At Blue Lake Animal Care Center, in South Lake Tahoe, CA we believe that the best medicine is preventative medicine. We offer routine health care for pets of all ages throughout the South Tahoe and Stateline areas. We know that your pet is an important family member, and we want to help you keep your furry friends as healthy and active as they can be.
Pediatric Pet Care
Puppies and kittens require wellness visits, including vaccinations and deworming, every 3 weeks from 7 weeks old to 16 weeks of age. Emphasis is placed on early puppy training, vaccinations, heartworm and flea prevention when applicable, and introduction of your new puppy or kitten into the household.
We tailor our vaccine recommendations based on lifestyle, breed, and suggested medical guidelines. Our core vaccines include Distemper, Parvo, Bordetella(kennel cough), and Rabies in puppies, with Leptospirosis and Rattlesnake vaccines available as well. Feline Rhinotracheitis and Rabies are included in kittens, and sometimes Leukemia if indicated.
We believe in providing the safest and most effective vaccines available. That is why we offer and recommend the “PureVax” Feline Leukemia and Rabies vaccines as options for our feline patients.
Healthy Adult Care
Most healthy adult pets will see us yearly for a comprehensive physical exam, vaccinations as needed, and heartworm and intestinal parasite screening. We will also discuss any additional recommended preventative screenings based on your pet’s breed and lifestyle.
Senior Pet Care
As pets grow older, they may need to be evaluated more frequently. Symptoms of disease or a chronic condition may not be easily apparent. In some cases, conditions that may look like the usual signs of old age may be signs of a more serious problem.
All senior pets are examined once or twice annually, although more frequent visits may be recommend based on each pet’s individual health concerns. At that time, routine labwork including a complete blood count, chemistry panel, and urinalysis may be recommended to identify any early or emerging health concerns before they become more advanced.
You are the most important asset in keeping your senior pet healthy! If your pet is experiencing any changes, we urge you to bring him or her in for a check-up. Together, we will make certain you and your pet enjoy more quality years together.
Heartworm Disease Prevention
Heartworm disease is a serious, life-threatening condition that affects both dogs and cats. The disease is transmitted by mosquitoes. Many people think that the Tahoe and surrounding areas aren’t a source for heartworm disease. This is not the case. The good news is that heartworm disease is easily prevented with a monthly oral chew, and most pets think it’s a treat!. We recommend that all pets be on a monthly heartworm prevention and be tested every other year if taken consistently, or once yearly if monthly dosing does not occur. Feel free to consult us with any concerns.
https://www.heartwormsociety.org/images/incidence-maps/IncidenceMap2016Final.pdf
Flea and Tick Prevention
In the Sacramento area, fleas and tick sare a year-round problem for pets and their owners. In the Carson areas, ticks are prevalent in the summer. They are much more than just a nuisance; they carry diseases that can be dangerous to both you and your pet. For example, fleas transmit tapeworms, and sometimes you can see segments of the tapeworm in your pet’s stool. Your pet can also be allergic to fleas, and just one flea bite can cause an intense allergic reaction, resulting in a severely painful skin rash and/or infection.
Ticks are not a problem for every pet, but they can carry a variety of serious illnesses, including Lyme disease..
These treatments come in both monthly oral or topical formulations. Talk to a member of our medical team about which flea and tick prevention product is right for your pet.