Ask Dr. Fagan

Welcome

Simply put, people have questions. We understand that. So here’s your chance to “Ask Dr. Fagan”!

Our commitment to Shamrock Living is grounded in the belief that we have a responsibility to both our human and non-human clients. We are committed to educating our community on the many issues that we all face daily when it comes to enhancing our lives by having pets in our family.

For truly in-depth questions, we do encourage you to schedule an appointment with us or your local veterinarian. In the spirit of fun and education, we encourage you to ask away!

FAQs

Inside this website, you will find answers to many FAQs – we like to call them “Friendly Animal Questions”. We have tried to educate and inform on so many of the common issues we face as pet owners. We can’t, however, anticipate all the questions that you may have and Dr. Google will often give you multiple, conflicting answers to the questions that you may have.

Why does my dog need to be tested for heartworms every year? I give them heartworm preventative.

Dr Fagan recommends all dogs be screened for heartworms on an annual basis—even if your pet is consistently on heartworm preventative. Late or missed doses, inconsistent doses, or product failure can leave your dog at risk. Sometimes your dog may even spit the tablet out after it’s given unbeknownst to you, or topical medications can be inadvertently washed off and made less effective. Modern heartworm preventatives are safe and effective; however, no medication is 100% fail-safe.

Heartworm disease is a very real and prevalent risk to the health of both our dogs and cats and is transmitted by mosquitoes. For more detailed information on heartworm disease, we suggest you review the information provided by the American Heartworm Society.

Year-round heartworm preventatives are the best way to protect your dog or cat from not only heartworm disease, but most also include prevention for fleas, intestinal parasites and, in some cases, ticks as well.

Heartworm prevention is only available with a prescription from a veterinarian. This requires a current exam and a negative heartworm test within the past 12 months.

If you need to schedule either, please let us know:

Do you have appointments on weekends?

While our hospital is open 8-12 on Saturday mornings, our doctors do not see patients. The hospital is open for technician appointments for established patients—nail trims, anal glands, certain vaccines and treatments—and medication and food pickups, as well as boarding drop-offs and pickups.

Do you see exotics, pocket pets, chickens, llamas, or giraffes?

Unfortunately, we cannot see your llama. We specialize only in dogs and cats—of all breeds!

My dog/cat lives indoors, never goes outside, never has contact with other animals, would never bite anybody, lives in a bubble–do they really need a rabies vaccine?

In all likelihood, yes, definitely, they need a rabies vaccine! Not only is it required by law, it’s just common sense and something you can easily do to be a responsible pet owner. Additionally, we require proof of a rabies vaccine before we perform routine services for your pet, such as nail trims, anal gland expressions, and baths, as well as for boarding stays. Accidents happen—pets escape outdoors, altercations with wildlife occur—and a rabies vaccine helps protect you, your pet, our staff, and the public. Rabies is a deadly, zoonotic disease with no known cure, and there have been known rabies cases in wild and feral animals across the state of Florida and even locally.

Modern rabies vaccines for pets are incredibly safe. We are always happy to discuss your concerns and determine what would be in your pet’s best interest.

Need to update your pet’s rabies vaccine? Let us know!

I see so many commercials and ads on the internet and TV for a variety of dog and cat foods. How do I know which one is best for my pet?

Just as with human nutrition, in recent years there have been a variety of trends and methods of delivery when it comes to nutrition for your dogs or cats. Research has shown us that some of these ‘niche’ diets can often lack the proper nutritional elements required for optimal health. Dr. Fagan, Dr. Fox and the team at Shamrock Animal Hospital recommend time-tested canine & feline diets from Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Royal Canin or, if you are looking for a diet that you can get at your local grocery store, Purina Pro Plan.

