Pet owners have questions and the Animal Hospital of East Davie has answers. Our veterinary clinic loves helping pets from Advance, Winston-Salem and beyond to deliver the best care possible to their beloved pets. Read below to see a few common questions and receive information that may be directly helpful to both you and your pet.

As always, if you have a question you don’t see below, we invite you to give our veterinary clinic a call at 336-940-3442.

I have a new puppy. What vaccines does it need and when?

Puppies require their first check-up by 8 weeks of age. They will be checked for Hernias, heart murmurs or other abnormalities. Their stool needs to be checked for intestinal parasites, and your pet will be de-wormed if necessary. Your puppy will get his first Distemper/parvo combination vaccine and can be started on heartworm prevention. After this visit, your puppy needs another distemper/parvo booster at 12 and 16 wks. His first Rabies vaccine can be given at 12 weeks or older.

When does my pet need to be spayed or neutered?

Our pet hospital recommends having your pet spayed or neutered at 5 months of age. Your dog or cat should have had all their boosters by then and will be reaching puberty at 6 months old. Studies show that there are health benefits to spaying/neutering earlier, such as decreased chances of infection and quicker recovery.

I have a new kitten. What vaccines does it need and when?

When kittens are about 8 weeks of age, our pet hospital recommends giving them an examination to look for heart murmurs, hernias, or other abnormalities, and their first feline distemper combination vaccine. Their stool needs to be checked for intestinal parasites, and your pet will be de-wormed if necessary. The ears need to be checked for ear mites. Our pet hospital also recommends testing your kitten on the first visit for Feline Leukemia and Feline Aids, especially if you have other cats in your household. We will booster the kitten distemper combination vaccine at 12 and 16 weeks and can give Feline leukemia vaccine at the same time for outdoor cats. The rabies vaccine can be given at 12 weeks or older.

What does my adult dog need yearly to be up-to-date and healthy?

Our pet hospital recommends that you bring your dog in for an annual exam, at least once a year. Their Distemper/parvo combination vaccine and a fecal test for intestinal parasites is recommended each year. After their Rabies 1 yr. expires, your dog requires a rabies booster every 3 years. For dogs that have been on heartworm preventative continuously, you have the option of heartworm testing every 2 years. We have an in-house test that also includes Lyme and Ehrlichia disease tests, with the heartworm test. We have vaccines for kennel cough and Lyme Disease which can be given if needed. Also, we can give you a consultation on the various heartworm, flea and tick preventatives, to help find the one most useful and economical choice for you and your pet.

What does my adult cat need yearly to be up-to-date and healthy?

Our pet hospital recommends that you bring your cat in for an annual exam, at least once a year. Every year your cat requires an annual exam, their distemper combination vaccine, and a fecal test for intestinal parasites. After their Rabies 1 yr. expires, you cat needs a rabies booster every 3 years. Outdoor cats need their Feline leukemia vaccine yearly as well. Also, we can give you a consultation on the various heartworm, flea and tick preventatives, to help find the one most useful and economical for you and your pet.