A Gold-Standard Care

Individualized and progressive medicine.

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Puppy & Kitten Care

Congratulations! Adding a new puppy or kitten to your family is an exciting event with many fulfilling years of special companionship ahead of you. Puppies and kittens come with a lot of responsibility though, and that’s why we at Scripps Ranch Veterinary Hospital are here to help you care for the new addition to your family.
It’s important to get new pets familiar with our veterinary hospital from a young age and bring your puppy or kitten in for a full nose-to-tail exam. There are numerous topics to be aware of and discuss, including vaccinations, nutrition, behavioral training, and socialization, among others. Call us today and we can give you all the information you need to care for your puppy or kitten.
We are so happy that you have found another member of your family, and we are excited to meet them!
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Wellness Exams

Your pet’s health is always our number one priority, which is why for most pets we recommend annual wellness exams to ensure that your animal companion remains in good health. If your pet is a senior — over seven for dogs, over nine for cats — we strongly suggest twice-yearly exams and blood screenings. That’s because pets age more rapidly than humans, meaning disease and illness develop faster as well.
Scripps Ranch Veterinary Hospital’s veterinarian-performed physical exams comprehensively assess every aspect of your pet’s health. Wellness exams typically include:
  • Ear exam
  • Eye exam
  • Rectal exam
  • Dental exam
  • Skeletal exam
  • Reproductive system exam
  • Internal health evaluation
  • Neurological evaluation
  • Cardiovascular evaluation
  • Nutrition consultation
  • Behavior counseling
Taking care of your precious pet’s health starts with a thorough veterinary exam. To schedule an appointment for your pet, call us at 858-549-4300.
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Senior Wellness

It can be hard to admit when we see the signs of old age in our animal companions, but the fact is that most dogs are considered seniors when they hit seven, cats around nine. Pets age much more rapidly than humans, which means diseases and illness progress quicker as well.
To ensure that your pet has the longest, healthiest, most comfortable life possible, Scripps Ranch Veterinary Hospital encourages you to bring your senior pet for exams and blood tests twice each year. This way, we can track how your pet is aging, and we’ll be more likely to catch any developing diseases before they’re big problems.
Blood tests are one of the most important parts of a senior exam. These blood screenings — often referred to as a “senior panel” — monitor red and white blood cell counts and reveal how well the kidney, liver, pancreas, and thyroid are functioning. Your vet may recommend a chest X-ray to ensure that the heart is a normal size and that there are no masses in the lungs.
Periodontal disease is always a threat to our pets health and comfort, and it’s particularly tough on older pets. That’s why a dental exam is always part of any senior pet screening as well.
Finally, make sure to let your vet know about any behavior changes in your pet. Once dogs and cat get to the geriatric stage, monitoring for signs of cognitive dysfunction — such as losing housebreaking, getting lost or wandering aimlessly — is very important.
To schedule a wellness exam for your senior pet, call us at 858-549-4300.
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Pet Nutrition

Ever heard the expression “you are what you eat”? Well the same is true for our pets. A nutrition-rich diet is your pet’s first line of defense and a cornerstone of preventive care. Proper daily nutrition will go a long way in keeping your pet healthy by bolstering the immune system and supporting normal development in younger animals.
Every pet’s nutritional needs are different, based on age, breed, health conditions, and lifestyle factors — which can make choosing the right pet food complicated. At Scripps Ranch Veterinary Hospital our veterinarians and staff can take the guesswork out of feeding your pets by advising you about what’s right for your animal.
Have questions or concerns about what your pet is eating? Call us at 858-549-4300.
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Laser Therapy

Consider it the “non-cutting” edge of veterinary science! Laser therapy is an innovative technology used to treat acute and chronic injuries. This non-invasive treatment stimulates cell regeneration by increasing blood flow to the targeted area, which accelerates the healing process. It has been successfully used to accelerate the healing process after surgery, alleviate joint pain, and treat degenerative diseases.
How it works
Low-level or “cold” laser therapy focuses red and infrared light on tissue at and below the surface of the skin. The light energizes the cells, producing a structural protein called collagen used to repair tissue. Lasers continue the healing process by supporting vascular dilation and synthesis, increasing blood circulation to the affected region. The stimulation also releases the body’s own pain-relieving hormones.
The process generally takes between 5-10 minutes, with most patients seeing positive effects after 3-5 uses. The treatment continues to relieve pain and fight inflammation for up to 24 hours following the session.
Conditions improved with laser therapy:
  • Hip dysplasia
  • Post-surgical incisions and soft-tissue trauma
  • Arthritis and degenerative joint disease
  • Musculoskeletal injuries
  • Neuromuscular disease
Laser therapy is normally combined with other types of veterinary medicine including pharmaceutical regimens and alternative treatments. The broad biochemical benefits and lack of adverse side effects have made laser therapy the preferred post-operative rehab method in veterinary medicine.
If you would like to know more about laser therapy and if it could benefit your pet, contact us at 858-549-4300.
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Vaccinations

