Timberline Animal Hospital Fort Collins

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Preventive Pet Health Care

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An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. At Timberline Animal Hospital, prevention is our passion! Pets age much faster than their human friends and need regular veterinary visits to stay healthy for life. Regular visits to your pet’s family doctor are important for early detection and treatment of common preventable diseases so that you and your pet have a long and rewarding relationship together.

Timberline Animal Hospital offers the following preventive health care services for pets. These services are based on the recommendations of the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) & American Veterinary Medical Associations (AVMA) Preventive Healthcare Guidelines.

Comprehensive annual physical examination
Vaccinations 
Heartworm testing
Internal parasite testing
Broad-spectrum parasite control
Microchip
Spay or Neuter or reproductive and genetic counseling
Customized medical plans, screenings, preventives and non-core vaccinations based on the individual pet’s needs and lifestyle
Annual Health Care Packages billed monthly

Comprehensive Annual Physical Examination

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All pets should receive a comprehensive nose to tail examination at least once a year, depending on their individual needs. The information collected helps us establish a health profile of your pet and aids our medical team in the early detection of any serious medical problems. Senior pets and pets with chronic health issues should receive a comprehensive examination every six months. 
A comprehensive physical examination includes:
        Medical history 
        Evaluation of life style and life stage
        Behavior
        Diet and Nutrition
        Nose to tail physical examination
        Dental assessment
        Pain assessment
        Body and muscle condition

Vaccinations

Vaccinations are an essential part of your pet’s overall preventive healthcare plan. At Timberline Animal Hospital, each patient is unique and we will work closely with you to develop a vaccination protocol that fits your pet’s lifestyle. We offer technician vaccine appointments for current patients over 1 year old who have had an  examination with Timberline Animal Hospital within the last year. Technician vaccine appointments allow you to bring your pet in for a quick vaccine only without the cost of an exam fee. Technician booster appointments are offered Tuesday 2PM-5PM & Saturday 9AM-1PM. We recommend the following vaccine schedule:

Recommended Vaccines for Dogs

Core Vaccines:
Rabies (given at 16 weeks, boosted at 1 year, then every 3 years)
DA2PP (given at 9, 12, & 15 weeks, boosted at 1 year, then every 3 years)
Non-Core Recommended Vaccines: 
Leptospirosis (given at 12, 15 weeks, boosted annually)
Bordatella-kennel cough (every six months)

Recommended Vaccines for Cats

Core Vaccines:
Rabies (16 weeks, boosted at 1 year, then every 3 years)
FVRCP (9, 12, 15 weeks, boosted at 1 year, then every 3 years) 
Non-Core Recommended Vaccines: 
Feline leukemia (given at 12, 15 weeks, boosted annually if needed)

Heartworm & Internal Parasite Testing & Control

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Heartworm testing
We have a full in-hospital diagnostic laboratory and all dogs should receive annual heartworm testing. Heartworm disease is simple to prevent but treatment can be very costly and fatal to your dog. Early detection and prevention is the key to treatment. 

Internal parasite testing:

We recommend annual testing for internal parasites. Timberline Animal Hospital also strongly recommends that all new pets into your home be tested and treated for internal parasites as one of the first medical decisions you make for them. Internal parasite testing is often overlooked by many pet owners yet is one disease that  your pet can share with you and your family. Internal parasites such as roundworms and hookworms can be transmitted to humans. The eggs of roundworms are extremely resistant to environmental conditions and can remain infective in the soil for months to years. We recommend heartworm, hookworm, and roundworm prevention year-round to insure that you and your pet are protected from exposure to parasites.  Make sure your pet is regularly tested for roundworms and hookworms. For more information on parasites and your family's health visit the CDC website or visit the Companion Animal Parasite Council. 

Broad-spectrum parasite control  
We carry and recommend year-round broad-spectrum parasite control targeting heartworms, intestinal parasites, and fleas. We recommend monthly oral broad spectrum preventive that will treat roundworms as well as heartworms.

Microchipping

Microchipping is a simple, effective way to help your pet get back to your family if they become lost. A microchip is the size of a grain of rice and is encoded with it's own unique identification number. It is implanted underneath the skin between the shoulder blades of your pet and the information is registered in a national database. Animal shelters and veterinary hospitals have scanners that can detect and read your pet’s microchip number.

Spay or Neuter or Reproductive & Genetic Counseling

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Spaying and neutering your pet is the single best thing you can do to control pet over-population. At Timberline Animal Hospital, we believe in the importance of spaying or neutering your pet while respecting your decision regarding your pet’s reproductive health. Spay or Neuter Surgery is a very important decision for every pet owner and we are here to provide you with information and consultation so that you can make the best decision for you and your pet. We recommend pets are spayed and neutered between 4-6 months of age.

Benefits of Spay
#1 benefit is population control
Eliminates ovarian and uterine cancer
Reduces the desire to fight, thereby reduces the spread of disease
When done before first heat cycle, reduces the risk of breast cancer
Eliminates the risk of pyometra (infection of uterus)
Reduces the tendency to roam to mate


Benefits of Neuter
 # 1 benefit is population control
Eliminates the risk of testicular cancer
Reduced risk of prostate  cancer
Reduces the tendency to roam to mate
Reduces the desire to fight, thereby reduces the spread of disease
Reduces marking behavior

Customized Medical Plans

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All pets are unique. Dr. Rowe will create a customized plan for your pet based on their needs and lifestyle and present you with options for your pet. Your four-legged friend may need additional health screenings or diagnostic tests based on their examination, you may have behavioral or dietary concerns for your pet, or they may need additional non-core vaccines based on their lifestyle. Dr Rowe will consult with you and create a personalized plan for your pet. He will make sure that you have all the information you need to make the right decision for your pet and your family.

Annual Preventive Health Care Packages

We offer several  annual health care packages billed monthly for pets. Our monthly payments help you keep your pet healthcare costs down while still providing your pet with the very best preventive care possible. Please visit our Health Care Packages page for more information about our Preventive Health Care Packages.

Timberline Animal Hospital Fort Collins, Dr. Tim Rowe.
All rights reserved 2013
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Photos used under Creative Commons from Mr. T in DC, Maurice Koop, photofarmer