Companion Care Tips

We’ve learned a thing or two about caring for pets after 30 years! Here’s where you can find some great tips and advice on a range of animal care topics. Don’t see what you are looking for? Give us a call at (262) 728-8622.

Online Prescriptions
Many of you have seen the ads on TV for the “discount” pet medications.  And we totally understand the need to get the most cost effective treatments for your pets.  But some of these products are inferior, and they may adversely affect your pet’s health.
• The “bootlegged” product sold at a discount has no quality control.  And for many medications this is critical.  The major pharmaceutical companies do not sell to these TV and online advertisers.  Their sources are counterfeit, foreign manufacturers, or stateside veterinarians breaching their code of ethics and malpractice.
• The products can be “deactivated” if not climate controlled, especially vaccines and heartworm prevention.  The effectiveness of these products are severely compromised, jeopardizing your pet’s health.
• These products do not carry the manufacturer’s guarantee.  Whereas, if purchased from the veterinary clinic, the Heartgard manufacturer guarantees their product and will honor all warranties.
• All pets should be examined and determined to be in good health prior to taking any
medications.
• We maintain an in-house pharmacy for our client’s convenience as well as to assure that products are obtained from reputable sources with long expiration.  Because we plan our purchases for the needs of the practice’s entire client base, we negotiate to obtain the best possible pricing that can be passed on to our clients.  Our purpose is to continue providing a reliable source for medications we believe serve your pet’s health needs as safely and conveniently as possible.

Online Prescriptions

Many of you have seen the ads on TV for the “discount” pet medications.  And we totally understand the need to get the most cost effective treatments for your pets.  But some of these products are inferior, and they may adversely affect your pet’s health.

  • The “bootlegged” product sold at a discount has no quality control.  And for many medications this is critical.  The major pharmaceutical companies do not sell to these TV and online advertisers.  Their sources are counterfeit, foreign manufacturers, or stateside veterinarians breaching their code of ethics and malpractice.
  • The products can be “deactivated” if not climate controlled, especially vaccines and heartworm prevention.  The effectiveness of these products are severely compromised, jeopardizing your pet’s health.
  • These products do not carry the manufacturer’s guarantee.  Whereas, if purchased from the veterinary clinic, the Heartgard manufacturer guarantees their product and will honor all warranties.
  • All pets should be examined and determined to be in good health prior to taking any medications.
  • We maintain an in-house pharmacy for our client’s convenience as well as to assure that products are obtained from reputable sources with long expiration.  Because we plan our purchases for the needs of the practice’s entire client base, we negotiate to obtain the best possible pricing that can be passed on to our clients.  Our purpose is to continue providing a reliable source for medications we believe serve your pet’s health needs as safely and conveniently as possible.

The need for a series of vaccinations:

When a kitten/puppy nurses from its mother, it receives a temporary form of immunity through its mother’s milk.  This immunity is in the form of proteins called antibodies.  For about 24 to 48 hours after birth, the kitten/puppy’s intestine allows absorption of these antibodies directly into the blood stream.  This immunity is of benefit during the first few weeks of life, but then the kitten/puppy must be able to make its own long lasting immunity.  Vaccinations are used for this purpose.

As long as the mother’s antibodies are present, vaccination do not “take”, but the mother’s antibodies protect them during this time.  The mother’s antibodies neutralize the vaccine so the vaccine does not get a chance to stimulate the kitten/puppy’s immune system.  Since every puppy/kitten loses that immunity at a different time, we give a series of vaccinations.  A single vaccination will not stimulate the long term immunity needed, so these are very important.  Rabies is the exception to this, one injection given at the proper time is enough to provide protection for one year.