Pets age faster than people, so regular veterinary care is very important for your pet’s health. In addition, your pet cannot tell you how they are feeling and it’s natural for pets to mask their illnesses as a means of self-protection. Sometimes the only way to tell if your pet is not well is through a veterinary examination. Either an annual visit or a twice-a-year visit for pets over age seven is important to ensure your pet is healthy and to detect any illness as early as possible. Our doctors perform a tip-of-the-nose to tip-of-the-tail exam. We may recommend regular blood work or urinalysis to assess organ function. Our client service representatives are available to help you schedule appointments according to your pet’s needs.
More than 10 million pets get lost each year and 90% will not return home without effective identification. A microchip can help to ensure your pet’s protection and safety for his/her lifetime if ever lost and then found. At Babcock Hills, we use the HomeAgain microchip. This microchip (about the size of a grain of rice) will get inserted under the skin of your pet, in between their shoulder blades. Once inserted, it becomes immediately active with a unique number that will be registered to your pet. HomeAgain will contact you to complete the registration and confirm your information is correct. This information can be updated as your family moves throughout your pet’s life.
The City of San Antonio approved an ordinance amendment (effective 4/30/2015) making a registered microchip the primary means of licensing for pets living within the San Antonio city limits. All dogs, cats, and ferrets residing in San Antonio city limits must have a microchip and the microchip must be properly registered with the microchip company and with the current ownership information.
At Babcock Hills Veterinary Hospital, we understand your dog is a valued member of the family. For this reason we highly advocate preventative care or wellness care measures for pet owners. One crucial way to protect your dog is to vaccinate him or her against threatening deadly viruses and diseases to his or her health. It is important that you provide your canine friend with routine vaccinations at multiple points during his or her life. Here at Babcock Hills, a veterinarian on our trusted team can ensure that your dog receives the necessary protection.
You may not be aware of exactly how vaccinations work or how often your dog needs vaccinations. Our staff is here to answer any questions you have and establish a vaccination schedule for your dog. By administering vaccines, our veterinarians are able to ensure your dog builds up immunity to the threatening canine diseases and viruses.
This is especially important for puppies, as they need to complete a series of vaccinations. Your puppy receives some temporary immunity through its mother at birth, but that protection fades quickly, which can leave your puppy vulnerable to dangerous disease organisms. At our veterinary hospital, certain vaccinations are administered in your puppy’s first few exams. These vaccinations are known as “core” vaccinations because they are so critical for protecting canine health. Puppies should have their first vaccine by 9 weeks (in some circumstances we may recommend starting as early as 6 weeks) and a booster at both 12 weeks and 16 weeks.
Some dogs should receive other, non-core vaccinations as well, depending on their lifestyle. We offer non-core vaccinations to protect against the following:
CIV (Canine Influenza)(H3N2 and H3N8): CIV is spread through nasal and oral secretions. The vaccine can be administered at six weeks and requires an additional booster 2-4 weeks later. This is recommended for dogs that are frequently exposed to other dogs in a social environment, live in an apartment complex, grooming, training classes, or boarding.
Bordetella (sometimes called Kennel Cough): It is the result of a bacterial infection in the upper respiratory tract which is easily transmitted and results in a hacking cough. Your puppy can be vaccinated at six weeks and can be administered intranasally once a year. This vaccine is also recommended for dogs frequently exposed to other dogs in a social environment.
We also offer the Rattlesnake and Lyme vaccines to those pet’s that may be exposed due to hunting or travel.
At Babcock Hills Veterinary Hospital we can advise you on the recommended schedule for booster shots — a critical step to ensure that your dog is always protected. Call us today to ensure your adult dog or puppy is vaccinated.
Babcock Hills Veterinary Hospital, your San Antonio veterinary hospital at 6600 Prue Road.
Kittens start receiving vaccinations at 8-9 weeks of age. All previously unvaccinated adult cats and kittens will need additional vaccinations and boosters approximately 3 weeks later. This must be accomplished in order for the vaccines to be effective.
**ALL cats and kittens should be tested for Feline Leukemia (FeLV) and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV). These viruses are potentially fatal and are contagious to other cats. Both viruses can be transmitted to kittens from their mother before they are born. If we know that a cat is infected with one of these viruses, we can be proactive in controlling the cat’s environment and managing clinical signs for optimal longevity and good health.
