Preventive Care
Combination Vaccines
Vaccines are injections that help prevent infectious diseases transmitted among dogs and cats. Some of these diseases can also infect humans, which is why the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare recommends vaccination.
Puppies and kittens receive immunity from their mothers, but this immunity disappears around two months of age, so the first vaccination is usually given at around that time.
After that, a total of 2 to 3 additional doses are given to strengthen immunity. Thereafter, booster vaccinations are required once a year for both dogs and cats.
Rabies Vaccine
Rabies is an infectious disease that affects mammals, including humans, and is a terrifying illness that is almost always fatal once symptoms appear. It is transmitted through bites from infected animals.
Although there are currently no cases in Japan, rabies is still present in neighboring countries, and it is always possible for an infected animal to enter the country.
In Japan, to prevent the spread of rabies, the Rabies Prevention Act requires dog registration and annual rabies vaccination. At our hospital, rabies vaccinations are available year-round. We also provide registration and renewal proxy services for the eligible areas listed below.
For Those Visiting for Vaccination
Allergic reactions may occur after rabies or combination vaccinations.
Symptoms can range from mild ones such as fever, vomiting, rash, and facial swelling to, in very rare severe cases, shock that may become life-threatening (anaphylactic shock).
On the day of vaccination, please avoid strenuous exercise and unusual activities, and monitor your pet carefully after the vaccination.
If an allergic reaction occurs, it may become difficult to determine the cause, so rabies vaccination and combination vaccination cannot be given at the same time. In addition, side effects may be intensified if they are administered together.
Please bring your pet for vaccination only when they are in good physical condition.
Heartworm Prevention
● Canine Heartworm Disease
Heartworm disease is caused by infection through mosquito bites, allowing parasites called heartworms to live in the heart and pulmonary arteries. These parasites interfere with blood flow and cause various symptoms. It is a serious disease that can be fatal if left untreated.
Monthly medication can prevent heartworm disease almost 100%, but preventive medicine does not stop the infection itself. Instead, it eliminates immature heartworms after they have entered the dog’s body. Therefore, reliable monthly administration is essential to prevent the parasites from maturing into adults.
At our hospital, we recommend year-round monthly prevention and annual blood testing (March to May) to confirm infection status.
*Please note that giving preventive medication without testing may cause your pet to become unwell.
● Feline Heartworm Disease
Although the formal name of heartworm disease refers to canine heartworm, cats can also be infected. In cats, it is difficult to recognize by appearance, and the disease often progresses unnoticed.
In addition, feline heartworm disease is difficult to diagnose because cats usually carry fewer worms than dogs, making detection and diagnosis extremely challenging.
The most frightening aspect of feline heartworm disease is that by the time symptoms appear, the condition is often already severe, and in the worst cases it may lead to sudden death. (It is said that about 10% of sudden deaths are caused by heartworm disease.)
It has also been reported that one in ten cats has a history of heartworm larvae infection, and one in four of those cats is an indoor cat, with cases even found in high-rise apartments.
Of the reported feline infection cases in Japan, about 10% occur in Okinawa Prefecture.
● Prevention Is the Only Way
Even if heartworm disease is detected in cats, unfortunately no highly effective treatment has yet been established. In dogs as well, it can take several years for full recovery, requiring time, examinations, and treatment costs.
Since it is impossible to avoid mosquito bites 100% in daily life, proper monthly preventive medication is extremely important to protect pets from heartworm disease.
At our hospital, we offer several types of preventive medication, including treat-type, spot-on, tablet, and injectable options. We recommend the most suitable method for each pet to ensure easy and reliable prevention.
Flea and Tick Prevention
When the outdoor temperature exceeds 20°C, fleas and ticks become active.
If fleas or ticks infest your pet, they may cause intense itching at the bite site and can also lead to skin or blood-related diseases.
In recent years, SFTS (Severe Fever with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome), a tick-borne viral disease with a high fatality rate that can also infect humans, has been reported mainly in western Japan. For this reason, we strongly recommend reliable prevention.
We also recommend year-round prevention, not only from March to October when outdoor temperatures are high, but throughout the year for indoor pets as well, since indoor environments tend to remain warm.
Spay and Neuter Surgery
This surgery removes the ovaries (and uterus) or testicles. If breeding is not planned, spaying or neutering can help prevent various diseases. We also recommend early surgery to help reduce owner stress caused by unwanted pregnancy or behaviors during the heat period.
● Benefits
Spaying
- Prevention of unwanted pregnancy
- Prevention of mammary tumors and uterine/ovarian diseases (such as pyometra and ovarian tumors)
- Reduced vocalization and stress during heat
- Prevention of estrous bleeding in dogs
Neutering
- Reduction of marking behavior in dogs and spraying behavior in cats (urine spraying in various places)
- Prevention of testicular and prostate diseases
- Reduced territorial behavior, which may lessen fighting
- May lead to a calmer temperament and reduced aggression
Both spaying and neutering are generally recommended before the first heat cycle (around 6 months of age). In both dogs and cats, spaying before the first heat is said to prevent mammary tumors almost 100%.
In males, surgery before instinctive behaviors appear is also said to help prevent habits such as spraying and marking.
Surgery for adult dogs and cats can be performed at any time, but it is best to avoid scheduling it during the heat period. If your pet is not in perfect physical condition, anesthesia may be affected and bleeding during surgery may be greater than usual. In addition, from middle age (around 5 years old and older), declining physical strength and reduced organ function become more common, so earlier surgery can help reduce risk.
General Practice
General Consultation
At our hospital, we provide a wide range of services, from primary care focused on prevention and general consultation to specialized care in orthopedics, oncology, cardiology, and more.
