THE MORE YOU KNOW!
Whether you are looking for information on a new pet to fit your family, or just additional information on various types of training for your current pet(s), Dr. Kiley has found some of the best titles to answer your questions! Here are some of her favorites:
Dog Selection:
The Right Dog for You (Daniel F. Tortora)
The Good, The Bad and the Furry - Choosing the Dog That's Right for You (Sam Stall)
​
Puppy Training:
How to Raise a Puppy You Can Live With (Clarice Ruthford and David Neil)
The Ultimate Puppy Guide (sold by Premier Pet Products - now Pet Safe)
Another Piece of the Puzzle: Puppy Development (Pat Hasting)
​
Dog Behavior:
The Culture Clash (Jean Donaldson) *My overall favorite for sensible info on how dogs work and fit into our lives*
​
Kids and Dogs:
Child Proofing Your Dog (Bruce Forgel)​​​
Why Microchip?
All pets in Boone County at least 6 months of age, must have permanent identification. This means a microchip and/or a durable collar with a tag attached with owner's name, address and telephone number.​
​
Did you know that 1 in 3 pets go missing during their lifetime? Without proper ID, 90% of those pets will never get returned home.
​
Microchips create a lifelong bond between you and your pet.
How they work – A microchip implant takes just seconds at the Thorntown Veterinary Clinic. The chip is inserted under the skin in between your pet’s shoulder blades. It measures only 12 mm,
which is about the size of a grain of rice. When your pet is found, a microchip scanner is waved over the shoulder blade area emitting a low radio frequency which will transmit your pet's unique ID on the screen. Once you and your pet are registered, the ID is entered into a nationwide database making it easy to track down your contact information so that you and your pet can be reunited!
At the Thorntown Veterinary Clinic, a Home Again Microchip costs $45.00 and this includes placement and registration. Please call to schedule an appointment so together we can take the first step in protecting your pet from losing you!
Understanding Cat Body Language
Ever wonder what your fur baby means when they pose for you? Our purrfect friend Disco the cat is here to help!
Understanding
Dog Body Language
Ever wonder what your fur baby means when they pose for you? Boogie the Boston Terrier is here is help you figure it out!
What's the big deal about vaccines?
It's important to vaccinate your pets to protect them against potentially deadly diseases, and protect you, as their family, from illnesses that can be transmitted to you from your pet. There are certain vaccines that are required by the state of Indiana, and then there are vaccines that are required by our hospital if your pet requires a surgical or sedated procedure and/or grooming. As with all vaccines for both pets and humans, there can not be a guarantee of 100% effectiveness, but the risk of serious complications are drastically reduced when vaccinations have been administered. Here are some of the most common vaccines and the protection they offer:
Rabies
The Rabies vaccine is required by Indiana state law for all pets over the age of 6 months. The Rabies virus is always fatal once your pet shows symptoms, and can be transmitted to both humans and other animals (remember Old Yeller?). We offer this vaccine in both a 1-year and a 3-year form. This vaccine is required for any pet requiring a hospital stay or grooming.
BOrdetella
The Bordetella vaccine protects against the Bordetella virus, also known as "Kennel Cough." It is a respiratory illness that causes a deep cough and is highly contagious to other dogs. This vaccine is only available in a 1-year form, and is required for any dog requiring a hospital stay or grooming.
Distemper combo
Our Distemper combo vaccine protects against Distemper and Parvovirus, both potentially fatal viruses most common in puppies, Adenovirus, which is responsible for canine hepatitis, and Parainfluenza, which can lead to pneumonia. We offer this vaccine in both a 1-year and a 3-year form. This vaccine is required for any dog requiring a hospital stay or grooming.
Lyme and Leptospirosis
We recommend the Lyme vaccine to dogs who have adventures while hiking, frolicking in meadows and tall grasses, camping, and other activities where ticks can be found (sometimes even hanging out in the back yard!) Lyme disease is transmitted by ticks and can result in kidney failure, if not treated early. Lyme disease is not transmittable to you from your dog.
​
Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection caused by the urine of infected animals (typically wildlife like racoons, possums, rats, mice, and skunks). Your dog can contract leptospirosis by coming into contact with contaminated soil or water on your daily walk, and is potentially life-threatening. Leptospirosis is transmittable from your dog to you, so we highly recommend adding this vaccine to your dog's yearly exam.
Feline Distemper combo
The Feline Distemper combo vaccine protects against the Distemper virus, a potentially fatal virus in kittens, Rhinotracheitis (also known as Feline Herpes) and Calicivirus, both responsible for a majority of feline upper respiratory tract diseases, and Panleukopenia, the feline equivalent of the more commonly known Canine Parvovirus. This vaccine is offered in a 1-year form and is required for any cats requiring a hospital stay or grooming.
Feline Leukemia
Feline Leukemia is a disease that is spread from cat-to-cat through saliva (think sneezing, coughing, licking, etc), and attacks the white blood cells and immune system. Once a cat has tested positive for feline leukemia, there is no cure. We highly recommend this vaccine for cats who may have access to the outdoors and/or may come in contact with neighborhood cats.