Everything Your Pet Needs to Keep Purring and Playing

Adding a new puppy or kitten to your family is an exciting time full of fun discoveries, adorable moments, and let’s be honest, a few messes. The Balanced Pets team is here every fun and messy step of the way to help you with your new friend’s health, behavior, and diet. Get them started on the right paw by scheduling a vet visit as soon as possible to ensure they’re healthy and to begin their age-appropriate vaccine series. Vaccination, parasite control, good nutrition, and training at this stage will pay off in continued good health and happiness for their future with you.  

To prepare for your kitten or puppy’s visit:  

• Collect a stool sample so that our veterinarian can check for intestinal parasites. Intestinal parasites are common in young pets and can cause serious health issues such as diarrhea, vomiting, dehydration, and anemia. By evaluating the sample under a microscope, we can identify and treat parasites before the infection worsens.  
• Bring a copy of the pet’s medical records.  
• Please bring kittens in a carrier. The hustle and bustle of entering and exiting a veterinary clinic can be startling to kittens and a carrier helps them stay safe and secure. 
• If possible, carry your puppy or bring them in a carrier.  
• Write down any questions or concerns that you have about your new pet’s health or behavior and your veterinarian will be happy to assist you. Remember, no concern or question is “silly.” We want to be your trusted resource for starting your new family member on the right path to a happy, healthy life. 

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

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. 

Balanced Pets has the capability to perform various blood tests, pre-anesthetic bloodwork, and other types of testing on site instead of sending samples to an outside lab. This saves time, money, and most importantly, you don’t have to wait overnight for results—meaning your pet gets a diagnosis and needed treatment sooner. 

In-House Testing 

Testing provided in the hospital includes: 

Chemistry Panels: 

• Liver enzyme screening 
• Pancreatic evaluation 
• Renal (Kidney) profiles

   

Wellness screenings: 

• Complete blood counts 
• General chemistries 
• Urinalysis 
• Fecal testing (parasites) 
• Blood pressure

 Viral screenings:

• FelV, FIV in cats 
• Parvovirus in dogs

  While we do offer an extensive range of on-site testing, it is possible that your pet may need laboratory work beyond our scope. For those cases, we are happy to send blood work or other testing to an outside lab that will send results back to us. 

With advances in medicine and quality of life, dogs and cats are living longer than ever. Watching your beloved pet transition to this stage of life can be difficult. But you’re not on your own: our team is here to empower you with the knowledge to make the best decisions for your pet’s care as he or she enjoys their golden years.  ​ 

An annual visit is important for pets at every age, but they are imperative for senior animals. Age is not a disease, but because our pets age at a faster pace than we do regular vet visits can identify and prevent problems before they worsen. By bringing your senior pet in at least twice a year, your veterinarian can perform a full physical examination to catch problems before they worsen and to ensure your pet’s overall health. We perform labwork to make sure everything is functioning properly internally and start your pet on any treatments needed to address any issues that have arisen due to the aging process, including:  

• Nutrition: As our dogs and cats age, their dietary needs change as well. Are they eating more or less? Gaining or losing weight? Dietary and weight changes can be caused by a wide array of factors. Keep track of your senior pet’s eating habits and weight fluctuations and alert your veterinarian to any changes.  
• Mobility: Is your senior dog or cat not getting around as well as they used to? Changes in activity level are one of the most common problems for senior pets, but that doesn’t mean they have to live with the pain. Your pet’s veterinarian can determine the cause and put together a treatment plan that helps them get moving again.  
• Cognitive and Behavioral Changes: Just like people, the aging process can cause “senior moments.” Senior pets may begin having moments of anxiety or confusion, forgetting their housetraining, having accidents in the home, or sleep disturbances. Some of these issues may be the result of an underlying medical condition. Diagnostics will be performed to rule out those causes before addressing them on a behavioral level.  

The decision to euthanize a pet is an intense, emotional, and personal one, but that doesn’t mean you have to face a difficult time alone. Whether your pet is facing a serious illness or injury, your veterinarian will help you assess whether treatment, palliative care, or humane euthanasia is the right course of action, empowering you to make the best decision for your pet and your family. The most important thing to remember is that we are here for you, we will be by your side through every part of the process, and you can take as much time as you need.  

When you arrive, a member of our client care team will immediately take you and your pet to an exam room for your privacy and your pet’s comfort. Your veterinary assistant will discuss your preferences for the procedure: whether you would like to be present and what you would like to do with your pet following the euthanasia. For your convenience and privacy, payment will be taken during this time so that you do not need to go into the lobby afterward. Your veterinarian will give you as much time as you need to answer questions and to spend time with your pet. An IV catheter will be placed, and a sedative will be given that will put your pet in a relaxed state of consciousness. When you are ready, your veterinarian will administer the euthanasia drug. They will listen to your pet’s heart to ensure they have passed and will give you as much time as you need.  

Balanced Pets works with a professional cremation service, chosen for their compassion and professionalism in caring for your pet. You have the option of individual cremation, group cremation, or you can take your pet home for burial.  

Individual Cremation: Your pet is cremated individually, and the ashes will be delivered to the clinic in a carved wooden box with a notarized card. We will call you when they arrive for you to pick up at your convenience. 

Communal Cremation: Your pet is cremated with others and the ashes are scattered on Paris Mountain in the Upstate.  

Home Burial: Your pet is placed in a cardboard burial box for you to take home. Please check with your county and/or town for any local ordinances pertaining to burial.