and panleukopenia (distemper). Depending on your cat’s risk, we may also advise vaccinating him or her against other diseases, such as feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). Also, your kitten will need to be tested and treated for parasites, which are common in young cats.

Most kittens have roundworms, which are intestinal worms that can cause coughing, weight loss, and a potbellied appearance in cats (although they may not cause any symptoms). It is important for kittens to be treated for roundworms, not only to help rid them of the infection but also to prevent you and the rest of your family from becoming infected. Roundworms are a zoonotic parasite, which means they can be transmitted from pets to people. By ensuring that your kitten is properly treated, you can keep your entire family safe.

We look forward to meeting your new kitten! Schedule your appointment today.

Adult Pet Wellness

Bringing your pet in for an annual diagnostic and wellness checkup can help reassure you that your dog or cat is healthy or help us detect hidden diseases or conditions early. Early detection can improve the prognosis of many diseases, keep medical costs down, and help your pet live longer. Many dogs and cats are good at hiding signs that something is wrong, so subtle changes in their health or behavior might be easy to overlook. And, depending on the disease, some pets don’t show any symptoms.

Dogs and cats age far quicker than humans, so it is even more crucial for our companion animals to receive regular exams. In addition, the risks of arthritis, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, hormone disorders, and kidney and liver problems all increase with age.

During your pet’s wellness exam, we will perform a physical assessment, checking your dog or cat from nose to tail. We will also make sure your pet receives appropriate vaccinations and preventives. We will perform a diagnostic workup, which may include blood, fecal, and urine tests to check for parasites and underlying diseases. We may also recommend that your pet receive dental care. When your pet is nearing his or her senior years, we will recommend a baseline exam and diagnostic workup, so we’ll know what’s normal for your pet. This will enable us to keep track of any changes.

Because you spend the most time with your pet, you are your pet’s expert, as well as his or her greatest advocate. Please let us know if you’ve noticed any physical or behavioral changes in your pet, as well as any other concerns you might have.

Call us today to schedule your pet’s exam! If you have any questions, we would be happy to discuss our adult wellness program in more detail.

Senior Pet Wellness

As dogs and cats get older, they need more attention and special care. Our senior wellness program can help your pet remain fit and healthy as he or she ages and help us catch any potential problems earlier when they’re easier to treat or manage. Regular veterinary exams can help your pet live longer, too!

Diagnosing diseases and certain conditions early is important throughout a pet’s life, but it becomes even more critical when your dog or cat enters his or her senior years. The risks of arthritis, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, hormone disorders, and kidney and liver problems all increase with age. In addition, dogs and cats may not show any signs of even serious diseases until they are quite advanced.

Senior status varies depending on your pet’s breed and size. Smaller dogs tend to live longer than larger dogs, and cats live longer than dogs. We can help you determine what life stage your pet is in.

Before your dog or cat reaches senior status, we recommend that you bring your pet in for a baseline exam and diagnostic workup. This will give us a record of what’s normal for your pet so we can keep track of any changes. In most cases, we suggest this checkup for when your dog turns seven years of age or your cat turns eight years of age. After that, your senior pet will benefit from more frequent veterinary exams and diagnostic testing.

We can treat many symptoms that are commonly attributed to age, including those associated with cognitive dysfunction syndrome (similar to Alzheimer’s in humans). We can also improve your pet’s quality of life in many ways: by identifying and preventing or reducing pain, recommending an appropriate nutrition and exercise plan, and suggesting environmental modifications to keep your pet comfortable.

We will tailor a senior wellness plan to your pet’s individual needs. If you have any questions, we would be happy to discuss our senior wellness program in more detail. Call us today to schedule your pet’s exam!

Pain Management and Control

We know the issue of pain management is of great concern to pet owners today. As in human medicine, we have a variety of medications available to manage your pet’s pain both before and after surgery and in the event of trauma. We would be pleased to discuss the options available to you and your pet under any of the above circumstances.

