Frequently Asked Questions

Most healthy adult dogs and cats should be examined once yearly. These visits allow us to assess weight, dental health, mobility, organ function, and subtle changes that are often difficult to detect at home.

Senior pets (generally over 7 years of age) benefit from exams every 6 months, as medical conditions can develop and progress more quickly with age.

Annual laboratory screening is recommended for all pets — even those who appear healthy. This is especially important in cats, who instinctively hide illness and may show very few outward signs until disease is advanced. In fact, approximately 1 in 4 cats is affected by heart disease, and it is often a silent condition that may not be detectable without screening.

For senior pets and those on long-term medications or managing chronic conditions, laboratory monitoring is typically recommended twice yearly, or as medically indicated.

Preventive care allows us to identify concerns early, when treatment is often simpler, safer, and more effective.

New Hampshire law requires a valid veterinarian–client–patient relationship (VCPR) to prescribe medications. This means your pet must be examined at least once yearly (sometimes more frequently for chronic conditions or medications prescribed).

Regular exams allow us to monitor for side effects, adjust dosing, and ensure medications remain safe and appropriate.

We require 24 hours’ notice for appointment cancellations. Missed appointments or late cancellations may result in a fee. This policy allows us to offer that time to another pet in need.

We understand that delays can happen, and we offer a one-time courtesy for late arrivals. However, if you arrive more than 10 minutes past your scheduled appointment time, we may need to reschedule your visit to avoid delaying other clients and to ensure we can provide the best care for all of our patients. Rescheduled appointments due to late arrival may be subject to our cancellation fee. We will always try to accommodate when possible.

We are a relationship-based family practice and prioritize thorough, unrushed appointments. To accommodate urgent needs, we offer a limited number of same-day urgent care appointments that become available at 7:00 AM each morning. We do our absolute best to be as accommodating as possible for our existing patients.

For non-urgent wellness visits, we recommend scheduling 2–4 weeks in advance to ensure preferred availability. As a courtesy, we begin sending appointment reminders approximately 8 weeks ahead of time.

Planning ahead allows us to provide the highest level of care to every patient we serve.

Yes. We are always happy to communicate with our established clients by phone or email and provide guidance when it is medically safe to do so.

That said, some concerns cannot be properly evaluated without a physical examination. If your pet’s condition appears more serious, we may recommend scheduling an appointment or, in urgent situations, seeking emergency or specialty care.

Our goal is always to ensure your pet receives the safest and most appropriate care — whether that can be done remotely or requires an in-person visit.

For new or non-established clients, we are not legally able to provide medical advice over the phone.

Veterinary medicine today more closely mirrors human healthcare than ever before. We use advanced diagnostics, top of the line surgical equipment and anesthesia monitoring, laboratory testing, and highly trained medical professionals to provide safe, high-quality care for your pet. These expenses are supported directly by us as an independently owned practice.

Bedford Animal Hospital remains independent, allowing us to make thoughtful decisions about both medicine and pricing without corporate oversight. We work hard to keep our services fair and competitive for our community while maintaining the standards of care we believe your pet deserves.

We understand that cost is an important consideration and are always willing to discuss options and create a plan that aligns with your pet’s needs and your individual circumstances.

Yes. Prior to any surgical or sedated procedure, a written estimate is always provided and reviewed with you in advance.

For in-house services such as vaccinations, diagnostics, or medications, estimates can also be provided upon request. While not every routine visit requires a formal written plan, we aim to be highly transparent about costs and are always happy to discuss anticipated fees before proceeding.

We do not offer in-house payment plans.

We accept major credit cards and CareCredit, which can be used for approved financing options. We also strongly encourage pet insurance for all of our clients to help offset the cost of unexpected illnesses or injuries.

Urgent Care
Conditions that should be seen within 24 hours but are not immediately life-threatening, such as:

• Ear infections
• Vomiting or diarrhea (without collapse)
• Lameness
• Mild allergic reactions
• Urinary discomfort

Emergency
Conditions requiring immediate care, including:

• Difficulty breathing
• Collapse
• Seizures
• Severe trauma
• Inability to urinate
• Uncontrolled bleeding
• Suspected toxin ingestion

If you are unsure, call us. If your pet is unstable, proceed directly to the nearest emergency hospital.

For after-hours care, we recommend the trusted urgent care and emergency hospitals in our region. We recommend calling ahead whenever possible.

See our full list of urgent care and emergency partners.

Vaccine recommendations are based on your pet’s age, health status, and lifestyle. In New Hampshire, we also consider regional disease prevalence — particularly tick-borne illness and wildlife exposure.

If there have been significant lapses between vaccinations, booster vaccines may be recommended by our veterinarians to ensure adequate protection.

For Dogs

Rabies

Required by New Hampshire law. Rabies is a fatal virus transmitted through wildlife exposure and poses a public health risk to both animals and humans.

Distemper/Parvovirus (DA2PP/DHPP)

This combination vaccine protects against:

Distemper
A serious viral disease spread through respiratory secretions (coughing, sneezing) that can affect the lungs, gastrointestinal tract, and nervous system.

Adenovirus-2 (Hepatitis)
Protects against infectious canine hepatitis, which affects the liver and can be transmitted through bodily fluids such as urine and saliva.

Parainfluenza
A respiratory virus that contributes to canine infectious respiratory disease (“kennel cough”).

Parvovirus
A highly contagious and potentially life-threatening gastrointestinal virus spread through contaminated feces and environments. Parvovirus can survive in soil and public areas for long periods.

These diseases are widespread in the environment, extremely serious, and preventable — which is why this vaccine is considered core.

