Rocklin Ranch Veterinary Hospital’s Blog

Summer is the time for relaxing in your yard, hosting BBQs, and marveling over fireworks. Unfortunately, it’s also a time of year when pets tend to go missing after they escape from their homes or yards. It only takes a split second for your pet to scoot out a gate left open by the gardener, or to dig under (or jump!) a fence when scared by fireworks.

For these reasons and more, we’re going to explore the world of pet microchips, and give you some tips to make them even more effective if your pet already has one.

Lost Pets

Surveys show that one in three pets will go missing in their lifetimes, and The Humane Society of the United States estimates that only 2-5% of lost cats and 30% of missing dogs are ever reunited with their owners. But these numbers increase if the pet has a microchip because microchipping works.

Adopting a kitten is definitely the easy part. It’s bringing them home to their new environment that can have challenges. There are many variables at play, and once you resolve one issue another can pop up in its place. In other words, you have to constantly stay in front of potential problems. Luckily, it’s super fun to spend time with a kitten and their cuteness makes any extra effort 100% worth it. To help you prepare for the amazing experience of living with a feline, the team at Rocklin Ranch Veterinary Hospital has some tips and tricks to help your new kitten feel right at home.

We can imagine the pain that comes when we lose our cherished pet. Some of us have experience with this, and know that the process of grieving the loss can be long and rocky. But when a pet’s owner passes away, the pet also experiences feelings of loss, depression, and fear. When they are taken into a new home, whether through adoption or by the immediate family, there will be a big period of adjustment for them, as well as the new loving family.

If you are caring for a pet whose owner has died, you may wonder what you can do to ease their sadness and confusion. This is why the team at Rocklin Ranch Veterinary Hospital is here with some gentle steps and recommendations to help them adjust. 

Love is in the air and the idea of adopting a new fur friend to love makes sense when you and your partner adore pets. It’s the perfect way to add more fun to the mix, as well as shared responsibility. But there are some caveats to consider when you adopt a pet with your significant other.

The team at Rocklin Ranch Veterinary Hospital is here to help you determine the right time to make this commitment. Here are some tips on knowing how and when to make this wonderful yet carefully thought out decision.

So you’ve decided to adopt a puppy – congratulations! Welcoming a new pet into your home is an exciting time, and one that’s sure to have many ups and downs for both you and your family. Remember, the team at Rocklin Ranch Veterinary Hospital is always here for you. With our puppy care tips, you can be sure to start things off on the right paw!

Puppy Care 101

Besides making sure you have all the necessary supplies (food, collar, leash, etc.), one of the most important elements of new puppy care is their first wellness appointment. In addition to nutrition, training/socialization, and other puppy care basics, your veterinarian will also discuss vaccinations and parasite prevention. Most puppies will need 3-4 sets of vaccinations during the first year of life and yearly boosters thereafter.

This is also the time to discuss spaying or neutering, which will prevent an unwanted litter, protect your pet from certain health problems, and help curb undesirable behaviors. Many pet owners also choose to have their puppies microchipped during one of their initial visits.

There’s something special about sharing the holidays with pets, and for new pet owners this special first season spent with a new four-legged family member offers the chance to build new traditions and memories together.

Before you settle in for a snuggle in front of the fire with your sweet pet, take a moment to go over our tips for a safe and fun holiday season!

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If you have ever tried to rent an apartment with a pet, you know that it can be a little bit of a pain. Pet deposits, care stipulations, and even breed restrictions can leave pet owners feeling overwhelmed and even a little bit hurt. After all, why is someone with a Rottweiler sent packing even if the dog is an obedience champion?

There are quite a few misunderstood dog breeds out there. Take a minute to learn who they are, how they are discriminated against, and what you can do to set the record straight. Continue…

Your friends at Rocklin Ranch Veterinary Hospital are excited to announce the kickoff of our Community Animal Shelter Fundraiser to help raise the much needed funds it takes to provide housing, food, and veterinary medical care to the thousands of animals who rely upon the caring Rocklin community.

In the United States, more than 7.6 million companion animals are housed in shelters every year. Of these homeless and feral animals, roughly 40% never find their forever home and are euthanized. Many more are lost to accidents, disease, and other risks associated with the life of a stray animal.

Looking at the numbers can be overwhelming. You may wonder how you can make a difference… but, the encouraging news is that you CAN and DO make a positive impact on the lives of animals when you adopt, foster, or help homeless animals through a charitable donation or gift of volunteer service hours. Continue…

April 30 was National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day. Of course, at Rocklin Ranch Veterinary Hospital, we believe that every day should be Adopt a Shelter Pet Day for those looking to give a pet their forever family.

Pet adoption should not be taken lightly. Being a pet parent is a lot of responsibility, and should only be entered into by those who are able to make a lifelong commitment to the pet they adopt. But once the decision has been made, we feel that finding your new family member at a local shelter or rescue agency is the way to go.

Give Me Shelter

Every year, some 8 million pets enter animal shelters across the United States. What’s worse, is that many of these pets never make it out. The reality can be impossibly hard to think about; but it’s true. And sadly, most pets that end up in shelters for reasons that are beyond their control, such as: Continue…