Gold-Standard Veterinary Care

Because your pet is family.

Gold-Standard Veterinary Care

Because your pet is family.

Puppy & Kitten Package

Congratulations on your new puppy or kitten! Here at Chico Animal Hospital, we offer puppy and kitten packages. Our packages cover everything you need for your new family addition to keep them safe and healthy. Our puppy and kitten packages include wellness exams, core vaccinations, microchipping and registration, deworming at each visit, a fecal exam, medication to treat parasites (if needed). Kittens will also be tested for Feline leukemia and FIV. All puppies and kittens currently on the package will receive a $35 discount off their spay/neuter if done in the first 8 months or before a female's first heat. Puppies will receive their first dose of heartworm disease and flea/tick prevention and kittens will receive their first dose of heartworm/flea prevention.

Call to schedule your puppy or kitten exam today! If you are a new client please fill out our new client form.

Parasite Control

Our doctors develop programs to fit the specific needs of your pet and your own particular environmental situation. We will review with you the best way to control and prevent Heartworm disease, fleas, ticks, and intestinal parasites, such as hookworms, roundworms, and more. We strongly recommend keeping pets on Heartworm prevention year-round.

Pharmacy

We maintain an inventory of pharmaceuticals, medicated shampoos, flea and tick control products and heartworm preventatives to meet the needs of your pet. We also carry a full line of Hill's prescription diets.

Do you prefer home delivery? We hear you! Shop for your pet's medications and food on our online pharmacy. You can also have your pet's food directly delivered through Hills to Home. Contact us at 530-342-0518 if you would like to get set up for this service today!

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Diagnostics

Our on-site, modern radiographs (x-rays), ultrasound, and echocardiography equipment aid in the quick diagnosis of many disorders. In addition, we utilize commercial veterinary laboratories for specialized diagnostics and consultations. In-house laboratory facilities are maintained on site for serum chemistry, cytology, and parasite testing.

Surgery

Our state-of-the-art surgical suite provides for the performance of a wide variety of surgical procedures, such as spays and neuters for dogs, cats, and even pocket pets. Our doctors also complete mass removals, exploratory laparotomy, intestinal foreign body removal, splenectomy, enucleation, and more.

Many people have questions about various aspects of their pet's surgery, here are some of the most commonly asked questions we get about surgery:

Is the anesthetic safe?

Today's modern anesthetic monitors have made surgery much safer than in the past. Here at CAH, we do a thorough physical exam on your pet before administering anesthetics, to ensure that a fever or other illness won't be a problem. We also adjust the amount and type of anesthetic used depending on the health of your pet. The handout on anesthesia explains this in greater detail.

Pre-anesthetic blood testing is important in reducing the risk of anesthesia. Every pet needs blood testing before surgery to ensure that the liver and kidneys can handle the anesthetic. Even apparently healthy animals can have serious organ system problems that cannot be detected without blood testing. If there is a problem, it is much better to find it before it causes anesthetic or surgical complications. Animals that have minor dysfunction will handle the anesthetic better if they receive IV fluids during surgery, or sometimes our doctors will alter the anesthetic protocol based on the blood results. If serious problems are detected, surgery can be postponed until the problem is corrected.

We offer in-house blood testing before surgery, which we will go over with you when you bring your pet in. In some cases, our doctors may recommend a more comprehensive screen sent out to a reference laboratory ahead of time, because it gives them the most information to ensure the safety of your pet. For geriatric or ill pets, additional blood tests, electrocardiograms, or x-rays may be needed before surgery as well.

It is important that surgery be done on an empty stomach to reduce the risk of vomiting during and after anesthesia. You will need to withhold food for at least 8 to 10 hours before surgery. Water can be left down for the pet until the morning of surgery. (Withholding of food does not apply to rodents and rabbits)

Will my pet have stitches?

For many surgeries, we use absorbable sutures underneath the skin. These will dissolve on their own, and do not need to be removed later. Some surgeries, especially tumor removals, do require skin stitches. With either type of suture, you will need to keep an eye on the incision for swelling or discharge. Most dogs and cats do not lick excessively or chew at the incision, but this is an occasional problem you will also need to watch for. If there are skin sutures, these will usually be removed 10 to 14 days after surgery. You will also need to limit your pet's activity level for a time and no baths or swimming are allowed for the first 2 weeks after surgery.

Will my pet be in pain?

Anything that causes pain in people can be expected to cause pain in animals. Pets may not show the same symptoms of pain as people do; they usually don't whine or cry, but you can be sure they feel it. Pain medications needed will depend on the surgery performed. Major procedures require more pain relief than things like minor lacerations.

For dogs, we may send home an oral anti-inflammatory after surgery to lessen the risk of discomfort and swelling We use newer medications, which are less likely to cause stomach upset and can be given even the morning of surgery.

Because cats do not tolerate standard anti-inflammatory pain medications, we are more limited in what we can give them. However, recent advances in pain medications have allowed for better pain control in cats than ever before.

Your pet will be provided pain medication before, during and immediately after surgery. After that, pain medication is given on a case by case basis. Any animal that appears painful will receive additional pain medication.

Providing whatever pain relief is appropriate is a humane and caring thing to do for your pet.

What other decisions do I need to make?

While your pet is under anesthesia, it is the ideal time to perform other minor procedures, such as dentistry, ear cleaning, or implanting an identification microchip. If you would like an estimate for these extra services, please call ahead of time. This is especially important if the person dropping the pet off for surgery is not the primary decision maker for the pet's care.

When you bring your pet in for surgery, we will need to 5 to 10 minutes of time to fill out paperwork and make decisions on the blood testing and other options available. When you pick up your pet after surgery you can also plan to spend about 10 minutes to go over your pet's home care needs.

We may call you the night before your scheduled surgery appointment, to confirm the time you will be dropping your pet off and to answer any questions you might have. In the meantime, please don't hesitate to contact us with any questions about your pet's health or surgery.

Dentistry

Our dental services include teeth cleaning and polishing, dental X-rays, tooth extractions and minor oral surgery.

Permanent Identification

We offer microchip identification so your pet will find their way back home safe and sound. Pets will also receive unlimited poison control calls for a full year with HomeAgain after the microchip is placed. Microchips also act as proof of legal ownership.

Behavioral Counseling

We provide counseling for behavioral issues such as excessive barking, chewing, spraying, scratching, digging, house soiling and aggression. Our doctors will discuss what options may work best for you and your companion, whether that may be medications for stress, spay or neuter, treatments for pain-related behaviors, obedience training, or even referral to a neurologist.

Nutritional Counseling

We will provide guidance regarding your pet's nutritional needs for each life stage, including dietary requirements for growth, weight maintenance and performance.

Anesthesia

We utilize the safest available anesthetics to provide an extra margin of safety, especially for our older or high-risk patients. Using the most modern equipment, the patient's vital signs are monitored during all anesthetic procedures.

Pocket Pets

At Chico Animal Hospital, we care about all types of pets. We provide care for a wide range of animals in addition to cats and dogs, including:

Rabbits
Guinea pigs
Rats
Other Rodents

Euthanasia & Cremation

Saying goodbye to our companions is never an easy decision. Euthanasia services are a compassionate option provided by our doctors when a pet is suffering and their quality of life has significantly declined. Our team ensures the procedure is as peaceful and painless as possible, while offering support to pet owners throughout the process. Cremation services, completed by Sleepy Hollow, can also be coordinated with our team members. We understand how difficult this decision can be, and we're here to guide you with care and respect, ensuring your pet's final moments are handled with dignity and love. Read More