Frequently Asked Questions

Our clinic is open 8:00a - 5:00p Monday - Friday and we are closed 12:00p - 1:00p for lunch. We have limited emergency services after hours and on weekends.

Yes, patients are seen by appointment.

Cash, Check, Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express & Care Credit.

Payment is required at the time of service.

Spaying or neutering can be done at approximately 6 months of age. Your pet is given an exam prior to surgery to help determine whether your pet is healthy enough to undergo the surgical procedure. Current vaccinations are required at the time of surgery. Also a pre-anesthetic blood screening is recommended (and required for any pets 8 years of age and older) prior to anesthesia.

This is a blood test that is run here in the clinic prior to surgery. It tests the organ functions, blood counts and clotting function of your pet. The pre-anesthetic blood screening is done to assure safety during surgery and the ability to heal following surgery.

Procedures involving sutures require them to be removed in 14 days following the surgery.

No, there is no advantage to letting your pet have one litter. However there are plenty of advantages to having you pet spayed or neutered. These advantages include decreasing the chances of breast tumors later in life, decreasing the chance of cystic ovaries and uterine infections, decreasing the desire to roam, decreasing aggressive behavior in male pets, eliminating spotting/bleeding in females every six months, eliminating spraying/marking in male cats, decreasing/eliminating prostatic disease, and decreasing the surplus of unwanted pets.

No (we used to, but we are now solely a vet clinic/hospital and do not have the kennel space for boarding animals).

We recommend all puppies and kittens receive their initial vaccinations at 8 weeks of age. In general vaccinations ('shots') before this date are less effective. Puppies receive a combined Distemper/Adenovirus Type 2/Parvovirus/Parainfluenza/Coronavirus (DAPPi+C) and Lepto (for Leptospirosis) at 8, 12, and 16 weeks of age. Rabies is given at 16 weeks of age. Kittens receive their HC2P (Herpes/Calici/Panleukopenia) at 8, 12, and 16 weeks of age. Rabies is given at 16 weeks of age. We also offer Feline Leukemia vaccines.

Your pet will receive a complete physical exam at each of these vaccine visits. We are looking for heart murmurs, growth concerns, eye defects, umbilical hernias, ear infections/ear mites, cleft palates, diet concerns and general health issues. If you prefer to administer your own vaccines, that is OK, however we cannot legally vaccinate for Rabies — that must be administered by a licensed veterinarian.

If your pet has been previously vaccinated, please let us know what vaccine(s) was given and the date it was administered - previous records are always helpful and can be sent to us ahead of time.

There are two main types of intestinal worms our pets can get: tapeworms (Cestodes) and Nematode worms (hookworms and round worms). It is assumed that the majority of puppies and kittens are infected with nematode worms either in-utero, or through their mother's milk shortly after birth. Tapeworms are picked up later in life from grooming or eating fleas, lice, or a small mammal infested with same.

Deworming is important because untreated intestinal parasite infections can cause serious illness and death in neonatal animals. Vomiting, diarrhea, bloated appearance, thinness, poor hair coat, general poor-doing can all be signs of intestinal parasitism. Tapeworms are transmitted by fleas (or lice) and tapeworm eggs can be found around the anal area of your pet — these look like small white grains of rice.

The nematode worms, hookworms and roundworms, are infectious to humans. Don't panic! You have to ingest their eggs to become infected, which generally would mean eating feces. Use gloves or a plastic bag when handling your pet's feces, and wash your hands thoroughly afterwards. If your pet is a puppy or kitten, deworming is part of their well-puppy/kitten visits.

Fleas have become more and more common over the last few years in Western Montana; we see them frequently and are even seeing some during the wintertime. There are a multitude of flea control products available, but many store-bought products are not as effective as the treatments we offer.

Skin diseases, infections and allergies (food or environmental) can also cause itching. Overall, keep in mind that animals get itches just like we do, and some scratching is normal. If the scratching is non-stop though, or causes your pet's hair to come out or skin to be irritated, please call to schedule a recheck.

