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Common Procedures

Desert Tails Animal Clinic

Thank you for choosing Desert Tails Animal Clinic! Learn more about the common procedures we use to keep your pet safe and healthy.

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Your veterinary clinic common procedures in Scottsdale, AZ.

From the moment your pet sets out on its first journey until the end of its healthy life, we make every effort to provide caring, knowledgeable, and competitively cost veterinarian care. By working together with our clients, we hope to enhance and promote the relationship between people and animals.

Desert Tails Animal Clinic: Common Procedures

Our Vaccine Protocols

Puppies and Kittens need proper care to get them off to a good start. Young animals have their own unique set of problems, including:

  • intestinal parasites
  • infectious diseases
  • ear mites and other external parasites
  • malnutrition
  • diarrhea

A thorough physical examination is important for young puppies and kittens. Identifying problems early allows for proper treatment to begin promptly. We recommend bringing in your new puppy or kitten for the first time at the 6-8 weeks of age. An exam may be necessary earlier then this if you think your new pet has a problem.

Initial Visit (6-8 weeks of age)

Bring the following with you on your first visit:

  • Your new puppy or kitten!!
  • A stool sample (less than 24 hrs old) to check for intestinal parasites
  • Any written medical or vaccination history that you may have

During the initial visit, the doctor will discuss:

  • Proper nutrition
  • Behavioral/obedience training
  • Vaccination recommendations
  • Heartworm prevention
  • Flea & Tick control
  • De-worming
  • Spaying/Neutering

Adult vaccine protocol for both dogs and cats is annually from the date the last puppy/kitten boosters were given.

Puppy Vaccinations

Vaccinations are typically started at 6-8 weeks of age. Boosters are necessary at 3 week intervals until your puppy is at least 18 weeks of age. Common vaccinations include:

  • Da2PP: Often referred to as ‘Distemper vaccine or 4 in one’ for simplicity. Includes Distemper, Adenovirus (Hepatitis), Parainfluenza and Parvovirus.
  • Corona Virus
  • Bordetella (Kennel Cough): Kennel cough is a highly contagious virus. It is spread through any social situations ie: dog parks, pet stores, boarding and/or grooming. Vaccination is recommended every 6-12 months for dogs at risk.
  • Rabies Virus: Vaccination is required by Arizona State Law. 1-year and 3-year Rabies vaccinations are available.
Kitten Vaccinations

Vaccinations are typically started at 6-8 weeks of age. Boosters are necessary at 3 week intervals until 15-18 weeks of age. Common vaccinations include:

  • FVRCP: Often referred to as the ‘Upper Respiratory vaccine’. Includes Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis (Herpes), Calicivirus, and Panleukopenia (Feline Distemper), and Chlamydia Psittaci.
  • Rabies:Rabies vaccine is not required for cats in the state of Arizona. 1-year and 3-year Rabies vaccinations are available after 15 weeks of age.
  • Leukemia (FeLV): Recommended only for those cats who go outdoors unsupervised or who live with an FeLV-positive cat in the same household. Two shot series required the first year, then annual boosters required.

Heartworm Disease and Prevention

Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal condition caused by parasitic worms living in the arteries of the lungs and occasionally in the right side of the heart of dogs and cats. This parasitic worm is spread through mosquito bites. Recently infected dogs may exhibit no signs of the disease, while heavily infected dogs may eventually show clinical signs, including a mild, persistent cough, reluctance to move or exercise, difficulty or rapid breathing, fatigue after only moderate exercise, reduced appetite and weight loss.

Heartworm is easily prevented by giving monthly preventative medication. Prevention should be given year round and can be started as early as 12-16 weeks.

The preventative that our doctor recommends is Hartgard Plus. Hartgard are flavored chewable tablets that contain ivermectin/pyrantel – a proven combination to protect your dog from heartworms, roundworms and hookworms.

Heartworms are detected through a simple blood test that can be performed in house, while your dog is getting their exam. Our policy is to do the blood test prior to starting the preventative because if there was an active infestation, it could have adverse effects. It is equally important to test while they are on the preventative to ensure protection, especially if a dose has been missed or forgotten.