office (910) 938-4515
fax (910) 938-4513
Holiday hours for 4th of July:
FLEAS:
Also, don't forget that with warmer weather comes ideal flea reproduction conditions, so go ahead and get your kitties (and dogs too, for that matter) started back on their flea control so that you can nip the fleas in the bud this year. Believe it or not, we've already seen several patients this month whose flea allergy dermatitis is already a problem! We recommend Advantage and Revolution at Coastal Cat Clinic. Both are available at the clinic. The only requirement for purchase is a current doctor-patient relationship since both products are available by prescription only.
We do NOT recommend the common over-the-counter products (Hartz, Zodiak, etc) because many kitties are allergic to the pyrethrins and synthetics in the formula. Also many people mistakenly apply the dog products to their cats. We see each year a few cats with tremors, seizures, and even death due to the over the counter products. Yes, they may be a bit less expensive to purchase but there is a reason for that! The pyrethrins/permethrins have been on the market for so long now that they are no longer terribly effective against fleas, certainly not lasting for a month as their label advertises. Give us a call at the office and we will gladly discuss fleas and flea control with you.
SPAYING AND NEUTERING:
It is springtime, and with the change of seasons all the unspayed females go into high gear with their reproductive cycles. Cat heat cycles are different from dog heat cycles. Female cats tend to go in and out of heat continuously until they are finally bred, especially this time of year. This can go on for months at a time, so if your kitty isn't intended for breeding you may want to call to schedule her spay so you can BOTH get some sleep. Tomcats tend to fight more this time of year trying to win the attention and affection of their potential mates.
Spaying is not only good for your sleep patterns since your kitty won't be yowling all night long anymore, but it is also good for your kitty since she can not develop uterine infections, uterine and ovarian cancers, is MUCH less likely to develop breast cancer, and she only needs to be spayed once! Also, one unspayed female can "accidentally" turn into a dozen or more kittens in a year just due to their very efficient and rapid rate of reproduction.
Neutered males are less likely to fight, wander, get hit by cars, and spray urine in the house! They are also less likely to need vet visits with fight wounds, abscesses and the like since they are less interested in the birds and bees.
Our requirements for spays and neuters:
1) Must weigh at least 4 pounds in weight (usually about 4 months of age since most kittens gain an average of a pound a month at this age). You do NOT need to wait until cats are 6 months or older to have them spayed or neutered. Many females are pregnant by that time in their lives!
2) Must be in good health. We will do a pre-surgical exam to be sure that your kitty appears to be free of any major medical issues and should handle the surgery well.