There are an overwhelming number of pet foods available. Feed your pet what he or she will eat and thrive on. Finding that brand can be difficult though. We cannot recommend one brand because pets are individuals, and certain pets respond to one food better than another. Puppies need a puppy diet, kittens need a kitten diet, and senior pets benefit from a senior diet — these are all formulated for the specific life stage of your pet.

Start with a brand that appeals to you and get a small bag. If your pet likes it, stick with it. Some animals prefer smaller kibbles or differently shaped kibbles. Dry foods tend to reduce dental disease while canned or wet foods can lead to increased need for dental care. Lower-priced foods may be just as nutritious as expensive ones, but the lower priced foods may use ingredients that not all pets will tolerate.

Not all premium foods are good for all pets though either. You might have to try a few different brands and 'flavors' before you find the right fit. Keep in mind that you should change your pet's food slowly, over a few days, gradually increasing the amount of new food and decreasing the amount of old food.

There is increased interest in homemade diets for pets. These have been touted as cure-alls for disease, or guarantees for a high-performing perfect pet. Some claims are too good to be true, but when done correctly, homemade food for pets can be perfectly healthy. A full discussion of homemade diets is beyond the scope of this section — please call to schedule a nutrition consultation if you are interested.

Today's modern anesthetic monitors have made surgery much safer than in the past. Here at Mission Valley Veterinary Clinic, we do a thorough physical exam on your pet before administering anesthetics to ensure that a fever or other apparent illness won't be a problem. We also adjust the amount and type of anesthetic used depending on the health of your pet.

Preanesthetic blood testing is important in reducing the risk of anesthesia. We require all senior animals (those who are 8 years of age and older) to have a blood screen before anesthesia to ensure that the liver and kidneys can handle the anesthetic. Even apparently healthy animals can have serious organ system problems that cannot be detected without blood testing.

It is important that surgery be done on an empty stomach to reduce the risk of vomiting during and after anesthesia. You will need to withhold food for at least 8 to 10 hours before surgery. Water can be left down for the pet until the morning of surgery.

For many surgeries, we use absorbable sutures underneath the skin. These will dissolve on their own, and do not need to be removed later. Some surgeries, especially tumor removals, do require skin stitches. With either type of suture, you will need to keep an eye on the incision for swelling or discharge. Most dogs and cats do not lick excessively or chew at the incision, but if they do, we may need to use an Elizabethan collar to prevent self-trauma.

Anything that causes pain in people can be expected to cause pain in animals. Pets may not show the same symptoms of pain as people do; they usually don't whine or cry, but you can be sure they feel it. Pain medications needed will depend on the surgery performed. Major procedures require more pain relief than things like minor lacerations.

For dogs, we may recommend an oral anti-inflammatory for several days after surgery to lessen the risk of discomfort and swelling. We also have an injectable pain reliever we can use on cats and dogs to make their initial recovery more comfortable if desired.

Because cats do not tolerate standard pain medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or Tylenol, we are limited in what we can give them. Recent advances in pain medications have allowed for better pain control in cats than ever before. After surgery, pain medication is given on a schedule that minimizes pain.

While your pet is under anesthesia, it is the ideal time to perform other minor procedures, such as dentistry, ear cleaning, or implanting an identification microchip. If you would like an estimate for these extra services, please call ahead of time. This is especially important if the person dropping the pet off for surgery is not the primary decision-maker for the pet's care.

When you bring your pet in for surgery, we will need 5 to 10 minutes of time to fill out paperwork and make decisions on the blood testing and other options available. When you pick up your pet after surgery you can also plan to spend about 5 minutes going over your pet's home care needs.

We will call you the day before your scheduled surgery appointment to confirm the time you will be dropping your pet off and to answer any questions you might have. In the meantime, please don't hesitate to call us with any questions about your pet's health or surgery.