Lester Prairie Veterinary Clinic offers pet wellness care for dogs and cats. Regular physical examinations are extremely important to maintain the health of your pet. Routine examinations give your veterinarian an opportunity to develop a picture of your pet’s overall health and establish baseline health measures. Examinations are also essential in spotting problems before they become serious health issues, ensuring the best possible outcome for your pet. Our veterinarians recommend a complete physical exam annually for your adult pet and bi-annually for your senior pet.

Our pet wellness exams include:

• A thorough physical inspection of the ear canals and eardrums
• Evaluation of your pet’s eyes and vision
• Inspection of the teeth and gums
• Palpation of the lymph nodes and abdominal organs
• Evaluation of your pet’s heart and lungs
• Examination of the fur and skin
• Recommended blood tests
• Recommended fecal screening
• Vaccination schedule review

We strive to provide the ultimate client experience, and we truly value your opinion in the decision-making process. During your pet’s wellness exam, we will also answer any of your questions regarding your pet’s health, such as nutrition, behavior, the services offered by our animal hospital, or other concerns you may have about keeping your pet happy and healthy.

Regular vaccinations are one of the cornerstones of good preventive health care for dogs and cats. When administered by your veterinarian, vaccines provide cost-effective protection against infectious and contagious diseases for both pets and people. Vaccines help prevent many contagious illnesses, including ones that can be fatal, that pets may encounter if they are outdoors at all, socialize with other animals in public places, or travel with you.

Our team can help offer you some of the best advice regarding your pet’s vaccination plan, which can help lead to many happy years of health and wellness. Our doctors can help to tailor a vaccination protocol for your pet based on his or her individual risk factors. Our pets are faced with many deadly infectious diseases, and vaccines can help protect them. Over the years, vaccines against dangerous diseases have saved millions of pets and virtually eliminated some fatal diseases that were once common.

Rabies Vaccination

All dogs and cats within Lester Prairie are required to be vaccinated for rabies at three months of age and as needed thereafter. The first vaccination is good for one year and subsequent vaccinations are good for three years.

Proof of prior rabies vaccination is necessary to give a rabies certificate for a three-year duration.

Rabies is a zoonotic disease (it can infect humans) caused by a virus that is transmitted through the saliva of an infected animal. It is 100% fatal once contracted. Even indoor-only pets have been documented to be infected with rabies, thus the vaccination is necessary for all pets.

Recommended Vaccinations

These vaccines are recommended by the American Animal Hospital Association:

Dogs:

• DAPP – distemper, adenovirus I & II, parainfluenza, parvovirus (all five vaccines are given in one shot)
• Bordetella – to protect against kennel cough

Cats:

• FVRCP – feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, panleukopenia (all in one shot)

Additional vaccinations based on your pet’s risk:

• Influenza – Dogs also are susceptible to the flu. This vaccine may be recommended for boarding, grooming, or dog park interactions. Canine influenza vaccination can be given at six weeks of age, followed by a booster two to four weeks later.
• Leptospirosis – This vaccine is recommended for dogs that will be hiking, camping, and generally playing in bodies of water as a way to help protect against this possibly fatal disease. Leptospirosis vaccination can be given at 12 weeks of age, followed by a booster in four weeks.
• Lyme vaccine – This vaccine may be recommended if your dog will be spending time in tick-endemic areas (the East coast, forested areas).
• Feline leukemia – This is a vaccine intended for kittens, especially recommended if planning on allowing them outside. Prior to vaccination, a leukemia test should be run to make sure your cat does not have this disease. This vaccine should be given at eight and 12 weeks.
• Canine rattlesnake vaccine – This vaccine can be useful in decreasing the effects of the western diamondback rattlesnake venom. It is usually only recommended if the dog has frequent encounters with rattlesnakes, such as pets that hike frequently. If a vaccinated dog experiences a snake bite, they will still need medical evaluation, as the severity of the effects of the venom is only decreased but not eliminated with this vaccine.

Puppy & Kitten Vaccinations

Puppies and kittens are particularly susceptible to certain contagious diseases and should receive their first vaccines for preventive care within six to eight weeks of birth. Please be aware that the first vaccination will not fully protect your puppy or kitten, and they should be kept indoors until the full course of puppy/kitten vaccinations is completed.

