FAQ's

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q - CAN I GIVE MY PET A DOSE OF ASPIRIN FOR PAIN?

Like many human medications, aspirin can potentially be given to pets. However, we strongly advise against it without first consulting a veterinarian as dosing and side effects are very different in our pets than in ourselves.

Q - IF A RABIES VACCINE IS GOOD FOR 3 YEARS, WHY SO YOU RECOMMEND IT BE GIVEN EVERY 2 YEARS?

Immunity provided by vaccination can wane at different rates in individual animals. Given the grave nature and public health concerns surrounding rabies, giving the vaccine every two years assures adequate “overlap” of immunity in animals whose immunity may be decreased.

Q - WHY SHOULD I BE BUYING MY HEARTGARD AND FLEA MEDICATION FROM YOU RATHER THAN USING AN ONLINE PET PHARMACY?

There are several reasons. There have been numerous instances of counterfeit or improperly stored and handled products coming from online pharmacies. Not only can this be a danger to your pet but, at best the medication may not do what it was designed to do. Also, manufacturers will often not stand behind their products if they are not obtained directly from a veterinarian. Finally, we feel strongly that your veterinarian and not an anonymous online pharmacy is best equipped to help you decide the best medication for your pet.   

Q - WHY SHOULD I VACCINATE MY INDOOR CAT? SHE NEVER GOES OUTSIDE.

As much as we try, we can never guarantee our indoor cats will not somehow sneak out. Every day we hear such stories. In addition, even a trip to the veterinarian, the groomer or a boarding facility can expose your cat to infectious diseases. We have also seen situations where a rabid animal (bat, raccoon) have gained access to a house, potentially exposing resident pets and humans to rabies.

Q - WHEN WILL MY PUPPY CALM DOWN?

It is normal for a puppy to have a lot of energy. And every puppy is different. Some are extremely calm from day one and some act like the Energizer Bunny! If your puppy is wearing you out, there are a number of things you can do starting with lots of aerobic exercise and some basic training methods which teach and reinforce calm behavior. Feel free to ask us if you need help with your little “monster”.

Q - SHOULD I SPAY MY DOG OR WAIT UNTIL AFTER HER FIRST HEAT?

Contrary to popular belief, it is advantageous to spay prior to a first heat. The biggest reason is a significant reduction in mammary (breast cancer later in life. The risk of mammary cancer for dogs spayed before their first estrus (heat cycle) is 0.05%. This risk increases to 8% after one estrus cycle and 26% after the second estrus. Cats spayed prior to one year of age have a 0.6% risk of developing mammary carcinomas compared with intact cats.

Q - WHY SHOULD MY DOG BE ON HEARTWORM AND FLEA MEDICATION ALL YEAR LONG.

The commonly prescribed heartworm preventative prevents and treats a number of parasites which your dog is at risk for at any time of the year including heartworm and several intestinal parasites. Any break in protection has been shown to increase that risk. And we promise you that we see fleas and ticks all year long!

Location

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Office Hours

Our Regular Schedule

Stratford Office

Monday:

8:00 am-6:00 pm

Tuesday:

8:00 am-4:00 pm

Wednesday:

8:00 am-6:00 pm

Thursday:

Closed

Friday:

8:00 am-6:00 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed

Testimonial

  • "I can not say enough wonderful things about dr gandler and ALL of the staff at Sterling Veterinary Hospital!! over the past 13 years we have had 4 English bulldogs and they have taken nothing but the best care of them all. the staff is super approachable and kind, and dr gandler always is thorough, caring and honest. thank you so very much for everything! :)"
    - Paula Toff