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Bandages and casts require special care and handling to ensure proper healing of wounds or fractures. Care should be taken to keep the bandage or cast clean and dry.
CONFINEMENT
Confinement is usually necessary to ensure that the bandage or cast will remain in place and to protect it from moisture and soiling. For most pets this means cage confinement especially when unsupervised. Leash walking for elimination of
bowel movements and urinations. Bandages and casts of the extremities should be covered with a plastic bag when walking outside to ensure no moisture will enter the bandage.
Watch for chewing of casts and bandages. If your pet is chewing its bandage/cast a collar can be supplied to keep it from reaching the area. A bandage spray may also be used but are usually less effective.
Casts and Bandages of the legs should be monitored for signs of swelling. The toes will usually spread apart if the foot is swollen. Please notify the office if you notice any swelling.
Watch also for any seeping from the cast or bandage and for any unusual odor. Notify the office immediately if this is noticed.
If the cast or bandage slips lower on the leg or falls off completely, please notify the office immediately.
RETURN IN _____ DAYS FOR A RECHECK OF THE CAST/ BANDAGE

RETURN IN _____ DAYS FOR CAST / BANDAGE REMOVAL OR CHANGE

Your pet has undergone surgery and will experience some degree of trauma. The following will help answer the most common questions that arise after these operations. An animal’s pain threshold is much higher than a human’s; therefore, animals do not exhibit as much discomfort following surgery.
DO NOT ALLOW EXCESSIVE PLAYING, JUMPING OR RUNNING. THIS MAY DELAY THE NORMAL HEALING PROCESS.

RECOVERY
Each animal recovers from anesthesia at a different rate. Some animals are back to mornal within 24 hours, while others may take as long as three to four days to recuperate. Your pet will not be discharged from the hospital if he or she is
unable to walk out; however some animals may still stagger slightly upon release. Your pet will recover from surgery faster if the convalescent time is spent at home. SPAYED DOGS AND CATS SHOULD BE CONFINED INDOORS AND NOT BATHED UNTIL THE INCISION IS HEALED.
FEEDING
DO NOT FEED YOUR PET FOR AT LEAST THREE HOURS AFTER RETURNING HOME, AND LIMIT WATER TO THREE TO FOUR
TABLESPOONS EVERY 20 MINUTES DURING THIS TIME.
THE INCISION
CHECK THE INCISION AT LEAST ONCE DAILY.
* Animals will often lick at the site of the incision. This can be a result of itching from being closely shaven or irritation from the suture material. A belly band can be applied over the incision of females. A restraint collar can also be used if
needed.
* A small amount of hemorrhage, or swelling, will occasionally occur at the incision site. This occurs when blood pools under the skin. When the animal moves, a drop or two may discharge through the sutures. If bleeding is excessive or continues for more than 24 hours, please notify us.
* Occasionally a hard lump will appear at the site of the incision. This is often a reaction to the suture material or can be a result of blood pooling under the skin. If it gets noticeably larger, please call us.
SUTURES
* SPAY: SUTURES NEED TO BE REMOVED IN 2 WEEKS; PLEASE MAKE APPOINTMENT .
* NEUTER: SUTURES DO NOT NEED TO BE REMOVED, THEY WILL ABSORB.