*In recent years, there has been a trend in pet nutrition by different sources recommending GRAIN-FREE diets. Research by universities and various other research institutions have proven that these diets are directly correlated with a much higher incidence of Dilated Cardio Myopathy which regularly leads to early death and shortened lifespans. DR FAGAN AND THE SHAMROCK ANIMAL HOSPITAL FAMILY STRONGLY DISCOURAGE PET OWNERS FROM FEEDING THEIR PETS GRAIN-FREE DIETS.

What are the things that Shamrock thinks are the most important to ensure that my pet stays healthy?

Over the course of more than 30 years of treating the dogs and cats of Central Florida, Dr. Fagan is often asked what things are the most important to maintaining the health of a dog or cat. She has come up with the following guidelines:

Semi-Annual Wellness Exams. In the last 10 years, the veterinary industry has shifted from complete physical examinations every twelve months to semi-annual wellness/physical exams. This also allows us to spread out vaccine administration to minimize the risk of reaction.
Vaccination. Vaccination is the best way to prevent various diseases that have plagued our pets in previous generations.
- Rabies vaccines are required by law in all 50 states for both dogs and cats.
- Core canine vaccines include:
  - Annual DHPP (Distemper/Parvo) or DHLPP (Distemper/Parvo/Lepto) – Leptospirosis vaccine added for those dogs that are exposed to standing water or live in more ‘rustic’ areas where wild animals are present. However, recent studies have shown that even dogs living in urban or suburban areas can be at risk. Learn more about Canine Leptospirosis.
  - Annual Bordetella for the prevention of kennel cough which is one of the most common ailments we treat dogs for.
- Optional canine vaccines based on lifestyle include:
  - Canine Influenza
  - Lyme Disease
- Core feline vaccines include:
  - Feline Leukemia
  - Feline Distemper
Heartworm Prevention. Heartworm prevention (Simparica TRIO and Sentinel are oral treatments and Parasedge is a topical) should be administered every month. To obtain this medication, your veterinarian will require a negative heartworm test to be on file. For cats, Dr. Fagan highly recommends Revolution Plus as the most effective heartworm, flea and internal parasite protection option.
Annual Bloodwork and Diagnostics. At Shamrock, we generally recommend annual bloodwork and diagnostics (which would include a heartworm and fecal test). Starting in the early years, we can establish a baseline from which we can monitor any changes in the normal health of your dog or cat.
Dental Health. Dental health is critical! Not only to keep your pet’s breath from smelling terrible, but just as in humans, dental disease is closely linked to other internal problems including heart and liver disease. Our team is trained to work with you on different ways to help your dog or cat maintain good dental care.
Proper Diet and Weight Management. Previously mentioned, proper diet and weight management are likely one of the most critical elements of canine and feline health. Table food, excessive treats, and overfeeding are contributing factors to obesity which can negatively affect your pet’s health.
Training and Socialization. If possible, it is highly recommended that you begin socializing your dog once they have been fully vaccinated (for puppies, this is generally at 16 weeks of age), including their rabies vaccine. Exposure to a variety of environments will allow your pet to acclimate to new environments with new/different people and/or pets. It can also be beneficial for when you have visitors come into your home.

*We acknowledge that adherence to the complete standard of care comes with an investment in the health and wellbeing of your pet and we also know that the cost of providing these products and services continues to increase. We encourage you to talk with us about options available to you rather than delaying or skipping your pet’s annual health needs. Two specific areas that we can help you with are:

Enrollment in Shamrock’s Lifetime Wellness Plans. This allows our clients to budget monthly for all the services included in our basic standard of care and also provides for a Sick Visit Co-Pay of $27.
There are third-party payment providers including Care Credit and Scratchpay that, depending on the amount, will allow you to pay monthly with either a low or 0% interest rate.

Pet insurance also exists. Depending upon your budget and insurance needs, there are various providers available. Due to the variability of coverage provided by different providers, we recommend using a comparison tool such as NerdWallet or Pet Insurance Review to explore, discover and decide whether pet insurance is right for you.

Ask Away!

Fill out the form with any question you have for Dr. Fagan. She will quickly send you a response.