If your pet has an urgent issue when we’re closed:

● Call our main number – You’ll hear a recording with guidance.
● For emergencies, contact:

Cape Cod Veterinary Specialists (Dennis): 508-398-7575
Cape Cod Veterinary Specialists (Buzzards Bay): 508-759-5125
VCA Southshore, S. Weymouth: 781-337-6622
Veterinary Urgent Care Center, Plymouth: 774-608-7016

Always stand on the side of caution. When in doubt, seek emergency care.

Even if your pet is on monthly heartworm prevention, annual testing is important. While preventatives are very effective, no method is 100% guaranteed—and doses can occasionally be missed or given late. Yearly testing helps us confirm that the prevention is working as it should and gives us the best chance to catch any infection early, when treatment is most effective. Regular testing is a simple step that helps protect your pet’s long-term health.

We recommend year-round protection for all dogs and cats. Prevention options include topical, oral, and injectable products tailored to your pet’s lifestyle and comfort.

For Dogs:

• Flea & Tick: Available in topical and oral forms; protects against fleas and ticks
• Heartworm: Available in topical and oral forms; often includes protection from intestinal parasites

For Cats:

• Flea & Tick: We offer topical solutions for monthly application
• Heartworm/Parasite: Available in topical, depending on risk level

We’ll help you choose a plan that fits your pet’s needs. We believe in providing a customized plan that fits your pet’s and your lifestyle.

Cape Cod’s natural beauty, its woods, dunes, marshes, and wildlife also make it a hotspot for fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes that carry harmful diseases. Year-round prevention is essential for both cats and dogs, even if they live indoors.

Ticks are common in wooded and grassy areas and can transmit serious diseases, such as Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, and anaplasmosis, all found on the Cape.

Fleas can cause intense itching, skin infections, and allergic reactions. They also carry tapeworms and can quickly infest homes.

Mosquitoes spread heartworm disease, a potentially fatal condition for dogs. For cats, heartworm disease IS a fatal condition, as there is no cure. Heartworm disease affects the heart and lungs. Heartworm has been diagnosed in dogs and cats throughout Massachusetts.

Indoor pets are still at risk. Fleas can hitch a ride inside on clothing, and mosquitoes easily enter homes.

On the day of surgery:

• Drop-off is in the morning
• Your pet is examined and prepped
• We keep you updated throughout the day
• Most pets go home the same afternoon or evening—we do not keep pets overnight
• Our team provides detailed at-home care instructions and follows up with you post-procedure.

Knowing the difference can help you act quickly and appropriately:

Urgent Care Situations (treated during regular hours at Veterinary Associates of Cape Cod)

These conditions are concerning but not immediately life-threatening:

• Vomiting or diarrhea without blood
• Lameness or limping
• Skin infections or hot spots
• Ear infections
• Minor wounds or cuts
• Eye discharge or mild swelling
• Sudden changes in appetite or energy
• Broken nail or mild pain

We strive to accommodate same-day urgent cases during business hours.

Emergency Situations (seek 24/7 care immediately)

These signs may indicate a life-threatening issue requiring immediate attention:

• Difficulty breathing
• Collapse or loss of consciousness
• Seizures
• Trauma (e.g., hit by car, severe wounds)
• Ingestion of toxic substances
• Profuse bleeding
• Inability to urinate
• Bloating or swollen abdomen (especially in large-breed dogs)
• Labor difficulties in pregnant pets

If you’re ever unsure, call us or proceed to an emergency facility immediately.