Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions about your pet’s care or visiting Altitude Animal Hospital? We’re here to help. Explore answers to common questions about our veterinary services, preventive care, diagnostics, surgery, dentistry, grooming, and more.
What You Need to Know as a Pet Parent
At Altitude Animal Hospital, we believe that informed pet parents make the best decisions for their furry companions. Below, we’ve answered some of the most common questions we receive. If you don’t find what you’re looking for, feel free to give us a call—we’re always happy to help!
What veterinary services does Altitude Animal Hospital offer in Highlands Ranch, CO?
Altitude Animal Hospital is a full-service veterinary hospital providing comprehensive care for dogs and cats in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. Our services include wellness and preventive care, vaccinations, dental care, in-house diagnostics and labwork, digital X-rays and ultrasound, soft-tissue and orthopedic surgery, senior pet care, microchipping, grooming, end-of-life care, and specialized services such as PennHIP and OFA evaluations. Our team focuses on personalized, thorough care designed around each pet’s individual needs.
Are you accepting new veterinary patients?
What areas does Altitude Animal Hospital serve?
Altitude Animal Hospital is located in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, and welcomes pet families from Highlands Ranch, Littleton, Centennial, and surrounding South Denver communities. We provide comprehensive veterinary care for dogs and cats throughout every stage of life.
What should I expect at my pet’s first appointment?
Your pet’s first visit gives us an opportunity to get to know both you and your pet. Our veterinary team will review your pet’s medical history, discuss any current concerns, perform a comprehensive physical exam, and recommend preventive care or additional testing based on your pet’s age, lifestyle, and individual needs. Bringing previous veterinary records, medication information, and vaccination history can help us provide the most complete care.
How often should my dog or cat have a wellness exam?
Most healthy adult dogs and cats benefit from a veterinary wellness exam at least once a year. Puppies, kittens, senior pets, and pets with chronic medical conditions may need more frequent visits. Routine exams allow your veterinarian to monitor changes over time, keep preventive care up to date, and identify potential health concerns before they become more serious
What vaccines does my dog or cat need in Colorado?
Your pet’s recommended vaccines depend on their age, lifestyle, health history, and potential exposure to disease. Core vaccines are generally recommended for most dogs and cats, while additional vaccines may be appropriate for pets that spend time outdoors, travel, board, visit dog parks, or have other lifestyle-related risks. Our veterinarians can create an individualized vaccination plan based on your pet’s needs and lifestyle in Colorado.
Does my pet need flea, tick, and heartworm prevention in Colorado?
Preventive care is still important for Colorado pets. Fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, and the diseases they can transmit can pose risks depending on your pet’s lifestyle, travel, and exposure. Rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach, our veterinary team can recommend parasite prevention based on your dog or cat’s individual risk factors.
What is a pet microchip, why is it necessary, and does Altitude Animal Hospital offer microchipping?
A microchip is a tiny form of permanent identification placed just under your pet’s skin. Unlike a collar or ID tag, a microchip can’t fall off or become separated from your pet.
If a lost pet is brought to a veterinary hospital, animal shelter, or animal control facility, staff can scan the pet for a microchip. The scanner reads the chip’s unique identification number, which can then be used to locate the pet owner’s contact information through a microchip registry. This means that even a veterinary clinic your pet has never visited before may be able to identify them and help reunite them with you.
It’s important to know that a microchip is not a GPS tracker and does not show your pet’s location. It works as a permanent form of identification, so keeping your contact information current with your pet’s microchip registry is essential.
Altitude Animal Hospital offers microchipping for dogs and cats and can help answer questions about your pet’s microchip or registration.
Do you offer bloodwork, X-rays, and ultrasound for pets?
Yes. Altitude Animal Hospital offers in-house laboratory testing, digital X-rays, and ultrasound to help our veterinary team evaluate a wide range of health concerns. Our diagnostic capabilities include bloodwork, urinalysis, fecal testing, cytology, heartworm and tick-borne disease testing, and pre-anesthetic testing. Having access to diagnostic tools helps our team gather important information about your pet’s health and determine appropriate next steps.
