Cocoa Veterinary Hospital FAQs

There could be a number of reasons why your dog’s ears or teeth are emitting an odor. Gingivitis, tartar, periodontal disease, and ear infections are some examples of potential causes behind the odor. However, we recommend making an appointment with a veterinarian who can meet with your dog and determine the root cause of the issue.

Heartworm preventatives are not 100% effective. Occasionally a dose gets missed, spit out, vomited, or just not adequately absorbed, resulting in inadequate protection. Heartworm testing is a safeguard against your pet suffering from heartworm disease without your knowledge. Furthermore, giving some types of heartworm preventative to a dog that has heartworm infection may actually result in a shock-like reaction due to a rapid kill of immature heartworms.

No, but we have modified the vaccination schedule and minimized the frequency of vaccinating your pet while still keeping your pet protected. We will discuss your concerns and formulate a pre-treatment plan prior to vaccinating your pet.

Cats get FIV from bite wounds, usually from fighting. They can also contract the disease through breeding. This is one of the most common infectious diseases in outdoor cats, especially intact males. There is a vaccine for this disease. Unfortunately, it is not 100% effective, but we do recommend it for cats who are at a high risk.

According to the guidelines set forth by the American Association of Feline Practitioners, the FeLV vaccine is recommended annually for all cats who go outside where they have exposure to other cats, and/or live with a FeLV infected cat. It is also recommended for all kittens due to their unique susceptibility to Feline Leukemia Virus infection.

These are best discussed with your veterinarian. Vaccination schedules are tailored for each pet, taking into consideration factors such as exposure risk, age of pet, previous reactions, etc. Generally, we recommend that all dogs be immunized for the following “core” vaccines/diseases: Parvo, Distemper, Parainfluenza, Canine Adenovirus, and Leptospirosis. “Non core” vaccines that are available but not required (again depending on exposure risk) are Bordatella (Kennel cough), and Lymes disease. Bordatella is required for boarding and grooming. For cats, we currently recommend all cats be vaccinated for Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, and Panleukopenia. Feline Leukemia vaccine is considered a “core” vaccine for kittens and outdoor cats only and a “non-core” vaccine for all indoor adult cats. Other “non-core” vaccines for cats include FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus), FIP (Feline Infectious Peritonitis), and Giardia vaccine.

At Cocoa Veterinary Hospital, we use Merial Purevax non-adjuvanted vaccines for cats. This vaccine requires annual revaccination for Rabies, but reduces the risk of vaccine-induced sarcomas. The canine rabies vaccine, IMRAB is a 3-year vaccine. This vaccine is also approved for use in ferrets.

Each year for your pet is equivalent to at least 4 or more human years. A lot can happen in that time. During the annual exam the veterinarian carefully goes over your pet from head to tail. Subtle changes such as weight loss/gain, skin tumors, eye/ear changes, dental disease, heart disease, arthritis, abdominal masses, endocrine disease, and much, much more can be evaluated and discussed. Hopefully, conditions can be diagnosed early and treated, helping your pet live a long, happy life. As your pet ages the doctor will recommend blood and/or urine tests to further evaluate organ function (or dysfunction) and start appropriate treatment or dietary changes.

We make every effort to accommodate our clients’ requests. However, there may be circumstances that prevent a certain veterinary team member from being available during your pet’s visit. Scheduling conflicts, emergency situations, and vacation schedules all play a role in their availability. Please feel free to ask for a specific veterinarian or veterinary technician when you schedule your appointment, and we will do what we can facilitate your request. However, please be understanding if we can’t. All of our team members are highly skilled professionals who look forward to your pet’s visit.

Our top priority is to make sure that our patients receive the highest standard of care and best possible outcome. This is why we sometimes make the decision to refer patients to veterinary specialists or specialty clinics when advanced training or equipment will be beneficial.

Our veterinarians make every effort to stay current and skilled in many aspects of animal health, providing comprehensive care for your pet. However, board-certified specialists have extensive experience and training in a particular area of veterinary medicine or surgery. And specialty clinics and university-affiliated referral centers have specialized equipment to perform procedures that are not routinely undertaken by general practitioners.

