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 (406) 676-4251.

What are the Clinic hours?

Our clinic is open 8:00a - 5:00p Monday - Friday and we are closed 12:00p - 1:00p for lunch. We have limited emergency services after hours and on weekends. 

Do I need to have an appointment?

Yes, patients are seen by appointment.

What forms of payment do you accept?

Cash, Check, Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express & Care Credit.

Can I make payments?

Payment is required at the time of service.

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 your pet 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.

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

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

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

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.

Do you board pets?

No (we used to, but we are now solely a vet clinic/hospital and do not have the kennel space for boarding animals).

What shots does my puppy or kitten need?

We recommend all puppies and kittens receive their initial vaccinations at 8 weeks of age. In general vaccinations ('shots') before this date are less effective. Puppies receive a combined Distemper/Adenovirus Type 2/Parvovirus/Parainfluenza/Coronavirus (DAPPi+C) and Lepto (for Leptospirosis) shot at 8 and 12 weeks of age. At 16 weeks of age, we administer a 3rd DAPPi on puppies and their 1st Rabies vaccine. Kittens receive a combined Viral Rhinotracheitis/Coronavirus/Panleukopenia (HC2P or FVRCP) and Feline Leukemia vaccine at 8 and 12 weeks of age, with a 3rd HC2P given with their initial Rabies vaccine at 16 weeks of age. 

Your pet will receive a complete physical exam at each of these vaccine visits. We are looking for heart murmurs, growth concerns, eye defects, umbilical hernias, ear infections/ear mites, cleft palates, diet concerns and general health issues. If you prefer to administer your own vaccinations, you have the option of buying them OTC with the exception of Rabies; Rabies vaccinations are given no earlier than 12 weeks of age, by law, and only by a licensed veterinarian. 

If your pet has been previously vaccinated, please let us know what vaccine(s) was given and the date it was administered - previous records are always helpful and can be sent to us ahead of time. Click Here to email us.

There is a white worm on my pet's tail! What is it?

There are two main types of intestinal worms our pets can get: tapeworms (Cestodes) and Nematode worms (hookworms and round worms). It is assumed that the majority of puppies and kittens are infected with nematode worms either in-utero, or through their mother's milk shortly after birth. Puppies and kittens should be dewormed at 2 weeks of age and every two weeks thereafter while they are nursing. Our clinic typically deworms our patients at 8 and 10 weeks of age.

Deworming is important because untreated intestinal parasite infections can cause serious illness and death in neonatal animals. Vomiting, diarrhea, bloated appearance, thinness, poor hair coat, general poor-doing can all be signs of intestinal parasitism. Tapeworms are are transmitted to our dogs and cats when they eat the infective lifestage of the worm. This is most commonly (in our area) through eating rodents, but can also be from eating fleas. Tapeworm infections are relatively common in cats who go outdoors and dogs who eat rodents. The tapeworm lifecycle is complex and takes time so it is virtually impossible for young puppies and kittens to have tapeworms. Tapeworms are apparent by short white segments around your pet's anal opening; these segments have been described as grains of rice or little white seeds. If you see long string-like worms, like noodles, these are more likely round worms.

How do I get rid of it?

The nematode worms, hookworms and roundworms, are infectious to humans. Don't panic! You have to ingest their eggs to become infected, which generally would mean eating feces. Use gloves or a plastic bag when handling your pet's feces, and wash your hands thoroughly afterwards. It is particularly important that children wash their hands well after playing outside or being licked by their pet, because they tend to encounter contaminated areas more frequently than adults. Most tapeworms found in our pets are not contagious to people. Regular deworming of dogs and cats is highly effective. A fecal exam is sometimes required to diagnose what type of worm is present. Over-the-counter (from drugstores or grocery stores) are generally about 50% effective at killing roundworms; they do not kill hookworms or tapeworms. A prescription dewormer is needed to kill all types; this is available from our clinic in a variety of forms (pills, liquid, powder).

My dog is scratching a lot. Does that mean he has fleas?

Fleas have become more and more common over the last few years in Western Montana; we see them frequently and are even seeing some during the wintertime. There are a multitude of flea control products available, but many store-bought products are not as effective as the treatments purchased from a vet clinic. Diagnosis of flea infestation is the first key to finding a flea medicine that works. An itchy pet can have a variety of problems aside from fleas. There are a number of skin and hair mites that can infect dogs and cats. Lice can also be present.

Skin diseases, infections and allergies (food or environmental) can also cause itching. Overall, keep in mind that animals get itches just like we do, and some scratching is normal. If the scratching is non-stop though, or causes your pet's hair to come out or skin to be irritated or damaged, then it might be something more serious.

What should I feed my pet?

There are an overwhelming number of pet foods available. Feed your pet what he or she will eat and thrive on. Finding that brand can be difficult though. We cannot recommend one brand because pets are individuals, and certain pets respond to one food better than another. Puppies and kittens need to be on a growth formula food, to give them the calories and nutrition they need. Nursing animals should be on kitten or puppy food to help replenish the nutrients and calories they are losing by feeding their litter. 

