Longer, Happier Lives
Our doctors feel a thorough history and examination is critical to providing the best care for your best friend. We thoroughly review your records and complete a comprehensive examination of your pet during their visit. We will explain all of our findings with you and answer any questions you may have. We usually schedule 45 minutes to an hour for a first examination in order to go over any issues your pet may have as well as their diet and environment.
The Care They Deserve
While we see many pets with numerous health problems, it is important to seek comprehensive, holistic care for your pet from an early age, before they have multiple health issues. Getting your puppy or kitten off to a good start will provide you with a healthier pet so you can share many years together.
What is a titer test?
A titer test is a simple blood test that measures a dog or cat’s antibodies to vaccine viruses (or other infectious agents).
By testing your pet’s blood we can determine if and when he or she might need vaccinations. If the titer is low, your pet can be vaccinated; if the titer is normal, no vaccine is needed. This approach allow us to administer only those vaccines that are absolutely necessary when needed and results in your pet avoiding needless and potentially harmful booster vaccinations.
That’s a huge benefit from a simple blood test!
Titer Testing and Pet Vaccinations Modern research shows that most of our pets do not need annual immunizations. In fact, there can be potentially life threatening side-effects from over-vaccinating a pet. Current recommendations are to vaccinate for core diseases such as Parvo, Distemper, Adenovirus and Rabies at a maximum of every three years. Instead of automatically vaccinating for core diseases every three years, we recommend the use of an annual blood antibody test called a titer test.
In-House & Outside Laboratory Testing
At Sarasota Animal Medical Center, we recommend routine lab work annually for our young patients and semi-annual bloodwork in our senior patients in order to catch any issues before they turn into more serious problems. Due to our extensive training in holistic alternatives, we are able to treat many issues, such as liver, kidney, and heart disease, successfully if diagnosed early.