Wellness & Preventative Care

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Benjamin Franklin’s words of wisdom apply to and are crucial to maintaining a healthy life for your pet. Wellness Exams and Preventative Care are the cornerstones to building a healthcare plan for your furry family member.

Wellness History and Examination

We often learn more about a pet’s condition by talking to, and listening to, their owner. That is why we begin all of our Wellness Exams by recording a thorough health history as explained to us by you, the owner. We follow this by performing a comprehensive physical exam, beginning from the nose and ending at the tail! After we cover your pet’s health history and current condition, we will be able to build a tailor-made health care plan. This plan will include:

1. Annual Screening Tests
2. Parasite Treatment and/or Prevention
3. Customized Vaccination Program
4. Nutritional Counseling
5. Healthy Weight Management

Annual Screening Tests

Our in-house lab makes it possible to perform rapid and accurate screening for parasites and infectious diseases commonly seen in our cats and dogs. Many of the diseases we screen for are identified in patients that are not acting sick. This allows us to address the illness before it becomes a serious problem. Examples of Annual Screening Tests include:

1. Intestinal Parasites
2. Heartworm Disease
3. Tick-borne Disease
   1. Lyme’s
   2. Ehrlichia
   3. Anaplasma
4. Feline Leukemia
5. FIV

Parasite Treatment and/or Prevention

If we identify any parasites from the screen tests, we can prescribe the proper medication to treat the problem. Better yet, if the tests come back negative, we can start your pet on a preventative program for many of the parasites they may come in contact with. As we say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!

Customized Vaccination Program

Vaccination plans are no longer “cookie cutter” for every pet. Each patient does not get the same vaccines like they did in the past. We decide what is best for the individual patient based on age, lifestyle, and current health condition. There are “core vaccines” that are recommended for most cats and dogs, and there are “elective vaccines” that we include only when the patient is at risk of exposure to that particular disease.

“Core Vaccines” – Canine

1. “Distemper” Vaccine – Distemper, Parvovirus, Parainfluenza, and Adenovirus
2. Rabies

“Elective Vaccines” – Canine

1. Lyme’s Disease
2. Leptospirosis
3. Bordetella (“Kennel Cough’)

“Core Vaccines” – Feline

1. “Distemper” Vaccine – Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia
2. Rabies

“Elective Vaccines” – Feline

1. Feline Leukemia

Nutritional Counseling

Let our veterinarians determine, with you, what the best options are for your pet’s diet. Factors to consider are age, current activity level, lifestyle, and health concerns. The pet food world can be very intimidating and confusing, and choosing the best food can be a daunting task. We will help you filter through the hundreds of brands and varieties out there, and find the best fit your pet and your budget!

Healthy Weight Management

Healthy weight management has close ties to our Nutritional Counseling, but it involves much more than that. In order to reach or maintain your pet’s ideal body weight, we have to commit to a proper exercise program and have a sound strategy in place to allow for the correct amount of calorie intake. Our veterinarians will be happy to build a weight management program with you.