Canine Annual and Bi-Annual Exams

Regardless of the vaccines that your dog may require, we feel your pet needs a physical exam every 6-12 months to evaluate your pet’s health. Remember dogs age faster than humans. Every one year of your pet’s life is equivalent to 5-7 human years. During these regular checkups, your veterinarian can identify developing problems including dental disease, heart disease, as well as other conditions which might not be apparent to you at home. With early detection, many of these diseases may be easily treated or even prevented.

Canine Vaccine Recommendations

The use of vaccines to prevent and control infectious disease is an accepted and necessary method of preventative health care in veterinary medicine. However, vaccinating every patient against every possible disease on an annual basis carries risks, probably is not needed, and at worse, may be harmful to your pet.

Although no age group can be considered entirely free from risk, puppies (less than six months of age) are generally more susceptible to infection than adult dogs following exposure and therefore, represent the principal target population for canine vaccination protocols. The following recommendations are simply guidelines, and we will customize a vaccination program specifically for your dog. We constantly review technology to determine what is best for your pet. We are committed to giving as few vaccines as possible at any given visit. By staggering vaccine years and using a three-year duration USDA approved vaccine, we provide a safer, more personalized protocol for your pet.

Even with this new conservative protocol, some dogs may have vaccine reactions. Some dogs may be slightly lethargic or sore after vaccination, which can be a normal response. However, if you notice that your dog develops facial swelling, vomits, stops eating, develops a lump at the injections site, or develops other signs of illness, please call the hospital immediately.

AAHA Canine Vaccine Guidelines

Vaccine Recommendations

DAPP: Distemper virus, Adenovirus or hepatitis, Parvovirus, Parainfluenza

• 8, 12, 16 weeks, then one year later booster with the one-year product, then the three yr DAP product the following year.

Canine Influenza

• Initial 2 vaccinations 2-4 weeks apart starting after 8 weeks, then annually
• Click here to learn more about influenza.

Rabies: 

• 16 weeks, then three yr duration product in 1 year.
• Click here to learn more.

Bordetella/Kennel Cough:

• Intranasal as early as three weeks, then a booster in 1-2 months with injectable, then yearly with injectable. This is a non-core vaccine and is recommended for dogs with exposure to boarding/kenneling situations, dog parks, pet supply stores and for grooming patients.
• Click here to learn more.

Distemper/Lepto (DHPP-L)

Leptospirosis:

• This is a series of 2 injections recommended to dogs that hunt and have wildlife/livestock exposure.
• Lepto is required for boarding now due to the increased incidence of cases in dogs and humans in our area.
• Click here to learn more.

Heartworm Testing and Preventative:

• The American Heartworm Society www.heartwormsociety.org recommends monthly preventative year round and yearly blood testing. We have been testing every two years and recommending preventative during mosquito season, May-October. Since the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) and the CAPC(Companion Animal Parasite Council) www.capcvet.org have their guidelines recommending year-round product use, we feel it is the safest policy to treat monthly, especially if you have young children and the pets are exposed to the outdoors.
• Click here to learn more about heartworm.

Flea and Tick Products:

Luckily in Montana, we don’t see fleas very often. But we certainly have ticks. Any pets that go outside or have exposure to open grassy areas can be exposed to ticks. They can come in our houses on us, also. The tick season is mainly in early spring through summer, but pets that are outside in the fall can still be a risk from the deer populations moving around. We recommend Frontline. It is a monthly topical product that is spotted on the skin, is waterproof in 2 hours and is safe for cats and young pets.

Feline Annual and Bi-Annual Exams

Regardless of the vaccines that your cat may require, we recommend a physical exam every 6-12 months to evaluate your pet’s health. Remember cats’ age faster than humans. Every one year of your pet’s life is equivalent to 5-6 human years. During these regular checkups, your veterinarian can identify any developing problems including dental disease, heart disease, and other diseases which might not be apparent to you at home. With early detection, many of these diseases may be treated or even prevented. Although our vaccine protocol has changed, an exam every six months with a veterinarian is still crucial to insure your cat’s continued health.

