“Puppy” and “kitten” are somewhat ambiguous terms, due to the fact that dogs and cats transition to adulthood individually, not as species or breeds. Generally speaking, your pet will be considered a puppy or kitten for the first year of his or her life. Get ready—because it is a time of rapid growth and many changes!

Between 6 and 8 weeks of age, your puppy or kitten should receive their first checkup. Since their bodies and systems are evolving, nutrition is key to their growth. We will council you on the proper diet and treats for your specific breed, as well as the amount of exercise required to keep them happy and healthy.

An identification microchip can be implanted at any time after your puppy or kitten’s first few weeks, so his or her initial checkup is a great time to discuss the procedure, as well as its benefits.

Disease and parasite prevention is also important for your puppy or kitten. This is why we regularly test and monitor them for various diseases and intestinal parasites. We also recommend they be placed on a year-round flea and tick prevention program.

The subject of vaccinations is one that will come up many times within their first year. We stick to a fairly standardized schedule of “core vaccinations” aimed at preventing some potentially deadly diseases. Expect your pet to receive several series of vaccinations within their first few months, and then boosters ever year after.

At 5 months of age, your pet is can be spayed/neutered. Unless you plan on breeding your pet, we highly recommend this procedure. It controls many undesired behaviors, as well as lengthens life expectancy.

For more information about our puppy and kitten care, or to make your pet’s first appointment, we invite you to contact us today.

Thanks to advancements in veterinary medicine, dogs and cats are living longer than ever before. The jump in lifespan, however, is accompanied by an increase in ailments and diseases that can affect your pet. This makes a proactive and diligent approach to your pet’s health even more important. Our first suggestion to the owner of an aging pet: increase his or her physical exams to two times per year.

Aside from the comprehensive physical examination your senior pet will receive, he or she may also need a variety of diagnostic tests. Those tests could include:

Complete blood analysis — Measures red and white blood cells, as well as platelets. It can diagnose anemia, infections, diseases such as leukemia, and your pet’s response to certain treatments.

Urinalysis — Determines if there are any unwanted substances within the urine. It also helps to diagnose urinary tract infections, diabetes, dehydration, and kidney problems.

Blood chemistry panel — By measuring electrolytes, enzymes, and various chemical elements, it helps determine how your pet’s organs are functioning.

Parasite evaluation — In addition to diagnosing harmful parasites, a complete evaluation can help diagnose several different diseases.

Pets that are aging may experience pain from conditions such as arthritis, dysplasia, or any physical trauma they’ve endured over the course of their lives. At the Animal Hospital of Rocky Hill, our pet pain management program is not only comprehensive, but compassionate as well. Designed to lessen any type of acute or chronic pain, the components of the program can be used separately or in conjunction with each other. They include treatments with our Luminex therapeutic laser, and a well-stocked in-house pet pharmacy.

For more information about our senior pet care program, or to make an appointment for your pet, we invite you to contact us today.

Vaccines have proven to be one of the most important breakthroughs in veterinary medicine. They are necessary building blocks for young immune systems and they keep life-threatening diseases at bay. All it takes is your diligence as an owner to make sure your pet receives his or her series of relatively painless vaccinations.

At the Animal Hospital of Rocky Hill, our policy is to adhere to the recommended vaccination schedule. We do, however, recognize anomalies for age, overall health, and lifestyle. Any non-scheduled vaccinations are always handled on a case-by-case basis.

Your puppy or kitten’s vaccine schedule will commence during his or her first checkup. He or she will receive booster vaccinations every 3 weeks afterwards, up until 16 weeks of age. At that point, your pet will receive boosters once per year.It is not uncommon for your puppy or kitten to experience short-lived sluggishness, loss of appetite, and diarrhea after receiving his or her vaccinations. More serious reactions would require immediate attention from a veterinarian.

It’s also important to note that if you plan to board or travel with your pet, his or her vaccinations will need to be up to date.

For more information about vaccinations, or to make an appointment for your pet, we invite you to contact us today.

Pet insurance is a great way to make sure you and your furry friend are financially prepared for unexpected vet visits. Many bigger companies such as Trupanion, ASCPA, and Nationwide also provide optional wellness plans and packages that can be opted into. At AHRH, we work with all insurances, but do not take the insurance payment at the time of the visit. The owner pays for the visit in full, then they submit the invoice to the insurance who then reimburses them. If insurance requests more information such as medical records, we are more than happy to send any medical information that is needed.

When looking for an insurance company, some things to consider would be:

What services does the plan include? Does it just cover sick visits and diagnostics, or does this plan offer additional services that I could benefit from?

What is the deductible? Is it monthly, yearly, etc? How much is covered after the deductible is met? Some companies may have a smaller deductible or monthly cost, but cover less or have less benefits.

Are there any preexisting conditions that this company/plan does not cover? If so, are any of them applicable to my pet? The younger your pet is when your purchase insurance, the better.

Please research each pet insurance company carefully to make sure that it offers the right plan for you and your pet. For more information regarding pet insurance, please contact us.