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Santa Barbara Pet Hospital  |
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Frequently Asked Questions
On this page we've compiled some frequently asked questions and
their answers. If you have a question that is not addressed on this
page please do not heasitate to contact us at (805) 963-1544. |
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A: Monday through Friday 7:30-5:30; Saturday 8:00-12:00. We are closed on Sundays. |
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A: 1807 Cliff Drive, Santa Barbara, CA, 90109 |
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Q: Do I need a prescription to buy my pet’s flea control? |
A: No. Santa Barbara Pet Hospital sells flea control products (Feline Advantage, K9 Advantix, Program, Capstar, and Frontline Top Spot) as over the counter items. However, we no longer sell individual doses of these products—they must be purchased as complete, unopened boxes. This change is in light of new repackaging restrictions from the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency). |
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Q: How many doses
of each product are there in a package of flea control? |
A: Frontline = 3
doses K9 Advantix = 4
doses Advantage for cats = 4 doses Program = 6
doses Capstar = 6
doses Each dose of each product lasts 1 month, except for Capstar,
which is only effective for 24 hours. |
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Do I need a prescription for my dog’s heartworm medication? |
A: Yes. Heartworm medication is available by prescription only. We can dispense it to you if your pet has had a full physical exam by one of our doctors within the last year, and has had a negative heartworm test within the last two years. |
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Q: Can my pet have
a technician appointment on a Saturday? |
A: No. Due to our
limited hours and staff on Saturdays, we only offer technician
appointments on weekdays. |
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Q: What days does
each particular doctor see appointments or do surgeries? |
Dr. Mobraaten sees appointments on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons, and she also sees appointments on Friday mornings. Depending on each week's Saturday schedule, she occasionally sees appointments on Friday afternoons, as well. She does surgeries and sees admitted patients on Mondays and Tuesdays. She is not in the office on Thursdays. Dr. Trujillo sees appointments on Wednesday mornings and Thursday afternoons. She does surgeries and sees admitted patients on Thursday and Friday mornings. She is not in the office on Mondays or Tuesdays. Dr. Rasmussen sees appointments all day on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, and in the afternoon on Wednesdays. She is available most Fridays depending on her Saturday schedule. She sees admitted patients and does surgeries on Wednesdays. The Doctors alternate their Saturday schedules. If you have a doctor preference and you wish to make an appointment on a Saturday, please be aware that your pet's regular physician may not be on call on Saturday. |
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Q: I am taking my
pet on an airplane. What documentation do I need? |
A: We advise that
you always contact the particular airline you will be traveling on
for specific instructions; however, most airlines require a health
certificate, which we can provide for you. To obtain a health
certificate, your pet must be examined on the day the certificate
is issued and the certificate is then signed by the doctor. While
health certificates are technically valid for 30 days, many
airlines request that your certificate be issued no more than ten
days ahead of the day you are traveling. Please keep this in mind
when scheduling an appointment with us. |
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Q: Can I buy a dog
license from you? |
A: Yes—if you live in the City of Santa Barbara. Licenses must be paid for via check or cash only, and payments made out to the City of Santa Barbara. If you live in Santa Barbara County, your dog’s license must be purchased at the County Shelter on Overpass Road. |
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Q: At what age
should I consider spaying or neutering my pet? |
A: We recommend
spaying or neutering at six months of age. |
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Q: What is
preanesthetic blood work and why do you recommend it? |
A: Preanesthetic
blood work is an important thing to consider whenever your pet
requires sedation or anesthesia. A preanesthetic panel, or PAP for
short, is a blood panel focusing on kidney and liver function run
here at our hospital before a procedure is done, usually on the
same day as that procedure. Because the kidneys and the liver aid
in the body’s processing of the anesthesia or sedative, it is
important to make sure they are healthy before we put a patient
under for a procedure. Anesthesia or sedation always involves a
risk. It is important to understand that there is no way to
completely eliminate that risk, but a preanesthetic panel can
minimize it significantly.
We recommend preanesthetic blood work in any pet going under
anesthesia or sedation, particularly in older animals, but the
decision to run the panel is generally up to you as the pet owner.
In cases of advanced age, delicate health or extreme anesthetic
risk, your pet's doctor may insist on preanesthetic bloodwork
before performing any procedure requiring anesthesia or sedation. |
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Q: My dog or cat is having blood
drawn. Does he or she need to fast? |
A: Yes. We
recommend a 12 hour fast before all blood collection appointments.
Water does not need to be withheld. A member of our reception staff
will advise you if any additional instructions need to be followed
before a specific test when the appointment is made. |
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Q: My dog or cat
is having a surgical procedure performed. Does he or she need to
fast beforehand? |
A: Yes. We
recommend a 12 hour fast before all procedures requiring anesthesia
or sedation. Water does not need to be withheld. |
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Q: Does my cat
have to be in a carrier when I bring him or her into the hospital? |
A: Yes! For the safety of our patients, clients, and staff, we require that all of our feline patients be in carriers. If you don’t have a carrier, we would be happy to provide you with one. |
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Q: Can I be billed
for costs incurred during my pet’s visit? |
A: No. Payment is
expected at the time services are rendered, and we do not bill.