Be assured that when we refer a patient to another hospital, we continue to stay involved with their care, consulting with the treating specialist and often providing any needed follow-up care and rehabilitation.

We’d be happy to send proof of vaccination to your pet’s kennel. Just let us know the fax number.

The fees you pay for veterinary services take into consideration a number of factors, including the costs to compensate your veterinarian and veterinary team for their professional services and the expenses involved in maintaining the hospital and equipment. When someone decides to adopt a pet, he or she needs to be prepared to include annual veterinary care in the overall cost of owning the pet.

Thanks to advances in veterinary medicine, pets are living longer, which means you may be spending more over the lifetime of your pet. However, in general, the annual cost of caring for a pet hasn’t increased much over the past several decades. (Consider how much the costs of many professional services, such as human healthcare, have risen over that same period!) Certain advanced procedures may come at a higher cost, but as the owner, you decide what care you want to provide your pet. Overall, veterinary care is a terrific value for pet owners.

It may seem like you’re paying more for your pet’s care than for your own, but that perception may stem from the fact that you’re paying the entire cost of a service or procedure, rather than a percentage or set fee determined by an insurance company. If you want to save money on your pet’s care, there are several pet insurance plans available. These plans may cover or help keep costs down for many routine veterinary services, prescriptions, medical conditions, and diseases. Your veterinary hospital may also offer a third-party healthcare line of credit as an option. Be sure to ask at your hospital if they accept any of these plans.

Even though your pet may be showing the same symptoms as he or she did the last time, the problem may be different. Many diseases have similar symptoms, and your veterinarian needs to examine your pet to ensure that he or she correctly diagnoses the cause.

Supplements, and nutraceuticals in particular, are becoming very popular with pet owners. Your veterinarian can help you weed out confusing and conflicting information and advise you on any supplements your pet might benefit from.

The answer is different for each pet, although many commercially available foods are fine to feed healthy dogs and cats. You can look for a nutritional adequacy statement from the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), as well as the words “complete and balanced.” Pets’ nutritional needs do change, depending on their life stage and health. Your veterinarian can recommend a pet food, as well as give you advice on deciphering ingredient lists and determining how much to feed your pet.

Losing a pet can be extremely upsetting and hard to move beyond. We have such a close bond with our pets, so letting go is never easy. Many veterinary hospitals offer grief counseling, as do some veterinary colleges and professional organizations. You can contact your veterinary hospital to find out who they recommend to help you through this sad transition.

Many clinics offer veterinary-approved toys and accessories for pets. With all the options out there, sometimes it’s hard to figure out what’s safe. Your veterinary hospital can also recommend toys based on your pet’s age, breed, needs, and interests.

Certain behaviors can be extremely frustrating and difficult to overcome. Many veterinary hospitals offer behavior counseling and obedience training. Call your clinic to set up a behavior assessment.

You can turn to the Pet Health Section of our website, which offers current, trustworthy information on a wide variety of topics. In addition, many veterinary colleges and professional organizations offer excellent resources online. Your veterinarian will also be happy to discuss your pet’s health in more detail.

Modern anesthesia is generally quite safe. Most veterinary hospitals perform a physical examination and run blood tests before all procedures requiring general anesthesia to make sure your pet doesn’t have any hidden health issues. In addition, a skilled veterinary technician should be monitoring your pet’s vital signs during the procedure, to ensure your pet’s safety or to catch and treat any potential concerns as quickly as possible. Anesthesia and patient monitoring vary greatly from clinic to clinic. Ask your hospital what they do to protect your pet before, during, and after the use of anesthesia.

A veterinary technician is trained to assist veterinarians in caring for pets. These professionals perform many of the same tasks that a nurse would for a doctor. Veterinary technicians have received extensive training, either in accredited programs or on the job. Responsibilities vary among clinics, but the basic duties remain the same. For instance, technicians collect patient samples, perform lab tests, assist during patient exams and dental cleanings, and take x-rays. Senior techs also train and mentor other staff members. Some technicians work in research facilities or for manufacturers.