After a few visits, we work to get a specific diagnosis to better understand how we're going to treat it and its prognosis.

Here at The Drake Center, we do a fair amount of surgeries to remove cancers. We also work closely with our local specialists, who are oncologists and radiation oncologists. For clients who choose to go those routes, we're going to partner with the specialists and pet owners to ensure we have all the crucial information. We then use this information to decide what's best for your dog.

Yes, that's the purpose of vaccines—so cats can be exposed and have no risk. Even if your cat had a tussle with a raccoon or something, and that raccoon had rabies, if your cat is vaccinated, they will be able to mount an immune response and not get rabies. So that’s why it’s essential to keep up on it.

Don't worry; just make the appointment and get in as soon as you can.

Yes, your cat will need boosters. So when kittens come to us, we're going to give them a series of kitten boosters because they need more to mount that long-term immune response. But then after that, cats are going to be vaccinated annually. Certain vaccines are annual, and we can spread some out as they age a little bit, but for the most part, every cat needs to come into the veterinary office at least once a year to have an update of their vaccine. Cats also require a health assessment and parasite control, and so many other things that it's vital to come once a year.

Yes, it is safe. And because I know most cats don’t enjoy car rides very much, the preference is to go ahead and get them all at one time. A rare cat doesn't feel well after a vaccine, just like a person who receives a flu vaccine. And in those instances, we can discuss splitting them apart, but I think that the benefits of getting them all done at one time for a cat way outweigh the multiple trips that would be required for them to come in.