Start with a brand that appeals to you and get a small bag. If your pet likes it, stick with it. Some animals prefer smaller kibbles or differently shaped kibbles. Dry foods tend to reduce dental disease while canned or wet foods can lead to increased need for dental care. Lower-quality foods, typically those that cost the least, can be fine for some pets, but other pets do not tolerate them. These foods can produce higher stool volume and frequency due to poor digestibility of ingredients. They can also produce poor coat quality, poor energy levels, and general poor health.

Not all premium foods are good for all pets though either. You might have to try a few different brands and 'flavors' before you find the right fit. Keep in mind that you should change your pet's food slowly, over a few days, gradually increasing the amount of new food and decreasing the amount of the old food.

There is increased interest in homemade diets for pets. These have been touted as cure-alls for disease, or guarantees for a high-performing perfect pet. Some claims are too good to be true, but when done correctly, homemade food for pets can be perfectly healthy. A full discussion of homemade diets is not appropriate for this page; there are a number of references available though. Keep in mind that dogs and cats are not humans and certain foods that are good for us can be deadly to them. These include chocolate, onions (red onions for cats particularly), garlic, grapes and raisins. Small quantities might not show any signs of a problem, but it is better to not take the risk. We carry a variety of foods made by Hills, Royal Canin, Taste of the Wild and Diamond Naturals and are happy to make a recommendation after seeing your pet. 

Surgical FAQ's

What You Need to Know Before Surgery

Many people have questions about various aspects of their pet's surgery, and we hope this information will help.  It also explains the decisions you will need to make before your pet's upcoming surgery.

Is the anesthetic safe?

Today's modern anesthetic monitors have made surgery much safer than in the past.  Here at Mission Valley Veterinary Clinic, we do a thorough physical exam on your pet before administering anesthetics to ensure that a fever or other apparent illness won't be a problem.  We also adjust the amount and type of anesthetic used depending on the health of your pet. The handout on anesthesia explains this in greater detail.

Preanesthetic blood testing is important in reducing the risk of anesthesia. We require all senior animals (those who are 8 years of age and older) to have a blood screen before anesthesia to ensure that the liver and kidneys can handle the anesthetic. Even apparently healthy animals can have serious organ system problems that cannot be detected without blood testing. If there is a problem, it is much better to find it before it causes anesthetic or surgical complications.  Animals that have minor dysfunction will handle the anesthetic better if they receive IV fluids during surgery. If serious problems are detected, surgery may be postponed until the problem is corrected. In some cases, we will recommend not anesthetizing an animal after their blood screen. 

It is important that surgery be done on an empty stomach to reduce the risk of vomiting during and after anesthesia.  You will need to withhold food for at least 8 to 10 hours before surgery.  Water can be left down for the pet until the morning of surgery. 

Will my pet have stitches?

For many surgeries, we use absorbable sutures underneath the skin.  These will dissolve on their own, and do not need to be removed later.  Some surgeries, especially tumor removals, do require skin stitches.  With either type of suture, you will need to keep an eye on the incision for swelling or discharge.  Most dogs and cats do not lick excessively or chew at the incision, but this is an occasional problem you will also need to watch for.  If there are skin sutures, these will usually be removed 10 to 14 days after surgery.  You will also need to limit your pet's activity level for a time and no baths are allowed for the first 10 days after surgery.

Will my pet be in pain?

Anything that causes pain in people can be expected to cause pain in animals.  Pets may not show the same symptoms of pain as people do; they usually don't whine or cry, but you can be sure they feel it.  Pain medications needed will depend on the surgery performed.  Major procedures require more pain relief than things like minor lacerations.

For dogs, we may recommend an oral anti-inflammatory for several days after surgery to lessen the risk of discomfort and swelling. We also have an injectable pain reliever we can use on cats and dogs to make their initial recovery more comfortable if desired. 

Because cats do not tolerate standard pain medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or Tylenol, we are limited in what we can give them.  Recent advances in pain medications have allowed for better pain control in cats than ever before. After surgery, pain medication is given on a case by case basis. Any animal that appears painful will receive additional pain medication. Providing whatever pain relief is appropriate is a humane and caring thing to do for your pet. 

What other decisions do I need to make?

While your pet is under anesthesia, it is the ideal time to perform other minor procedures, such as dentistry, ear cleaning, or implanting an identification microchip.  If you would like an estimate for these extra services, please call ahead of time. This is especially important if the person dropping the pet off for surgery is not the primary decision maker for the pet's care.

When you bring your pet in for surgery, we will need 5 to 10 minutes of time to fill out paperwork and make decisions on the blood testing and other options available.  When you pick up your pet after surgery you can also plan to spend about 5 minutes going over your pet's home care needs.

We will call you the day before your scheduled surgery appointment to confirm the time you will be dropping your pet off and to answer any questions you might have. In the meantime, please don't hesitate to call us with any questions about your pet's health or surgery.