Animal Hospital of the Rockies
Frequently Asked Questions
- How often does my cat (or dog) need shots?
- Your pet should have a routine health exam once a year, regardless of whether shots are needed. The vaccines we recommend for your pet will depend on his level of exposure to other pets or to potential disease carriers. For example, a dog that likes to play in streams and eat elk poop might benefit from a giardia vaccine, but a sedentary senior dog might not.
That said, our general recommendations are as follows.
Dogs: rabies every three years; distemper and bordetella every year. We also recommend a fecal exam annually and a heartworm test every other year.
Cats: rabies every three years; feline distemper every year. We also recommend a fecal exam annually.
Depending on your pet’s individual needs, we might recommend other routine vaccinations and health screenings.
- How much do shots cost?
- It depends on which vaccinations your pet needs. Please contact us so we can provide a recommendation specific to your pet’s needs.
- What shots does my kitten or puppy need?
- Your kitten or puppy will need a series of shots, about a month apart, beginning at about 8 weeks old. Your pet may have already received some of these shots depending on where you acquired her. In order to become fully immune, it is important that she have the entire series of shots. Please contact us for a recommendation specific to your pet.
- Does my pet need a license?
- Both dogs and cats are required by law to have rabies vaccinations every three years. Proof of vaccination is necessary to obtain a license.
If you live within town limits, you will need a town dog tag, which we can provide for you. The cost is $5 per year for spayed or neutered animals and $15 per year for intact animals. Tags expire December 31. Cats do not need a town tag.
If you live outside town limits, you will need a Larimer County License. The cost is $10 for animals less than a year old and/or animals that are spayed or neutered. Intact animals over one year old are $27. Senior citizens over 62 may receive a discount. You can purchase a county license at the Animal Medical Center of Estes Park, (970) 586-6898. A county tag is optional for cats.
- What are your boarding rates?
- Put your dog or cat up in the nicest boarding facility in town! Dogs are $22 per night ($14 for the second dog in the same kennel), and cats are $12 per night ($8 for the second cat in the same condo). Read more about our boarding facility.
- Does my pet need heartworm or flea preventative in Estes Park?
- We recommend both heartworm and flea preventative for dogs and cats between April and October, when fleas and heartworm-carrying mosquitoes are active. During the winter, it is too cold for these pests. Alas, fleas are becoming more and more common in Estes Park.
- My dog is scooting his rear end along my carpet! WHY?
- He may have anal gland issues. Read more about anal glands here.
- I’m not sure if my pet really needs to come in. What do you think?
- If in doubt, you should schedule an appointment. Although we might be able to make a few educated guesses about what is wrong with your pet, there is no way to make a diagnosis without seeing him in person. We also recommend you bring your pet in for a routine health checkup once a year. Early detection can help prevent many health problems from becoming serious.