FAQ

Helping you learn
more about your pet

  • Q: WHY DOES MY INDOOR PET NEED A RABIES VACCINE?

    A:

    The law requires that people owning or keeping dogs and cats in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania have them vaccinated for rabies at 3 months of age and then have continued vaccinations in accordance with instructions prescribed by the manufacturer of the vaccine.

    This law is actually designed to protect humans from rabies since the disease can be fatal to all mammals, including humans. Our pets just benefit from the protection the law requires.

    In addition to “being the rules,” even our practice in urban Pittsburgh has had multiple incidents of raccoons and bats in homes and apartments.

  • Q: MY PET HAS HAD ALL THESE VACCINES BEFORE AND NEVER HAD A REACTION SO I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING TO WORRY ABOUT, RIGHT?

    A:

    Although vaccine reactions are not common, they can occur at any age and with any number of previous vaccinations. If your pet has a vaccine reaction, please call us immediately to come back in and have the problem addressed. If we’re closed, please contact one of the emergency clinics.

  • Q: HOW OLD IS MY DOG IN HUMAN YEARS?

    A:

    Most people believe that one human year is equal to seven in dog years. This is not necessarily true as size and breed play into a pet’s equivalent age. The following chart can be used as a general rule to help determine what age your pet would be if (s)he were human. Relative Age Calculator

  • Q: HOW WILL I KNOW WHEN IT IS THE RIGHT TIME TO EUTHANIZE MY SICK PET?

    A:

    We understand the human-animal bond and unfortunately know this is a very complicated and deeply personal question. Although we can’t make the decision for you, we can help you understand your pet’s condition to the best of our ability to help you determine how to make that decision with your family and loved ones.

  • Q: AREN'T ALL FLEA/TICK PRODUCTS THE SAME?

    A:

    The simple answer is to this question is that Flea and Tick products are very different. We feel so strongly about this topic, we’ve dedicated two entire pages to it Here -Fleas and Here -Ticks.

  • Q: WHY DO I NEED TO BRUSH MY PET'S TEETH...

    A:

    With many advances in veterinary medicine, we’ve come to learn how dental health has a profound effect on a pet’s overall health. More information about how to brush your pet’s teeth and what to be on the lookout for regarding dental disease can be found here.

  • Q: WHEN DO MY PET'S ADULT TEETH COME IN?

    A:

    Eruption times vary based on genetics as well as thriftiness and nutrition. It is a rough estimate of age but generally adult incisors erupt around 3 months of age and for most pets, the adult canines (the big fangs) will generally have fully descended by age 6 months.

  • Q: WHY DO I NEED TO GIVE MY PET HEARTWORM PREVENTION YEAR ROUND?

    A:

    We can’t predict when transmission seasons for heartworm will begin and end. Also, resuming a prevention program is easy to forget. So, it is safest and easiest to use a year round, monthly heartworm preventative program, prescribed by your regular veterinarian or us. Using monthly chewables year round can also control hookworm and roundworm!

  • Q: I’M CHANGING MY PET’S DIET. HOW CAN I DO THAT WITHOUT UPSETTING MY PET’S STOMACH?

    A:

    We recommended switching to a new food gradually over the course of 7-10 days. For example, make a mixture that contains 25% of the new food and 75% of the old food and feed that for three days. Then make it 50-50 for three more days, then 75% new and 25% old food for three more days. If your pet seems comfortable with this progression, you can start feeding 100% new food.

  • Q: DO YOU ACCEPT CARE CREDIT?

    A:

    As of February 2023 we do accept CareCredit.

© 2024 East End Veterinary