FAQs

Littleton Paws Animal Hospital recommends yearly visits for most pets. Older pets should come in more frequently- at least every 6 months. Yearly exams include physical examinations by our veterinarian plus annual or booster vaccinations, parasite screening & prevention, and various lab tests performed.
For puppies and kittens, include that they need a more frequent schedule during their first year. For pets over the age of 7, we recommend exams and bloodwork every 6 months to help us detect diseases and issues before they become a problem.

Many people think that it is normal for a dog to have bad breath, but that is not the case. Bad breath is caused by bacteria in the mouth that creates byproducts that contain sulfur. Regular home cleanings accompanied by scheduled professional cleanings will help prevent bad breath and the bacteria that cause it.

Besides just bad breath, dental disease:

  • Releases bacteria into the bloodstream
  • Increases risk for heart, liver, and kidney disease
  • Can cause severe pain and problems for your pet
Pets need regular dental cleanings to increase quality and length of life and:
  • Allows us to chart dental disease over time
Dental disease is the most common disease in dogs. Recent studies show that 85% of cats and
92% of dogs over the age of 3 have periodontal disease.

A thorough dental cleaning can only be accomplished while the pet is under general anesthesia. The anesthesia we use is safe for all animals and your pet is constantly monitored during the dental procedure. Prior to anesthesia blood tests are performed to help uncover any hidden illnesses. If a heart murmur is detected at your pet’s physical exam, then a trip to the cardiologist may be needed. A professional cleaning (called a dental prophylaxis) removes plaque and tartar from the teeth. Your pet’s entire mouth health (teeth, tongue, gums, and lips) will be examined and assessed. We perform full-mouth dental X-rays to detect disease under the gum line. If we find anything unexpected, we contact the client immediately to ensure we remain within budget.

Pets cannot tell us how they feel and are able to hide their pain from us (especially cats.) Changes in behavior such as appetite change, lethargy, energy level, aggressiveness, inappropriate elimination, and vocalization (barking/meowing) can be symptoms of behavior or health issues. Contact our hospital for an exam appointment right away. We usually have availability for an urgent care appointment the same day.

Isolate your pet from other animals and small children to prevent the spread of the parasite to them. Bring your pet to our clinic for thorough testing for parasites. They can usually be easily treated, but parasite prevention measures are best for both your pet and your wallet. Ask about our available safe and effective parasite prevention products.

Littleton Paws Animal Hospital recommends spaying and neutering prior to 6 months. Contact us to discuss speciflc details based on species, breed, and size. Spaying/neutering has health and behavioral benefits for your pet, and of course, helps prevent over-population.

One infected mosquito is all it takes to infect your dog with the baby form (larval stage) of the heartworm parasite.

Heartworms are a serious and potentially fatal disease in pets. Twelve-inch-long worms (look like spaghetti) live in the heart, lungs, and blood vessels of infected pets, causing lung disease, heart failure, organ damage, and can be fatal if untreated.

Heartworms living in an infected dog, cat, or wildlife produce baby worms that circulate in the bloodstream. When a mosquito bites an infected animal, it picks up these worms and when it bites another animal, the worms enter through the bite wound. Heartworms can grow and live for 5-7 years in dogs and 3 years in cats.

Heartworm disease is preventable! Dogs should be tested annually and before starting prevention. Prevention is the safest and most cost-effective option, but treatment is available for dogs (although costly and lengthy.)

Littleton Paws Animal Hospital has safe, effective products available that cater to your pet’s lifestyle and your budget. Heartworm prevention should be provided 12 months of the year.

Our veterinarians take every precaution to make sure your pet comes out of any procedure, whether major or minor, on the way to a swift recovery. To ensure your pet’s safety, We provide a one pet per technician ratio throughout the day of surgery, along with vigilant postoperative monitoring and care. We perform all pet surgeries under anesthesia and advocate the use of pre-anesthetic bloodwork to detect any underlying disease that may affect the response to anesthesia.

