A: If you find a pet, or if your pet is lost, there are some numbers that, if kept handy, can be valuable resources in these situations:

*Our office phone is available to you 24 hours daily to help with animal identification when the identification via rabies tag number or permanent microchips originated with our hospital. We have the equipment to scan microchips to provide immediate identification and return of lost or found animals.

Q: I read about how important it is to spay and neuter animals to prevent unwanted litters, but is it really safe to my pets?

A. It's actually healthier for you pet! Spaying and neutering can actually help prevent cancer of the reproductive systems and can also help curb behavioral problems. Both cats and dogs can be spayed or neutered as young as 6 months of age.  It is not necessary for females to have gone through their first heat, nor will it stunt an animal's growth to spay or neuter it before it is "full grown."

If you have questions about spaying/neutering your pet, or you would like to schedule an appointment, give us a call at 703-830-1182.  Both surgeries, with the proper safeguards, pre-operative blood tests and anesthetics, are safe procedures, and your pet can usually return home the day after surgery.

Q: My pet never goes outside. Should she have a microchip implanted?

A: It's not only "outside" pets that get lost. Every pet owner can recount a time when their animal ran out when a door got opened or when someone came into the house who wasn't aware of the fact that it is important to move quickly and close the door as soon as possible. If your animal is fitted with a microchip, it can easily be scanned by shelters, clinics, and emergency disaster teams. Some form of permanent identification is a good idea for all pets.

Q: I know heartworms are dangerous for my pet, but how do dogs get heartworms and can they be prevented?

A: Heartworms are spread by mosquitoes, and are almost always fatal if not detected and treated early.  Fortunately, prevention is easy.  We recommend annual testing as well as a year-round program of prevention.  Choose from a convenient pill given once a month, or a daily beef-flavored tablet that most dogs eat just like a treat.

Q: Is it safe to adopt an animal from a shelter or any location that finds home for strays or is it safer to purchase an animal from a breeder or pet store?

A: Adopting an animal that is looking for a home is a wonderful thing to do. There are so many animals seeking new homes and you can find the perfect pet for you and your family if you just go to a shelter or rescue group and spend a little time with the animal that appeals to you. Adopt a pet this way and you have the added pleasure of knowing that you adopted an animal that might not otherwise have found a home. Animals should have all the required shots and be certified as healthy so that you can be confident with the choice you make.