Times have changed dramatically from the days when dogs were permitted to freely roam neighborhoods without any form of protection. Today, families keep their dogs secured around the house, socialize them strategically, and make medical care a top priority. This medical care includes the process of neutering dogs shortly after they are born. From population control to behavior improvements and everything in between, neutering your own dog offers many important benefits. Read more

Taking care of a pet isn’t so different from caring for a child. Your dog or cat relies upon you entirely for food, water, shelter, protection, and love, just like your child. If you take your toddler to the grocery store and lose track of his whereabouts, you’ll undoubtedly become frightened and panicked until he is found. When your dog or cat takes off through the open door and runs out of your sight, you can’t exactly rely on the grocery store staff and announcement system for help. If your pet is microchipped, you know you have a handy way to locate him and bring him back home safely.

What is Microchipping?

A microchip is tiny, about the size of a grain of rice, and is implanted in your pet’s skin to help track his location if he gets lost. It’s essentially a computer chip with a unique identification number that doesn’t risk falling off like a collar. All that’s needed is a scanner to pick up the radio signals that transmit the encoded chip ID number. Once the ID number is picked up, it can be used to track down the animal’s owner. Read more

If you ever stopped to consider the number of diseases and infections that could potentially harm your pup, you may never let him outside again. However, modern medicine exists to battle these harmful conditions and ensure that your dog can live a long and healthy life. One of the diseases becoming more prevalent in dogs is called leptospirosis. Just like heartworms and pruritus, prevention and regular vet checkups are the keys to avoiding leptospirosis.

An Introduction to Leptospirosis

Leptospirosis is an infection that dogs acquire when certain bacteria enters and spreads through the bloodstream. It’s not a well-known disease compared to other pet problems, but it is becoming more and more common around the world and leading vets to urge the implementation of preventative measures and more effective treatments for infected canines. Read more

You love your dog like a baby and want to keep him as healthy as possible, but little pests like fleas make that job a bit more difficult. Fleas are incredibly common, so it’s important to learn the signs and recognize when your dog needs some extra attention to recover from an infestation.

An Introduction to Fleas

Unfortunately, fleas are incredibly determined little pests that virtually don’t give up when in search of a host. They love warm, humid environments the most, and with over 2,000 species and subspecies of fleas in existence, they aren’t exactly hard to find. The fleas that most commonly infest dogs are only one to three millimeters in length and black or dark brown in color. Read more

You love and cherish your pet just as much as your family and friends, so don’t skimp when it comes to your dog’s or cat’s wellness plan. But considering that the PPO from your employer doesn’t come with an option for pet coverage, how can you guarantee you pet receives the best possible medical care?

At the Affordable Pet Hospital, we offer a range of puppy, kitten, adult canine, and adult feline wellness plans that cover everything from comprehensive exams and office calls to vaccines and dental cleaning. Choosing a wellness plan is the best thing you can do for your furry friend, and here are the top five reasons to prove it! Read more