With your pet’s comfort and safety at the forefront, We utilize pain management protocols before, during, and after surgery until they are completely recovered. This includes monitoring vital signs, assessing your pet for pain indicators, and keeping them warm and comfortable in their surroundings.

A pre-anesthetic blood screening test is sent to the lab prior to surgery. It tests the organ functions, blood counts, and clotting function of your pet. This critical test is done to ensure safety during surgery and the ability to heal following surgery. We will need a blood sample prior to the day of surgery. This bloodwork can be used for up to 6 months for an anesthetic procedure.

There is no advantage to letting your pet have one litter. However, there are plenty of advantages to having your pet spayed or neutered. These advantages include decreasing the chances of breast tumors later in life, decreasing the chance of cystic ovaries and uterine infections later in life, decreasing the desire to roam the neighborhood, decreasing the incidence of prostate disease later in life, helping to prevent spraying and marking, and most importantly, it helps prevent the surplus of unwanted puppies and kittens in shelters.

Procedures involving sutures require them to be removed 10-14 days following surgery. No bathing should be done during this time frame.

Pet insurance is a kind of health insurance policy that pays a portion of a pet’s medical bills for such things as accidents, illnesses, and wellness visits. You can purchase a comprehensive policy that covers a wide range of health-related problems. Some plans even cover costs such as microchipping or end-of-life expenses for a pet.

The three most common types of pet insurance plans are accident and illness, accident-only and wellness policies. What each type covers will depend on the policy you buy.

Accident and illness coverage

This type of plan is the most common pet insurance plan and covers a wide range of problems including accidents (such as a tom ACL or swallowing a foreign object) and illnesses (such as allergies, cancer and ear infections.)

Pros:

  • Covers both accident and illness-related problems
  • Covers chronic illnesses and hereditary conditions
  • Helps pay for accident and illness-related diagnostic tests, procedures, and hospitalizations
  • Helps pay for accident and illness-related medical prescriptions.
Cons:
  • More expensive than other types ofcoverage
  • Does not pay for wellness exams
Accident-Only coverage

This type of plan only covers accident-related medical expenses, such as a tom cruciate ligament or lacerations from dog bites. It does not cover illness-related expenses like ear infections and cancer.

Pros:

  • Costs le;s than accident and illness coverage
  • Helps pay for accident-related diagnostic tests, procedures and hospitalizations.
  • Helps pay for accident-related medical prescriptions.
Cons:
  • Does not cover illnesses
  • Does not cover hereditary issues
  • Does not pay for wellness exams
Wellness coverage

Routine wellness plans are optional add-ons offered by many pet insurers. They cover wellness-related expenses, such as` annual wellness exams, flea and tick prevention, and vaccinations. You can usually add a wellness plan to an accident and illness policy but not an accident-only policy.

Pros:

  • Covers wellness exams
  • Covers flea, tick, and heartworm prevention
  • Covers vaccinations
Cons:
  • Cannot be purchased as a standalone policy
  • Cannot be added to an accident-only policy

Pet insurance plans have common exclusions, such as:
  • Pre-existing conditions. A pre-existing condition is an injury or illness that your pet had before your coverage started. Some plans may not permanently exclude pre-existing conditions. For example, Nationwide Pet Insurance may extend coverage if you have medical records that show your pet has been cured of a condition for at least six months.
  • Experimental treatment. This includes diagnosis and treatments that are considered experimental, investigational, or not within the standard of care accepted by your state’s veterinary medical board.
  • Grooming. Pet insurance typically does not cover grooming services such as baths, dips, shampoo, or nail trims.
  • Food, dietary and nutritional supplements. Your pet’s regular dietary expenses are not covered, but some plans cover prescription food and supplements.
  • Non-veterinary expenses. This includes expenses for waste disposal services, record access or copying, any license or certification and compliance with a government rule or regulation (such as a dog license.)

