Thank you for taking interest in Guildford Animal Hospital. Below you will find a list of the most frequently asked questions we receive. If you have additional questions please contact us at 604-588-2626. We are always happy to help!
Why does a full-body examination need to be done with vaccinations?
As a preventative measure, a full body examination is mandatory with all vaccinations to ensure that there are no underlying health problems before vaccinating. Many pet owners may not notice serious conditions such as dental disease, ear infections, skin disorders, heart murmurs, and other common health problems. Giving vaccinations to a pet who suffers from any of these may just worsen these problems.
Why are annual examinations, vaccinations and deworming important?
Annual examinations are important to help detect any minor or major health problems that you may not notice at home. A thorough history and examination once a year is a great tool in the detection and prevention of disease processes such as kidney disease, liver disease, heart disease, diabetes, allergies and dental disease.
Vaccinations are important to prevent many different diseases. Annual deworming prevents external and intestinal parasites that can be picked up from the environment. Depending on your pet’s exposure to the outdoors, a dewormer may be suggested every 4-6 months rather than annually. The type and price of the prescribed dewormer are dependent on your pet’s weight. Deworming medication is by prescription only.
Why is year-round flea control important?
Year-round preventative flea control is especially important in the Lower Mainland as our climate in winter is not always cold enough to completely kill off fleas. Also, flea eggs can lay dormant for 2-3 years in the environment and it is always easier to prevent a problem than to treat an existing one! Lastly, flea control purchased from pet stores is not always as effective as the flea control prescribed by veterinarians as it is not as safe and can often cause more health problems than it solves.
We proudly offer topical solutions including Advantage, Advantage Multi, and Revolution, as well as the newest oral flea and tick prevention and treatment for dogs, Nexgard. For more information on which flea control is the best option for your pet and your family, please feel free to contact our knowledgeable staff and veterinarians!
When you say my pet needs preventative health care, what are you referring to?
We are referring to feeding a well balanced diet, brushing your pet’s teeth regularly, maintaining a regular vaccine schedule, keeping your pet’s eyes clean, maintaining flea control year round, always monitoring your pet’s appetite, water consumption and weight, cleaning your pet’s ears, grooming your pet regularly, trimming your pet’s nails, providing daily exercise to your pet, deworming and/or checking for parasites regularly, and lastly, having your pet checked yearly by a veterinarian!
What are anal glands? Why can some pets not express them on their own?
Anal glands are scent glands located on either side of the anus in pets. These glands allow animals to mark their territory and identify each other by scent. These glands generally empty themselves when your pet defecates, but when your pet’s stool is softer than usual, the stool may not exert enough pressure on the glands to cause them to empty. In the event that this occurs, an anal gland expression can be performed by the veterinarian or technicians to express them for your pet. Signs that an anal gland expression is needed can include biting and licking at the anus, general discomfort, scooting on the ground, and sometimes hair loss around the back end.
Why does my senior pet need bloodwork done before being put under anesthetic?
Once your pet reaches 7 years of age, we require a pre-cautionary Geriatric Panel to be done before considering any surgeries or dentistry, both of which require anesthesia. This is a comprehensive blood test that checks kidney function, liver function and other important factors that need to be considered to ensure that putting your pet under anesthetic will be safe.
Why do you recommend professional dental cleaning?
Professional dental cleaning is very important in maintaining your pet’s oral health. If your pet’s teeth are not brushed regularly, dental disease can develop. During a professional dental cleaning, our technicians clean along your pet’s gum lines, check for pockets, broken teeth, and scale and polish all teeth above and below the gum lines. It is also important to extract any infected teeth before the infection spreads to other parts of the body which can include your pet’s kidneys or liver. Oral infections also cause bad breath and can be very painful for your pet. See our dentistry page for more information.
What forms of payment do you accept?
We accept Interac, Mastercard, Visa, and cash.
We require payment in full at the time of your pet’s discharge from our hospital or the conclusion of your pet’s visit in order to minimize hospital costs. Pet insurance is also highly recommended by our staff. Please see the following website for more details: