Rocklin Ranch Veterinary Hospital’s Blog

The temperatures are kicking into high gear, and in our neck of the woods, that means seeking shade, a cool dip in the pool, or an ice cold treat. What does it mean for our pets, though?

Rocklin Ranch Veterinary Hospital is revisiting summer heat safety for pets, and we have a few tips for best practices indoors, as well as when outside. Plus, a few bonus recipes for yummy summer pet treats that won’t add inches to your pet’s waistline. This is going to be fun!

First Thing’s First

First, a bit of awareness: pets don’t sweat the way we do to dissipate excess heat. It’s important not to let them get overheated in the first place. Dogs and cats have fur coats to boot, so taking precautions on warm days is definitely in order. When it’s hot outside for you, it’s even hotter for your pets.  

Most, if not all, pets enjoy their food and relish meal times. This doesn’t mean that they savor every bite, however. Instead, a common reaction to a bowl of food is to simply inhale it without appearing to chew even a morsel of it. This is true for pets of all ages, but if your puppy eats too fast, he could actually face serious health consequences. 

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.

Kittens love to play, but the predatory instincts that guide them can cause accidental harm to their partner. Additionally, owners can inadvertently reinforce bad behaviors by using their hands and fingers to entice their kitten to play. Training a kitten your rules for play isn’t hard, but it requires consistency and patience. With our tips, you’ll be playing without blood in no time!

Your quarters may be cramped, but your heart is overflowing with love to spare, so why not adopt a puppy? While your desire to add a furry companion to your environment may be strong, there are some important aspects of raising a puppy in an apartment that you need to consider before taking the plunge.

At Rocklin Ranch Veterinary Hospital, we completely understand the joy and companionship that pets bring to our lives. We want you and your puppy to live happily ever after, so here are some tips that can help. 

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.

Every pet needs plenty of TLC, quality veterinary care, and a healthy diet. But finding a food that checks all the boxes—nutritious, delicious, and within budget—can be overwhelming. There are more options now than ever before, with new brands, specialty diets, and textures, and even refrigerated foods for both cats and dogs.  

The holiday season is not known as a time of year where many of us lose weight. Between the buttery, sugary desserts and rich, savory meat dishes, we’re lucky if we keep weight gain to a solid five to ten pounds. Pets are no exception to this trend, but with some healthy pet snacks waiting in the wings, you can keep them satisfied and safe all season long.

Thanksgiving is a time for togetherness and sharing the seasonal harvest, and the team at Rocklin Ranch Veterinary Hospital has some tips to help you include your pets safely in the celebration. Just be sure to mention to your guests that food sharing with Fifi is a no-no and that you already have a tempting, pet-safe platter prepared!

We all know that doggos are the best, 12/10 paw-some. The dogtors at Rocklin Ranch Veterinary Hospital sez that cattos are pretty cool, too, though, and we are inclined to believe them. Did you know that even though dem purr-buckets say dem is okay, sometimes they need hoomans help, too? Lucky for you, we are gonna do you an educate and tell you all there is to know about cat wellness care.