Helpful Links & FAQ
We’re happy to help pet owners by providing links to useful resources and answers to common questions! Check out our links and FAQs below to learn more.
Recommended Links
Comfort Hill Kennel
Pet boarding, dog daycare, grooming, training, and pet supplies.
Wag on Inn
A grooming service focused on dogs, with additional options for cat baths, dental care, and nail trims. They also provide dog boarding and a doggie daycare program.
Bow Wow Babysitters
Mobile dog training in Vermont with a special focus on aggressive or challenging behavior cases. They also offer doggy daycare for pets that need consistent supervision and companionship throughout the day, creating a reliable support option for busy families.
Andie's Pet Care LLC
An insured pet sitter in Addison County who keeps pets comfortable at home with reliable check-ins and thoughtful care.
FAQs
Does my pet need to be on prevention (flea/tick/heartworm) all year?
Yes! Both dogs and cats need to be on a preventative product year-round that covers fleas, ticks, and heartworms. Ticks, fleas, and mosquitoes remain active year-round, so pets likewise need year-round protection.
At your appointment, Dr. Swasey will make specific recommendations for which product is best for your pet and their lifestyle.
Does my pet need blood work every year even if they seem healthy?
Yes! While it's recommended, it's not a requirement for all pets to have blood work performed annually. The greatest care you can offer your pet is preventing diseases. Annual blood work allows Dr. Swasey to monitor trends in lab values over time and detect early onset or predisposition for common diseases. The earlier we can detect a disease, the earlier we can intervene and reduce the negative impacts on your pets, ensuring a long, fulfilling, and happy life together.
What age do you recommend spaying and neutering pets?
This is one of those answers where it depends on the pet. Dogs (males and females) should be spayed/neutered around 1-2 years of age. We have learned that the natural hormones produced in these first couple of years are important for development. Large breed dogs, such as Great Danes or Mastiffs, should be spayed/neutered closer to 2 years of age as they will be growing and developing a bit longer than the smaller/medium-sized dogs.
Cats should be neutered around 5-6 months of age and around 1 year of age for females. Cats can start exhibiting urinary marking after this time frame, and once started, those habits can be difficult to correct. Therefore, they should be neutered a bit sooner than female cats.
It's important to note that if you have a pet that will be around other intact housemates, then Dr. Swasey may recommend neutering/spaying sooner to avoid unwanted breedings or litters.
My cats chase each other in the home, is that normal?
Typically, chasing is not a friendly behavior like what we would expect in dogs. Cats are not typically social animals and prefer to be in control of and alone in their home. If you notice cats in the home are chasing each other, this may be an indication there are not enough resources (food and/or food bowls, water bowls, litter boxes, or space).
Dr. Swasey recommends having 1-2 more litter boxes in the home than cats (for example, 2 cats in the home require 3 litter boxes) placed throughout the home in quiet, safe spaces. Feeding should be done in separate spaces because cats don’t typically eat together. Consider adding pheromone diffusers to the home, which can reduce the stress and anxiety the cats feel and therefore, less tension about resources.
How do I know if my dog or cat is overweight?
All dogs and cats are not created equal; therefore, body weight is not always the best way to determine if they are the appropriate size. Using a body condition score chart is the best way to monitor and assess your pet’s health. The ideal body condition score for dogs or cats includes the ability to feel their ribs but not see them from across the room, their topline should have a nice hourglass shape to it with a well-defined waistline, and they should not have folds of extra fat around the top of their tail.
Purina’s body condition score chart is a great resource! Ideally, dogs and cats should score about a 4-5 out of 9 on this scale.
Cats: Purina Body Condition System for Cats
Dogs: Purina Body Condition System for Dogs
My dog gets anxious at the veterinarian’s, what will you do to help reduce this stress during your appointments?
This is not an uncommon thing for both dogs and cats. There are a lot of things we can do to help reduce this anxiety and fear pets feel when being seen by a veterinarian. The first thing is allowing them to remain in the comfort of their own home where they often feel more relaxed already. They know their way around and naturally relax here.
