*** Warnings *** 

Xylitol: Xylitol Toxicity in Dogs.  Even a small amount of Xylitol can cause a serious, possibly deadly, reaction in dogs.  Xylitol is a sugar-free sweetener often found in chewing gum, toothpaste, mouthwash, and some food products - like sugar-free pudding.

Online Pharmacies: Buyer Beware!  Please read the Consumer Health Information posted by the FDA.  Here is a link:
http://www.fda.gov/downloads/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm115432.pdf

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some questions/answers that we are frequently asked. If you have additional questions that aren't covered here, please feel free to give us a call at 858-274-1760 or visit us at 4941-G Clairemont Dr. San Diego, CA 92117.

1. What are your animal hospital hours?

   Our hospital is open Monday to Friday from 7:00 am to 6:00 pm. On Saturdays we are open from 9:00 am until noon. The clinic is closed on Sunday.

2. Do I need to have an appointment?

    Yes, patients are seen by appointment.

3. Which forms of payment do you accept?

     Cash, Check, Debit Cards, Master Card, Visa, Discover and American Express Credit Cards.  Full payment is required at the time of service.

4. What is AAHA, and why is it important that I choose a veterinary hospital that is accredited?

    AAHA stands for American Animal Hospital Association.  They are an internationally respected agency that has been setting the standards of excellence in companion animal care since 1933.

     Lifetime Animal Care Center has successfully achieved accreditation by AAHA.  Only 14% of the veterinary practices throughout the United States and Canada voluntarily participate in this accreditation program.  Our hospital was evaluated on over 800 standards.  We are very proud of our accreditation and work hard to continue to provide high-quality medicine and top-notch client service.  For more information about AAHA, Please click here.  You, as the consumer, have the right to ask about accreditation before choosing where to take your pet for care.

5. At what age can I have my pet spayed or neutered?

   Spaying or neutering can be done at approximately 6 months of age. Your pet is given an exam prior to surgery to help determine whether he/she is healthy enough to undergo the surgical procedure. Current vaccinations are required at the time of surgery. Also a pre-anesthetic blood screen is recommended prior to undergoing anesthesia and surgery.

6.  What is the pre-anesthetic blood screening?

   This is a blood test that is run here in the clinic prior to surgery. It tests the organ functions, blood counts and clotting function of your pet. The pre-anesthetic blood screening is done to assure safety during surgery and the ability to heal following surgery.

7. How long do the sutures stay in after my pet's surgery?

   Procedures involving sutures require them to be removed 14 days following the surgery.

8.  Is it a good idea to let my pet have at least one litter?

    No, there is no advantage to letting your pet have one litter. However there are plenty of advantages to having you pet spayed or neutered. These advantages include decreasing the chances of breast tumors later in life, decreasing the chance of cystic ovaries and uterine infections later in life, decreasing the desire to roam the neighborhood, decreasing the incidence of prostate cancer later in life, helping prevent spraying and marking, and also decreases the surplus of unwanted puppies and kittens.

9.  Do you board pets?

No. Please call for a list of our favorite boarding facilities.

10. Do you see emergencies?

During office hours, if your pet has an emergency, please call us first to check that we are staffed and equipped to hand that particular type of emergency.  We may need to refer you to a 24-hour or critical care facility.  If the emergency occurs after hours, please go directly to the Veterinary Specialty Hospital in Sorrento Valley (858) 875-7570.

11.  How much is an office call / exam and what does it include?

A comprehensive exam is $59.  This includes weight, temperature, examination of the ears, eyes, nose, mouth, skin coat, nails, and anal glands.  The veterinarian listens to your pet's heart and lungs, and palpates the abdominal organs.  The limbs are all checked and we look for any lumps.  We allow 30 minutes for the exam, and to give you plenty of time to ask questions and be sure you understand your pet's problems and treatment recommendations.

12.  What type of animals do you take care of?

Typically, our veterinarians see dogs and cats only.  We would be happy to refer you to a nearby specialized veterinarian for your exotic pets.

13. How safe is general anesthesia for teeth cleaning or other types of surgery?

General anesthesia always carries a degree of risk in any species.  However, we minimize this risk by requiring all animals have a blood screening prior to the procedure to ensure that there are no underlying problems.  Our veterinarians use only the most current, safest anesthetic agents.  A Registered Veterinary Technician is always assisting the veterinarian.  Your pet is closely monitored before, during, and after the anesthetic to ensure a safe recovery.  We care for each patient as if they are our own pet.

14.  Will you perform a non-anesthetic "gentle dental" on my dog because I am afraid of anesthesia?

No. We only clean your pet's teeth under a light general anesthetic.  This is the ONLY way to give a proper and safe ultrasonic cleaning and polishing. Our veterinarians and staff make it as safe and comfortable as possible for your pet.  Feel free to ask our veterinarians about our excellent record in anesthetic safety.
 
15.  Can I go to a groomer who performs a "gentle dental"?

It is against the law for a non-veterinarian to perform dentistry, including teeth cleaning.  Gentle dentals are also dangerous because a mouth gag is used to keep your pet's mouth open - this is known to break the jaw in an awake animal.  Furthermore, it is impossible to clean under the gum-line (the most important part).  Polishing cannot be done properly either, which means your dog's teeth are abraded during the scaling of the teeth, then not smoothed with polish.  This leads to rapid accumulation of plaque and tartar.

16.  Do you take volunteers?

We accept only student volunteers through insured programs at Mesa College, UCSD, and Regional Occupation Programs.  We cannot take other volunteers.

17.  I am using Advantage on my pet every month for fleas, but he is still itchy, what should I do?

Itchiness in animals is often caused by fleas, but there are many other causes.  Mites, allergies, fungus, and other things may be the problem.  It is best to have your pet evaluated by a veterinarian to diagnose the problem, then recommend the appropriate treatment plan depending on the diagnosis.

18.  I have noticed little worms on my pet's rectum that look like sesame seeds or grains of white rice.  What are these?

These are tapeworm segments.  Your pet ingested a flea at some point, and that flea carried the tapeworm.  Now your pet needs a prescription deworming medication.  Call us to see if we can dispense it immediately (if we have examined your pet recently) or if you will need to schedule an exam.  You must also treat your pet for fleas to prevent re-infestation.

19.  Why is my cat urinating outside of the litter box?

You should bring your cat to the veterinarian to rule out any medical problems such as a urinary tract infection.  If he/she has as infection it needs to be treated quickly to avoid further infection into the kidneys, as well as painful urination. Sometimes the cat will associate the pain with the litter box, which is why they start urinating in places other than the litter box.  If the veterinarian can rule out medical problems, then we will discuss how to modify your cat's behavior.

20.  My dog has diarrhea.  Do I have to bring him in or can I treat him at home myself?

Diarrhea is caused by many different things - agents and diseases.  Without a veterinarian examining your pet, and discussing the history with you, it is impossible to say whether the dog needs medical treatment.  While diarrhea can be self-limiting (don't let it go longer than 24 hours without calling a veterinarian) your dog may have parasites, pancreatitis, intestinal bacterial overgrowth, kidney or liver disease, dietary indiscretion, stress, giardia, or other problems.  If your dog is bright and alert and eating normally, with one bout of diarrhea, you may not need to bring him in.  But, if the diarrhea continues longer than 24 hours or is accompanied by vomiting, decreased appetite, or lethargy - bring your dog in for an exam, with a stool sample that we can test.