Your pet has undergone surgery and will experience some degree of trauma. The following will help answer the most common questions that arise after these operations.
DO NOT ALLOW EXCESSIVE PLAYING, JUMPING OR RUNNING. THIS MAY DELAY THE NORMAL HEALING PROCESS.
PAIN
Most animals feel some pain or discomfort after surgery, although their pain threshold is much higher than a human’s.
Use pain medications as prescribed, or if no pain medication was dispensed and you feel that your pet is in pain please
contact our office before administering any over the counter pain medications. DO NOT GIVE TYLENOL
(ACETAMINOPHEN) TO CATS AS IT IS TOXIC.
RECOVERY
Each animal handles anesthesia differently. Some animals are back to normal within 24 hours, while others may take as long as three to four days to recuperate. Your pet will not be discharged if he or she is unable to walk unless special
arrangements have been made. Your pet will recover from surgery faster if the convalescent time is spent at home.
YOUR PET SHOULD BE CONFINED INDOORS AND NOT BATHED UNTIL THE INCISION IS HEALED.
FEEDING
DO NOT FEED YOUR PET FOR AT LEAST THREE HOURS AFTER RETURNING HOME, AND LIMIT WATER TO 1/4 CUP EVERY
TWENTY MINUTES DURING THIS TIME.
Anesthesia usually causes some degree of nausea, so feed your pet small portions for the first 24 hours after surgery. Ifyour pet does vomit, discontinue feeding for several hours before trying again.
NORMAL BOWEL FUNCTION MAY BE DELAYED FOR SEVERAL DAYS AFTER SURGERY.
If your pet hasn’t had a bowel movement but continues to eat, this is usually normal for up to three days post surgery. If straining is noted or appetite decreases, please notify our office.
THE INCISION
CHECK THE INCISION AT LEAST ONCE DAILY.
* Animals will often lick at the site of the incision. This can be the result of itching from being closely shaven or irritation from the suture material. A bandage can be placed over some incisions or a restraining collar can also be used if needed.
* A small amount of hemorrhage or swelling will occasionally occur at the incision site. This occurs when blood pools under the skin. When the animal moves, a drop or two may discharge through the sutures. If bleeding is excessive or continues for more than 24 hours, please notify us.
* Occasionally a hard lump will appear at the site of the incision. This is often a reaction to the suture material or can be a result of blood pooling under the skin. If it gets noticeably larger, please call our office.
PLEASE BRING YOUR PET BACK IN _____ DAYS FOR SUTURE/STAPLE REMOVAL
MEDICATIONS
GIVE A DOSE OF ___ PILL / CAPSULE / ML EVERY ___ HOURS FOR ___ DAYS UNTIL GONE.
GIVE A DOSE OF ___ PILL / CAPSULE / ML EVERY ___ HOURS FOR ___ DAYS UNTIL GONE.

Heartworm disease is a parasitic disease of dogs and sometimes cats that is caused by a large worm that resides in the right chamber of the heart.
Larva are transmitted from infected animals through the bite of a mosquito into a new host. The larva must pass through the mosquito to be infective to another host, so direct blood contact will not cause infection.
Once transmitted to the new host the larva migrate through the skin and tissues until they find their way to the heart where they mature. It takes five to six months for heartworms to go from larva to mature adults.
Typical infections in dogs can have 15 to 40 worms with some animals having much more. Cats will usually have only one or two worms, since they are not the normal host, but sudden death is common in cats with this amount of infection.
Heartworms cause a type of allergic reaction in the lungs and a right sided heart disease that is often fatal if left untreated.
Typical signs of heartworm infection are cough, exercise intolerance and sometimes sudden death.
There are several medications available to prevent heartworm infection and these work by killing the larva while they are within the skin. It is estimated that there is a 7 to 15 percent infection rate of untreated dogs in Indiana and we see
between ten and fifteen cases a year at our clinics. Cats generally have an incidence of ten percent of the dog infection rate and indoor cats have shown a similar incidence as outdoor cats in several studies.
TESTING
Heartworm testing is recommended to discover if infection exists in your pet. A small blood test is taken in the office and a result is seen while you wait.
A positive result means that adult heartworms are present in your dog’s heart and should be treated. Further testing, including blood chemistry, complete blood count and radiographs (xrays) will be needed to determine the extent of
infection and the risk of treatment to your dog.
TREATMENT
Treatment of your dog involves a two or three day hospital stay in which a drug is injected into the muscles of the back once daily for two days. Reactions may occur from dying worms and so close monitoring is needed during treatment.
RECOVERY AND FOLLOW UP
After treatment the heartworms may take several weeks to die and dissolve. Occasionally dead worms may detatch from the heart and form an embolism in the lungs. This may cause labored breathing and possibly death. Exertion can
cause worms to dislodge, and so confinement is necessary for four weeks after treatment. Medications will be sent home for inflammation associated with the death of the heartworms. A follow-up visit is required at four weeks to kill
the circulating larva and another visit at 3 months is necessary to test the dog to make sure all heartworms are eliminated.
PREVENTION
Prevention of heartworm infection is key to your pet’s health. Several forms of prevention are available and can be discussed with our staff. The most common preventative we use is a monthly pill and has the added benefit of preventing the major intestinal parasites also. We recommend year-round prevention as we have experienced infections obtained during the winter months. Several days of temperatures in the fifties can bring out mosquitos. If you keep your
pet on year-round prevention, testing is recommended every third year. If you take your pet off of preventative during the winter months annual testing is required.
CATS
Cats pose a special problem in that testing is not always conclusive and only a few heartworms can kill a cat. If we suspect heartworms in your cat we will run several blood tests at a lab and also take x-rays. Treatment is aimed at the
symptoms of the disease and not at removing the worms because treatments to kill the heartworms will usually kill the cat. Heartworms do not live as long in cats as in dogs and will usually die within two years. Cats are kept on medications
during this time.

