With the holidays rapidly approaching, you may consider giving your friend, partner or children a pet as a gift. At Churchland Animal Clinic, our veterinary clinic in Portsmouth, Virginia, we recommend against giving pets as gifts. While a dog or cat may be great fun at first, after a few weeks or months, the novelty will wear off and the new pet owner may not be prepared for the responsibility. New pet owners may not be prepared to schedule appointments with the veterinarian, feed the pet, or pay for the necessary vaccinations.

Pet's Health Comes First, Says the Veterinarian

Our Portsmouth veterinarian would like to remind you that the health of the pet should be your primary concern. When you give a pet as a gift, especially as a surprise gift, you may not be considering the pet's overall health and wellness, but rather the joy on the potential pet owner's face when he discovers the gift.

If you give a pet, such as a large dog or a finicky cat to a person who is ill-prepared to care for her, you put the pet at risk. A child may neglect to feed or walk his new dog while an elderly person may struggle to keep the dog under control. Many gifted pets end up in shelters after the holidays because their new owners were unable to care for them. Worse still, some pets end up abandoned.

Even if you pick out a shelter pet, the costs of keeping the pet may be too expensive for the receiver. He'll have to pay for trips to the veterinary clinic as well as to spay and neuter the pet if that hasn't already occurred. In addition to visits to the animal vet clinic if the pet becomes ills, the owner will have to pay for food and grooming for his new pet.

At Churchland Animal Clinic, we are truly ‘committed to caring for your companions,’ and we want to help you make good choices for your pets. If you have any questions about pet care or pet health in general, please give us a call.

Instead of giving a pet as a gift this holiday season, what alternatives can you think of?

Caring for a new kitten or puppy is a big responsibility. It entails more than just setting out bowls of food and water. Conscientious pet owners understand the importance of creating wellness plans for their pets. So does the veterinary staff at Churchland Animal Clinic in Portsmouth. Unlike many veterinary hospitals that focus solely on emergency treatments, our animal hospital places equal emphasis on preventative care. We want your puppies and kittens to grow into happy, healthy adults. It's why we offer wellness plans for both puppies and kittens. And it's why every veterinarian on our staff is equally committed to the long-term health of your pets.

We invite pet owners from the Chesapeake, Hampton Roads, Tidewater, and Suffolk areas to visit our animal vet clinic to determine if our puppy and kitten wellness plans are for them.

Four Wellness Strategies for Pets

The veterinarians at our animal hospital recommend four top wellness strategies to keep your puppies and kittens healthy. These strategies form the basis of our kitten and puppy wellness plans.

Proper care starts with core vaccinations. As a pet owner, it is your responsibility to make sure your dog or cat receives the vaccinations it needs to fend off disease and live a happy life. Secondly, it's vitally important for pet owners to have their dogs or cats spayed or neutered. This not only protects their own animals, it prevents the population of cats and dogs from growing too quickly.

We also recommend pet owners have their puppies or kittens implanted with microchip identification. These chips significantly boost the odds that you will find your puppy or kitten quickly if it should become lost. The microchips are a key health factor: Puppies and kittens are not adept at living on their own. They can quickly become injured or sick if they remain lost from their families.

Finally, every veterinarian at our Portsmouth animal clinic recommends that you feed your puppy and kitten a healthy diet — no table scraps, please — and regularly check its teeth.

What measures do you think pet owners need to take to guarantee their pets are healthy for both the short-term and the long-term?

Churchland Animal Clinic Introduces
Blog to Discuss All Things Pets

Churchland Animal Clinic is located in Portsmouth, VA near the border of Chesapeake. Because of our location, our animal vet clinic is able to assist pet owners in the surrounding communities as well, including Suffolk, Newport News, Hampton, Norfolk and Virginia Beach.

We have strived to maintain quality veterinary care in Portsmouth since 1968. We are AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association) accredited and our veterinary hospital is dedicated to providing the highest level of treatment and healthcare for the pets seen at our animal hospital. Our staff is "committed to caring for your companions" and we seek to ensure that the services provided meet all necessary pet care needs.

Pet Health and Prevention at our Veterinary Clinic in Portsmouth

Our animal hospital has several wellness plans that include scheduled vaccinations and spay and neuter services. We also provide preventative medications for common diseases such as heartworm and health care products for the treatment of fleas and ticks. Refills of prescriptions can be ordered through our website and any questions regarding the health of your pet can be answered by any one of our well-skilled and well-trained staff members. Another preventative service we offer at our clinic is dental cleanings to promote oral hygiene.

Are you planning to go out of town for a few days? Our veterinary hospital offers boarding for pets. Our caring staff provides gentle care and attention to make your pet feel like they are right at home. A few additional services at our full-service animal vet clinic are nutritional and behavioral counseling for your pet. With the guidance from one of our veterinarians, we can help you determine a healthy diet and homecare plan for your pet to ensure its comfort and well-being.

We cover all areas of care for pet owners. We want our veterinary hospital to exceed the expectations of any medical attention that your pet may need. We will address such topics as healthcare, maintenance and general well-being of your pet. We are happy to supply answers for you through our blog updates.

Do you have questions about our services or pet care? We are ready to hear them!