Due to a puppy’s insufficient immune system, a series of vaccinations every three to four weeks is recommended to “booster” the puppy’s immune system to provide protection from serious life-threatening diseases, such as parvo and distemper. As such, it is recommended to keep your new puppy at home until at least one week after the last vaccine booster to protect them from the disease.

The following schedule is recommended at Lester Prairie Veterinary Clinic. This schedule may change based on the weight of the puppy or signs of illness:

• 6 weeks – Parvo vaccine
• 8 weeks – DAPP #1 (Distemper-Parvo) vaccine
• 12 weeks – DAPP #2, Bordetella #1 (Kennel Cough), Rabies (1 year)
• 16 weeks – DAPP #3, Bordetella #2

Administration of dewormer to treat and prevent GI parasites, such as roundworms and tapeworms, is recommended for puppies. This can be given by mouth at the time of vaccinations. It is also recommended to check two fecal samples for parasites during the course of vaccines for puppies.

Due to a kitten’s insufficient immune system, a series of vaccinations is recommended to “booster” the kitten’s immune system to provide protection from serious diseases, such as panleukopenia. As such, it is recommended to keep your new kitten at home until at least one week after the last vaccine booster to protect them from disease.

The following schedule is recommended. This schedule may change based on the weight of the kitten or signs of illness:

• 8 weeks – FVRCP #1 vaccine, FeLV #1 vaccine
• 12 weeks – FVRCP #2, FeLV #2, Rabies (1 year), FeLV/FIV testing

Administration of dewormer to treat and prevent GI parasites, such as roundworms and tapeworms, is recommended for kittens. This can be given by mouth at the time of vaccinations. It is also recommended to check two fecal samples for parasites during the course of vaccines for kittens.

Following a proper vaccination schedule will help to ensure that you are doing your part to keep your new friend healthy. Additionally, we recommend that all outdoor cats be placed on a monthly parasite preventative.

Why is dental care so important? Recent studies have shown that 70% of adult cats and 80% of adult dogs show symptoms of oral disease. In fact, most pet parents are not aware that their pet is dealing with dental issues. Bad breath, plaque build-up, excessive drooling, decreased appetite, and sore or bleeding gums when eating or chewing are signs that your pet’s teeth may require veterinary attention.

Just as it’s important for you to see a dentist regularly, it’s important for dogs and cats as well. Your pet’s oral health is directly connected to their overall health. Signs of dental disease include bad breath; loose, broken, or missing teeth; yellow or brown teeth; red, inflamed, or bleeding gums; difficulty or pain when chewing; pawing at the mouth; and excessive drooling. If you notice any of these symptoms, please contact our team, and we’ll be happy to help.

We are proud that we have the most up-to-date equipment to treat dental disease, including digital dental X-rays. This allows us to detect if there is any disease beneath the gumline that we would not be able to see otherwise. We are often able to see undetected abscesses, broken teeth, resorbed roots, retained roots, and more thanks to dental radiographs.

Signs of oral and dental diseases in dogs and cats include:

• Bad breath
• Loose teeth or teeth that are discolored or covered in tartar
• Shying away from you when you touch around your pet’s mouth
• Drooling or dropping food
• Bleeding from the mouth
• Loss of energy, appetite, or weight loss

Pet allergies are a common problem during the warm time of year, and pets who suffer from allergies can live in misery if special accommodations are not made. At Lester Prairie Veterinary Clinic, we can help pet owners care for their pets by reducing severe allergy symptoms.

Symptoms of Severe Pet Allergies

Some of the common serious allergy symptoms to look for include:

• Itchy skin – Your pet may scratch their skin continually until it becomes red, irritated, and bloody. Your pet may even develop “hot spots,” which are red, inflamed, and moist areas where your pet has lost their fur.
• Swelling – You may see swelling develop around parts of your pet’s body that look like bumps. These areas are known as hives.
• Coughing and wheezing – This may indicate inflamed or swollen airways.
• Red, itchy, swollen eyes
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Seizing

What Can You Do?