Once we arrive, we typically will assess the comfort of your dog or cat. If we sense they are nervous, we will take things slow, introduce ourselves, and offer lots of treats or just friendly pats. If your pet seems to still be a bit too anxious or fearful, we may recommend some anti-anxiety medications to help your pet remain calm. These are typically prescribed and administered the night before and the morning of your pet’s appointment. These are very effective, quite safe, and well tolerated by both cats and dogs. They don’t cure the anxiety but they reduce it enough so that we can ensure your pet gets the veterinary care they need in the safest and least stressful way possible.
When vaccinating all pets, Dr. Swasey uses small needles to reduce the pain during vaccines. Most pets don’t even react to this sensation if they are getting a treat from their owner! Dr. Swasey may also recommend splitting the tasks into a couple of appointments to not overwhelm your pet. This can help accomplish everything while again, keeping the stress and anxiety as low as possible.
Why does my dog need more than one radiograph at a time?
Typically, veterinarians require a minimum of 2 images of an injury to assess the pet and establish a diagnosis. Some areas of the body require 3 due to their complex anatomy. The chest and abdomen/belly are 2 areas of the body that Dr. Swasey will typically require 3 radiographs or images to assess your pet or make a diagnosis.
Why is mobile veterinary care the same price as a hospital or clinic?
Mobile veterinary care is often the same or better care for your pets. Some cases require hospitalization or advanced veterinary care or diagnostics that can’t be provided by a mobile veterinarian. However, most cases can be handled in the comfort of your pet’s home. This requires more preparation and time preparing for the appointment, owners benefiting from more time with the veterinary team, and the convenience of everything being available at your home whenever your schedules allow. Many of the same services are available during mobile appointments, including laboratory testing.
Palliative and end-of-life care is the most unique aspect of mobile veterinary practices where we can assist your pet in being in their environment as they reach their end of life. Cats and dogs can become stressed or anxious if they are transported to a veterinary hospital for euthanasia. Providing this service in your home or where your pet is most comfortable gives them a relaxing environment to say their goodbyes.
This care in the comfort of the pet’s home also allows the family and owners to be present throughout the euthanasia, offering comfort to their pet. Peggy and Dr. Swasey can perform all of these with the families present and as involved as they wish to be.
I just got a new puppy, when should I schedule my first veterinary appointment?
Congratulations, this is a very exciting time for both you and your new pup! Dr. Swasey encourages all new pets to be seen at your earliest convenience. This will establish a baseline for the pet’s status, determine their vaccine schedule, and provide a valuable opportunity to ask Dr. Swasey any questions or discuss your concerns. Not all pets are the same, and each presents its own unique set of challenges. Dr. Swasey and her team can assist you through this process and offer guidance specific to your pet’s needs.
It is important to bring any documentation you have regarding your new pup. This includes documents from the breeder, previous veterinarian if your pet was seen elsewhere, or animal shelter. It is also recommended to bring a picture of the dog food bag or can that you are currently feeding so Dr. Swasey can provide feedback and calculate volumes to best suit each pup.
What should I have prepared for my annual wellness appointment?
Great question! Preparation is key to getting the most out of this time with the Addison County Mobile Veterinary Services team! Typically, have any prescriptions or products that are actively being used, monthly or regular preventative products, supplements, dry or canned food containers, or pictures (ensure brand, formula, flavor, and kcal/cup are included as these are important for calculating the appropriate amount of food for your animal) and the measuring device used to feed. If possible, please also collect a stool sample that is fresh on the morning of your appointment or collected within a few hours of the start of the appointment.
All this information will ensure Dr. Swasey has a complete picture of your animal and can make valuable recommendations or modifications.
My cat seems to be acting strange, should I schedule an appointment with Dr. Swasey?
Yes, cats can be very stoic and hide serious injuries or illnesses. This is a natural survival instinct that serves them in the wild; however, it can make it difficult to know when they need help. The most common first clinical symptom in cats that have an injury or illness is a slight behavior change. They may not finish their usual meal, they might hide a bit more than normal, they may not be quite as social in the home, and they may pee or poop outside or next to the litterbox despite being litterbox trained for years. These are all non-specific signs that something serious can be affecting them. A veterinarian should examine these cats to rule out any serious medical conditions.