Wellness:
Managing your pet’s ongoing good health is about much more than just scheduling a vet appointment when he or she becomes sick or injured. To the contrary, it’s about making a commitment to regular care throughout his or her lifetime. It’s about being proactive and taking the appropriate measures to prevent and detect disease in its earliest stages. By investing in the wellness care of our animal family members, we will be rewarded with many happy, healthy years down the road.
Why is wellness care so important?
Regular annual wellness exams allow us to evaluate your pet’s general health on an ongoing basis. When we understand what is “normal” for your pet, we are better able to measure and monitor any changes that may occur over the years. We are also able to take certain preventative measures that will help to keep your loved one safe from many of the dangers he or she will encounter throughout his or her lifetime.
We will examine your pet and establish a comprehensive preventative care program which includes vaccinations and a plan for parasite prevention and control. Preventing disease and detecting it early can add years to your loved one’s life and improve the quality of those years tenfold.
What does a wellness exam involve?
Before the vet begins a wellness check on your pet, one of our veterinary technicians will ask you about any health issues or concerns you may have. Preventative care exams and discussions will be tailored to the life stage and lifestyle of your dog and cat, so it’s important that we get a clear picture of what your pet’s life is like at home.
At the beginning of each wellness exam, we will take your pet’s vital signs, similar to when you go in for a physical exam. This will include taking your pet’s temperature, heart rate, respiration (breathing) rate and body weight.
Once we’ve measured your pet’s vital signs, we will delve into a more thorough physical exam through which we will evaluate your pet’s health – nose to tail. The vet will check your companion’s ears, eyes, mouth and skin. The heart, lungs and reproductive organs will also be analyzed to ensure that no abnormalities are present and everything is working just as it should be. If necessary, we may recommend additional routine diagnostic testing to help us further evaluate your pet’s overall health.
At the end of your pet’s annual wellness examination, we will discuss the best treatment plan for your furry friend and give any recommendations we think are best for them!
Vaccinations:
Vaccinations are one of the most important preventative measures we can take to keep our animal friends happy and healthy. After a thorough physical examination, we will develop a customized vaccination plan that is designed to address the unique needs and risk factors of your pet.
Core vaccinations that are routinely given to all of our canine patients include immunizations against Distemper, Adenovirus Type 2, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus, Leptospirosis (DAPPv+L4), Rabies and Bordetella.
Our feline core vaccinations include Feline Panleukopenia (distemper), Feline Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus (FVRCP), and Rabies. We will also discuss lifestyle, risk factors and appropriate vaccinations to protect against the life threatening disease Feline Leukemia.
The frequency with which you should have your pet vaccinated against certain diseases depends on many factors, including his or her age and lifestyle. Our goal is to keep your loved one safe and healthy without overmedicating. That’s why customizing our approach is so important. We will be happy to discuss what is right for your cat or dog and work with you to develop a plan we can all feel comfortable with. Call us today to bring your furry friend in to see us!
Please contact us today if you have any questions or would like to learn more about how we care for your pet.