Young animals are like kids — it’s a never-ending job to keep them safe and happy. Vaccinating your pet is a relatively inexpensive but very important way to protect his or her health. In addition to preventing many life-threatening illnesses, vaccinations can prevent diseases prevalent in wildlife, as well as those that can be passed to humans. It’s important to administer vaccinations when pets are puppies and kittens because their young immune systems are still developing and need protection to stay healthy.
While any medical treatment involves some degree of risk, in the case of vaccinations, the benefits far outweigh any potential side effects. Adverse reactions are rare and usually mild and short-term when they do occur.
Which vaccines should your pet have? “Core” vaccines are those recommended — and possibly mandated by law — for most pets. Core vaccines include:
Scripps Ranch Veterinary Hospital Radiology Services
  • Rabies (dogs and cats)
  • DA2PPV – Distemper, Hepatitis, Adenovirus 2, Parvo and Parainfluenza (dogs)
  • FVRCP – Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, and Panleukopenia (cats)
Other non-core, but highly suggested vaccinations for cats include FIV for feline immunodeficiency virus and FeLV to protect against feline leukemia. For dogs, bordetella and canine influenza shots are recommended if they frequent dog parks, boarding kennels, or any place where they’re socializing with other canines.
It’s also important to note that even pets who live primarily indoors should be vaccinated, as they can still be exposed to a disease. Your Scripps Ranch Veterinary Hospital veterinarian can advise you which vaccinations are required or recommended for your pet based on age, health, and lifestyle. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call us at 858-549-4300.
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Parasite Prevention

Fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes aren’t just a summer problem! Warming temperatures mean year-round prevention is key to making sure your pet is protected from these pests or the diseases they may carry. Don’t overlook the problems they can cause: Fleas often trigger dermatitis, tapeworm, and hot spots; one tick bite can transmit numerous dangerous diseases; and mosquitoes carry potentially deadly heartworm.
In addition to preventive medications, you should thoroughly check your pets for fleas and ticks on a daily basis if they’ve been outdoors. Although fleas and ticks can be anywhere on your pet’s body, they prefer posting up near the head, ears, neck, and paws. You can spot evidence of fleas if you notice little black specks that resemble pepper or bits of dirt.
Both the incidence of Lyme disease from tick bites and heartworm from mosquitoes are on the rise around the country. Lyme disease is rarely fatal, but heartworm is more so because often there are no symptoms until the disease is well advanced. While there is treatment for dogs, it can be expensive and very hard on your pet.
Prevention is always the best treatment! We carry many different types of flea, tick and heartworm preventive, and your Scripps Ranch Veterinary Hospital veterinarian can help you choose which one is right for your pet. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call us at 858-549-4300.
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Microchipping

One of the worst feelings to experience as a pet owner is a realization that your pet has gone missing. After this, only 17% of dogs and 2% of cats make it back to their owners — which can make it feel like you’ll never see your pet again if they get lost.
Scripps Ranch Veterinary Hospital wants to encourage you to consider microchipping your pet, even if they live entirely indoors — because even indoor pets can escape and become lost. Unlike collars and tags, microchips can’t fall off, and they serve as permanent identification for a pet’s entire life. Microchips are also rated for 25 years, meaning they never need to be removed or recharged during your pet’s lifetime.
Microchipping a pet is simple, relatively painless, and very affordable. Once implanted, authorities only need to scan the chip to locate your information. But remember: a microchip is only useful if your contact information is updated.
Scripps Ranch Veterinary Hospital believes microchipping is the safest, most effective method of pet recovery available, helping reunite more than 15,000 lost pets to their owners every month. To get your pet “chipped”, request an appointment online or call us at 858-549-4300.
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Pain Management

Pain is a terrible thing. When our pets are in pain, so are we. It’s an awful feeling to know that your special friend is hurting, especially when there isn’t anything you can do to help them. At Scripps Ranch Veterinary Hospital, we strive to alleviate as much pain and discomfort in our patients as possible. This means providing top-notch pain management in order to provide your pet with the highest quality care, both reactive and anticipatory. When procedures have the potential for future pain, we plan for and around this from a pain management perspective. In addition, we work with pet owners to educate them on how to recognize signs of pain in your pet before the poor thing becomes overwhelmed.
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Pharmacy

Scripps Ranch Veterinary Hospital is proud to have a fully stocked in-house pharmacy where you can purchase your pet’s medications, flea, tick, and heartworm preventives, and prescription diets. When you buy directly from us, prescriptions can be filled right on site, and you can be sure of their safety and effectiveness. Also, your purchase is logged in your pet’s medical record, so our veterinarian knows your pet is getting the correct medication.
Beyond this, the manufacturers of many parasite preventives specify that their products only be sold directly by veterinarians. This is so product guarantees remain intact and ensures that manufacturers pay 100% of the diagnosis and necessary treatment of adverse reactions or product defects.
We hope you appreciate our level of care and invite you to call us if you have any questions or concerns.
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Hospice & Euthanasia

It’s never easy to say goodbye to a beloved pet, and we want to help make that difficult time more manageable by providing compassionate hospice and euthanasia services for your pet. For hospice care, we’ll work with you to see that your pet’s pain is managed and that he or she is as comfortable as possible until it’s time to say goodbye. When you’re ready to make that decision, our veterinarians will be with you every step of the way, and our staff can help with recommendations for aftercare.
We know it won’t be an easy call to make, but please don’t hesitate to reach out to us if we can assist you with end-of-life care for your pet. We will be with you every step of the way and work to accommodate any special requests you may have.
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