We offer a full line of health maintenance services from your pet including exams, preventative vaccinations, rabies shots, tags and licenses, worming, nutritional planning and a full line of nutrition products to keep your pet healthy. 

Worms can kill your pet. If you have not had your pet checked for worms, if your pet has worms or if you have not used a product to prevent worms please bring your pet in to see us.  If your pet has worms, we can help your pet become worm free.  We can also provide you with products that will prevent your pet from getting worms.  

 Please note that there are different kinds of worms. 

CAUSE: Heartworms for instance are only transmitted by mosquitoes, infect the heart and lungs, and require a blood test to be detected (note the worms will not show up on a blood test until they are almost 7 months old and have already begun to damage your pets heart and lungs). Intestinal worms on the other hand grow in the digestive system, are present in most dogs at birth (Transmitted from the mother), can be spread by contact with fecal matter, grass or other animals, are contagious to humans and require a float test of the feces (or other tests) to be found. Tape worms can be contracted by eating raw fish or meat.  

 In other words, worms of many types are common killers of animals and so you should “never assume”.  It’s important to have your dog, cat or other pet tested every six months by a trained veterinarian.  Your pet’s life and well-being may depend on getting these examinations.  

 Once your pet has been examining for worms, if worms are present, we will apply the appropriate treatment.  In the case of heartworms, it will be very important to keep your pet calm and non-active for several months as physical activity can dislodge dead or dying worms in the lungs which can result in death.  

 We will also apply preventative medication to your pet which will keep your pet safe from contracting worms in the future.  The medication used will depend on the size, age and type of pet.  The good news is that worms are preventable and that you can keep your furry friend safe and healthy.  

We offer pet exams and all kinds of pet services.  We pretty much do it all.  Please  call or contact us for information or to set up and appointment. 

rabies shots

Dogs in the local area must receive their rabies vaccination by three months of age and be licensed.  The license is important as often the license is used to help return lost dogs to their owners.  We can take care of the license and the vaccinations right here in our office for you.  Just give us a call to set up an appointment.

 When and How Often:

In Collier County: All dogs must be licensed and vaccinated for rabies by three months of age and repeated annually. 

In Lee County: All dogs must be licensed and vaccinated for rabies by three months of age and repeated annually or every three years depending on the vaccine used and the previous vaccination of the dog 

Cost:

In Collier County: $10 license fee for spayed/neutered dogs or unaltered dogs less than one years of age. $30 license fee for unaltered dogs over one years of age. 

In Lee County: $8 license fee for Juvenile license (dogs under 12 months of age) $8 license fee for one-year license for sterilized dogs. $15 license fee for three-year license for sterilized dogs. $35 license fee for one-year for unsterilized dogs. $65 license fee for three-year license for unsterilized dogs. 

Its true, dog is man’s best friend. Or at least most of the time.  It’s very important to take the time to research dog types, personalities and traits before adopting a pet.  Getting the wrong dog can be a disaster.  Not just for you, but for the dog too.  For instance, what if you bring a dog home, fall in love and then find out someone in your family is allergic to the dog.  What happens to the dog then?

Hair Type:For many people selecting a doors hair type can be an important choice.  For instance, some dogs shed much more than others which can make keeping your home, car and clothing hair free a real chore.  Some dog’s hair is more likely to cause allergies that other dogs. For those living in hot climates getting a dog with long hair may be a bad idea because the heat will make the dog miserable.  The important thing is that you take the time to think about the effect of the dog’s hair on your life and that you also consider the effect of your lifestyle on the dogs.

Size and Weight:When choosing the size of a dog for your family you need to take into consideration all of your household family members ages, sizes and activity level.  Just as important is that if you move a lot that many places will not allow large dogs.

Small dogs are cute and can be carried around, but they also have a better chance of being stepped on or injured by being mishandled. Also, little dogs can be more sensitive to cold temperatures.

Large dogs need more space to move around and dogs with long whip-like tails need space for them to whip their tails around without injuring themselves or breaking household objects.

Expense is another thing to take into consideration. The bigger the dog the more it eats the more expensive it will be to feed that dog.

Personality:The personality of a dog is very important to remember when choosing a dog. An active person will want an active dog while a lazy person would be more suited for a dog that does not require much exercise. A friendly dog would be more suited for a touchy-feely person while a dog that doesn’t shed or bark much would be more suited for a tightly wound person.

Below is a small list of certain breeds with certain personalities:

Intelligent dogs:

• Poodle
• German Shepherd
• Australian Sheepdog
• Belgian Sheepdog
• Keeshond

Dogs that don’t require much exercise:

• Dachshund
• Brussels Griffon
• French Bulldog
• Manchester Terrier
• toy breeds (such as a Chihuahua or Pekingese)

Good with kids:

• Pug
• English Cocker Spaniel
• Beagle
• Basset Hound
• Brittany Spaniel
• Old English Sheepdog
• Quiet dogs
• Basenji
• Borzoi
• Chesapeake Bay Retriever
• Greater Swiss Mountain Dog
• Whippet

Friendly dogs:

• Brittany Spaniel
• Bichon Frise
• Old English Sheepdog
• Bearded Collie
• Golden Retriever
• Labrador Retriever

Male versus Female:Most of the time when choosing between a female or male dog it is based on personal preference. There are certain characteristics that differ between the two sexes and should also be taken into consideration when choosing a dog for your family.

Some of the characteristics of a female dog are:

Independence - Female dogs always want to be in control of the situation.

Stubbornness - Female dogs are usually the Alpha dog in a pack and are generally more stubborn than male dogs.

Territorial - Male and female dogs mark in the same way. A female dog that has been spayed may mark for her entire life while male dogs will usually cease this behavior after they are neutered.

Reserved - Female dogs are less affectionate than male dogs.

Mood Swings - Female dogs can be very moody while they are in heat if they are not spayed.

Some of the characteristics of a male dog are:

Affectionate - Male dogs are much more affectionate to their owners than female dogs.

Motivated by Food - Male dogs are extremely motivated by food which comes in handy when you are trying to train a dog and you use treats as a reward

Attentive - Always want to be close to their owners and are more eager to please than female dogs.

More Aggressive Behaviors:  male dogs that have not been neutered may be more aggressive with other male and female dogs.

Human Allergic Reactions:There is only one true way to find out if you or a member of your family will be allergic to a specific breed is to spend time with that breed. People are allergic to different thing. Some are allergic to the dog’s saliva; some are allergic to the dog’s hair and others are allergic to the dog’s dander.

There are no “real” hypoallergenic dogs, but some dogs are thought to be more hypoallergenic than others. Small dogs, dogs with short hair or no hair and dogs with non-shedding hair are considered to be more suited for individuals with allergies to dogs.