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Pet Portal

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Canine & Feline

Senior Wellness Programs

You may have a senior best friend who may need special attention and would benefit from our Senior Wellness Program. Our pets are very important to us, as they provide us with companionship and unconditional love. As pet owners ourselves, we at Evers Veterinary Clinic are dedicated to helping our pets live longer with the best possible quality of life. As a result, we have designed a comprehensive Senior Wellness Program for our senior friends.

As a caring owner, you play a key role in helping your senior pet remain healthy. As dogs and cats age, they, like people, have a greater risk of developing certain diseases and conditions. Around the age of seven, dogs and cats begin to enter their "golden" years. A touch of gray around the muzzle, increasing cloudiness in the eyes and a less-frisky gait are some of the more obvious physical changes you might see in your senior dog or cat. Other changes may be more subtle. Exactly when these changes occur will vary from pet to pet, influenced by factors such as genetics, the environment, and nutrition. Because dogs and cats age much faster than humans, it is important to examine senior pets, every six (6) months.

It takes a watchful eye to recognize what may be early signs of disease or health problems. Often when you see outward signs of disease, your pet has already lost significant organ function and has actually been dealing with this diseased state for some time. Common senior pet diseases are obesity, diabetes mellitus, kidney disease, heart disease, liver disease, dental disease, pancreatitis, thyroid disease, Cushing’s disease, arthritis, and certain types of cancer. Dogs and cats also suffer from a decline in cognitive function similar to dementia or senility in humans. However, when such conditions are diagnosed in their early stages, treatment to cure such disorders or delay their progress can be given in many, if not most, cases.

With frequent checkups, at least twice a year, we can screen for common senior diseases. By diagnosing and treating problems earlier, we may be able to slow the disease process and prevent pain and discomfort. Once the tests are completed we hope everything is found to be normal! Normal results still give us valuable “baseline data” on which to compare future results and detect even small changes. This way we can work with you to ensure your pet lives a long, healthy, and happy life.

If you have a pet over the age of seven and think you may be interested in participating in our Senior Wellness Program, please contact one of our Evers Veterinary Clinic staff members. Our goal is to keep your pet happy and healthy for as long as possible.

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Heartworm Awareness

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Rattlesnake Risks for Dogs

Rattlesnakes live in a variety of habitats.

They are found in wetlands, deserts and forests, from sea level to mountain elevations. Rattlesnakes are most active in warmer seasons, from Spring to Autumn. In southern latitudes they are occasionally found year-round.

Dogs are at risk for rattlesnake bite.

Dogs can encounter a rattlesnake anytime they are in rattlesnake habitat. You and your dog may live in rattlesnake habitat. Perhaps you travel through or frequently visit places where rattlesnakes are found. Maybe rattlesnakes are around when you take your dog hiking, camping or hunting. Like people, dogs may stumble over the location of a snake by accident. Curiosity or a protective instinct can place your dog at risk. In each case, vaccination helps to protect her.

Damage caused by rattlesnake bite can be serious.

When injected into an unprotected dog, the toxic components of snake venom are very painful and can have serious consequences. Even if your dog survives the immediate effects of a rattlesnake bite, she can be permanently injured.

Treatment of rattlesnake bite is expensive.

Treatment of snakebite may include antivenom injections which can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars. Use of antivenom is associated with an increased risk of adverse effects which can complicate a dog’s recovery. Other costs of snakebite treatment may include hospitalization, intravenous fluids or other medicines. Vaccination is safer than antivenom treatment. Vaccination can reduce the overall effects of snakebite, reduce or eliminate the need for antivenom, and decrease other treatment costs as well.

Protocol for prevention.

The first year your dog is vaccinated, she should receive two doses of vaccine spaced one month apart. Subsequent booster doses are recommended annually in the Spring, or about a month before you take your dog into rattlesnake habitat.

The vaccine stimulates your dog's own immunity.

This process makes vaccination safer than antivenom treatment. Protective antibodies made by your dog in response to the vaccine start neutralizing venom immediately. On average, antibody levels in recently vaccinated dogs are comparable to treatment with three vials of antivenom. This means vaccinated dogs should experience less pain and a reduced risk of permanent injury from rattlesnake bite.

Snakebite is always an emergency.

Even after your dog is vaccinated against rattlesnake venom, she should be taken to a veterinarian for evaluation and care as soon as possible following snakebite. Even bites by non-venomous snakes can lead to serious infections and antibiotic treatment may be needed. A veterinarian can determine if your dog is sufficiently protected for the specific type of snake involved and the amount of venom injected, or whether additional medical treatment would be helpful.

There are many different poisonous snakes.

Red Rock Biologics is developing a variety of vaccines to provide the best protection against poisonous snakes for dogs in each part of the country. Ask your veterinarian which available vaccine formulation is best for your dog.

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