When should my dog or cat have bloodwork done?
Bloodwork is often recommended as part of preventive care, before anesthesia or surgery, when your pet is sick, or to monitor an ongoing medical condition or medication. Routine labwork can also help establish a healthy baseline and identify changes that may not be obvious during a physical exam. Your veterinarian may recommend testing based on your pet’s age, symptoms, and health history.
How do I know if my dog or cat needs a dental cleaning?
Bad breath, visible tartar, red or bleeding gums, drooling, difficulty chewing, dropping food, or pawing at the mouth can be signs of dental disease. However, dental problems can also develop below the gumline without obvious symptoms. Regular oral exams allow your veterinarian to evaluate your pet’s teeth and gums and determine when professional dental cleaning or additional treatment may be appropriate.
Why does my pet need anesthesia for a dental cleaning?
Anesthesia allows a veterinary team to safely and thoroughly examine and clean your pet’s entire mouth, including areas below the gumline where periodontal disease commonly develops. It also allows dental X-rays and necessary treatments to be performed while minimizing pain, stress, and movement. Altitude Animal Hospital uses individualized anesthesia protocols and monitoring based on each patient’s health and needs.
My pet is older or has a health condition. Is anesthesia safe for a dental procedure?
Age or an existing health condition does not automatically mean your pet cannot safely receive anesthesia. Every pet is different, which is why our veterinary team evaluates your pet’s overall health and individual risk factors before recommending a dental procedure.
For senior pets or pets with conditions such as heart disease, we may recommend additional testing or precautions before anesthesia. This can include a physical exam, pre-anesthetic bloodwork, an individualized anesthesia plan, and careful monitoring throughout the procedure. If we identify a concern such as a heart murmur or arrhythmia, additional evaluation or consultation with a veterinary specialist may be recommended before moving forward.
If anesthesia is not appropriate for your pet, our team will discuss the safest next steps for managing their dental and overall health. Our goal is to balance the benefits of treating dental disease with your pet’s individual medical needs and safety.
What types of veterinary surgery does Altitude Animal Hospital perform?
Altitude Animal Hospital provides a range of soft-tissue and orthopedic surgical procedures for dogs and cats. Depending on your pet’s condition, our team can evaluate whether surgery can be performed at our hospital or whether referral to a specialist would be the most appropriate option. We use individualized anesthesia protocols, patient monitoring, pain management, and post-operative care to support pets throughout the surgical process.
Does Altitude Animal Hospital perform orthopedic surgery for dogs?
Yes. Altitude Animal Hospital offers orthopedic surgical care for certain conditions affecting dogs’ bones, joints, and ligaments. Procedures may include fracture repair, stabilization for luxating patellas, and treatment of certain cruciate ligament injuries. Our veterinary team will evaluate your dog’s condition and discuss the treatment or referral options most appropriate for their individual needs.
When is a dog or cat considered a senior pet?
There isn’t one exact age when every pet becomes a senior. A pet’s size, breed, species, and overall health all influence how they age. As dogs and cats enter their senior years, more frequent exams and diagnostic testing may be recommended to monitor changes in their health and identify age-related conditions earlier.
When is my pet considered a senior, and how often should senior pets see a veterinarian?
At Altitude Animal Hospital, we generally consider dogs and cats age 6 and older to be senior pets. While every pet ages differently based on factors such as breed, size, lifestyle, and overall health, pets can begin experiencing age-related changes even when they still look and act healthy. For senior pets, we recommend a comprehensive veterinary exam every six months, or twice a year. Because pets age more quickly than people, six-month exams give our veterinary team more opportunities to identify subtle changes in your pet’s weight, mobility, dental health, behavior, organ function, and overall well-being. Regular exams, along with recommended bloodwork and other preventive screenings, can help detect potential health concerns earlier and allow us to make adjustments to keep your pet healthy and comfortable as they age.
What signs mean my senior pet should see a veterinarian?
