Dog and Cat Pet Care in Frederick County, MD
At Buckeystown Veterinary Hospital, the focus is on wellness for every pet. Our approach to veterinary care is to prevent disease and enhance health through an individualized program that considers the age, breed, and lifestyle of the companion animal.
In addition, the needs and wishes of every pet owner are explored through our policy of strong communication: listening carefully to the wishes of each client, thorough explanation of available treatment options, and a commitment to client education.
Wellness for every pet includes regular wellness exams, disease and parasite prevention, a consistent pet dental care program, and annual lab work aimed at early diagnosis of developing problems.
For dogs and cats, we have posted the general care recommendations—variations in this basic routine depend upon multiple factors, and your pet’s individual disease prevention plan will be tailored to your unique needs.
For other small animal companions—strictly mammals, please—contact our office for basic care recommendations and to schedule your pet wellness visit.
Routine Annual Care Recommendations:
Canine Vaccinations
- Canine Vaccinations
- Distemper and hepatitis (adenovirus)
- Parainfluenza
- Parvovirus
- Leptospirosis
- Bordetella (kennel cough)
- Corona (for puppies under 1 year of age)
- Rabies
* We strongly recommend Lyme disease vaccination (Borrelia burgdorferii) due to the high risk of Lyme disease in this area.
* We recommend canine influenza vaccination for dogs with high risk of exposure—those that board or are groomed frequently or who attend dog classes or doggie day care.
Feline Vaccinations
- Feline viral rhinotracheitis (herpes)
- Calicivirus
- Panleukopenia (feline distemper)
- Rabies
* For those cats that spend time outdoors unsupervised, we strongly recommend vaccination for feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV).
* For unvaccinated cats that spend time outdoors, we recommend annual testing for FeLV and FIV.
Parasite Prevention
For all canine and feline patients, we recommend the use of year-round parasite prevention:
Dogs
A monthly heartworm and intestinal parasite preventive such as Interceptor OR a 6-month injection of ProHeart and monthly application of a flea and tick repellent such as Bravecto. We also follow the highest standards of annual heartworm and tick-borne disease tests for dogs.
Cats
For both indoor and outdoor cats, we recommend the monthly application of Revolution, which kills fleas and prevents heartworm, intestinal parasites, and ear mites.
Routine Surgeries
Our small animal wellness care includes routine surgeries such as:
- Cat spay (ovariohysterectomy)
- Cat neuter (castration)
- Dog spay (ovariohysterectomy)
- Dog neuter (castration)
Visit our Veterinary Surgery page for more about our veterinary surgical services.
Canine Influenza Vaccine Clinics
Canine influenza is a newly emerging infectious disease caused by a “flu” virus. Just like human “flu,” canine influenza is highly contagious among dogs. Virtually every dog exposed to the virus will become infected, because the virus is relatively new and dogs have no natural immunity.
The most common sign of canine influenza is a persistent cough. Additional symptoms may include a low fever, nasal discharge, lack of energy, and loss of appetite.
Most dogs, regardless of breed or age, are at risk for canine influenza. However, certain venues and activities raise your dog’s risk: boarding, doggie daycare, grooming, dog parks, and frequent veterinary visits.
Recently, a new canine influenza vaccine was approved for use in the United States. The initial vaccination requires two doses 2–4 weeks apart, followed by annual or bi-annual re-vaccination.
Please call our office for details or to schedule an appointment.