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FAQs

Do I need to schedule an appointment for my pet to see the doctor?

To allow ample time for all patients and to schedule surgical procedures, we see patients by appointment only (except for emergencies) Like humans, pets do not synchronize their illness with our appointment book, and surgical procedures sometimes take longer than planned, so an occasional appointment delay is inevitable. Please realize that we make a sincere attempt to see each patient on time, and a phone call is appreciated by all if an appointment needs to be rescheduled.

How can I tell if my pet is overweight?

By placing your fingers on the side of your pet’s ribcage and pressing slightly, you should be able to feel their ribs. If you can feel their ribs with minimal or gentle pressure your pet is probably at a good weight, but if you are unable to feel any thing your pet may be overweight. If you rub your hand down your pet’s side without any pressure and can feel definite ribs your pet may be underweight.

Weight management is an important aspect of your pet’s health and well being. Obesity can cause certain health issues such as, diabetes, respiratory problems, arthritis and heart disease. Pet who are over weight also have a greater chance of rupturing ligaments. A pet that has an unexplained loss of weight may have a serious underlying issue. If you have any concerns about your pet’s weight please discuss it with your pet’s doctor.

How often do I have to clean my cat’s litter box?

Cats are fastidious creatures who like things clean, tidy and with a routine, this makes them fairly easy to house train. By picking a litter that your cat likes, placing the litter box in an accessible area and cleaning the box regularly most cats take to litter training well. It is a good idea to scoop the litter at least daily. Completely clean the entire box once a week, unless you are using clumping litter, which might only need to be complete cleaning every two to four weeks. TO clean the box, empty out the contents, use soap and hot water, and rinse well to remove any of the soap’s odor.

Why should I purchase my pet’s Heartworm and Flea preventative From Detroit Dover Animal Hospital and not an online pharmacy?

Detroit Dover Animal Hospital carries only products shipped directly from the manufacturer and immediately stored in an appropriate environment, adhering to temperature regulations. The medications we carry are not bought at the cheapest manufacturer, but at the best. It comes back to the old saying, “you get what you pay for”. Products sold through OTC channels are not monitored or regulated by any federal or state regulations.

Manufacturers will offer their guarantee on products purchased directly from your veterinarian. If there were to be a problem, the manufacturer will only support your claim if the product was purchased from a veterinary clinic. Every pet is an individual and reactions occasionally occur. If your pet as a reaction to an over- the –counter medication who do you call? If your pet has a reaction to one of our supplied medications we will be better able to help you prevent serious problems.

Lastly, what is saved in the over the counter purchases is only pennies per day in most cases, and sometimes over- the – counter medications are even more expensive.

My dog eats his stool, is this normal?

Coprophagia is the technical name for the behavior of eating feces. This is a common problem in dogs. Mothers will actually consume their pup’s droppings until they are old enough to move away from the ‘nest: to eliminate.

As long as vaccinations and parasite prevention have already been taken care of by your pet’s doctor, then the idea of a vitamin or nutritional deficiency can be disregarded. To stop this behavior you will need to be consistent. The more a behavior occurs the more likely it will be repeated. When your pet sniffs or shows interest in feces let your dog know that it is bad through a loud, firm, scolding voice. It helps to have your pet on a leash when outside to give you some physical control over movement as well. Some pet owners simply clean the yard every day to remove any temptation. There are products available from your veterinarian that you can put in your pet’s food to make feces less desirable.

Should my pet be on Heartworm medication year round?

The doctors at Detroit Dover Animal Hospital recommend the year long usage of Heartworm preventative. The medications that we use as heartworm preventative also control intestinal parasites. This parasite control; program is recommended to be used year-round to be most effective in controlling pet parasite problems, both Heartworm disease and Intestinal Parasites. The two Heartworm medications we recommend, Revolution and Interceptor both control intestinal parasites such as hookworm, whipworm and roundworm which can be transmitted year round.