Stone House Animal Hospital advises that Heartworm larva is transmitted by infected mosquitos. The larva travels in the bloodstream to the heart, where the worms mature. Until the heartworms have caused damage to the heart, there are no symptoms. Testing helps us find and treat them before damage occurs.

Safety procedures for anesthesia vary based on doctor/hospital preference. Stone House Animal Hospital believes that safety should come first, so we require pre-anesthetic blood tests. These help us know if the liver and kidney are functioning well enough for anesthesia to be safe and determine if your pet's blood will clot appropriately.

Mouths are warm and dark - the perfect place for smelly bacteria to grow! Tartar on teeth and under the gum line can cause bad breath and a host of other health issues such as liver and heart damage. Infection of a tooth or a sore in the mouth can also cause bad breath. Pets need regular dental cleanings too. Choose a vet like Stone House Animal Hospital that does dental x-rays and uses anesthesia to do an appropriate and effective cleaning.

Often this is an indication that their anal glands need to be expressed. Anal glands can become infected, impacted, and in some cases, can rupture. Some dogs need to have this procedure done frequently. Others don't. You can contact Stone House Animal Hospital if you have such concerns.

Stone House Animal Hospital does not recommend any of these. Often, these break into sharp fragments and, if swallowed, can cause damage to the throat, stomach, and/or intestines.

Stone House Animal Hospital recommends starting vaccinations at 6-8 weeks of age.