March’s Pet of the Month

Stockton Hill Animal Hospital’s Pet of the Month is Socks, from Golden Valley, AZ!

Socks is a Chiuaua male and is 6 months old. Socks’ owner is Linda Mason.

Think your pet has what it takes to be the pet of the month? Bring in a picture or email a picture of your pet to us @ email@stocktonhillah.com!

The Stockton Hill Animal Hospital Pet of the Month is chosen at the end of each month. Winners will have their picture placed on our website and will receive a goodie bag, free bath and free toe nail trim!

February’s Pet of the Month

We apologize for the delay on posting the PotM, so here are three month’s pets in a row!

Stockton Hill Animal Hospital’s Pet of the Month is Spencer, from Kingman, AZ!

Spencer is a Yorkie male and is 1 year and 10 months old. Spencer’s owners are Bill and Marie Glass.

Think your pet has what it takes to be the pet of the month? Bring in a picture or email a picture of your pet to us @ email@stocktonhillah.com!

The Stockton Hill Animal Hospital Pet of the Month is chosen at the end of each month. Winners will have their picture placed on our website and will receive a goodie bag, free bath and free toe nail trim!

Saying Goodbye

May 3^rd was a very hard day for my family. We had to say goodbye to Rusty, our 8 year old Labrador who had suffered from a cancerous growth in his nose. He was diagnosed with cancer months before and we were expecting that this day would come, but it didn’t make the pain of having to let him go any easier.

It is always hard to know when to euthanize your pet, even when they’ve had a happy and long life. When deciding to put Rusty to sleep we looked at his quality of life even though he wasn’t very old. Here are some of the things we considered:

• Is your pet still eating?
• Does your pet like interaction with people or other pets?
• Are they in pain?
• Is your pet still going to the bathroom outside?
• Can their medical problems still be managed?

When the answer to most of these questions was no, it was time for us to euthanize Rusty and let him go peacefully. You and your family know your pet best, and only you can decide when the time is right. If you are struggling with the decision to euthanize your pet a veterinarian can help guide you and help evaluate your pet’s quality of life.

It was very hard for our family to let Rusty go even though it was time, and he was suffering. I don’t think it is ever easy to euthanize your pet, but it is a peaceful option, and better then letting them suffer.

Rusty died as he had lived, in our best care, in our hearts, and surrounded by those that loved him. We will miss you Rusty, we will never forget you.

Are you allergic to your pet?

Right now allergies are in full swing for pets and for people. But some owners have something worse than seasonal allergies, they are allergic to their pets. This can be pretty devastating to find out you are allergic to your beloved friends. Here are some helpful tips to try and help minimize allergies to your furry friends.

1. Visit a reputable allergist
-insist on thorough testing
-remove all “other” allergens in home
-desensitizing shots (immunotherapy) can be very effective

2. Clear the air
-have at least one good air purifier with HEPA filter
-keep pets out of bedroom

3. Allergy-proof your home
-have as many washable surfaces as possible (ie wood floors, blinds, roll-up shades)
-desensitize sleeping area at minimum (ie non-allergenic bedding, waterbed)
-let someone else vacuum

4. Manage the pet
-groom/brush daily (preferable someone without allergies); wipe down cats with barely damp cloth once daily
-feed a complete, balanced diet
-let someone else care for the litterbox and the dust that comes with it

Pet Lodging

Stockton Hill Animal Hospital is always more than happy to accommodate your pet while you are away. We provide all the necessary creature comforts to keep your friend content whether you are away for a day or several.

Vaccines must be current and administered by a veterinarian at the time of your pet’s stay. Should your pet be lacking any necessary vaccines, we would be more than happy to get bring them up to date. Vaccines needed for boarding dogs are the following: DHLPP, CORONA, BORDATELLA, and RABIES. Vaccines needed for boarding cats are the following: FDVR, FELV, and RABIES. We also board birds and small animals which no vaccines are necessary for these critters.

Should you take your pet with you during your travels, you may want to consider the AVID chip. This small microchip is inserted under your pet’s skin and your personal information is linked to this chip should your pet be scanned using a specialized scanner. You must first register your pet with AVID for a small fee before any of your personal information is linked to your pet’s AVID chip. Should your pet get lost during your travels, AVID is nationwide and lost pets have chances of reuniting with their families quicker than that of wearing a tag alone. Stockton Hill Animal Hospital offers AVID microchip placement should you wish to have this service performed for your pet.

We hope that your time away will be pleasant knowing that your pet will be lodging with us at Stockton Hill Animal Hospital.

Shed pounds off your dog this Summer

Summer is coming! The weather is warming up and it’s time to get your dogs out of the house for some much needed exercise. Did you know that obesity affects more than 50 percent of America’s pet population? If your pooch is overweight, he or she can develop all kinds of health problems, such as painful arthritis, heart disease, breathing difficulty, diabetes and even bladder cancer. For your dog, the excess weight and the resulting health problems can mean less play time and depression.

Here are some easily identifiable causes of weight gain in dogs:

• Overfeeding - Dogs with unlimited access to food understandably eat more than they need
• Overeating - Many commercial foods are loaded with salt and fat. This improves taste, which means your dog will want to gorge
• Feeding habits - Feeding table scraps and “people food” can lead to obesity
• Lack of exercise - Too much food and too little exercise produces a typical result: Obesity
• Age - Older, less active dogs are prone to weight gain

Food plays a very important role in treating an overweight dog. Along with exercise, a low-fat and low-calorie food is essential in helping your dog lose weight and stay fit. Fiber is also a key ingredient since it helps your dog eat less while keeping her full. Once your dog has been overweight, she may be prone to weight gain and should have an ongoing weight-management plan based on good nutrition, exercise and regular check-ups and weigh-ins.

Our staff understands how difficult getting your pet’s weight under control can be. We are here to help. Call our office to schedule a free weight check up for your dog today. Our Veterinarian can prescribe a diet that will work to help shed those unwanted pounds. Mention this online article and receive 15% off a bag of Science Diet for weight control for the month of April!