Pet Wellness Services

Rose Rock Veterinary Hospital doctors and staff are committed to working with you to provide the happiest, healthiest, longest life possible for your pet. Every pet is different, and care should be directed to the pet's life style, breed, and age. The doctors and staff at Rose Rock will help tailor medical care for your pet according to their needs.

Dogs and cats go through similar life stages as humans. Just as you would not expect the same care for a baby, adolescent, adult or senior, you should not expect the same care throughout your pet's life stages. You may have questions about behavior, nutrition or medical needs with each stage - yes, puppies and kittens go through their own "terrible two's" - and we are here to help you through these times.

Examinations

Pets age at a much more rapid rate than do humans; therefore more frequent wellness examinations are necessary. All pets should receive twice yearly examinations so that we can make sure there are no health issues and we can answer any questions you may have. This is especially important in animals over five to seven years of age. Examinations allow us to get a picture of your pet's overall health and are invaluable in diagnosing and treating your pet.

During each wellness visit, we examine all body systems including the mouth, teeth, ears, eyes and heart. We also evaluate your pet's general condition, including his or her weight, respiratory system, joints and muscles and lymph nodes. We also check for tumors, palpate the abdomen and examine the condition of the skin and coat.

As part of your pet's complete physical exam, we also perform various laboratory tests. These are necessary to test for common diseases that may not be evident on physical examination. These tests include a fecal examination for intestinal parasites, blood test for heartworms, and possible blood screening for internal problems, especially on our senior pets.

Prevention is of utmost importance to keep your pet healthy. Diseases are easier and usually less expensive to treat if detected early. It will also help for your pet to live a happier and longer life.

Vaccination Against Preventable Diseases

Due to the many recent discoveries and innovations in veterinary medicine, your pet can be protected from most major diseases. Today, many immunizations and preventive treatments are available that did not exist just a few years ago. We always tailor your pet's vaccination schedule according to his or her needs. All decisions about vaccinations are made jointly, by the doctor and you, the pet owner. The staff at Rose Rock Veterinary Hospital can help you decide what preventive measures are necessary for your pet.

Vaccines can protect your pet and your family from disease. Some of the vaccines we recommend are:

• Rabies: One year booster after first series. Pets can receive three year vaccine from this point on if they are not overdue.
• DHPP and FVRCP: Annually
• Leptospirosis: If a pet is at risk
• Intranasal bordatella (kennel cough): Recommended every six months. Required annually for boarding.
• Feline leukemia and (FIV): On an as-needed basis for cats
• Lyme disease: On an as-needed basis for dogs
• Canine Influenza: On as-needed basis for dogs

Puppy and Kitten Care

Congratulations on your new pet and thank you for choosing us to help protect and care for your new addition to your family! Bringing a new puppy or kitten into your home can be wonderful - but it can also be a lot of work! Rose Rock Veterinary Hospital offers special exams for puppies and kittens. Our veterinarians perform a full examination of your pet and discuss with you vital information about your new pet, including vaccine schedules, heartworm disease and intestinal parasites, nutritional needs, house/litter box training, safety strategies, behavior counseling and more.

Schedule your puppy or kitten for his or her first exam as soon as possible. Until your pet has received a series of vaccines, he or she is susceptible to many serious but preventable diseases. We will make sure your pet is protected against the diseases that are important for all pets to be protected against. We will also discuss lifestyle vaccines that could be important for your pet depending on your pet's planned lifestyle. We will also test your puppy or kitten for intestinal parasites and make sure they are dewormed. Parasites can cause a potential threat to your family because they can be transmitted from pets to people. By ensuring that your puppy or kitten is properly treated, you can keep your entire family safe.

Your new pet's first examination generally takes longer than subsequent exams; we want to make sure we answer all of your questions in order to get your pet started on the right road for a long, healthy life. We look forward to meeting your new puppy or kitten!

Preventative Care

A very important part of preventative health care for your pet is to protect him or her against parasites. Heartworms, fleas, ticks, and other internal and external parasites are much more than just pests; they can cause life-threatening conditions in your pet—and cause severe, potentially fatal, health problems for you and your family. We will recommend the best preventive regimen for your pet, based on lifestyle and risk factors. We can also provide expert advice on keeping your whole household safe from parasitic infection. Set up an appointment with us to discuss parasite prevention, or call us to refill your pet's medication. Protect your pet and your family today!

Microchipping

Each year, millions of pets go missing, and many never make it back to their homes. Implanting a microchip in your pet is a simple, painless way to avoid this tragedy. Rose Rock Veterinary Hospital provides microchipping for clients who are looking for another way to help find their pet if he or she is lost.

A microchip is a tiny electronic device, about the size and shape of a grain of rice. It is implanted beneath a pet's skin between the shoulder blades and stays there for the pet's entire life. This procedure is as easy and as painless as a vaccination.

Each microchip has a unique number. This number, along with information about the owner and pet, are added to a national pet registry. Most veterinary hospitals and animal shelters have electronic scanners for detecting and reading these implanted microchips. If a lost pet is found and a microchip is scanned, the registry is called and the owner can be contacted.

Pharmacy

Our complete in-house pharmacy gives you the benefit of starting your pet's medication as soon as you get home. Rose Rock Veterinary Hospital's pharmacy is stocked with a broad spectrum of pharmaceuticals used commonly in veterinary medicine, including heartworm and flea and tick medications, which can help your pet recover from an illness or surgical procedure. For easier administration, we can also have transdermal or flavored medicine delivered straight to your door.

Often ready at check-out, our trained staff is knowledgeable and gives instruction on appropriate administration techniques as well as daily recommended doses. Refills are easy and can be called in for quick and efficient pick-up.

If you prefer to do things from the comfort of your home and would like to have your pet's medications delivered right to your door, we also have an online pharmacy to provide you with that convenience. Many online pharmacies can be reputable pharmacies; however, others are fronts for businesses breaking Federal, State, and sometimes, International laws. Illegal online pharmacies may sell medicines that are counterfeit, outdated, mislabeled, incorrectly formulated, or improperly made or stored. These medicines may not contain the actual drug, or the correct amount of drug, may contain contaminants, may not work as well due to age or being stored in conditions that were too hot, cold, or humid, and may not have the proper directions for use. You can trust that all of the drugs from our online store meet all pharmacy regulation requirements and are competitive in price with other online pharmacies.

Pet Insurance

While Rose Rock Veterinary Hospital does not provide pet insurance, there are several excellent companies that do offer insurance services for your pet and they are becoming more affordable. As pet owners, we all get in situations when we want to provide the best for our animals but we can't due to financial restraints. Health care costs for humans and pets continue to rise, and insurance is another option available that allows you to provide the care you may want for your pet. You can visit www.petinsurancereview.com for more information on all of the pet insurance companies available as well as ratings from pet owners who have insurance policies with them. If this is an option you wish to learn more about for your pet's care, please talk to one of our staff members for more information.