Frequently Asked Questions

If you have any questions for the doctors and staff, please feel free to email us anytime at info@newtonvet.com

Why must my dog get a Lyme Disease vaccine?
Lyme disease is perhaps the most commonly diagnosed of the vaccinated diseases in our area. In 2006 we diagnosed over 1000 cases of Lyme Disease alone!  Lyme Disease causes fever, joint problems and kidney failure in dogs. For more information on Lyme Disease visit www.veterinarypartner.com and search "Lyme".

My pet is 8 years old and I'm noticing some behavioral and physical changes.  What do you recommend?
Studies have shown that up to 17% of middle age and older pets that appear healthy upon physical exam have an underlying disease. The importance of catching these problems early is the reason that all senior pets need a yearly Senior Wellness Profile. At 8 years of age, dogs and cats are indeed entering their golden years and are considered to be geriatric.  Some common geriatric disorders and diseases include arthritis, diabetes, kidney disease, cancer, heart disease, glaucoma and cataracs. At Newton Veterinary Hospital we require a yearly Senior Wellness Examination for all dogs and cats 7 years old or older.  This geriatric exam includes 1. Complete Chemistry Profile-measures enzymes associated with liver, kidney and pancreatic function as well as electrolyte and protein levels. 2. Complete Blood Count (CBC)-checks for anemia, infection, inflammation, leukemia and monitors function of bone marrow. 3. Urinalysis (UA)-helpful in early detection of kidney disease and diabetes. 4. Thyroid Function Test (T4) checks thyroid function

Canine Only 5. Heartworm Test-rules out heartworm disease, a mosquito-borne illness that causes heart and respiratory problems. 6. Lyme Test-rules out Lyme Disease, a tick-borne illness that causes fever, lameness and kidney failure. 7. Fecal exam-tests for parasites in the stool.

Depending on your pet's health your veterinarian may also recommend: 8. Radiographs-to assess heart shape and size, health of lung tissue, liver and kidney size, presence of tumors (cancer) and enlarged lymphnodes. 9. Blood Pressure- to check for hypertension. 10. Ultrasound, ECG and echocardiogram-these tests will further look for tumors (cancer), variations in normal organ size and heart health.

My pet is scheduled for surgery. Why is pre-operative bloodwork required?
Our greatest concern is the well-being of your pet.  Before putting your pet under anesthesia we will perform pre-operative bloodwork and diagnostic tests to reduce the risk of anesthesia as well as determine if your pet has any special needs.  Our laboratory is fully equipped and staffed to perform these crucial tests and the results will be immediately available to review before placing your pet under anesthesia.

Client Education

In response to research in current trends of disease frequency as well as safety studies, the Newton Veterinary Hospital has comprised new Lifetime Healthplans for our feline and canine patients.  These Lifetime Healthplans encompass the well-care that will be provided from the kitten/puppy stages through the geriatric years.  Geriatric testing will be done yearly after the age of 7 years in order to identify potential problems before they become clinical.

Cat Vaccinations
Distemper vaccine - Will be given every 3 years for cats that are strictly indoors and yearly for cats that go outdoors.  The studied duration of the vaccine as well as the low risk for indoor cats allows us to make this change.

Rabies vaccine - Will be given yearly.  We will be using a new type of vaccination that decreases the likelihood of rabies vaccine related sarcomas.  Sarcomas are a type of tumor that have been linked to chemicals (adjuvants) used in vaccinations.

Feline Diagnostic Testing- A complete bloodwork panel and evaluation of a urine sample will be completed yearly after 7 years of age.  These are the best known tests to diagnose potential life threatening diseases early and extend the life of your cat.  An EKG and radiographs (x-rays) may be recommended.

Dog Vaccinations

Distemper vaccine - Will now be given every 3 years (instead of yearly) after the initial set of puppy vaccinations.  Recent studies have shown a prolonged immunity for this vaccination in adulthood.

Leptospirosis - This vaccine will be given yearly after the initial series of puppy vaccinations.  This disease has been recently diagnosed more frequently.  Leptospirosis can cause liver and kidney failure in pets.

Lyme Disease - This vaccination will be given yearly for all dogs after the initial puppy vaccinations.  This is perhaps the most commonly diagnosed of the vaccinated diseases in our area.  Lyme disease causes fever, joint problems and kidney failure in dogs.

Rabies and Bordetella - The frequency of the rabies and bordetella vaccinations will remain the same.

Canine Diagnostic Testing

Lyme/Heartworm/Ehrlichia/ - This single test, performed in-house, will evaluate the pet's status of all 3 diseases.  These diseases are much more effectively treated if diagnosed in their early stages.  This test will be performed yearly.

Geriatric Profile - A complete bloodwork panel and evaluation of a urine sample will be completed yearly after 7 years of age (younger in giant breeds).  These are the best known tests to diagnose potential life threatening diseases early and extend the life of your pet.  An EKG and x-rays may be recommended.

Our doctors are also committed to helping our clients be the best possible pet owners through increased knowledge and education. We will frequently send our clients home with reading materials regarding certain diseases, medications, surgical procedures or post-surgical after-care. We will often direct clients to websites we deem appropriate and educational.

Two such websites are: www.cvm.uiuc.edu/petcolumns and www.veterinarypartner.com.

We encourage you to broaden your knowledge about a host of pet related topics by visiting these insightful websites!