Experienced Veterinary Services

Pets age faster than humans, so it is important to have your pet examined at least once per year to get ahead of issues that might cause your pet to be sick in the future. Regular exams and screening tests allow your veterinarian to detect issues before your pet starts having symptoms and minimize the treatment needed.

Yes, it is very important to continue with flea control all year long for the following reasons:

Fleas can live outdoors in temperatures as low as 33 degrees for up to five days (long enough to latch onto your dog, come into your home, and relish in the warmth of your home).

Flea eggs can live year-round in protected areas such as crawl spaces or porches.

Ticks can hibernate in the winter and become active if the temperature reaches 40 degrees, which is not uncommon in our area.

Due to unpredictable seasonal temperature changes, year-round treatment is essential to protecting your pet from getting heartworms. It only takes one mosquito bite to infect your pet. Heartworm disease is a serious disease that results in severe lung disease, heart failure, other organ damage, and death. The treatment for heartworm disease is a long process that is painful to your pet and is very expensive.

All dogs need flu vaccinations. As flu becomes more prevalent in dogs, it is important to protect your pet. The flu can be transmitted through contact with an object that an infected pet has nosed or licked. Dogs can be contagious up to 5 days before symptoms appear, so even pets who appear healthy at the dog park, boarding, grooming, or doggy daycare could present a risk to your pet.

Bloodwork shows us what is going on on the inside. It helps your veterinarian to identify illnesses so they can be treated before the illness progresses and your pet gets really sick. Pets cannot tell us when they don’t feel well, so the screening blood test can identify issues early. The tests also provide a baseline for your pet as they age.

Although most people assume cleaning their pets’ teeth is purely cosmetic, it is much more than that. With severe dental disease, bacteria and plaque can enter your pet’s bloodstream and spread to the heart, kidneys, and liver, causing your pet to be extremely sick. Signs of dental disease include:

Broken teeth
Loose teeth
Bad breath
Painful and bleeding mouth
Refusal or inability to eat and drink
Drooling

By the time your pet is three years of age, 80% will develop some form of dental disease. Treating your pet early and at regular intervals will prevent your pet from tooth loss, bad breath, oral pain, organ damage, and worsening dental disease.

At Rockhill Pet Clinic, we recommend diets from Hills, Purina, and Royal Canin. These companies are science-based and thoroughly research the nutrition of every diet.

Many pet owners worry about intestinal parasites. We recommend testing once a year to ensure your pet stays parasite free. We also recommend keeping your pet on Heartgard year-round which helps prevent many intestinal parasites.