Best Veterinarians & Helpful Resources
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Most Popular Cities
= Featured Provider
New York, NY
Hudson Animal Hospital
New York, NY 10023Bensonhurst Veterinary Care
Brooklyn, NY 11204Small Door
15 7th Avenue, New York, NY 10011
Los Angeles, CA
Home Pet Doctor
Hollywood, CA 90069Choice Veterinary Care
Los Angeles, CA 90266Fox Companion Care
West Hollywood, CA 90069
Chicago, IL
Burnham Park Animal Hospital
Chicago, IL 60605Naperville Animal Hospital
Naperville, IL 60563The Welcome Waggin' Mobile Veterinary Service, P.C.
Naperville, IL 60564
Houston, TX
Rice Village Animal Hospital
2348 Rice Boulevard, Houston, TX 77005Sunset Boulevard Animal Clinic
Houston, TX 77005Tanglewilde Veterinary Clinic
Houston, TX 77063
Phoenix, AZ
Union Hills Animal Hospital
Phoenix, AZ 85023Dove Valley Animal Hospital
Cave Creek, AZ 85331Laveen Veterinary Center
Laveen, AZ 85339
Philadelphia, PA
Fishtown Animal Hospital
Philadelphia, PA 19125Liberty Veterinary Clinic
Philadelphia, PA 19128Center City Veterinary Hospital
Philadelphia, PA 19106
San Antonio, TX
Crestway Animal Clinic
San Antonio, TX 78239Mobile Care Veterinary Clinic
San Antonio, TX 78257Covenant Care Animal Hospital
6315 Grissom Rd, San Antonio, TX 78238
Dallas, TX
North Dallas Veterinary Hospital
Dallas, TX 75234Katy Trail Animal Hospital
Dallas, TX 75204Buckner Animal Clinic
Dallas, TX 75227
San Diego, CA
Colony Veterinary Hospital
San Diego, CA 92122B Street Veterinary Hospital
San Diego, CA 92102Amici Pet Hospital of Little Italy
San Diego, CA 92101
San Jose, CA
Saratoga Veterinary Hospital
Saratoga, CA 95070San Jose Animal Hospital
San Jose, CA 95133Lincoln Avenue Veterinary Clinic
San Jose, CA 95126
Top Veterinarians in other locations
FAQs
Introduction
If you're a pet owner, you're probably familiar with companion animal veterinarians. This type of vet is a general practitioner who provides preventative care, diagnosis, treatments, and surgical services for dogs, cats, and other common pets. Some vets specialize in the care of exotic animals, including birds, reptiles, amphibians, and pocket pets. There are veterinarians for livestock and large animals, too. These vets focus on providing care for cattle, horses, pigs, and other animals on the farm.Veterinarians can choose to specialize in areas such as nutrition, oncology, cardiology, and many others. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) currently recognizes more than 40 fields of study and 22 veterinary specialist organizations nationwide.How often should I bring my pet in for an exam?
This depends on the age of your pet. Ideally, puppies should have their first vet visit between six to eight weeks old, and kittens should see the vet within one week of bringing them home. Healthy adult animals need a checkup once per year. Vets recommend two exams per year for senior pets (age 10 and up).
What are the benefits of having my pet spayed or neutered?
Aside from preventing unwanted pregnancy, sterilization has other benefits for pets. Spayed females won't go into heat, and they have a lower risk of developing ovarian cancer and mammary gland tumors. Neutering males reduces aggressive behavior, territorial marking, and roaming urges. It also eliminates the possibility of testicular cancer and can reduce the chance of prostate disease.
Should my pet be on heartworm medication?
Dogs are very commonly affected by heartworm disease, so they should be on medication to prevent it all year long. Heartworm preventatives are available as topical “spot-on” medications, monthly chewable pills, and injections that are given every six to 12 months. Heartworms are less common in cats, but preventative medication is still recommended.
How often should my pets be vaccinated?
In general, puppies and kittens need several types of vaccines every three to four weeks until they're 16 weeks old. Depending on the vaccine, your pet might need a booster shot every one to three years. Pets that are indoors-only may require fewer and less frequent vaccinations.
Are you supposed to brush your dog’s or cat’s teeth?
Poor oral hygiene can lead to dental disease in animals as young as two to three years of age. To help prevent this, vets recommend that you brush your pet's teeth at least two to three times a week. Dogs and cats should also have a professional dental cleaning once per year.
Is it safe for my cat or dog to be vegan?
According to the ASPCA, cats need a diet that's high in protein and taurine, which can only be found in meat and other animal products. They also struggle to digest carbohydrates from plants. Dogs can eat plants, but it's difficult to provide adequate nutrition for them on a vegan diet.