Feline Vaccination Recommendations

The use of vaccines to prevent and control infectious disease is an accepted and necessary method of preventative health care in veterinary medicine. However, vaccinating every patient against every possible disease on an annual basis carries risks and may be harmful. In fact, in 1991 veterinarians began to notice a higher than expected number of tumors (called sarcomas) occurring at the sites of vaccine injections in cats. The incidence of these injection-associated sarcomas is 1 in 2,000 to 1 in 10,000 cats. The incidence of this tumor in combination with recent research on the duration of vaccine efficacy has led the American Association of Feline Practitioners and the Academy of Feline Medicine to propose new guidelines for revaccination of cats.

Although no age group can be considered entirely free from risk, kittens (less than six months of age) are generally more susceptible to infection than adult cats following exposure and therefore, represent the principal target population for feline vaccination protocols. The following recommendations are simply guidelines, and we will design a vaccination program specifically for your cat that protects against infectious disease and is as safe as possible.

Even with this new conservative protocol, some cats may have vaccine reactions. Many cats may be lethargic or sore after vaccination, which is a normal response. However, if you notice that your cat vomits, stops eating, or develops a lump at the site of the vaccine injection, or other signs of illness, please call the hospital as soon as possible.

Feline Practitioners Vaccine Guidelines

Vaccine Recommendations

FVRCP(C): Recommendation for vaccination series: A series of 3 vaccines:

• 1st at eight weeks, 2nd at 12 weeks, the last after 14-16 weeks
• If older than12 weeks of age: 2 doses, 3-4 weeks apart
• Booster interval: 1 year later, then every three years
• Chlamydia is included in the kitten series but isn’t in adult cats unless they are outdoor cats.
• Click here to learn more.

Rabies: Recommendation for vaccination series:

• 16 weeks: do not vaccinate16 weeks: 1 dose
• Click here to learn more.

Booster Interval: 3-year booster after one year

FeLV (feline leukemia): Recommendations for vaccination series:

• Two doses, 3-4 weeks apart beginning at ten weeks of age or older
• Booster Interval: 1 year later, then at doctor’s discretion depending on the patient’s risk factors.
• Click here to learn more of FeLV.
• Click here to learn more about FIV.

Note: Annual retesting is recommended for FELV and FIV for all indoor/outdoor cats.
FIV vaccine is not recommended. We use it for cats with a positive FIV housemate.

Click here to learn more about vaccine reaction reporting.

Deworming:

Annual internal parasite screens or fecals are required every year to help detect parasites. Cats that are big hunters should be dewormed up to every other month. We know are using a topical dewormer that has broad-spectrum control even for tapeworms. Click here to learn more about deworming.

Flea and Tick Products:

Luckily in Montana, we don’t see fleas very often. But we certainly have ticks. Any pets that go outside or have exposure to open grassy areas can be exposed to ticks. They can come in our houses on us, also. The tick season is mainly in early spring through summer, but pets that are outside in the fall can still be a risk from the deer populations moving around. We recommend Frontline. It is a monthly topical product that is spotted on the skin, is waterproof in 2 hours and is safe for cats and young pets.

Dentistry

Imagine what your mouth would feel like if you never brushed your teeth or went to the dentist. For many dogs and cats, this is a painful reality. According to the American Veterinary Dental Society, more than 80% of dogs and 70% of cats have dental disease by the age of 3. Dental (or periodontal) disease is the most frequently diagnosed health problem in pets.

Common signs of dental disease include:

• Yellow or brown buildup (tartar) on the teeth
• Red, swollen, or bleeding gums
• Bad breath
• Excessive drooling
• Changes in eating or chewing habits
• Pawing at the face
• Loose teeth
• Depression

Even if your dog or cat doesn’t have these symptoms, we recommend that you have a veterinarian evaluate your pet’s dental health at least once a year. Bacteria and food debris accumulate around the teeth and, if left unchecked, will lead to deterioration of the soft tissue and bone surrounding the teeth. This decay can result in irreversible periodontal disease, tooth loss, and possibly expensive oral surgery.