The average cost of pet insurance is $55 per month for a dog with unlimited annual coverage, according to Forbes Advisor analysis of bet insurance costs. That’s with a 90% reimbursement level and a $500 deductible.

The cost of pet insurance is going to depend on several factors, typically including:

  • The type, gender, and breed of animal. Some breeds are predisposed to certain illnesses, which will result in higher pet insurance rates. For example, large dog breeds are more prone to heart and hip issues and have higher medication costs.
  • The pet’s age. As your pet gets older, it is more likely to need to go to the vet, which will translate into higher pet insurance rates at policy renewal times.
  • Pre-existing conditions. Medical conditions that existed before you bought the pet insurance generally are not covered. But some insurance plans will cover conditions that were cured and then later return.
  • Your location. Average veterinary costs in your area will affect the plan price.
  • Coverage types. You’11 pay more for a comprehensive plan that covers accidents, illness, and routine wellness compared to a plan that covers only accidental injuries.
  • Deductible and reimbursement level. You’1l pay more for having a lower deductible and higher reimbursement level. For example, a plan that offers 90% reimbursement will cost more than the same plan with 70% reimbursement.
Generally, it is more expensive to insure a dog than a cat.

Congratulations on welcoming home a new furry family member! We know how exciting, yet overwhelming this time can be for pet parents. When you first bring your new pet home, we recommend bringing them to see a veterinarian as soon as possible to establish care and get started protecting them from potential viruses. For puppies and kittens, we recommend a series of exams each 3-4 weeks apart. We also recommend starting a parasite control program which helps protect against intestinal worms, fleas, and ticks. This will help set them up for a long, healthy life.

Littleton Paws Animal Hospital offers puppy socialization and training classes! Dennis Champagne has been a certified dog trainer since 2008. We offer small, personalized classes throughout the year. Watch for our emails announcing sign-up times. We look forward to seeing your pup grow into a wonderful canine citizen!

FAQs

Littleton Paws Animal Hospital recommends yearly visits for most pets. Older pets should come in more frequently- at least every 6 months. Yearly exams include physical examinations by our veterinarian plus annual or booster vaccinations, parasite screening & prevention, and various lab tests performed.

For puppies and kittens, we need to see them on a more frequent schedule during their flrst year of life. For pets over the age of 7, we recommend exams and bloodwork every 6 months to help us detect diseases and issues before they become a problem.

Many people think that it is normal for a dog to have bad breath, but that is not the case. Bad breath is caused by bacteria in the mouth that creates byproducts that contain sulfur. Regular home cleanings accompanied by scheduled professional cleanings will help prevent bad breath and the bacteria that cause it.

Besides just bad breath, dental disease:

  • Releases bacteria into the bloodstream
  • Increases risk for heart, liver, and kidney disease
  • Can cause severe pain and problems for your pet
Pets need regular dental cleanings to increase quality and length of life and:
  • Allows us to chart dental disease over time
Dental disease is the most common disease in dogs. Recent studies show that 85% of cats and
92% of dogs over the age of 3 have periodontal disease.

A thorough dental cleaning can only be accomplished while the pet is under general anesthesia. The anesthesia we use is safe for all animals and your pet is constantly monitored during the dental procedure. Prior to anesthesia blood tests are performed to help uncover any hidden illnesses. If a heart murmur is detected at your pet’s physical exam, then a trip to the cardiologist may be needed. A professional cleaning (called a dental prophylaxis) removes plaque and tartar from the teeth. Your pet’s entire mouth health (teeth, tongue, gums, and lips) will be examined and assessed. We perform full-mouth dental X-rays to detect disease under the gum line. If we find anything unexpected, we contact the client immediately to ensure we remain within budget.

Pets cannot tell us how they feel and are able to hide their pain from us (especially cats.) Changes in behavior such as appetite change, lethargy, energy level, aggressiveness, inappropriate elimination, and vocalization (barking/meowing) can be symptoms of behavior or health issues. Contact our hospital for an exam appointment right away. We usually have availability for an urgent care appointment the same day.

