Vaccinations for Your Dog or Cat
The medical staff at Hearthstone Animal Clinic are strong advocates of preventive care. In order for your pet to lead a long and healthy life, we believe it is important to identify problems before they become serious medical issues.
Vaccines are the best way to protect your pet against serious diseases and bacteria. While some vaccines prevent common infectious diseases, others protect against dangers present in a pet’s lifestyle. Hearthstone Animal Clinic follows the vaccination protocols recommended by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), thus ensuring that your pet receives the very best protection.
- Core puppy vaccinations: Rabies, DHLPP
- Core adult canine vaccinations: Rabies, DHLPP
- Non-core adult canine vaccinations: Bordtella, influenza, and rattlesnake
- Core kitten vaccinations: Rabies, FVRCP
- Core adult feline vaccinations: Rabies, FVRCP
- Non-core adult feline vaccinations: Leukemia
Care for Your Senior Pet
As your pet enters their senior years, it's important that they receive the best available care to continue leading a happy and healthy life. Changes to their bodies occur rapidly and they become more susceptible to diseases such as cancer, arthritis, dental disease, diabetes and heart disease.
We recommend a geriatric exam tailored to your pet’s age and condition. The senior wellness program at Hearthstone Animal Clinic includes diagnostic tests designed to catch problems associated with aging before they become difficult and expensive to treat. The program also covers a number of tests such as ear and eye exams, basic neurologic and cardiovascular evaluations, weight/nutritional assessment, blood chemistry tests, urinalysis and more.
Signs of Aging in Older Pets
Symptoms that might be considered signs of your pet growing older may actually be signs of serious health problems. If your older dog or cat begins to exhibit any of the following symptoms, please let us know:
- Stiffness or limping
- Difficulty climbing stairs or jumping
- Difficulty breathing or changes in breathing patterns
- Tremors or shaking
- Excessive scratching or changes to skin or coat
- Drastic weight change (either loss or gain)
- Difficulty seeing or hearing
- Changes in urination/defecation habits
- Confusion or disorientation
- Decreased responsiveness
You are an important ally in keeping your senior pet healthy. If your pet is experiencing changes in behavior, we urge you to bring him or her in for a check-up. Together, we can make sure you and your faithful companion enjoy many more years together.
Veterinary Internal Medicine
The medical team at Hearthstone Animal Clinic has the technology, knowledge and experience to treat a wide range of internal medicine issues. Dr. Pelton has a special interest in working with challenging medical cases and will ensure that your pet receives his fullest attention and medical ability. Additionally, Hearthstone Animal Clinic is equipped with advanced diagnostics and an in-house laboratory.
We provide diagnostic services and treatment for:
- Endocrinology (e.g. diabetes and related diseases)
- Allergy consultations
- Gastrointestinal disease
- Dermatology
- Oncology
- Renal and hepatic failure
We also maintain close relationships with area specialists in order to provide greater treatment options for advanced or complicated cases. We often refer to the following specialists:
Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists 1111 West Loop South Houston, TX 77027 (713) 693-1111 gcvs.com
Animal Medical Center 10927 Woodedge Dr. Houston, TX 77070 (281) 469-1171 cypressveterinary.com
Nutrition Counseling for a Healthy and Fit Dog or Cat
Proper nutrition and a balanced diet—along with fresh, clean water—are essential ingredients for your pet’s overall good health. As your pet’s caregiver, nutrition is the most significant health variable that you control. During your pet’s physical examination, we evaluate his or her body condition and give recommendations based on what we see. Making the best nutritional choices for your dog or cat not only effects general health, but will improve the quality and length of your pet’s life.
Hearthstone Animal Clinic has trained staff available to help you with your pet’s nutritional challenges. We also have a diverse inventory of prescription foods and high-quality nutritional products by Hill’s and Royal Canin. If your pet requires a prescription diet we do not carry, we can easily order it for you. We can also offer advice and provide information about diets that benefit specific medical conditions such as liver disease, bladder and kidney stones, renal failure, food allergies, diabetes and other conditions.