FAQs

Puppies need on average 4 sets of vaccinations. We start their vaccinations at 6-8 weeks old and continue on a set every 3 weeks until complete. Depending on the size, breed, and environment, we may alter the vaccinations to offer the best protections for your puppy. Kittens receive 3 sets of vaccinations starting at 6-8 weeks old. During each visit, the animal is weighed, given a general exam to ensure the animal is growing properly, and time is devoted to answering any questions you may have about your new family member. We also start heartworm prevention and flea and tick medication in the first weeks.

Yes, dogs and cats need annual boosters on their vaccinations. We do offer a 3 year Rabies that is given 1 year after the initial puppy or kitten rabies vaccination. Remember that dogs and cats live 7 years to our one. Could you imagine not taking your child for a checkup between the age of 2 and 7? The annual vaccinations offer us time to check the animal for heartworms, intestinal worms, and any other illnesses that may not be visible to the untrained person. Care is taken to look in the eyes and ears, check the teeth, and listen to the heart and lungs. As your animal gets older, we also recommend bloodwork to check for diabetes, liver problems and other diseases that may be affecting your pet.

It has been proven that spaying and neutering will increase the pet’s life span by 4-7 years. The earlier a female dog is spayed, the less chance it has of developing mammary gland cancer; the younger a male is neutered decreases the chance of territorial fighting and aggression towards other dogs. More importantly, spaying and neutering helps decrease the problems we face with overpopulation of unwanted pets and pets that are euthanized in shelters each year.

Our doctors and assistants have many years of experience and we use the safest anesthetics available. No procedure is completely without risk, especially when anesthesia is involved. Each animal's needs are considered when choosing an anesthetic protocol, and blood work is recommended prior to surgery to determine if any underlying problems may complicate the procedure.

Remember, the average yearly ratio of our furry friends to us is 7 to 1. Coming to us only once a year would be the equivalent of you seeing a doctor every 7 years. Examining your pet every 6 months allows us to act early on any abnormality we may find before it becomes a real problem.

People and pets have different metabolisms, different digestive tracts, and different nutritional needs. Let your pet eat pet food. Obesity is occurring at a disturbing rate among animals. As in humans, this is leading to diabetes, joint disease, and heart problems.

In Mississippi, we have mild winters and hot, humid summers. Most parasites thrive in this environment, so getting rid of them can be a challenge. Fortunately, we carry an array of effective products to help you to keep your pet comfortable and your family safe from the diseases parasites can carry.