Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What diseases do the vaccinations prevent?
For dogs, the most common vaccinations are given to help prevent distemper, parvovirus, coronavirus, lyme disease, leptosporosis, bordetella, giardia and and rabies.
For cats, the most common vaccinations are given to help prevent feline leukemia, panleukopenia, rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, chlamydia, feline infectious peritonitis, and rabies. We can also vaccinate your cat to prevent lyme disease, ringworm and FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus).

All of these diseases can lead to a variety of symptoms, and some can lead to death. It is important to have your pet vaccinated, along with a health checkup, on a regular basis (yearly to twice yearly).

Q: Can I just come in for a rabies shot?
A: Prior to any vaccination, our doctor does a complete physical exam - nose to tail. We listen to the heart and lungs, palpate the abdomen and organs, and assess the condition of the eyes, ears, nose, skin and joints. There may be an abnormality that should be addressed prior to administering vaccinations.

Q: What kind of food should I feed my pet?
A: All pets should be fed a nutritionally balanced food specific for their age (puppy/kitten food until approximately one year, adult food until age seven, and senior food age seven and beyond). The best foods are those that provide 100% complete nutrition. As puppies and kittens, they should eat foods that supply energy for growing bodies, and it should be easy to chew and swallow. The foods should be nutrient-dense. Poor-quality foods (usually the cheapest on the market), may not deliver the nutrients your pet needs.

For dogs, they should be fed the appropriate food based also on their breed (small, medium and large breed foods).

Foods we recommend are Science Diet, Eukanuba or Iams.

Q: What should I do if my pet bites someone?
A: If your pet bites someone, if needed, supply first aid to the injured party, then call the Nebraska Humane Society. Based on the situation, your pet may be required to undergo quarantine at home or at the shelter. There may be other requirements as well.

Q: What if my pet swallows something poisonous or toxic?
A: Medications, cleaning products, antifreeze, rodent poison and plants are just some of the things that can harm your pet if ingested. If your pet ingests a poison or toxic chemical, you may need to take your pet to the veterinarian or perform first aid at home, but call your veterinarian or an animal poison control hotline. Different poisons and toxins are treated differently, so it's best to talk to a qualified, knowledgeable person that can tell you what is best for the situation. The following are hotlines you can call: the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: 1-888-426-4435, the Animal Poison Hotline: 1-888-232-8870, or the Pet Poison Helpline: 1-800-213-6680.

Q: What should I do if my cat has stopped using his litter box?
A: When it comes to cats and litter boxes, they can avoid their litter box, have accidents in your house and strain to urinate, among other things, for a variety of reasons. The best thing to do is to see your vet to determine the cause of the problem - it could be a medical or behavioral issue. A vet can determine the appropriate plan of action based on the problem.

Q: How often do I need to take my pet to the vet?
A: Once you acquire a new pet, it's best to see the vet right away for a complete physical exam, parasite screen, and possible vaccinations (if theyāre due for boosters). For pets up to age seven, a yearly physical along with vaccinations is recommended. For senior pets, aged seven and above, it's best to have a physical exam twice a year.

If your pet is sick or is not him/herself, it's best to be seen by a vet for a complete physical and possible diagnostic tests (bloodwork, urinalysis, radiographs, etc.).

Q: Does my eight year old pet have special needs?
A: Yes! Today it is not uncommon for some dogs and cats to live to be 15 to 20 years old. Senior pets (those seven and older), age much like humans do. There are risks for heart disease, diabetes, tumors, cancer, kidney or liver disease, arthritis, loss of hearing and/or vision, and dental disease -- to name a few. Luckily, there are many age-related changes in dogs and cats that can be treated successfully, or at least slowed.

For senior pets, we recommend a physical exam twice a year, along with a diagnostic work up at least once a year. By screening for age-related diseases, in many cases we can detect diseases before they become debilitating or severe. We can then determine the appropriate treatment, which may include medication, food and/or therapy. The right treatment can help prolong your petās life, and help to improve your petās quality of life.

Q: Should I spay/neuter my pet?
A: We recommend spaying (female) and neutering (male) if they are not going to be bred. When they are done breeding, we then recommend spaying/neutering. Spayed/neutered pets live longer and are less likely to develop reproductive cancers and infections.

Q: How long does it take for a dog/cat to deliver after being bred?
A: The average is 63 days (60-65). Pregnant pets should have a health checkup prior to delivery. If your pet is having trouble with delivery, call your vet immediately.

Q: How old does my pet have to be in order to be "fixed?"
A: We recommend spaying and neutering anytime after five months of age. It is best and easiest on the pet if done before the first heat cycle (which usually occurs around six months).

Q: How long will my dog/cat stay in "heat?"
A: Dogs stay in heat an average of three weeks. They usually come into heat every six to nine months. Cats are unlike dogs in that they will almost constantly stay in heat until they are bred.

Q: My pet is pregnant and due anytime. What should I watch for?
A: She will usually act restless and nervous when labor begins and a clear discharge will be present. If your pet is having trouble with delivery, call your vet as soon as possible.

Q: How long must I wait after my pet has had her pups before having her spayed?
A: We prefer to wait about one week to allow the milk to dry up. However, we can spay her at anytime, even while nursing, if the need arises.

Q: Can my pet be spayed while in heat or pregnant?
A: Yes. Due to the greatly enlarged reproductive tract, there will be an additional nominal fee to cover the costs of the additional supplies needed for surgery. Dogs/cats spayed while in heat must be kept away from male dogs/cats for seven days, since it takes that long for the ćheatä scent to disappear. Although pregnancy will not occur, the internal sutures placed during the spay could be torn, causing internal bleeding.