Vaccinations are an important part of your cat’s preventive health care. There are several serious diseases that are easily prevented by vaccination. We recommend a core series of vaccines and, depending on your cat’s environment and exposure, we may recommend other vaccines as well. Vaccinations are usually started at 6 to 8 weeks of age. A series of three vaccinations 3 to 4 weeks apart is given. The immunity that the kitten receives from its mother is variable depending on her vaccination history, exposure, and other factors such as age. This immunity usually starts to decrease between 6 to 12 weeks of age, but may block the effectiveness of vaccination. This is the reasoning behind the vaccination series. Your cat’s immune system will only develop a complete, long lasting immunity if there is at least two exposures to the vaccine that are not neutralized by the passive immunity received from the mother.
CORE VACCINES
FELINE PANLEUKOPENIA
Feline panleukopenia, commonly known as feline distemper, is a very contagious viral disease. The disease causes fever, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, and dehydration especially in kittens. Death is common and treatment is often difficult and unrewarding. Infected cats and kittens may carry the disease for up to six weeks.
FELINE VIRAL RHINOTRACHEITIS
Feline viral rhinotracheitis is a severe, highly contagious respiratory disease. The signs include fever, discharge from the eyes and nose, open mouthed breathing, coughing and salivation. Infected cats can become carriers for life. Pneumonia
is common following infection, especially in young kittens. Early vaccination is important.
FELINE CALICIVIRUS
Feline calicivirus is also an upper respiratory virus that is highly contagious and hard to distinguish clinically from rhinotracheitis. It can cause blisters and erosions on the tongue and lips and also causes fever, lethargy, and discharges
from the nose and mouth. Cats that recover will become carriers of the disease even though they may not show any signs.
FELINE CHLAMYDIOSIS
Chlamydia is a bacterial disease of the respiratory tract and is highly contagious, especially in young kittens.  Conjunctivitis of one or both eyes is the most frequent sign. Sneezing, salivation and coughing are also common.
Treatment with antibiotic ointments for the conjunctivitis, and oral antibiotics is required to cure the disease. Chronic shedding of the organism is possible even without signs of disease.
RABIES
Rabies is a fatal viral disease of the nervous system with no treatment or cure. Exposure to an infected animal through a bite or saliva contacting an open wound results in the virus traveling up the nerve to the brain. The infection causes
signs ranging from aggression to stupor. Swallowing is decreased, so animals tend to slobber giving the classic mad dog appearance. All warm blooded animals are susceptible, including humans, so vaccination is very important. Cats are
twice as likely as dogs to be infected in endemic areas.
NON-CORE VACCINES
These vaccines are not part of our standard vaccine protocol, but may be recommended depending on your cat’s environment or exposure.
FELINE LEUKEMIA
Feline Leukemia is a viral disease that is widespread and a leading cause of disease and death in cats. It can remain undetected in the body for years and can be transmitted by carrier cats. It affects the immune system making your cat
vulnerable to infection and less likely to respond to treatments. It also can cause leukemia or other cancers of the body.
Transmission is usually cat to cat through saliva or other body fluids. Testing is recommended of all cats and vaccination is recommended in cases where exposure to other cats is likely.
FELINE IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS
Feline immunodeficiency virus or feline aids is also a disease that affects the immune system. It also can remain undetected in the body for years and causes death by invading the immune system and allowing infectious agents to
penetrate the cat’s natural defenses. Signs are vague and most animals are presented as lethargic or just “sick”.
Gingivitis with mild amounts of tartar is common. Testing of all cats is recommended but vaccination is controversial because a vaccinated cat will test positive for FIV, making it difficult to differentiate a diseased cat from a vaccinated cat.
FELINE INFECTIOUS PERITONITIS
Feline Infectious Peritonitis or FIP is a viral disease of cats seen most often in young adults. The disease affects blood vessels and in one form allows seepage of fluid into body cavities. The dry form of the disease can affect many organs
including the eye and is harder to diagnose due to the often vague signs. The disease is fatal and no treatment is available. Testing is difficult and may indicate exposure to the virus but not disease. Vaccination is usually recommended
only for cats that are at high risk for exposure such as in a household where positive cats have been diagnosed.
VACCINE REACTIONS
The vaccines used in our practice have been thoroughly tested and proven safe and effective. Some cats, however, may have reactions to the vaccines. These are usually mild but may include pain and swelling at the site of injection; facial
swelling; hives; and vomiting. More severe reactions are very rare and usually occur immediately after injection to several hours post injection. These include difficult breathing and weakness or collapse. Cats may also develop a type of
cancer at their injection site called fibrosarcoma. Studies have shown the incidence to be about one in ten thousand cats. We have not seen this in our practice and research is ongoing as to the cause. For this reason, we only recommend the necessary vaccinations for your cat. If your cat should experience any reaction after vaccination, please notify ouroffice.

