The Centers for Disease Control recommends all families with a pet (dog and cat) to perform a yearly fecal evaluation, to look for worms that may be contagious to your family. Please bring a FRESH sample that is less than 24 hours old. This sample will be sent to our out-of-house testing laboratory and results should be returned (weather permitting) within 48 hours. You will receive a phone call from a Veterinarian or Licensed Veterinarian Technician with the results and if needed, recommendations for treatment.

From check-in to check-out, please allot 45 minutes for your preventative health appointment.

It is recommended to come 15 minutes prior to appointment if a new patient, to fill out any new patient forms. You may also pre-print OR submit this form online to save time. A doctor will ask about your pet’s medical history and perform a detailed examination of the entire body including the ears, eyes, nose, throat, heart, lungs, abdomen, skin, muscles, joints and lymph nodes to name a few. In addition, a rectal examination may be recommended to evaluate for rectal polyps, prostate disease and anal gland cancer. Based on age, breed and history, individualized recommendations will be made that may include vaccines or the alternative antibody titers, wellness blood work including heart-worm testing, fecal examination, dental cleaning, etc.

We believe in detailed education to allow you to make the best decision for your pet. Our goal is to have you leave, knowing you learned something new! If you would like to return for any of the preventative heath care recommendations not performed on your initial visit, you may make a complimentary office visit (exemption: Rabies must be with a Doctor) with one of our Licensed Veterinary Technicians to complete the wellness recommendations. Please note, as per Nevada Veterinary Medical Law, an annual (yearly) examination by a Doctor at Mountain View Animal Hospital and Holistic Pet Care is required to receive any diagnostics or therapies by any staff member.

Microchips allow pets to be identified without collars if they got lost or stolen. All microchips can be read with universal microchip readers. They are about the size of a piece of rice and are inserted under skin in between the shoulder blades.

A valid Doctor/Patient Relationship with Mountain View Animal Hospital and Holistic Pet Care is created by receiving an annual (yearly) examination with each individualized pet, something that is required by Nevada Veterinary Medical Law prior to any diagnostics or treatment being performed for your pet. Examinations in the last year performed by another animal hospital do not validate our relationship to perform care beyond offering ancillary services such as daycare, boarding, grooming, toe nail trims and microchips.

Dogs and cats should receive all necessary vaccinations as soon as possible following their initial vaccination. Our clinic strives to provide affordable immunizations and other preventive services.

For most of us, living with our dogs is living with our family. We and our kids often share hugs, snuggle time and sometimes kisses and our beds. So, making sure they are protected against deadly viruses and bacteria is a top priority. Often, we mindfully take our puppies and kittens or newly adopted pets for their recommended vaccines and routinely return when the postcard or email reminder arrives, letting us know they are due for their booster shots.

While we are grateful vaccines can offer critical protection from diseases such as canine parvovirus, canine distemper, feline panleukopenia, rabies and much more, we are increasingly aware of their possible, unintended consequences. That is where Titers come in!

Serum (blood) titer tests are among the tools that dog owners and veterinarians can use to minimize the risks of both infectious diseases and over-vaccinating. Simply put, these tests tell you if your pets previous vaccines are still protecting your pet and if the vaccine is truly necessary. Vaccine guidelines say that titer testing is appropriate to check for immunity to parvovirus, distemper and hepatitis (adenovirus). It is not recommended for canine leptospirosis, bordatella (kennel cough) or Lyme disease, as these vaccines provide a very short-term protection.

Rabies vaccines may offer long term protection and titer testing is available. However, at this time, vaccination against rabies is mandated by law. Even in face of an adequate vaccine titer, your pet, if not up to date on the actual vaccine, will have to follow state regulations including quarantine and follow any additional requirements mandated by the state.

A small blood draw will be performed, and one of two types of titers will be offered. One type returns a simple “yes or no” answer, however fails to tell us how high the levels of protection actually is. This type of test is affordable and accurate and can be performed in house, however is medically necessary to perform yearly. Another option is more detailed and expensive but may lend more accurate information to the level of protection, not just yes or no. For this reason, this test to be valid for up to three or even five years! (thus less blood draws and possibly less overall expense).

Please note as your pets ages and health status changes, so does their immune system. Thus titer results and when to re-vaccinate can vary based on age, breed, current health status and lifestyle. Mountain View Animal Hospital and Holistic Pet Care’s integrative veterinarians will discuss when your pet should be re-vaccinated or re-tested based on an individual basis. We do offer exotic vaccinations for rabbits and ferrets, however due to difficulties obtaining them we do not have them in inventory at all times. Please call us and check for availability.