Welcoming a puppy to your home is always exciting! But along with the toys and cuddles, it’s also important to make puppy training a top priority. Obedience training is essential for teaching your puppy how to properly behave and communicate with you, other people, and other animals. These training tips for young dogs can provide a great starting point to help you training your new puppy: Start as Early as Possible  You may want to spend the first few days and nights snuggling up to your new puppy, but it’s important to start puppy training as soon as you welcome your new pet home. The s ..read more

We are no strangers to danger noodle encounters at Rocklin Ranch Veterinary Hospital, and we want to make sure you know how to keep your pets safe from their hurt juice. Although we see many different types of sneks in the Rocklin area, danger noodles are the ultimate bad tube dudes. They slither, rattle, and tell you to back off with their teeth first. If you and your pupper or meow meow come face to face with a danger noodle, be sure to do the following: No Touching Sneks might have very boopable faces, but you need to remember to avoid touching them at all costs. If you or your doggo try t ..read more

Summer is the time for relaxing in your yard, hosting BBQs, and marveling over fireworks. Unfortunately, it’s also a time of year when pets tend to go missing after they escape from their homes or yards. It only takes a split second for your pet to scoot out a gate left open by the gardener, or to dig under (or jump!) a fence when scared by fireworks. For these reasons and more, we’re going to explore the world of pet microchips, and give you some tips to make them even more effective if your pet already has one. Lost Pets Surveys show that one in three pets will go missing in their lifetimes ..read more

As humans, dental hygiene is pretty important. Daily brushing, flossing, mouthwash, and periodic dentist visits are on most of our to-do lists. When it comes to our canine companions, though, dental care seems to fall down the list of importance. Contrary to popular belief, bad doggy breath is not the norm! Dog dental care is essential, and Rocklin Ranch Veterinary Hospital wants to be sure your pup has primo care.  Why Dog Dental Care? Most pet owners ignore their dog’s teeth and wait until there is significant disease in the mouth before acting. At this point, though, periodontal disea ..read more

Most, if not all, pets enjoy their food and relish meal times. This doesn’t mean that they savor every bite, however. Instead, a common reaction to a bowl of food is to simply inhale it without appearing to chew even a morsel of it. This is true for pets of all ages, but if your puppy eats too fast, he could actually face serious health consequences.  A Look at Behavior Perhaps the best explanation for why a puppy eats too fast is because they have (or previously had) competition. Sure, they’re also hungry and are motivated by the oh-so-good feeling in their tummy when full. But is it ju ..read more

Heartworm is one of those diseases you don’t ever want your dog or cat to get. When a pet has heartworms, long, noodle-like worms quite literally live in their heart. Treating the disease can be a grueling process for your dog—and you. The best way to treat heartworms is to prevent your dog or cat from getting them in the first place. April is Heartworm Awareness Month, which gives us the perfect opportunity to share some of the things we want you to know about this disease.  What is Heartworm?  Heartworm is a parasite called Dirofilaria immitis. Dogs are a natural host for this par ..read more

Every pet needs plenty of TLC, quality veterinary care, and a healthy diet. But finding a food that checks all the boxes—nutritious, delicious, and within budget—can be overwhelming. There are more options now than ever before, with new brands, specialty diets, and textures, and even refrigerated foods for both cats and dogs.   At Rocklin Ranch Veterinary Hospital, we’re here to help you find the foods that best meet the needs of your pet’s breed and age, while taking into consideration any medical conditions or lifestyle factors. We’re happy to provide nutritional guidance during y ..read more

If you are like most dog owners, it takes patience, time, and repetition when you begin to train a puppy or even an adult dog. The challenges of cleaning up accidents, the constant struggle to redirect your pet from spraying the couch, and the ongoing time and skills to teach basic commands are the things that you deal with. Without a doubt, house training your dog is not for the faint of heart! But once you and your pet have established the basics of house training, the positive effects can last a lifetime. This is why your team at Rocklin Ranch Veterinary Hospital wants to give you the ..read more

You take super good care of your pets, anticipate their every need, and yet, you have a nagging sensation that you could be doing something better. Perhaps it’s because they give so much to you and your family, it seems like you’ll always come up short in repayment. Don’t worry. There are always little things that pet owners can do that have a big impact on their pet’s well-being. If you want to improve your pet’s health in the new year, we’ve got you covered.  You Make Me So Happy! Your pet delivers love, affection, and devotion without any conditions. As a result, it’s only natural tha ..read more

If constant head twitching and ear scratching has the fur flying in your house, ear mites could be to blame. These teeny weeny creepy crawlies feast on ear wax (ew!) and are highly contagious between dogs, cats, rabbits, and ferrets. Your pet can pick up this pest outdoors, at the kennel or groomer, or from another pet in the house. Read on for the nitty gritty on ear mites, plus treatment tips from our team at Rocklin Ranch Veterinary Hospital.  Ear Mites Up Close If you could keep your cat from squirming long enough to hold a powerful magnifying glass up to her ear, you might be able t ..read more