Dental disease can also affect other organs in the body: Bacteria in the mouth can get into the bloodstream and cause serious infections in the kidneys, liver, lungs, and heart. If these problems aren’t caught and treated quickly enough, they can result in death. A physical exam combined with appropriate laboratory work can determine if the infection in the mouth has spread.

Schedule your pet’s dental exam today! We can also help show you how to brush your pet’s teeth and recommend foods and treats that will help combat plaque and tartar buildup.

• Click here to learn more about canine dental care.
• Click here to learn more about feline dental care.

Spaying

Spaying your pet has many benefits. The procedure, which prevents female animals from becoming pregnant and reproducing, can help your dog or cat live a longer, healthier life. Spaying will not change your pet’s personality.

By spaying your female pet, you’re protecting her against potentially deadly diseases, including bacterial infections, reproductive tract diseases, and several types of cancer. You also won’t have to worry about her going into heat. This means avoiding the mess that often accompanies the heat cycle in female dogs and the pacing and crying that happens with female cats. In addition, spaying your pet will help control the dog and cat overpopulation problem, keeping more animals out of shelters.

Spaying, which involves removing the ovaries and uterus, is a surgical procedure and does need to be performed with the pet under anesthesia. We follow strict protocols and continually monitor your pet’s vital signs to help ensure her safety. Please see the descriptions under Anesthesia and Patient Monitoring for more information on what we do to keep your pet safe.

To set up an appointment to have your pet spayed or to learn more about this procedure, call or visit our clinic. If you are struggling with the decision of whether to spay your pet, please call us so we can discuss your concerns.

Neutering

Neutering your pet has many benefits. The procedure, which prevents male animals from reproducing, can help your dog or cat live a longer, healthier life. Neutering will not change your pet’s personality.

By neutering your pet, you’re reducing or eliminating his risk for prostate and testicular cancer, as well as sexually transmitted diseases. Neutering will also reduce or eliminate the undesirable and embarrassing behavior, including roaming, fighting, humping, and spraying. In addition, neutering your pet will help control the dog and cat overpopulation problem, keeping more animals out of shelters.

Neutering, which involves removing the testicles, is a surgical procedure and does need to be performed with the pet under anesthesia. We follow strict protocols and continually monitor your pet’s vital signs to help ensure his safety. Please see the descriptions under Anesthesia and Patient Monitoring for more information on what we do to keep your pet safe.

To set up an appointment to have your pet neutered or to learn more about this procedure, please call or visit our clinic. If you are struggling with the decision of whether to neuter your pet, please call us or stop by so we can discuss your concerns.

Flea and Tick Prevention and Control

Fleas can cause problems for pets ranging from minor to life-threatening. Not only can these parasites cause severe itching, irritation, and allergies, but they can also transmit tapeworms and diseases. Fleas can infest dogs, cats, ferrets, mice, and rats. And fleas don’t just stay on pets; they can bite people, too. For more information, contact us or see the flea article in the Pet Health Library on our site.

You don’t want these blood-sucking parasites on your pet or in your home. We can help keep them away or help you get rid of them if they’ve already found their way inside. Call us to find out how to eliminate and control fleas or to start your pet on a preventive today.

Ticks are blood sucking parasites that not only irritate your pet but transmit deadly diseases. You may think your pet is safe because it is inside mostly, but parasites can come in through open doors, cracks in windowsills, chimneys and on us or other pets.

Click here to learn more about avian care.

Budgies, cockatiels, parrots, and songbirds tend to live longer, healthier lives when they receive regular veterinary care. We can provide nutritional counseling, health assessments, grooming assistance, sexing, fecal parasite testing, medical and surgical services, and annual physicals. In addition, we’d be happy to discuss general care, disease prevention, safety, appropriate housing and toys, and breeding. We recommend that you bring your bird in for an initial checkup, then stop by once a year to ensure that he or she remains healthy and isn’t hiding signs of illness. Some birds require more frequent visits. During the exam, we will check your bird’s beak, nails, and feathers to determine if they require any specialized attention. Regular exams can help catch diseases and problems early when they tend to be easier and less expensive to treat. A bird that doesn’t groom itself correctly appears ruffled, or has unkempt or missing feathers is probably sick. Other signs that your bird might not well include changes in eating or sleeping habits, difficulty breathing, and abnormal droppings. Birds are good at hiding signs of illness, so if you notice that your bird is acting unusual or if something just doesn’t seem right, call us as soon as possible.