Vaccinations are an important part of your dog’s preventive health care. There are several serious diseases that are easily prevented by vaccination. We recommend a core series of vaccines and, depending on your pet’s environment and exposure, we may recommend other vaccines as well. Vaccinations are usually started at 6 to 8 weeks. A series of three vaccinations 3 to 4 weeks apart is given. The immunity that the puppy receives from its mother is variable depending on her vaccination history and other factors such as age. This immunity usually starts to decrease between 6 and 12 weeks of age, but may block the effect of vaccination. This is the reasoning behind the vaccination series. Your dog’s immune system will only develop a complete, long lasting immunity if there is at least two exposures to the vaccine that are not neutralized by the passive immunity received from the mother.
CORE VACCINATIONS DISTEMPER
Distemper is a life threatening viral disease that starts as a respiratory infection. The disease later spreads to the neurological system where it causes incoordination, tremors, seizures and eventually death. Due to widespread
vaccination, distemper has become rare, but many wildlife species are carriers including raccoons, skunks, coyotes, and foxes. The virus is transmitted by contact with secretions from the nose or mouth of infected animals or from their urine and feces.
PARVOVIRUS
Parvovirus is a very contagious disease of dogs that causes severe vomiting and diarrhea leading to dehydration and death. The disease affects the small intestine eroding the surface of it causing bleeding into the intestinal tract. The incubation period of the disease is four to ten days and is transmitted through infected feces. Spread of the disease is made easy due to the very watery nature of the diarrhea and the fact that dogs tend to investigate the ground with their nose. Parvo can also be carried on hair and clothes that have contacted infected feces.
CORONA VIRUS
Corona virus also causes vomiting and diarrhea with blood but is less severe and seldom causes death. It mostly affects puppies under one year of age.
HEPATITIS
Infectious hepatitis is caused by a virus that is passed from dog to dog through saliva and feces. It has a four to eight day incubation period and causes damage to the liver, kidneys, and eyes. It usually affects young dogs, but any unvaccinated
dog is at risk. In the eye it invades the lining and causes the cornea to become grey or blue. This has led to the common term of “Blue Eye” for the disease.
LEPTOSPIROSIS
Leptospirosis is caused by a number of bacteria that affect many species of animals including livestock, wildlife, rodents and cats. The organism invades the kidneys and liver and can cause failure of both organs. Prompt treatment is needed to save the animal and longterm problems can result from damage to the organs. Lepto is passed through body secretions especially urine and some animals may carry and transmit the bacteria for months.
RABIES
Rabies is a fatal disease of the nervous system with no treatment or cure. Exposure to an infected animal through a bite or saliva contacting an open wound results in the virus traveling up the nerve to the brain. The infection causes signs
ranging from aggression to stupor. Swallowing is decreased so animals tend to slobber giving the classic mad dog appearance. All warm blooded animals are susceptible, including humans, so vaccination is very important.
NON-CORE VACCINES
These vaccinations are not part of our standard vaccine protocol, but may be recommended depending on your dog’s environment or use.
KENNEL COUGH
Kennel cough is a contagious disease caused by bacteria known as Bordetella. An infected dog spreads the disease by coughing up tiny droplets which are inhaled by another dog. The infection causes a tracheitis and a dry cough is the primary symptom. Kennel cough is usually seen in conditions where dogs are housed in close quarters, such as boarding kennels, pet stores, and breeding facilities. Puppies are most at risk and the cough can sometimes last for weeks.
LYMES DISEASE
Lymes disease is a bacterial infection that is carried by ticks. The disease can cause arthritis, heart and kidney disease, and neurological disease. Dogs that spend time in the woods or fields where ticks are found would be at increased risk.
Certain areas of the country have an increased incidence of Lymes disease such as the upper Great Lakes area and the Eastern Seaboard.
VACCINE REACTIONS
The vaccines used in our practice have been thou roughly tested and proven safe and effective. Some dogs, however, may have reactions to the vaccines. These are usually mild but may include pain and swelling at the site of injection; facial swelling; hives; and vomiting. More severe reactions are very rare and usually occur immediately after injection to several hours post injection. These include difficult breathing and weakness or collapse. If you notice any signs of reaction after vaccination, please call our office and report it.