March 23rd is national puppy day, and this couldn’t be more fitting this year. Dr. Hartman recently got a new springer spaniel puppy named Afton! Puppies bring a lot of joy to the family, but are also work as well! A puppy should never be a spur of the moment decision, breeds and breeders should be researched, and lifestyle should be evaluated before bringing home a new pet. Different breeds have different energy levels, grooming requirements, and personalities. Care should be used to avoid adopting from a puppy mill and rescues should be considered. Many states also keep records of breeding facilities that they inspect. Puppies usually can only hold their bladder for about 1-2 hours when they first come home. It gradually increases as they get bigger (a rule of thumb is 1 hour per month of age), but some dogs are not able to go 8 hours until adulthood! It is important to consider your lifestyle and schedule for this reason. Puppies also require frequent visits to the vet in the first year for a number of reasons including to get booster vaccines, check weights, to make sure they are growing appropriately, and to be spayed or neutered. Adopting from a shelter may alter some of these visits, but there is […]
Learn MoreAdding a new pet to your family is an important decision. There are many ways to acquire a new pet, be it from a rescue, a humane society or other adoption facility, or from a breeder. But how do you know if you are working with a reputable source? Here is a list of questions to help! Rescues: 1. Do they have you fill out an application. It should look at your plans for neutering/spaying (if not already done), your knowledge about pets and their interactions, your training intentions, and what your household is like (other pets, children, adults, work schedule, activity level, etc.) A good rescue wants to place pets in the best possible situation for the animal, so they will try to find a good fit with lifestyle and pet personality. They may even ask for references, such as your current veterinary clinic. 2. Do they do “meet and greets” where current pets and the new pet get to meet, or home visits to see how the pet interacts with the family? 3. Do they work with you for training issues, behavioral issues, or offer to take the pet back if it does not work? Again, they should have the pet’s best interest at heart, so if it does not work […]
Learn MoreHeritage 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.