Senior pets in shelters are the least likely to find homes, sometimes making them most likely to be euthanized in crowding situations. Many people think that if an older pet is at the shelter, it means that they were problematic. This is not the case however. Many older pets belonged to households that had changes in them such as children, new jobs, moving, or an elderly person who is no longer able to care for them. This month we take a look at why adopting a senior pet is such a great thing! Adult dogs tend to have had some training. Most have been through obedience classes, may already have been taught simple commands and tricks, and have had time to become socialized and acclimated to living with humans. This often means most dogs are already house trained, meaning you don’t have to wake up every two hours all night like you would with a puppy! It also means that these pets tend to be less destructive, and are less likely to chew your favorite pair of shoes. That being said, you can teach an old dog new tricks. In fact, older dogs tend to be more able to focus than young puppies, meaning they may actually pick up on new tricks easier. […]
Read PostAs September rolls around, many people are headed back to school. In the veterinary field, most of us are no longer in school, but that doesn’t mean we didn’t go to a lot of school to get here, and that certainly doesn’t mean we are ever done learning! Certified veterinary technicians hold either a two year associate or a four year bachelor’s degree from accredited programs. They partake in an internship at a veterinary clinic as part of their degree program. Once they graduate, they must take a national test called the NVTE (national veterinary technical examination) to become certified. Here in Minnesota, technicians are required to also obtain 10 hours of continuing education every 2 years to remain certified. Veterinarians face a bit more schooling. Most veterinarians have a bachelor’s degree in a variety of fields including biology, chemistry, and animal science, but they may also have degrees in a variety of other majors including the arts, history, engineering, or business administration. They must meet the prerequisite list of classes for the veterinary program they are applying to, which usually includes a number of years of biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, statistics, and other classes. Once they have completed the prerequisite courses, they must take a standardized test such as the GRE. […]
Read PostOne of the main behavior complaints we see for cats is inappropriate elimination (urinating and/or defecating outside of the litter box). We recommend an examination to make sure there is not a medical problem first. Things such as arthritis can make it hard to get into the litter box, losing vision can cause pets to have a hard time going down stairs to get to the box, and cognitive issues can cause changes in behavior. Urinary tract infections, urinary crystals, bladder stones, bladder polyps and tumors, feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD), anal gland issues, kidney disease, diabetes, other metabolic issues, neurologic issues, and gastrointestinal issues such as inflammatory bowel disease, lymphoma, parasites, or bacterial imbalances can all also present as inappropriate elimination. Often a thorough examination, urinalysis, stool analysis, anal gland expression, bloodwork, and/or radiographs may be recommended. If these results rule out a medical cause for the issue, behavior is then addressed. There are a number of things we recommend for litter box issues: 1) Increase the number of litter boxes. The rule of thumb is one plus the number of cats in the household, so for example, if you have 2 cats you should have a minimum of 3 litter boxes. Make sure they are in different locations-two boxes right […]
Read PostHeritage Animal Hospital is a full-service veterinarian clinic that provides examinations, diagnostic services, dental care, surgical services, medicine, grooming and boarding services in Maple Grove, Minnesota. We are dedicated to providing the highest level of pet care possible and facilitating an environment where client communication and education are at the forefront of our practice.
12624 Base Lake Road
Maple Grove, MN 55369
Mon-Fri: 7:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Sat: 7:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.