My pet had an ear infection last month, and the receptionist said I still had to bring the pet in for a recheck before the meds could be refilled, why?

I know this can be frustrating, but unfortunately sometimes conditions with a disease can change rapidly. We try to refill medication and avoid an office visit whenever possible for your convenience. Occasionally the doctor will determine that your pet's condition may be at risk without re-evaluating how things are progressing. For example, if an eardrum has perforated due to an infection, topical ear meds may make the condition much worse.

Why is it required to have a heartworm test prior to getting heartworm prevention, and why do veterinarians continue to test, even while my dog is consistently getting his pill on time?

Heartworm prevention is critical in our area; even for pets that are indoors (anywhere a mosquito can get in, your dog can get infected). Many medications available now are safe to administer to your dog, even if they are positive (infected) with heartworms, but only your Doctor can tell you which these are and if they are appropriate for your dog. Knowing your dog's heartworm status (positive or negative) is critical for this determination. Then it is important to make sure the medication your dog is taking is working, by checking his status every 6 months. Product failures have been known to occur; we need to make sure that this is not occurring in your pet. We are also watching for resistance problems with these medications, and need to constantly monitor their effectiveness.

How early can I spay/neuter my dog?

We recommend between 4 to 6 months, prior to the first heat cycle. We strongly recommend NOT ‘letting her have one litter of puppies first'. The risk of cancer and uterine infections, C-sections and other expensive, dangerous conditions goes up exponentially with this approach. Besides the obvious health risks to your beloved pet, we are euthanizing thousands of dogs every month in Hillsborough county because we don't have homes for them. Please do not add to the overpopulation problem; spay and neuter your dog or cat.

If I want to have medication refilled, how frequently must my pet be seen?

Federal law requires a ‘valid veterinarian, client relationship” to exist before any medications can be dispensed from your veterinarian. This means your pet has been examined by one of the doctors from the hospital within the last year. It is against the law for a Veterinarian to dispense any medication without an exam within the last year. Besides, a lot of things can change within that period of time (for example, weight and health status) that may become apparent on a routine exam. If we can catch problems early, they are a lot easier and less costly to treat.

Why do you check a stool sample on my cat when he lives indoors?

Parasites can be contagious to people, especially children. The CDC estimates over 500 children a year loose their eyesight due to worm infections. We have seen dogs and cats with parasites in their feces even when they live indoors. Dogs that just go out into the backyard to relieve themselves can still step on the patch of grass that is harboring the eggs and get infected (worm eggs can live in the soil for years, waiting to infect your dog). Lizards and other lovelies can get into your house where your cat can get into contact with them. Because of this, health organizations recommend a fecal check every 6 months to be safe for your pet and you. Fortunately, these checks are inexpensive and parasites are easy to treat