Alpine Animal Hospital

05/13/2026

In the attached article, a veterinary internal medicine expert explains core vs. non-core, or risk-based, vaccines for dogs. Core vaccines protect against common or severe diseases and are recommended for all dogs, while non-core vaccines are recommended based on local or lifestyle risks. The five core vaccines for dogs are distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, rabies and leptospirosis. Leptospirosis was added to the core list in 2024 for all dogs nationwide, reflecting widespread risk due to environmental changes & severity of disease.

Leptospirosis, parvo and other core vaccines can help keep your dog healthy.

05/12/2026

The newly published 2025 Heartworm Incidence Map also shows the deadly parasite has expanded to areas that are cooler, drier and far from the warmer, humid Gulf Coast and Southeast. The AHS estimates that at least 1.1 million dogs in the U.S. are positive for heartworm. "An interesting takeaway from the 2026 AHS Heartworm Incidence Survey was the reporting of heartworm cases in areas of the country where heartworm cases had not previously been reported or were rare," Dr. Ames said. Examples of those locations are southwest Colorado, central Washington, northern Idaho, northwest Nevada, and southeast Wyoming.

05/10/2026

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there. 💕 Hoping you all enjoy some good snuggles today!

05/09/2026

Congratulations to all of the WSU graduates today - what an amazing achievement. Special shout-out to our Alpine graduates Quincy, Hannah, and Emmalee! We're so proud of you!! 🥳🥳

05/09/2026

Saturday's theme for National Pet Week® is "Plan for their care: Give them a lifetime of love". Learn about ways you can help your pet live a long, happy life. As they get older, pets need extra care & attention. Semi-annual checkups for dogs >7 years and cats >9 years old are ideal because pets age much quicker than humans. Our veterinarians are trained to detect changes in your pet's physical exam or lab values that will allow for early intervention and better outcomes.
Check out this resource to learn more about caring for a senior pet: http://bit.ly/2A8mMl8

05/08/2026

Friday's theme for National Pet Week® is "Emergencies happen: Be prepared". We never know when or where an emergency will happen. As a pet owner, it's helpful to know some basic first aid information and have a plan for emergencies. Check out these first aid tips for pet owners: https://bit.ly/3vFoAPw

05/07/2026

Thursday's theme for National Pet Week® is "Travel with care". More and more families are taking pets with them when traveling. Traveling with pets requires advanced planning & coordination including understanding geographically significant disease exposure. Your pet may need additional vaccines, a reassessment of their parasite protection, and enhanced surveillance in case they contract a condition during travels. Check with our veterinarians when planning a trip with your pet!

05/06/2026

Wednesday's theme for National Pet Week® is "Love your pet? See your vet!" Regular checkups are key to a healthy and long life for your pet. They allow our veterinarians to get to know you and your pet, and to catch problems early...before they become even bigger - and costlier - to treat. Celebrate your pet this National Pet Week® by scheduling a checkup today! Check out this article on our website reviewing the immense value of the annual checkup:

Schedule an appointment today! (509) 332-6575

05/05/2026

Tuesday's theme for National Pet Week® is "Nutrition and exercise matter". We could not agree more! Nutrition and exercise are foundational for a lifetime of health, especially ensuring your pet maintains a healthy & fit body condition with avoidance of excess weight. Obesity is one of the most common causes of a shortened lifespan for our pets, and increases consequences including arthritis, Diabetes, heart disease, and other conditions that further affect both quality & quantity of life for our furry family members.
Cat photo by Willian Justen de Vasconcellos on Unsplash