The focus of our veterinary clinic is preventative medicine.  This means we prefer to evaluate animals, perform diagnostics, and give medications to prevent disease instead of waiting for a patient to be sick and then trying to fix them.

In order to do this, we recommend a physical exam be performed on your pet every 6 months.  For decades most veterinarians recommended yearly examinations and put more emphasis on the vaccinations then on the examination.  Since the new millennium, the veterinary world has come to realize that although vaccines are important they are not nearly as beneficial for a patients routine care as a good physical examination by a licensed veterinarian.

Why a twice a year exam you may ask?

Most people know that dogs and cats age about 7 years for every one of a person.  That means a once a year examination is similar to you waiting 7 years to go to the doctor.  Now although that math is not exactly correct it does highlight the point that animals age faster than humans.  Most dogs and cats reach adulthood by age two and by age seven most are in their senior years.  It is this reason that we began to follow the “Twice a year for life” plan which recommends examinations every 6 month.  The risk of dental disease, heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, arthritis, cancer, and may other conditions can increase with age and can significantly worsen in a matter of weeks.   Many times if a problem is identified before clinical signs present themselves simple adjustments to dietary intake, vitamin supplements, neutraceuticals, or minor procedures can delay, slow down, or resolve many chronic diseases.

Preventative Medicine:

The heartworm prevention we recommend are Sentinel and Interceptor from Novartis.  There are numerous other heartworm preventatives out there many of which work just fine.  However, after careful evaluation of the pros and cons of each preventative type and after using these products for over 10 years we have become quite comfortable with their effectiveness.  They also not only prevent heartworms but also prevent 3 intestinal parasites and Sentinel has the added benefit of breaking the flea life cycle by preventing eggs from hatching.

The heartworm test only requires a few drops of blood and is run in the clinic in just 10 minutes.  One test is required to refill 12 months of preventative.

Heartworms in Cats –

Many people are unaware that cats can be infected with heartworms.  This is for 4 main reasons.  First, historically it has been less common in cats than in dogs.  Second, the diagnostics tests are not very accurate in cats.  Third, it has been misdiagnosed as feline asthma for many years.  And finally, there is no treatment anyway so prevention is the only option and prior to about the new millennia there was no preventative approved for cats.

We do not test cats routinely for heartworms as we do dogs because the diagnostics are not very accurate.  Furthermore, due to the lack of treatment options we strongly recommend all cats receive a monthly treatment with Revolution from Pfizer.  Revolution not only prevents heartworms but it also kills fleas, treats roundworms and hookworms, and prevents ear mites.

Many people believe that indoor only cats cannot get parasites.  This is incorrect.  Fleas can hop into your house or come in on your clothing or on your other pets.  Intestinal parasites can come in on dirty shoes.  Mosquitoes can go pretty much wherever they like and will find your pets inside.  In fact a study in North Carolina revealed that 28 percent of heartworm infected cats were categorized as inside-only cats by their owners.

We also recommend some annual diagnostics and some monthly preventative medications.

Heartworm Test for dogs –

Heartworms are a vascular parasite transmitted by mosquitoes. As most of you know, here in Georgia we are loaded with mosquitoes.  Although indoor only pets are less likely to get heartworm disease it is still VERY possible for a mosquito to get into your house and infect your dog.  For this reason we recommend that you keep your dog on heartworm prevention all  year long. 

Heartworm disease in dogs is treatable and recent adjustments to the medication and the treatment protocols have increased the success rates while decreasing the risks.  However, many dogs still die from heartworm disease before, during, or after treatment.

Fecal Parasite Screen –

Here at the East Cobb Veterinary Clinic we recommend yearly fecal parasite screens.  By simply bring in a small amount of fresh or refrigerated feces from your pet we use a centrifugation/ flotation laboratory diagnostic method to detect numerous types of internal parasites that can harm your pet.  Many of these parasites are zoonotic this means they can be contagious to people as well as animals.  This is especially concerning for children, the elderly, pregnant women, or anyone who has a weakened immune system.

This is another reason we recommend year round usage of the heartworm preventatives for both dogs and cats as they also prevent several intestinal parasites as well.  In fact, the CDC recommends that cats and dogs be de-wormed multiple times a year and the use of these products will provide just such protection.

Microchips –

Thousands of pets are lost in this country every year.  There is nothing more upsetting to a pet owner than not knowing where their pet is and if it is ok.  At the East Cobb Veterinary Clinic we have partnered with Home Again to provide microchips as a permanent method of identification for your pet.

Microchips with Thermometers now available!!!

Never again will we have to take rectal temperatures on any of our patients with these new microchips.  A simple wave of the scanner over the shoulder blades instantly confirms your pets microchip number and gives an accurate internal temperature.  We are now one of a select few clinics in the country with this technology.   

East Cobb Veterinary Clinic

1314 East Cobb Drive          Marietta, GA 30068

(770) 973-2286