When visiting us, please have the person who usually cares for your pet, or someone who is familiar with your pet’s condition, accompany them so that we can accurately assess their condition.
If you have any previous test results or vaccination records, please bring them with you.
FIP (Feline Infectious Peritonitis) Treatment
FIP (Feline Infectious Peritonitis) is an infectious disease caused by a mutation of feline enteric coronavirus. Early symptoms include lethargy, loss of appetite, fever, and weight loss.
At our hospital, we provide personalized treatment tailored to each individual case.
Specialized Care
Cardiology
With the remarkable advances in veterinary medicine in recent years and the resulting longer lifespan of pets, heart disease has become increasingly common in animals.
Heart disease often has a long asymptomatic period and may gradually progress even when the pet appears healthy.
Therefore, early detection and treatment through regular health checkups, as well as routine follow-up examinations, are very important. If you have any concerns or anxieties about diseases or symptoms related to the heart, please feel free to consult us.
If heart disease is suspected during general consultation, we will refer your pet by appointment only to specialized care with a board-certified veterinary cardiologist.
In the cardiology department, in addition to cardiac ultrasound, X-rays, blood tests, blood pressure measurement, and electrocardiography may also be performed as needed.
Please contact us first by phone or by visiting the hospital.
HIDEKI MIKAMI , D.V.M. ,Ph.D.
● Common Diseases
Mitral Valve Insufficiency
This is the most common heart disease seen in older dogs, especially in small breeds such as Chihuahuas, Dachshunds, Poodles, and Cavaliers. It is said that more than 90% of small breed dogs over 8 years old are affected. It occurs when the valve that prevents backflow in the heart no longer closes properly, causing blood to flow backward. As regurgitation increases, the heart enlarges and may press on the trachea, leading to coughing, and reduced blood flow to the body may cause shortness of breath and easy fatigue. As the disease progresses further, it may lead to pulmonary edema, in which fluid accumulates in the lungs and can become life-threatening. Early detection and timely medical treatment can prolong the time until heart failure develops and extend survival time. In recent years, more facilities have begun offering surgical treatment for the mitral valve, and we can also provide referrals for second opinions.
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
This is a common heart disease in cats, and it is said that 15% of all cats may be affected. As the heart muscle thickens, the chamber volume decreases and the heart becomes less able to expand, causing diastolic dysfunction.
As a result, the heart enlarges, and fluid may accumulate in the chest or lungs, causing breathing difficulties. Blood clots may also form more easily, leading to life-threatening conditions such as arterial thromboembolism. In most cases, cats with this disease show no symptoms, and by the time symptoms appear, the condition has often already progressed. For this reason, regular cardiac ultrasound and other examinations are extremely important for early detection.
Oncology
As with cardiology, the incidence of tumors is increasing as pets live longer. At our hospital, consultations with a certified veterinary oncologist are available by appointment only.
If a tumor is found, treatment will proceed to specialized care such as surgery or chemotherapy.
Please contact us first by phone or by visiting the hospital.
HIROSHI HARA , D.V.M.
Dentistry
Teeth are important not only for humans. Daily dental care is also extremely important for maintaining your dog’s health. When people think of oral problems, many imagine cavities, but most oral problems in dogs are actually periodontal disease and gingivitis.
When periodontal disease worsens, bacteria can spread throughout the body via the bloodstream and lead to health problems affecting the entire body. It has also been reported to cause damage to the heart and kidneys.
At our hospital, we offer a specialized dental clinic led by veterinarians with extensive experience in dental care.
Dermatology
Because Okinawa has an especially high number of skin disease cases, we felt the need for specialized dermatology services and have therefore decided to begin offering them.
Appointments are available for those who wish to use this service.
Molecular Nutrition
Daily nutritional deficiencies can lead to weakened immunity and reduced metabolism, causing many different diseases.
Based on proper nutritional analysis, we identify and correct the nutrients lacking in each individual, helping improve symptoms and prevent disease.
● Customized Total Support
Based on nutritional analysis, we prescribe tailor-made supplements according to each individual’s nutritional deficiencies.
In addition, we provide total support for building a healthy body that is less prone to illness through treatments such as stem cell conditioned medium therapy and high-dose vitamin C infusions.
These new treatment approaches may help improve chronic conditions that previously showed little improvement.
● Anti-Aging Benefits
Reduced metabolism and immunity caused by nutritional deficiencies, as well as oxidation and glycation occurring in the body, contribute to aging.
Based on nutritional analysis, we can suggest supplementation for deficient nutrients as well as supplements, injections, and infusions specialized in anti-oxidation and anti-glycation.
● Counseling
During counseling, we ask about the following:
- Dietary content
- Frequency and condition of bowel movements
- Medical history
- Presence of skin troubles
- Frequency and type of shampoo used
- Whether there is mental stress such as separation anxiety
If you would like nutritional analysis, please make a reservation by phone.
Kampo (Traditional Japanese Herbal Medicine)
We have started a Kampo outpatient service, which is rare in Okinawa.
Kampo treatment focuses on observing the condition of the whole body and restoring balance.
By complementing areas that Western medicine alone cannot fully cover with Eastern medicine, a synergistic effect can be expected.
In addition, while Western medicine generally treats illness after it occurs, Kampo aims to correct bodily imbalance before disease develops.
Therefore, as part of preventive care, it can be used to improve constitution in puppies and kittens, provide anti-aging support in senior pets, and correct bodily imbalances associated with chronic diseases.
If you would like an appointment, please contact us by phone or make a reservation using the WEB booking button below.
