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 […]
Every December many of us start to think of the coming year and we often make resolutions for things we are going to do differently or try to achieve in the coming months. This year, why not set a resolution for your pet or for both of you? In America, 54% of dogs and 58% of cats are classified as overweight or obese. So while you may make a resolution to lose weight yourself, why not include the household pets as well? Start by using an actual measuring cup instead of “eyeballing” amounts of food, look for lower calorie foods and treats, limit overall treat intake, and try meal feeding instead of leaving food out all the time. Contact us to learn more about how to formulate a safe weight loss plan for your pet. We can recommend diets and calculate the amount of food you should be feeding. Another part of weight loss is getting more active. Things you can do with your dog to help get more activity for both of you include walking, jogging, running, hiking, and skijoring. If one or both of you is a bit out of shape or just is not used to a lot of exercise, a slow build up to activity is recommended, as pets […]
Providing the best possible veterinary care for your pet.
Heritage 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.