Changes in appetite, thirst, weight, mobility, energy, sleep, behavior, bathroom habits, or breathing can warrant a veterinary evaluation, particularly in an older pet. New lumps, persistent coughing, difficulty getting up, confusion, or changes in your pet’s normal routine are also worth discussing with your veterinarian. Because pets often hide discomfort, subtle changes can provide important clues about their health.
What is PennHIP testing, and when should my dog have it?
PennHIP is a specialized screening method used to evaluate hip joint laxity and help assess a dog’s risk for developing hip dysplasia. It may be recommended for certain breeds, young dogs at increased risk for hip problems, or dogs being evaluated for breeding. Altitude Animal Hospital offers PennHIP evaluations and can help determine whether this type of screening is appropriate for your dog.
Can you check my dog for hip or joint problems before they show symptoms?
Yes. Altitude Animal Hospital offers specialized health screenings that can help identify certain inherited joint and orthopedic problems, including hip and elbow dysplasia. One of these screenings is called an OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) evaluation. During an OFA evaluation, our veterinary team takes specific X-rays that can be reviewed to assess how your dog’s hips, elbows, or other joints are developing. This can be especially helpful for breeds that are more likely to develop joint problems, dogs being considered for breeding, or pet owners who simply want to better understand their dog’s orthopedic health before obvious symptoms appear. Our team can help you determine whether this type of screening would be beneficial for your dog based on their breed, age, health history, and lifestyle.
Does Altitude Animal Hospital offer it Orthopedic Foundation for Animal (OFA) testing?
Yes. Altitude Animal Hospital offers OFA evaluations to help assess orthopedic health and screen for certain inherited conditions. OFA testing is commonly used by breeders evaluating hip and elbow health, but it may also provide useful information for other dog owners concerned about orthopedic health. Our team can help explain the appropriate screening process for your dog.
What’s the difference between PennHIP and OFA testing for my dog?
PennHIP and OFA evaluations are both tools veterinarians can use to learn more about your dog’s joint health, but they serve slightly different purposes.PennHIP testing focuses specifically on the hips and measures how loose the hip joints are, which can help identify a dog’s risk for developing hip dysplasia. One benefit of PennHIP is that it can be performed relatively early in a dog’s life, making it useful for owners of breeds that are prone to hip problems or anyone who wants to be proactive about their dog’s long-term hip health.
OFA evaluations can be used to assess multiple areas of orthopedic health, including the hips and elbows. They are commonly used to screen for inherited joint conditions and are especially relevant for dogs being considered for breeding. They can also be helpful for pet owners who want additional information about their dog’s joint health based on their breed, family history, or other risk factors.
Not sure which screening your dog needs? Our veterinary team can recommend the most appropriate option based on your dog’s age, breed, lifestyle, and individual risk factors.
Does Altitude Animal Hospital offer dog and cat grooming in Highlands Ranch?
Yes. Altitude Animal Hospital offers professional grooming services for both dogs and cats. Grooming services can help support your pet’s skin, coat, nail, and overall hygiene needs, and having grooming available within a veterinary hospital provides additional support for pets with medical or mobility considerations.
Can you groom senior pet or anxious pets?
Yes. Altitude Animal Hospital’s grooming team works with pets of different ages, temperaments, and medical needs, including senior pets, pets with mobility challenges, and pets that experience fear or anxiety during grooming. Because grooming takes place within our veterinary hospital, medical support is available when needed. For some pets, veterinarian-supervised sedation may be considered after an exam and individualized assessment.
How do I know when it may be time to consider end-of-life care for my pet?
Deciding when to consider end-of-life care is deeply personal, and you do not have to navigate the decision alone. Changes in pain, mobility, appetite, breathing, hygiene, interaction, and your pet’s ability to enjoy their normal activities can all be important considerations when assessing quality of life. Our veterinary team can help evaluate your pet’s comfort, discuss available options, and provide compassionate guidance based on their individual condition.
How can I schedule an appointment at Altitude Animal Hospital?
You can directly book an appointment with Altitude Animal Hospital online, anytime, using our convenient booking tool (link) or contact our team directly by calling for assistance. If you are unsure what type of appointment your pet needs, our team can help determine the appropriate next step based on your pet’s history and needs.