Preventive Care and Vaccinations for Your Pet
Preventative care is the foundation of pet health, and our veterinary team is committed to providing the highest quality of preventive care for dogs and cats. Regular pet exams, including annual wellness exams, are crucial in monitoring your pet's overall health and identifying any potential concerns early on. These exams allow our veterinarians to perform a thorough physical examination, assess vital signs, and address any questions or concerns you may have about your pet's well-being.
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WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE ANNUAL WELLNESS VISIT?
- Review of Medical History and Current Concerns: A veterinary technician, who will act as your pet’s nurse for the visit, will review with you your pet’s diet and current medications. The technician will also ask about any concerns you may have and record these for the doctor. Finally, she will record your pet’s vital signs such as respiratory and heart rate, temperature and weight.
- Physical Exam: During this most important part of the visit, the veterinarian will examine your pet from nose to tail, noting any abnormalities and with special attention to any areas of concern that you have brought forward. This exam evaluates dental health, skin and hair condition, eyes, ears, the relative size and shape of internal organs, as well as neurologic and orthopedic evaluations appropriate to your pet’s age and breed.
- Infectious Disease Prevention (Vaccination): Core vaccinations for dogs include Rabies, Distemper, Parvo, Leptospirosis and Bordetella. Core vaccinations for cats are Rabies, Upper Respiratory Diseases (FVRCP), and Feline Leukemia Virus. Vaccinations for Lyme, Rattlesnake, Canine Influenza, RHDV are recommended only when individual need exists.
- Intestinal Parasite Screening Tests: The CDC recommends annual screening for intestinal parasites in all pet dogs and cats. Many intestinal parasites of pets are transmissible to humans under normal living conditions. Please bring a stool sample to your pet’s annual wellness visit for testing.
- Annual Heartworm Testing: Heartworms are a blood parasite transmitted to dogs and rarely, cats, by mosquitoes. They are most prevalent in the South Central and Southeastern US. Annual testing identifies heartworm disease in unprotected dogs so they may receive treatment before permanent damage to heart and lungs occurs. Testing of dogs that are on preventatives identifies trends in parasite resistance that can occur due to genetic drift, climate change and other methods of adaptation.
- Screening Bloodwork: Recommendations for testing will vary with age, breed and species but in general a CBC, Chemistry panel, +/- Urinalysis is performed annually to evaluate blood cell counts, organ function and hormonal changes. Diseases detected by these screenings include anemia, diabetes, kidney disease, hypothyroidism, liver disease and many others.
- Parasite Preventatives: Parasite prevention plans are formulated to suit your pets preferences, lifestyle and your convenience.
By prioritizing regular veterinary visits, you are investing in your pet's long-term health, happiness, and quality of life.