Isolate your pet from other animals and small children to prevent the spread of the parasite to them. Bring your pet to our clinic for thorough testing for parasites. They can usually be easily treated, but parasite prevention measures are best for both your pet and your wallet. Ask about our available safe and effective parasite prevention products.

Littleton Paws Animal Hospital recommends spaying and neutering prior to 6 months. Contact us to discuss speciflc details based on species, breed, and size. Spaying/neutering has health and behavioral benefits for your pet, and of course, helps prevent over-population.

One infected mosquito is all it takes to infect your dog with the baby form (larval stage) of the heartworm parasite.

Heartworms are a serious and potentially fatal disease in pets. Twelve-inch-long worms (look like spaghetti) live in the heart, lungs, and blood vessels of infected pets, causing lung disease, heart failure, organ damage, and can be fatal if untreated.

Heartworms living in an infected dog, cat, or wildlife produce baby worms that circulate in the bloodstream. When a mosquito bites an infected animal, it picks up these worms and when it bites another animal, the worms enter through the bite wound. Heartworms can grow and live for 5-7 years in dogs and 3 years in cats.

Heartworm disease is preventable! Dogs should be tested annually and before starting prevention. Prevention is the safest and most cost-effective option, but treatment is available for dogs (although costly and lengthy.)

Littleton Paws Animal Hospital has safe, 6ffective products available that cater to your pet’s lifestyle and your budget. Heartworm prevention should be provided 12 months of the year.

Our veterinarians take every precaution to make sure your pet comes out of any procedure, whether major or minor, on the way to a swift recovery. To ensure your pet’s safety, We provide a one pet per technician ratio throughout the day of surgery, along with vigilant postoperative monitoring and care. We perform all pet surgeries under anesthesia and advocate the use of pre-anesthetic bloodwork to detect any underlying disease that may affect the response to anesthesia.

With your pet’s comfort and safety at the forefront, We utilize pain management protocols before, during, and after surgery until they are completely recovered. This includes monitoring vital signs, assessing your pet for pain indicators, and keeping them warm and comfortable in their surroundings.

A pre-anesthetic blood screening test is sent to the lab prior to surgery. It tests the organ functions, blood counts, and clotting function of your pet. This critical test is done to ensure safety during surgery and the ability to heal following surgery. We will need a blood sample prior to the day of surgery. This bloodwork can be used for up to 6 months for an anesthetic procedure.

There is no advantage to letting your pet have one litter. However, there are plenty of advantages to having your pet spayed or neutered. These advantages include decreasing the chances of breast tumors later in life, decreasing the chance of cystic ovaries and uterine infections later in life, decreasing the desire to roam the neighborhood, decreasing the incidence of prostate disease later in life, helping to prevent spraying and marking, and most importantly, it helps prevent the surplus of unwanted puppies and kittens in shelters.

Procedures involving sutures require them to be removed 10-14 days following surgery. No bathing should be done during this time frame.

Pet insurance is a kind of health insurance policy that pays a portion of a pet’s medical bills for such things as accidents, illnesses, and wellness visits. You can purchase a comprehensive policy that covers a wide range of health-related problems. Some plans even cover costs such as microchipping or end-of-life expenses for a pet.

The three most common types of pet insurance plans are accident and illness, accident-only and wellness policies. What each type covers will depend on the policy you buy.

Accident and illness coverage

This type of plan is the most common pet insurance plan and covers a wide range of problems including accidents (such as a tom ACL or swallowing a foreign object) and illnesses (such as allergies, cancer and ear infections.)

