Frequently Asked Questions
-What should I consider when choosing to get a pet?
Time, age of the care taker, multi-pet households can come with serious behavioral issues, housing, expenses, food can cost about $650/year per pet and routine veterinary care can cost $350 /year per pet.
-How do I know how much a visit will cost?
We provide individualized estimates. Please ask for one , if one is not offered.
-Do you offer discounts to people who rescue pets?
Ridgefield Animal Hospital is very active in providing care through in-house adoptions and working with several local humane and shelter organizations. We cannot, however, provide discounts to individual pet owners based on the fact that they adopted or rescued a pet. Once a person makes the decision to adopt or rescue a pet, they must realize that they are also taking on the food, housing and medical responsibilities of that pet.
-What can I do to prepare for a disaster?
It is a good idea to have a copy of your pet's medical records made prior to hurricane season, especially if your pet(s) has any chronic medical conditions that may require attention while you are evacuated. Minimally, you should have your pet's vaccination records with you, as it is mandatory in shelters and to cross state lines to be current on rabies vaccination.
Other items you will want to have ready for a quick evacuation would include: heartworm prevention and other medications, special diets, collar and tags, microchip information, leashes and crates, medications for pets who don't travel well. For large animals: proof of a current Coggins test, a picture, microchip number, halters and leads, chronic medications.
Time, age of the care taker, multi-pet households can come with serious behavioral issues, housing, expenses, food can cost about $650/year per pet and routine veterinary care can cost $350 /year per pet.
-How do I know how much a visit will cost?
We provide individualized estimates. Please ask for one , if one is not offered.
-Do you offer discounts to people who rescue pets?
Ridgefield Animal Hospital is very active in providing care through in-house adoptions and working with several local humane and shelter organizations. We cannot, however, provide discounts to individual pet owners based on the fact that they adopted or rescued a pet. Once a person makes the decision to adopt or rescue a pet, they must realize that they are also taking on the food, housing and medical responsibilities of that pet.
-What can I do to prepare for a disaster?
It is a good idea to have a copy of your pet's medical records made prior to hurricane season, especially if your pet(s) has any chronic medical conditions that may require attention while you are evacuated. Minimally, you should have your pet's vaccination records with you, as it is mandatory in shelters and to cross state lines to be current on rabies vaccination.
Other items you will want to have ready for a quick evacuation would include: heartworm prevention and other medications, special diets, collar and tags, microchip information, leashes and crates, medications for pets who don't travel well. For large animals: proof of a current Coggins test, a picture, microchip number, halters and leads, chronic medications.
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LSU's School of Veterinary Medicine has a website that will give you plenty of information on being prepared to protect your companion animals, be it small animals or livestock. Click on the picture to the right to visit their helpful page.
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LSU Disaster webpage
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-Holistic, Organic, grain free, raw and natural foods are the best for my pet.
Words like "holistic" and "natural" are there to market one product over another. "Grain Free" is now a buzz phrase but has actually been found to be harmful to the heart. There are pets with food sensitivities and allergies. 68% of reported food allergies come with beef, dairy, or wheat. Corn, which is often cited in advertising as being "bad" for dogs is not listed even in the 25% which includes lamb, chicken eggs, chicken and soy.
-How much food should I feed?
Keeping your pet at the proper weight during its life can add 2 years or more to your pet's lifespan and who doesn't want their pet around for as long as we can have them!
Words like "holistic" and "natural" are there to market one product over another. "Grain Free" is now a buzz phrase but has actually been found to be harmful to the heart. There are pets with food sensitivities and allergies. 68% of reported food allergies come with beef, dairy, or wheat. Corn, which is often cited in advertising as being "bad" for dogs is not listed even in the 25% which includes lamb, chicken eggs, chicken and soy.
-How much food should I feed?
Keeping your pet at the proper weight during its life can add 2 years or more to your pet's lifespan and who doesn't want their pet around for as long as we can have them!
-What are some common toxicities?
Rat bait, antifreeze, or prescription medications, grapes and raisins, xylitol, marijuana and chocolate.
Rat bait, antifreeze, or prescription medications, grapes and raisins, xylitol, marijuana and chocolate.
-How often should I bath my pet?
Once a week to every other week with a non soap based shampoo to not wash off topical prevention.
Once a week to every other week with a non soap based shampoo to not wash off topical prevention.
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-What are the options for itching/scratching?
Your veterinarian may recommend allergy testing/immunotherapy, Apoquel, and/or the Cytopoint injection, which can last 4-6 weeks. |
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-What is the most important part of the annual visit?
It is the exam. It isn't often that a pet is presented for "just shots" and actually has no other problems.
-My friend gets her pet's shots at a local vaccine clinic at a retail store and pays much less for them than I do. Is there a reason?
Vaccine clinics held in retail stores with low "overall" prices, only include a cursory examination. At Ridgefield Animal Hospital we do full physical exams to find illness, prior to the animal showing signs.
-The internet's "Dr. Google" is the best source for all information related to my pet, right?
Chose your sites wisely, and ask your veterinarian for their opinion as they know you and your pet's particular situation. A trustworthy source is www.healthypet.com provided by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA)
-The Internet, other pharmacies and national store chains are a great source for purchasing inexpensive medications.
They are especially fast to say they have a "Money back Satisfaction Guarantee" but be sure that they will back the products they sell. Even non-prescription medications and foods can be inappropriate or dangerous when purchased from a source that does not know your pet and cannot explain risks, hazards and proper usage to you. We have an online pharmacy through this website, where we control the products and can personally back up what is sold.
It is the exam. It isn't often that a pet is presented for "just shots" and actually has no other problems.
-My friend gets her pet's shots at a local vaccine clinic at a retail store and pays much less for them than I do. Is there a reason?
Vaccine clinics held in retail stores with low "overall" prices, only include a cursory examination. At Ridgefield Animal Hospital we do full physical exams to find illness, prior to the animal showing signs.
-The internet's "Dr. Google" is the best source for all information related to my pet, right?
Chose your sites wisely, and ask your veterinarian for their opinion as they know you and your pet's particular situation. A trustworthy source is www.healthypet.com provided by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA)
-The Internet, other pharmacies and national store chains are a great source for purchasing inexpensive medications.
They are especially fast to say they have a "Money back Satisfaction Guarantee" but be sure that they will back the products they sell. Even non-prescription medications and foods can be inappropriate or dangerous when purchased from a source that does not know your pet and cannot explain risks, hazards and proper usage to you. We have an online pharmacy through this website, where we control the products and can personally back up what is sold.