Q: Will spaying/neutering make my pet get fat and lazy?
A: NO! This is a false assumption. Any pet can gain weight if they get no exercise, lie around all the time and eat too much. Proper diet and exercise are the keys for ANY pet to help keep them at their appropriate weight.

Q: What happens when my pet has a surgery at your clinic?
A: Prior to any surgery, we perform a complete pre-surgical exam to determine if the heart/lungs sound normal, to ensure that there are no lumps/bumps on the body, and to palpate the abdomen and joints to determine that your pet is in good shape for surgery. We also run pre-anesthetic bloodwork to determine if the liver and kidneys are functioning properly, if the blood counts are normal, and if there are any abnormalities. There have been several occasions when surgery has been postponed after an exam and bloodwork, due to the fact that the pet was not healthy enough to undergo an anesthetic procedure.

During the surgery, we utilize an EKG/Pulse Oximeter (patient monitor), in order to assess the heart and lung function. Also, our nurses evaluate the vital signs throughout the entire surgery. For senior pets or those with certain health conditions, IV fluids are administered before, during and after the surgery. Depending on the surgery, we may administer a post-operative pain medication and possibly send your pet home with an oral pain medication to give for a few days.

For most surgeries, your pet will be ready to go home later that day.

Q: I think my pet has a skin problem, what should I do?
A: There are a variety of skin problems that can arise for pets, ranging from fleas to allergies. Each skin problem comes with its own unique symptoms, causes and treatments. It is best to have your pet seen right away in order to determine what type of skin illness and its treatment.

Q: Do all vets see birds?
A: No. Birds have special needs specific to their species. It's best to have a veterinarian that cares for birds (avians) examine your bird because they have the knowledge of avian care, as well as the equipment and supplies necessary to care for birds. At Best Care Pet Hospital, we care for birds.

Q: What kind of food should I feed my bird?
A: Although most of us think seeds are a good, healthy diet, seeds actually lack many important nutrients and amino acids that birds need. They also are high in fat. A bird that eats seeds is comparable to people eating fast food for every meal, which can result in obesity, nutritionally-related diseases, a lower immune response to infections, and even premature death. If you add supplements, it's almost impossible to determine how much is being consumed.

As far as feeding fruits and vegetables, they are okay, but should not make up for than 15% of your birdās daily diet. Some are high in sugar and carbohydrates.

The best diet to feed your bird is a nutritionally balanced extruded diet. Extrusion manufacturing assures the nutrients are not lost in the processing. This means that your bird is consuming nutritionally balanced food, that easy to digest and tastes better.

Diets we recommend are Harrisons Bird Foods and Zupreem. Each company offers a variety of diets, it's best to check with your avian veterinarian on which diet is best for each breed, as well as converting your bird to a new diet.

Q: My bird keeps picking his feathers. Why?
A: Feather-picking is a serious condition that could be caused by nutritional deficits, environmental conditions, or stress. It's best to have a complete physical exam by an avian veterinarian.

Q: How do I know if my bird is sick?
A: You should regularly weigh your bird to ensure that he/she is within the right weight range. Any change in weight could indicate illness. Your bird may also stay at the bottom of the cage, stop eating or drinking, stop singing or talking, appear all ćpuffedä up (feathers look fluffed), pick his/her feathers, or his/her droppings may increase, decrease or change color or consistency. If your bird shows any of these signs, it's best to have a complete physical exam, along with diagnostic work, to determine an appropriate treatment plan.

Q: I have a rabbit, is there anything I should know about how to care for it?
A: It's best to have a veterinarian that cares for rabbits do a physical exam right away. The veterinarian will check to see that it's alert and inquisitive, he/she has clean eyes, ears, mouth, and feet; its nose is dry and its fur is in good condition.

Your rabbit veterinarian will alert you to dos and donāts regarding your rabbit. Some things to consider: rabbits like to chew, so keep your rabbit away from electrical cords, etc; rabbits are also very sociable, they like interaction with their human owners; when holding a rabbit, it's best to support its hind legs as well as its underside - they can kick their powerful hind legs and cause a spinal injury.

Q: What kind of food should I feed my rabbit?
A: Rabbits should be fed fresh commercial rabbit pellets and hay. We recommend Oxbow hay products. There is a variety of hays available, check with your vet regarding the appropriate type and amount of food to feed. Limited quantities of green vegetables are okay.

Q: Where should I keep my rabbit?
A: A rabbit should be kept in a hutch, cage, or bunny-proofed room when you are not at home. Rabbits like to run with bursts of energy, so letting them out of their cage, while supervised, is a good idea. If the hutch has a slatted or mesh bottom, be sure to provide some solid flooring, or bedding of soft wood shavings (not cedar) or a recycled paper product. Be sure to clean the cage frequently.

Best Care Pet Hospital also cares for reptiles (turtles, iguanas, bearded dragons, etc.), ferrets and other small rodents. Since the care for each is specific for its species and breed, please feel free to call us to find out more. We would be happy to schedule an appointment for you and our doctor to discuss the proper care of your special pet.

Q: What do you charge for services?
A: At Best Care Pet Hospital, we charge an appropriate fee based on the services and products we provide. We strive to maintain an optimal level of medical care as well as customer service. We truly care about the people and pets we care for, and our clients tell us so. We practice high quality medicine, using technologically advanced equipment and supplies. Our staff spends quality time with each client and pet listening to you about your pet and your concerns. Our staff also spends a lot of time educating you on your petās status, screenings/tests, and treatments, and answering your questions.

All services and products that we provide vary in price. We would be more than happy to answer any questions you have concerning price.

We require payment for services at the time they are rendered. We accept cash, check, VISA, Mastercard, Discover, and Care Credit.