Pros:

  • Covers both accident and illness-related problems
  • Covers chronic illnesses and hereditary conditions
  • Helps pay for accident and illness-related diagnostic tests, procedures, and hospitalizations
  • Helps pay for accident and illness-related medical prescriptions.
Cons:
  • More expensive than other types ofcoverage
  • Does not pay for wellness exams
Accident-Only coverage

This type of plan only covers accident-related medical expenses, such as a tom cruciate ligament or lacerations from dog bites. It does not cover illness-related expenses like ear infections and cancer.

Pros:

  • Costs le;s than accident and illness coverage
  • Helps pay for accident-related diagnostic tests, procedures and hospitalizations.
  • Helps pay for accident-related medical prescriptions.
Cons:
  • Does not cover illnesses
  • Does not cover hereditary issues
  • Does not pay for wellness exams
Wellness coverage

Routine wellness plans are optional add-ons offered by many pet insurers. They cover wellness-related expenses, such as` annual wellness exams, flea and tick prevention, and vaccinations. You can usually add a wellness plan to an accident and illness policy but not an accident-only policy.

Pros:

  • Covers wellness exams
  • Covers flea, tick, and heartworm prevention
  • Covers vaccinations
Cons:
  • Cannot be purchased as a standalone policy
  • Cannot be added to an accident-only policy

Pet insurance plans have common exclusions, such as:
  • Pre-existing conditions. A pre-existing condition is an injury or illness that your pet had before your coverage started. Some plans may not permanently exclude pre-existing conditions. For example, Nationwide Pet Insurance may extend coverage if you have medical records that show your pet has been cured of a condition for at least six months.
  • Experimental treatment. This includes diagnosis and treatments that are considered experimental, investigational, or not within the standard of care accepted by your state’s veterinary medical board.
  • Grooming. Pet insurance typically does not cover grooming services such as baths, dips, shampoo, or nail trims.
  • Food, dietary and nutritional supplements. Your pet’s regular dietary expenses are not covered, but some plans cover prescription food and supplements.
  • Non-veterinary expenses. This includes expenses for waste disposal services, record access or copying, any license or certification and compliance with a government rule or regulation (such as a dog license.)

The average cost of pet insurance is $55 per month for a dog with unlimited annual coverage, according to Forbes Advisor analysis of bet insurance costs. That’s with a 90% reimbursement level and a $500 deductible.

The cost of pet insurance is going to depend on several factors, typically including:

  • The type, gender, and breed of animal. Some breeds are predisposed to certain illnesses, which will result in higher pet insurance rates. For example, large dog breeds are more prone to heart and hip issues and have higher medication costs.
  • The pet’s age. As your pet gets older, it is more likely to need to go to the vet, which will translate into higher pet insurance rates at policy renewal times.
  • Pre-existing conditions. Medical conditions that existed before you bought the pet insurance generally are not covered. But some insurance plans will cover conditions that were cured and then later return.
  • Your location. Average veterinary costs in your area will affect the plan price.
  • Coverage types. You’11 pay more for a comprehensive plan that covers accidents, illness, and routine wellness compared to a plan that covers only accidental injuries.
  • Deductible and reimbursement level. You’1l pay more for having a lower deductible and higher reimbursement level. For example, a plan that offers 90% reimbursement will cost more than the same plan with 70% reimbursement.
Generally, it is more expensive to insure a dog than a cat.

Congratulations on welcoming home a new furry family member! We know how exciting, yet overwhelming this time can be for pet parents. When you first bring your new pet home, we recommend bringing them to see a veterinarian as soon as possible to establish care and get started protecting them from potential viruses. For puppies and kittens, we recommend a series of exams each 3-4 weeks apart. We also recommend starting a parasite control program which helps protect against intestinal worms, fleas, and ticks. This will help set them up for a long, healthy life.

Littleton Paws Animal Hospital offers puppy socialization and training classes! Dennis Champagne has been a certified dog trainer since 2008. We offer small, personalized classes throughout the year. Watch for our emails announcing sign-up times. We look forward to seeing your pup grow into a wonderful canine citizen!