At Fullerton Animal Hospital in Baltimore, we take care of your pets in many ways. From regular check-ups to pet surgery of all types, we strive to meet your pet care needs. Our veterinarians work in all areas of animal care including internal medicine, pet neurology, pet oncology, pet vision care, pet dental care, and orthopedic surgery. We are also experienced in providing Baltimore spay and neuter procedures. Our skilled staff of veterinarians is prepared to discuss the advantages of spaying or neutering your pet and answer any questions you may have.

Spay and Neuter Pet Surgery: Why It's Important

Our veterinary staff gives several of the reasons why spay or neuter surgery is so important.  Below are the 3 top benefits to spaying or neutering your pet.

1. Reduce the unwanted pet population. Spay or neuter surgery will stop your animal from reproducing. Since the unwanted pet population is already very high, it is simply not worth the risk of having your pet add to the ranks of the homeless shelter pets today. Many people are surprised to learn that a good amount of the animals that end up in shelters and rescues are the offspring of domesticated dogs and cats.

2. Health benefits for your dog or cat. Your pet's health can also benefit from spay or neuter surgery. A female pet who has been spayed has a lower risk of mammary tumors and uterine infections. A male pet who has been neutered has a lower risk for enlarged prostate, prostate tumors, and infection.

3. Spayed or neutered pets are happier pets, and their behavior shows it. A dog or cat who has been spayed or neutered will have all-around calmer and better behavior and will be far less apt to try to roam around the neighborhood at every opportunity. The instincts to mate are lessened, as are tendencies toward aggressive behavior.

What other benefits can you think of to spay or neuter pets?

Vaccinations Protect Baltimore Pets

Our Baltimore pet vaccinations keep pets and people safe from many painful, even deadly diseases. Rabies is the most infamous of these diseases, and the reason we encounter so few cases today is due to the success of animal vaccine laws throughout the country. In fact Maryland state law requires all cats, dogs and ferrets above the age of four months to be vaccinated against rabies. Aside from rabies, however, there are several vaccinations to be aware of that prevent serious illnesses in our pets.

Shots are Pet Care Basics for All Pets

Here in the 21236 zip code, we vaccinate our patients for a number of diseases along with rabies. Distemper, Bordetella (kennel cough), and even canine flu are the most common examples. Like rabies, some shots are required by law in certain areas, but depending on the pet’s situation, others may also be recommended. Pets that travel, visit dog parks or stay at kennels frequently may benefit from other immunizations as well. Ensuring that your pet is current on his shots is a critical part of preventative pet care.

During the vaccination process, the veterinarian will inject a small amount of serum containing either dead or inactive components of a virus or bacteria under the pet’s skin. The pet’s immune system identifies these dead or weakened diseases as invaders and builds up an arsenal of antibodies specifically designed to attack that disease. That way, if the pet comes into contact with the same live, active germs in the future, its body is ready to neutralize the invader before it causes a pet emergency.

So one of the best pieces of advice we can give a family to avoid a preventable trip to the emergency vet is to come in and have a pet’s shots and records updated. We recommend pet owners talk to our veterinarians about other vaccines that may provide necessary protection for their pet’s situation. To keep your pet and family healthy and safe, call us today for an appointment.

What treat do you give your pet for being good during their shots?

Puppy Proofing Your Baltimore Home:
A Puppy Care Must!

Just like toddlers, puppies possess boundless curiosity that can sometimes get them into trouble, so it is important to puppy proof your home. Puppy proofing your home involves removing possible dangers an investigative puppy may encounter before bringing the little guy home. Our Baltimore veterinarian urges prospective puppy owners to get down on their hands and knees and look around their homes at puppy-level, keeping in mind that the puppy will grow! This is just as critical an element of preventative puppy care as vaccinations, and can prevent an emergency dash to the pet hospital.

Puppy Proofing Prevents Unnecessary Trips
to the Veterinary Hospital

Our veterinary hospital staff recommends keeping an eye out for the following dangers while crawling around the house puppy style:

Electrical cords: To prevent electrocution and burns, wrap up, hide and secure these as much as possible.

Cleaners, paints, and medicines: Place these high out of reach, or in locked cabinets. Also watch for anti-freeze on the driveway. Puppies like the smell, but licking it can kill them.

Garbage cans: These can contain all manner of things that should be kept away from puppy, so make sure they are tall, out of reach, and have secure-fitting lids.

Small, sharp objects, toys, etc: Coins, needles, strings, socks and all kinds of toys can choke a puppy, or cause a dangerous intestinal blockage or internal bleeding.

People food: Chocolate, onions, grapes, raisins and macadamia nuts can be fatally toxic to dogs, so make sure to store these where puppies and grown dogs cannot reach them.

Poisonous plants: Watch for these inside and outside, and keep them away from the puppy as much as possible.

As they say, an ounce of prevention equals a pound of cure, and this list is a good starting point for puppy proofing your home to keep your new little buddy safe and healthy.

And we have a question for families who have raised a puppy: are there any puppy proofing ideas we didn't mention? What kinds of things did your new puppy get into?

Welcome to our Fullerton Animal Hospital Blog

If you need an animal hospital in the Baltimore and 21236 zip code area, we welcome you to Fullerton Animal Hospital. Our experienced team of veterinarians offers your pets caring and personal service. Our veterinary hospital provides referrals for after hours urgent issues should an emergency ever arise and your pet needs immediate attention. Should you come to us during office hours with a sick pet, we work hard to determine a diagnosis within a half an hour.

Comprehensive Services at Our Veterinary Hospital

Fullerton Animal Hospital focuses on being both a preventative care and a full service animal hospital facility. Our experienced vet team will work to provide your pet with comprehensive care, no matter the illness or condition. Additionally, we refer pet owners experiencing pet emergencies and critical care issues to local emergency facilities. Common emergencies include pets ingesting foods or objects that are toxic, car accidents, and bodily trauma. Call our office right away in the case of an emergency for a referral.

Our Baltimore animal hospital offers wellness care and procedures to keep your pet healthy and happy. Our team of six veterinarians helps us provide a range of services including cardiology, oncology and ophthalmology. Since your pet's teeth are important to his health and well-being, our animal hospital also provides professional dental services. Several of our vets are trained and skilled in internal medicine and pet ultrasound as well. Our animal hospital offers on-site laboratory tests for pets in the 21236 zip code. If your pet should ever need blood work or imaging such as X-rays, our staff will work to get you the results quickly.

At Fullerton Animal Hospital, our vets do not only treat cats and dogs. Some of our vets also offer preventative care and treatments for pocket pets such as hamsters and gerbils as well as rabbits and ferrets. If you are the proud owner of such a pet, consult one of our vets about preventative care to keep your rabbit, ferret or pocket pet healthy.

Do you have questions about our services? What topics would you like to see covered in upcoming blogs?