FAQ

Healthy adult pets (ages 1 to 7) benefit most from a comprehensive wellness exam at least once per year. Senior pets (8+ years), and pets managing chronic medical conditions require exams more frequently, every four to six months or on a tailored monitoring schedule.

Our veterinarians perform a complete nose-to-tail physical exam. We evaluate eyes, ears, oral cavity, heart and lung sounds, abdomen, coat and skin, joint mobility, body condition scoring, and weight. It also provides dedicated time to discuss nutrition, parasite control, lifestyle changes, and any subtle behavioral shifts you have observed at home.

Routine visits should begin between 6 and 8 weeks of age. This initial visit initiates the core vaccination series, includes a comprehensive health check, screen for internal parasites (fecal exam), and provides personalized guidance on house training, diet, microchipping, and socialization.

Young pets typically visit every 3 to 4 weeks until roughly 16 weeks of age. This cadence ensures vaccines are administered at optimal intervals as maternal antibodies naturally wane, providing durable immunity against common infectious diseases.

• Dogs: Core vaccines include Rabies and Distemper/Adenovirus/Parvovirus/Parainfluenza (DHPP/DA2PP). Non-core (lifestyle-dependent) vaccines include Bordetella (kennel cough), Leptospirosis, and Influenza disease, recommended based on boarding, dog park visits, travel, grooming, and outdoor exposure.
• Cats: Core vaccines include Rabies and FVRCP (Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia). Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) is strongly recommended for all kittens and is maintained for cats with outdoor access.

Most pets experience mild, short-lived effects such as slight sleepiness or localized tenderness at the injection site for 24–48 hours. Facial swelling, hives, persistent vomiting, or difficulty breathing are very rare allergic reactions that require immediate veterinary attention.

Yes. Fleas thrive year-round in Western Washington’s temperate climate and easily hitchhike indoors on shoes, clothing, visiting pets and brought around your home by wildlife. Heartworms are transmitted via mosquitoes that enter homes, and internal parasites (such as roundworms or tapeworms) can be acquired through microscopic eggs or accidental flea ingestion. Year-round prevention is the safest, most cost-effective standard of care.

Prescription oral chews, injections and topicals prescribed by a veterinarian provide clinically verified efficacy, safety profiles, and wider spectrums of control compared to many older over-the-counter options, some of which suffer from documented flea resistance.

Over 60% of periodontal pathology lies hidden beneath the gumline. Anesthesia ensures your pet does not experience pain, anxiety, or stress while allowing us to capture full-mouth intraoral dental X-rays, perform subgingival scaling, probe periodontal pockets, and extract diseased or fractured teeth safely.

Persistent bad breath (halitosis), yellow-brown tartar buildup, red or bleeding gums, dropping kibble while eating, pawing at the mouth, or unexplained irritability are key indicators. Many animals continue eating normally despite substantial oral pain, making regular oral examinations critical.

Yes, we offer non-anesthetic dental cleanings on a carefully selected case-by-case basis. To qualify, a patient must meet specific clinical criteria:

• Temperament: The pet must be calm, cooperative, and comfortable with gentle oral handling so the procedure does not cause stress or fear.
• Oral Comfort: The mouth must be completely free of pain, active inflammation, or painful lesions.
• No Suspected Subgingival Pathology: A prior veterinary oral exam must confirm no signs of advanced periodontal disease, loose teeth, deep periodontal pocketing, or pathology below the gumline.

Because scaling teeth beneath the gumline and capturing diagnostic dental X-rays require general anesthesia, a non-anesthetic cleaning is strictly a cosmetic, supra-gingival (above the gum line) maintenance option for ideal candidates. If our veterinary team discovers underlying oral pain or suspects subgingival disease during examination, we will recommend a comprehensive anesthetized dental procedure to ensure your pet receives safe, pain-free, and thorough care.

Patient safety is our primary focus. We recommend every surgical patient receives pre-anesthetic blood work to evaluate kidney and liver function, an individualized multimodal anesthesia protocol, intravenous (IV) fluid therapy, active temperature support, and continuous electronic monitoring of vital signs (ECG, SpO2, blood pressure, end-tidal CO2, pulse rate) managed directly by veterinary staff.

Withhold food after midnight prior to surgery to minimize the risk of vomiting and pulmonary aspiration under anesthesia. Water and regular medications are typically permitted until morning unless your veterinarian specifically instructs otherwise. Follow all specific medication pre-instructions provided during your pre-surgical consultation.

Dogs and cats rarely vocalize from chronic pain. Instead, watch for subtle behavioral markers: hesitation to jump on furniture or climb stairs, slow recovery after lying down, reduced grooming (or over-grooming a specific joint), changes in posture, sudden aggression when touched, frequently shifting positions when trying to sleep or withdrawal from family interactions.

Never administer human NSAIDs or pain medications to pets. Over-the-counter pain relievers such as Tylenol (acetaminophen), Advil/Motrin (ibuprofen), and Aleve (naproxen) are toxic to dogs and cats, causing acute renal failure, severe gastric ulceration, and liver failure. We prescribe species-specific medications calibrated strictly to your pet’s weight and organ function.

Large-breed dogs generally reach senior status around age 7, while smaller dogs and cats enter their senior years around 8-9. Because biological aging accelerates during this life stage, routine screening every six months helps catch conditions like chronic kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, arthritis, and diabetes early.

Along with a detailed physical exam, a senior workup typically includes baseline screening blood panels (complete blood count and chemistry), urinalysis, thyroid testing, and screening radiographs if mobility or cardiopulmonary changes are observed.

You should be able to easily feel—without pressing hard—your pet’s ribs, and see a distinct waistline when looking down from above, as well as an abdominal tuck when viewed from the side. Carrying excess weight significantly accelerates joint wear and increases systemic inflammatory strain.

Therapeutic diets are formulated with precise nutrient, mineral, and caloric profiles to medically manage diagnosed conditions—such as dissolving urinary stones, supporting impaired renal function, calming gastrointestinal enteropathies, or managing dietary adverse reactions (food allergies).

Implantation is quick and virtually identical to a standard subcutaneous vaccine injection. The tiny transponder (roughly the size of a grain of rice) is injected under the loose skin between the shoulder blades. No anesthesia is required, though it can also be placed conveniently while your pet is anesthetized for spaying, neutering, or a dental procedure.

No. A microchip does not transmit real-time location data. It functions via passive radio-frequency identification (RFID). When scanned by an animal shelter or veterinary clinic, it transmits a unique identification number that links directly to your registration details in a national recovery database.

Our in-house pharmacy sources medications directly from authorized veterinary manufacturers, guaranteeing proper storage, temperature control, and authenticity. It allows you to head home immediately with the exact medication, dosed precisely for your pet, along with direct administration demonstrations and manufacturer backing.

Please call our clinic front desk or submit your refill request 24 to 48 hours in advance. This window gives our doctors adequate time to review patient charts, ensure necessary laboratory monitoring is current, and package the prescription accurately.

Yes, we partner directly with our trusted online pharmacy through Covetrus. It provides all the safety benefits of our in-house stock—direct manufacturer sourcing, proper chain-of-custody storage, valid manufacturer warranties, and seamless integration with your pet’s medical records—paired with the convenience of auto-ship and direct delivery right to your door. Unlike third-party discount retailers that may source gray-market products or compromise temperature-sensitive storage, prescriptions ordered through our official Covetrus portal are reviewed and authorized directly by our veterinarians.