Leptospirosis

Leptospirosis is spread through wildlife urine contaminating soil, puddles, standing water, and even backyard environments. Dogs do not need to swim in lakes to be exposed — simple yard exposure is often enough.

Leptospirosis is on the rise in our region and can cause severe kidney and liver failure. It is also zoonotic, meaning it can be transmitted to humans and cause significant illness.

Due to increasing regional prevalence in endemic areas like ours, since 2022 leptospirosis is now considered a core vaccine in our area and is strongly recommended for most dogs.

Lyme Disease

New Hampshire is a high-risk state for Lyme disease due to widespread tick exposure.

The Lyme vaccine is recommended for dogs at increased risk of exposure — particularly those with active outdoor lifestyles, wooded property access, frequent hiking, hunting activity, or families with large yards and significant wildlife presence.

It is important to note that Lyme vaccination does not replace consistent, year-round tick prevention. The vaccine serves as an additional layer of protection for higher-risk dogs.

For certain high-exposure dogs — such as hunting dogs or those with continuous heavy tick exposure — our veterinarians may recommend a more frequent booster schedule based on individual risk assessment.

Bordetella

Bordetella bronchiseptica is one of several pathogens that contribute to canine infectious respiratory disease (“kennel cough”).

This vaccine is required by most grooming, boarding, daycare, and many training facilities. It is also recommended for social dogs who frequent parks, classes, or group environments.

For Cats

Rabies

All indoor and outdoor cats are required to be vaccinated by New Hampshire state law. Even indoor cats can be exposed through wildlife entry (such as bats) or unexpected escape.

FVRCP

Protects against:

Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis (Herpesvirus)
A highly contagious upper respiratory virus.

Calicivirus
A respiratory virus that can cause oral ulcers and systemic illness.

Panleukopenia
A severe and often fatal gastrointestinal virus, especially in kittens.

These viruses spread through direct contact, shared airspace, contaminated surfaces, and can even be carried into the home on clothing, shoes, or hands. This is why vaccination is recommended even for strictly indoor cats.

FeLV (Feline Leukemia Virus)

FeLV vaccination is recommended as a core kitten series to provide early protection during a vulnerable stage of life.

For adult cats, continued vaccination is typically recommended only if outdoor access or exposure to other cats is anticipated. FeLV suppresses the immune system and can lead to cancer and other serious illness, so vaccination decisions are based on lifestyle risk.

We individualize vaccine recommendations at every visit. Our goal is thoughtful, appropriate protection based on real risk — not a one-size-fits-all protocol.

New Hampshire is a high-risk region for tick-borne disease and parasite exposure. We diagnose and treat cases year round. Prevention is one of the most effective ways to protect your pet’s long-term health.

Why do we recommend year-round prevention?

Ticks in New England are active anytime temperatures rise above freezing — not just during summer months. Warm winter days are enough to allow tick activity. Mosquitoes, which transmit heartworm disease, are also present seasonally, and it only takes one infected mosquito to transmit heartworm larvae. Year-round prevention ensures there are no gaps in protection. Missed doses or seasonal-only prevention only increases risk, especially given the unpredictability of our regional climate. Consistent protection is the safest strategy.

For Dogs

Heartworm prevention (year-round)
Heartworm disease is transmitted by mosquitoes and can cause severe heart and lung damage. While less common in New England than in southern states, cases do occur — and treatment is lengthy, painful for your dog, and more costly than prevention.

Most monthly heartworm preventions are also broad-spectrum dewormers. In addition to preventing heartworm disease, they help protect against common gastrointestinal parasites such as roundworms and hookworms — parasites that can affect both pets and people.

We recommend monthly heartworm prevention year-round for all dogs. Annual heartworm testing is also required for these prescription medications, even when prevention is given consistently.

Tick prevention (year-round)
New Hampshire is a high-risk state for tick-borne illnesses, including Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis, and Ehrlichiosis. Ticks are active in early spring, throughout summer and fall, and during warm winter days. Even dogs that primarily use their own backyard are at risk, particularly in wooded or wildlife-dense areas.

For higher-exposure dogs — such as hunting dogs, hiking companions, or those with heavy outdoor lifestyles — strict adherence to prevention is especially important. Lyme vaccination may provide additional protection for certain high-risk dogs but never replaces effective tick prevention.

Intestinal parasite screening
Routine fecal screening is recommended at least once yearly for adult dogs and more frequently for puppies or higher-risk pets. Many intestinal parasites can be present without obvious symptoms.

For Cats

Parasite prevention for cats is based on lifestyle and exposure risk.

Indoor cats
Even indoor cats can be exposed to parasites. Fleas can enter the home, and infectious agents can be carried in on clothing or shoes. Indoor cats that are skilled hunters (“good mousers”) are at higher risk for certain intestinal parasites, like tapeworms, which are commonly transmitted through rodents and fleas.

Outdoor cats
Cats with outdoor access are at increased risk for fleas, intestinal parasites, and other transmissible infections. Preventive medications, routine deworming, and routine screening are strongly recommended for these pets as some intestinal parasites are contagious to people.

Choosing a Prevention Strategy

There are many effective parasite prevention products available. We do not prefer one specific strategy over another, and several different products work very well when used properly. We are happy to walk you through the options and help you choose a plan that fits your pet’s lifestyle and your comfort level.

It is important to understand that some homeopathic products and certain over-the-counter or online alternatives do not contain the active ingredients required to provide reliable protection. Veterinary-recommended products undergo safety and efficacy testing. In addition, many manufacturers stand behind their products and will provide financial coverage in the rare event of a lapse in protection when used as directed.

Our role is to help you make an informed choice.