Animal Kingdom Veterinary Hospital in Cary, NC

Pet Health

Our goal is to provide quality care so that your best friends may lead long, happy, healthy lives. The core of our practice is preventative medicine for your pet including annual exams, labwork, vaccinations, and dentistries.

Exams

A yearly exam gives us an opportunity to check your pet's overall health, including teeth, eyes, skin, heart, lungs, and internal organs. It is also a good time to discuss any concerns you may have regarding diet, behavior, and overall development.

Lab Work

Routine lab work helps to detect a variety of potential health risks. Ford

Yearly fecal exams screen for a variety of intestinal parasites, including ones not treated with over-the-counter dewormers.
Heartworm tests are also performed yearly for dogs and are important due to the prevalence of this mosquito-borne parasite. Monthly preventatives are available for dogs and cats.
All newly adopted cats and kittens should be tested for Feline Leukemia and FIV viruses. After the initial test, it may be repeated periodically in cats that go outdoors or experience repeated illnesses.
Routine geriatric labwork is important for pets over the age of six to establish normal baseline values. This will also detect common age-related problems such as diabetes, liver disease, kidney disease, and thyroid problems. With early detection, these conditions can often be treated much more effectively.

Vaccinations

Having your pets vaccinated against contagious diseases is one of the most important things that you can do for their health. Kittens and puppies require a series of boosters to effectively stimulate their immune systems. Boosters generally start at 6-8 weeks of age and are repeated every 3-4 weeks until 16-18 weeks of age. Thereafter, vaccinations are given every 6-12 months.

DOG DISEASES

Rabies

Rabies is a contagious virus which affects the nervous system of ANY warm-blooded animal or human. Once symptoms appear, the disease is almost always fatal. The virus is spread in the saliva of affected animals, primarily in bite wounds. All dogs and cats should receive rabies vaccinations as is required by state law. Every year the number of reported cases of Rabies in North Carolina and Wake County increases.

Distemper

Distemper is a highly contagious viral disease. It affects the respiratory and nervous systems, causing fever, lethargy, coughing, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, and eventually death.

Hepatitis

Hepatitis is a contagious disease of the liver. Symptoms include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Hepatitis can also cause severe kidney damage.

Parvovirus/Coronavirus

These highly contagious diseases cause diarrhea and vomiting which often leads to death. Parvo is seen most commonly in puppies although any age dog can be affected. Corona is primarily a problem in puppies. Contaminated feces is the most common way to transmit these viruses, and it can be carried on a dog's hair and feet, as well as on contaminated cages, shoes, and other objects.

Infectious Tracheobronchitis or Kennel Cough

This highly contagious disease is actually caused by several potential organisms, most commonly bordetella, parainfluenza, and adenovirus type 2. Symptoms include severe coughing spells sometimes followed by vomiting and gagging. Dogs which are in contact with any other dogs should also receive the Bordetella (kennel cough) vaccine every 6-12 months depending on exposure.

Lyme Disease

This devastating bacterial disease can cause permanent and painful disabilities in dogs. Symptoms include arthritis, sudden onset of severe pain and lameness, fever, lethargy, depression, and loss of appetite. Severe forms may also affect the heart, brain, and kidney. This organism is transmitted by ticks. We offer a vaccination for lyme disease if you routinely find ticks on your dog.

Giardia

We are now also offering a vaccination for Giardia. This intestinal protozoan in found commonly in lakes, streams, and rainwater puddles and causes intestinal cramping with bloody diarrhea. Dogs exposed to these water sources can pick up this parasite and spread it to their owners with or without showing any symptoms themselves. If your dog spends a significant amount of time outside or swims, please ask us about this important vaccination.

* Unvaccinated dogs and puppies are especially susceptible to the above diseases, particularly if exposed to group environments. The above diseases can all be vaccinated against with a combination vaccine containing all of the viruses. All dogs should receive this combination vaccine on a yearly basis.

CAT DISEASES

Rabies

Rabies is a contagious virus which affects the nervous system of ANY warm-blooded animal or human. Once symptoms appear, the disease is almost always fatal. The virus is spread in the saliva of affected animals, primarily in bite wounds. All dogs and cats should receive rabies vaccinations as is required by state law. Every year the number of reported cases of Rabies in North Carolina and Wake County increases.

Panleukopenia

This is a very contagious viral disease that affects primarily kittens, but can affect unvaccinated cats of any age. Clinical signs include fever, loss of appetite, vomiting, depression, diarrhea, and dehydration which can lead to death.

Rhinotracheitis

This is the most severe and widespread upper-respiratory virus to which cats are susceptible. It is highly contagious and very serious in young kittens (although cats of all ages are at risk). Clinical signs include fever, tearing, discharge from the eyes and nose, mouth breathing, coughing, and salivation. Treatment is limited to supportive care. Early vaccination can easily prevent this serious disease.

Calicivirus

This is another major feline upper-respiratory virus that is also widespread and highly contagious. Symptoms include fever, pneumonia, and ulcers on the tongue.

Chlamydiosis

This bacterial disease causes respiratory symptoms and is extremely contagious. Signs most commonly include conjuctivitis, tearing, sneezing, heavy salivation, and coughing. Pneumonia is also possible.

Leukemia

This virus is a leading cause of disease and death in cats. In addition to being a very serious disease in itself, the leukemia virus also breaks down the cat's immune system. This virus is passed primarily from cat to cat. Cats that go outdoors or have any contact with other cats (or whose owners have contact with other cats) should receive the leukemia vaccine.

Giardia

A vaccination is now available for cats for Giardia. This intestinal protozoan is found commonly in lakes, streams, and rainwater puddles, and causes intestinal cramping with bloody diarrhea and vomiting. Cats may be sick or show no symptoms while shedding this parasite and exposing their owners. Any cat that spends time outdoors, especially unsupervised, should be vaccinated for this highly contagious disease.

* All of the above diseases can be vaccinated for with a combination vaccine. All cats should receive this combination vaccination yearly to protect against the most common intestinal and respiratory diseases.