Pet allergic reactions can be just as dangerous as human allergic reactions and can result in death. The most severe allergic reactions seen on emergency are caused by insect bites, vaccines, and misused/ low-quality topical flea/tick medications. These severe allergic reactions can cause anaphylactic shock. In most cases, the pet’s airway begins swelling shut and difficulty breathing begins. In other instances, a pet can begin to have seizures from the allergic reaction. In either case, seek immediate care at your pet’s emergency veterinarian.

When your pet is sick, we know it can be a frightening time. You see your best friend exhibiting strange symptoms that are not typical for them, you can tell that they don’t feel well, and they can’t tell you what they’re feeling! At our animal hospital, we want to help relieve that worry and confusion that comes with pet illness.

When your pet is ill or showing signs of illness, bring them to us for immediate care. We will evaluate them from nose-to-tail and prescribe any diagnostics we deem necessary for determining your pet’s condition. The quicker your pet’s health status is determined, the quicker we can provide treatment. Treatment that is administered early is most effective for restoring health.

If your pet is sick, please contact our team immediately for assistance. Care should not be delayed!

Ear Infections

Every pet owner should know about the signs and symptoms of pet ear infections. Infections in canine ears can cause a lot of distress and affect your pet dog’s quality of life. Dog ear infections are often caused by bacteria or yeast infections. Some of the signs of ear infections in dogs include excessive ear scratching, head shaking, redness around the ear, and discharge.

Symptoms of Ear Infections in Pets

If you have noticed symptoms of an ear infection, it’s important to arrange for a check-up at your local veterinary clinic. There, the vet will do a thorough examination and check for other telltale signs that one or both ears are infected.

For example, there may be drainage from the ear that has a bad smell, which would indicate an infection. Or the vet may check for red patches of skin or lesions where scabs or crusts have formed.

You should also be prepared to tell the vet about any signs of infection that you have noticed, like ear scratching, head shaking, hearing loss, or walking around in circles.

How to Prevent Canine Ear Infections

The best way to prevent canine ear infections is to keep your dog’s ear clean and free of dirt. Usually, you can get ear cleaning kits from your vet clinic to clean the outer ear. Another way to prevent ear infections in dogs is to trim excess hair from the outer ear. This will prevent grime from collecting there and help to keep your dog’s ears free from infection.

Urinary Tract Infections in Pets

Urine culture testing is an important way to confirm what type of infection is present in your pet’s urinary tract. You may have taken your pet dog because of signs of a urinary tract infection (UTI), like frequent urination, passing blood in urine, or urinating small amounts.

Simple testing for the presence of a UTI can help to confirm if there is a urinary infection or not. However, to know the exact kind of antibiotic to give your pet, a vet may have to do a urinary culture test.

Although urinary tract infections mainly affect dogs, cats can also suffer from UTIs.

Symptoms of Pet’s Urinary Tract Infection

One of the first symptoms of a UTI in your pet may be that he or she has had a few “accidents” around the house. If you notice this, then it’s a good idea to observe for other symptoms of a UTI. These can be any of the following:

• Pinkish stains where your dog has urinated due to blood in the urine
• Changes in urination habits, either going more frequently or less
• Signs of pain while urinating
• Excessive licking of the genital area
• Dribbling small amounts of urine

How to Test for Urinary Tract Infections in Pets

Your vet will take a urine sample from your dog by inserting a needle directly into the bladder. Don’t worry, this is fairly painless and it will be done very quickly. This is the best method because it prevents any contamination in the urine sample.

Also, testing urine that is collected in a cup doesn’t have the same concentration of bacteria as a sample directly from the bladder.

The sample is then left in an incubator to allow for bacteria to grow so that the type of bacteria can be identified.

How to Prevent Pet Urinary Tract Infections

Of course, preventing a urinary tract infection will help your pet avoid the discomfort of painful urination. You will also save on unnecessary visits to your local vet. So, what can you do to prevent UTIs in pets? Here are a few practical ideas:

• Encourage your dog to drink fresh, clean water often to help flush toxins.
• Make sure your dog has plenty of opportunities to urinate and avoid.
• Take your pet for a check-up at least once a year.