Your understanding is appreciated. |
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Q: I have a new
puppy. At what age do you recommend beginning puppy shots? |
A: We generally
recommend beginning puppy vaccines at 8 weeks of age. A vaccine
schedule specific to your puppy will be made at the time of his or
her first visit. |
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Q: I have a new
kitten. At what age do you recommend beginning kitten shots? |
A: We generally
recommend beginning kitten vaccines at 8 weeks of age. A vaccine
schedule specific to your kitten will be made at the time of his or
her first visit. |
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Q: How often does my adult dog require shots? |
A: Most adult dogs
receive vaccinations for DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza
and Parvo) every 2 years and Bordetella (commonly called
“kennel cough”) every year. Rabies boosters are given every three
years. Please note that the first rabies vaccine your dog ever
receives will only last one year. Subsequent boosters will last
three years. |
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Q: How often does my adult cat require shots? |
A: Most adult cats
receive vaccinations for rabies every year. Vaccinations for FVRCP
(upper respiratory disease and panleukopenia) every 3
years and Feline Leukemia every 2 years. |
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Q: My cat is completely indoors. Does he or she still need to be
vaccinated? |
A: We recommend
that indoor cats receive regular FVRCP vaccinations even if they
are strictly indoors due to airborne transmission. Leukemia and
rabies vaccinations are optional but not usually necessary. |
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Q: Why does my dog
or cat have to stay in the hospital overnight after being spayed or
neutered? |
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A: We require our spay and neuter patients to stay overnight so
that we may keep them in a confined, quiet environment the first
night after their surgical procedure. By staying in the hospital,
they are kept away from any distractions such as other pets or
family members who may encourage excessive movement, thereby
aggravating your pet’s incision. In addition, the doctor who
performed your pet’s procedure will have an opportunity to check
your pet and his or her incision site over in the morning before he
or she is discharged. |
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Q: My dog is boarding with you. What vaccines does he or she
require? |
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A: All boarding dogs must have proof of current DHPP, Bordetella
and Rabies. |
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Q: My cat is boarding with you. What vaccines does he or she
require? |
A: All boarding
cats must be current on FVRCP, FeLV (feline leukemia) and Rabies. |
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Q. My older or chronically ill pet is having a procedure
done that requires anesthesia or sedation. Are there
extra steps taken to help ensure my pet's safety during the
procedure? |
A: Pets that are seven years of age or older are considered
geriatric; animals age at a faster rate than humans. Geriatric dogs
and cats, like elderly people, are at a higher risk for
complications under anesthesia. Our hospital requires that extra
precautions are taken during any anesthetic procedure on a
geriatric animal, particularly if the patient has any history of
chronic or serious medical conditions, such as cardiac or renal
(kidney) abmormalities. A catheter (IV) will be placed
into your pet's leg, and fluids will be administered during the
procedure to assist the body in flushing the anesthesia out. A
special anesthetic called Propofol may be used to further minimize
the risk taken with anesthesia. Propofol is administered into the
catheter and allows patients to wake more quickly than they would
with our regular Isofluorane anesthesia alone. Your pet's
veterinarian or a receptionist can discuss these procedures
with you before your pet's procedure. It is always important to
remember that there is no way to completely eliminate the risks of
anesthesia, but measures like fluids, a catheter, and Propofol
anesthesia can significantly minimize those risks. |
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Q: My dog or cat
is boarding with you. Can I pick him or her up on a Sunday? |
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A: No. We are not open on Sundays and therefore have no reception
staff available to release your pet on a Sunday. |
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Q: I am considering boarding my dog at your facility. What does
that entail? |
A: Your dog or cat will be kept in a roomy cage of the appropriate size; larger dogs are kept in runs. The cages are located indoors. Dogs are walked twice a day for elimination purposes; unfortunately we do not have the staff availability to provide a more extensive walk. We stock Science Diet, Hill’s Prescription, and a selection of Waltham, Purina and IVD diets. If you prefer your pet to eat a different brand of food, feel free to bring some in at the time he or she will be boarding. We provide bedding and dishes. It is important to note that we are a veterinary hospital before we are a boarding facility; space available for boarders is always determined by room needed for hospitalized animals. |
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Q: Who is the current owner of the hospital? |
A: As most of our clients are sadly aware, Dr. David Mutti, the
previous owner of Santa Barbara Pet Hospital, passed away in April
of 2006. Shortly before his passing he sold the hospital to Dr.
Sally Mobraaten, who is our new Hospital Director. Dr. Mobraaten is
working hard to uphold Dr. Mutti's high standards of excellence in
veterinary care while bringing her own preferences, ideas and
improvements to the hospital. The staff of Santa Barbara Pet
Hospital is still the same staff who worked with Dr. Mutti. We
invite you to learn more about Dr. Mobraaten, and our staff, on our
"Staff" page by clicking on the link to your left. |
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Q: My pet saw Dr. Karen Sama at your practice while Dr. Mutti
was on medical leave. Does Dr. Sama still work with you? |
A: Dr. Sama was our relief veterinarian who kindly filled in
while our previous Hospital Director was unable to practice.
Because we have a new Hospital Director, Dr. Sama is no longer
seeing patients at Santa Barbara Pet Hospital. Dr. Mobraaten, Dr.
Trujillo and Dr. Rasmussen are always glad to see patients who
saw Dr. Sama while she was working with us. |
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