Wing Clipping

Clipping a bird’s feathers can protect your bird and your home. Wing clipping is a non-painful procedure that ensures the safety of your bird in its environment and keeps your bird from chewing holes in your doors and window frames. It limits your bird’s ability to fly, removing the risk of injury from flying into a ceiling fan, onto a hot stovetop, or into (or out) a window.Having your bird’s feathers professionally clipped helps ensure that the right feathers are removed without irritating the skin. Improperly clipped wings can cause your bird to pluck or chew its feathers. In addition, inexperienced wing clipping can result in a blood feather being accidentally trimmed, a situation that can become life-threatening. We can perform this procedure safely while preserving the aesthetic appearance of your bird. Please feel free to call us to discuss this option, as well as any concerns you might have, or to set up an appointment.

Toenail Trims

Most birds need to have their nails trimmed regularly. However, the process can be detrimental to your bird if its nails are trimmed too short. We can take care of this procedure for you so that you don’t have to worry about nicking the blood vessels inside the nails. Call us if you’d like to schedule an appointment.Be careful if you perform this procedure at home. In fact, we only suggest that you attempt this at home if your bird is small and has white nails (which allow you to see the blood vessels). We also suggest you keep a caustic agent, such as styptic powder, on hand in case a nail bleeds.Providing perches with rough surfaces can help reduce the frequency of nail trimming, but do not use sandpaper perches. They don’t wear down the nails and can cause skin problems.

Beak Trims

Beaks continue growing throughout birds’ lives. Although birds’ beaks usually wear evenly, some birds develop beak problems and require veterinary assistance. Trimming its beak incorrectly can cause your bird pain and may prevent it from eating, which is why we recommend having your bird’s beak professionally trimmed. Do not attempt to trim your bird’s beak at home. Call us to schedule an appointment.

Looking to improve conception rates in your breeding program? Using one of two methods, we can assist you in determining the optimum time to breed your dogs and enhance the success of pregnancy.

We can perform vaginal cytology on female dogs to calculate the stage of estrus. This method involves taking a swab of the vaginal cells and analyzing them under a microscope. Usually, more than one swab is required. Another method we can use is to perform a simple blood test to determine the luteinizing hormone (LH) surge and pinpoint the dog’s fertile period.

Additional tests, including a thyroid analysis, should be performed on your dog before estrus. These tests can rule out any potential problems or alert you to issues that need to be addressed before breeding.

Please call and set up an appointment with one of our veterinarians to discuss how we can further assist you with your breeding program.

AKC has a great website for learning about breeding, check out these articles:

• Whelping & Medical Intervention
• AKC Breeding Basics
• Nutrition & Reproductive Performance

Dr. Cook also has some handouts for you:

• Breeding Tests
• Whelping Guide

Vaginal Cytology

We can perform vaginal cytology on female dogs to help determine the optimum time to breed and enhance the success of pregnancy. To do so, we take a swab of the vaginal cells and analyze them under a microscope. Usually, more than one swab is required.

Additional tests, including a thyroid analysis, should be performed on your dog before her estrus cycle. These tests can rule out any potential problems or alert you to issues that need to be addressed before breeding.

Please call and set up an appointment with one of our veterinarians to discuss how we can further assist you with your breeding program.

Caesarian Section

Most animals give birth without any complications. However, mothers occasionally need help with delivery. We usually attempt to resolve the problem using medical therapy first, but when that doesn’t solve the issue, we will perform a caesarian section.

During a c-section, the mother is given an anesthetic. An incision is then made along her abdomen and through the uterus to retrieve unborn puppies or kittens. In some situations, we may recommend that the mother is spayed during this procedure, usually to prevent future problems of this nature