Our Veterinary Clinic Answers WHY
Why get a microchip?
What is a microchip? Microchips are small devices, about the size of a grain of rice, that a veterinarian inserts under the pet’s skin near their shoulder blades. So why are they important? It contains the pet owner’s contact information, including phone number and is used to identify lost or stray pets.
Contrary to popular belief, a microchip is NOT a GPS device. So it cannot be used to track a lost or missing pet. However, it is still a very important part of pet safety and care.
Local animal shelters, including AWS, most veterinarians, and many police departments have special microchip scanners to use when an unidentified (lost or stray) pet comes into the facility. If a chip is found, the pet’s owners’ contact information will pop up, thus hastening a happy reunion. In fact, a recent study indicates that a dog with a microchip is three times more likely to be reunited than one without. For felines, who rarely wear collars and tags and who spend more time outdoors, the figure is staggering. Microchipped cats are 20 times more likely to be returned to their families than cats without a microchip.
Outside of periodic special clinic, like the one happening on March 22, AWS’ Community Veterinary Clinic offers microchip insertion during wellness appointments or procedure (including spay/neuter surgeries). Additionally, all AWS dogs and cats are microchipped prior to adoption.
Why get a rabies vaccination?
First, rabies vaccinations are required by state law. All dogs and cats over twelve weeks of age must be vaccinated against the terrible disease. You don’t have to be familiar with the movie Old Yeller to know that rabies itself is a horrific contagious disease with terrible symptoms. It is fatal if not treated. In the United States, it mostly exists in wildlife, and it can be passed to domesticated pets as well as humans, primarily through bite wounds. While getting vaccinated after exposure does save lives (and is used to successfully treat most cases of human exposure), the best prevention is keeping up-to-date on annual vaccinations so your pet is never at risk (and thus you remain risk-free).
Rabies vaccinations come in two forms: one-year vaccines or three-year vaccines, which are equally effective. Pet owners who take their pet for an annual wellness exam often opt for the annual vaccination. AWS offers both. At the upcoming rabies vaccination clinic, to receive a 3-year rabies vaccine, pet owners must bring your pet’s previous rabies certificate or records from a vet. Otherwise, we will administer a 1-year vaccine.
Rabies vaccines, along with other required and optional vaccines, are one of the best ways you can keep your pet happy and healthy. Vaccines are given as part of a pet’s wellness care. They can be given at appointments, or at special clinic like the one on March 22. If you have any questions about vaccinating your pet, give your local veterinary practice or AWS’ Community Veterinary Clinic a call.
Why spay or neuter your pet?
Spaying and neutering pets is the best way to manage pet overpopulation, especially in areas where pets roam outdoors. In the United States, and in Maine, spaying/neutering is very commonplace in pet dogs, cats and rabbits. In the past 20-30 years, we have seen a marked decrease in stray and unwanted animals, particularly cats, due to statewide spay/neuter initiatives.
However, spaying or neutering your pet is a personal decision. It has many benefits for pets including:
- reduced risk of cancer (specifically reproductive cancers)
- reduction of undesirable behaviors such as marking and roaming
- no heat cycles
- no unexpected litters*
* Most female dogs and cats easily manage pregnancy, but health complications can arise, not to mention the stress and financial burden of caring for and finding homes for the litter.
Research shows that fixed pets actually live longer, have fewer health issues and have a higher quality of life. So, if you aren’t planning on breeding your pet, spaying/neutering makes for a happier pet and a happier family.
When should I have my pet spayed/neutered? At what age?
State law requires all pets adopted from animal shelters be spayed or neutered. It is safe to spay/neuter a pet as young as 8 weeks, provided they are at least 2 lbs. So, if you adopted your pet, their spay/neuter surgery is all taken care of. If you have an intact pet, the optimal age in which they should be fixed can differ based on many factors. Relevant factors can include age, sex, breed, lifestyle, animal’s role (family dog vs working dog, for example) and personal preferences.
It is best to speak to a veterinarian and decide together when to alter your pet. Here at AWS, our veterinarians are happy to set up a spay/neuter consultation to discuss your options and learn more. In the meantime, you can learn more by consulting this chart (AAHA Chart), which provides a suggested roadmap for when to neuter a dog. There are also many academic articles and research studies on this topic. A excellent summary of this research can be found here: Optimal Age for Spay/Neuter Surgery.
AWS offers spay/neuter surgeries for dogs and cats 5 days a week. We’re pleased to offer our services to not only our shelter animals, but to pets of community members as well. Visit our website to schedule your appointment. We also alter rabbits – if you are interested, please give us a call to learn more.
Why rely on AWS’ Community Veterinary Clinic?
Because we are here for you! AWS’ mission is to provide affordable and accessible resources so that pets and their families stay together and thrive. As a Community Clinic, we provide high-quality, professional care at an affordable price. We offer a two-tiered pricing system for many of our veterinary services: Community Pricing and our Companion Program. The Companion Program offers discount on many of our veterinary services, for community members who qualify (based on income qualifications). Additional discounts may be available to veterans, older people and other individuals, as grant funding allows.
Our team of more than a dozen veterinary professionals, including 7 veterinarians, are here serving our community’s pets. We hope to see you and your dog or cat at our upcoming FREE rabies & vaccine clinic or at a wellness appointment.
