Adult Pet Wellness
When you bring your furry family member into our office for a wellness exam, we'll check it out from nose to tail, searching for any sign of developing health problems. We'll begin with a visual examination. Our veterinary doctor will weigh and measure your pet to make sure it's within normal weight limits and not moving into obesity. If your pet is becoming overweight, we'll consult with you on healthy food choices and lifestyle changes that will help your pet regain its healthy weight.
An oral examination is an important part of a wellness checkup. Almost all pets over three years old have a tartar problem and need to have their teeth cleaned. If tartar continues to grow without cleaning, it can harbor bacteria that might spread and infect the heart and other organs, as well as rotting teeth and jaw bones. We'll also inspect your pet for loose or broken teeth, swollen tongue or gums, and extremely bad breath, which can be a sign of internal infection. Our clinic will inspect your pet's fur and skin, eyes and ears, claws and paws, and general attitude. We'll administer any preventive medication needed to keep your pet healthy in the coming year.
Kitten
Congratulations on your new kitten! Thank you for choosing us to help protect and care for your new addition to your family.
Our kitten wellness program is designed to help get your kitten started on the right path to a long and healthy life. The first few months are a critical period in your kitten’s development, and we can give you the support and tools necessary to help him or her grow into a well-mannered, healthy cat, including information and advice on nutrition, litterbox training, and behavior.
Schedule your kitten for his or her first exam as soon as possible. Until your kitten has received a series of vaccines, he or she is susceptible to many serious but preventable diseases. We will make sure your new pet is protected against rabies and panleukopenia (distemper). Depending on your cat’s risk, we may also advise vaccinating him or her against other diseases, such as feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). In addition, your kitten will need to be tested and treated for parasites, which are common in young cats.
Most kittens have roundworms, which are intestinal worms that can cause coughing, weight loss, and a potbellied appearance in cats (although they may not cause any symptoms). It is important for kittens to be treated for roundworms, not only to help rid them of the infection but also to prevent you and the rest of your family from becoming infected. Roundworms are a zoonotic parasite, which means they can be transmitted from pets to people. By ensuring that your kitten is properly treated, you can keep your entire family safe.
We look forward to meeting your new kitten! Schedule your appointment today.
Puppy
Congratulations on your new puppy! Thank you for choosing us to help protect and care for your new addition to your family.
Our puppy wellness program is designed to help get your puppy started on the right path to a long and healthy life. The first few months are a critical period in your puppy’s development, and we can give you the support and tools necessary to help him or her grow into a well-mannered, healthy dog, including information and advice on nutrition, training, behavior, and socialization.
Schedule your puppy for his or her first exam as soon as possible. Until your puppy has received a series of vaccines, he or she is susceptible to many serious but preventable diseases. We will make sure your new dog is protected against rabies, distemper, and parvovirus, among other diseases. Your puppy will also need to be tested and treated for parasites, which are extremely common in young dogs.
Most puppies have roundworms, which are intestinal worms that can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal signs (although dogs can have worms without showing any symptoms). It is important for puppies to be treated for roundworms, not only to rid them of the infection but also to prevent you and the rest of your family from becoming infected. Roundworms are a zoonotic parasite, which means they can be transmitted from pets to people. By ensuring that your puppy is properly treated, you can keep your entire family safe from these and other parasites.
We look forward to meeting your new puppy! Schedule your appointment today.
Senior Pet Wellness
Pets are an important part of their owner’s lives. From the time that they’re young, pets can bring joy and provide unimaginable love. Unfortunately, pets don’t stay young and playful forever. Animals, like humans, get older, and with age, they develop different needs that their owners must meet. Pets are often considered old based on their size and age. Most small-breed pets, whether cat or dog, are considered older animals by the time that they are seven years old, while larger breeds are considered senior animals earlier, by the age of six. This difference is due to the fact that larger-breed animals tend to have shorter lifespans than their smaller counterparts. Additionally, this can change depending on the specific breed of animal, as toy breeds may not be considered old until they reach 8 or 9 years old. By understanding when pets are approaching or have reached their senior years, pet owners can make changes to accommodate their advancing age and prolong their lifespan.
Common Health Issues
With age, pets are faced with new health issues. Many of these issues are natural changes that can be expected of older animals, including decreased visual acuity or blindness, loss of hearing, and arthritis. Pets are also at higher risk of developing other health issues, some of which are more common among certain breeds or genders of animals. Diabetes, for example, is a common health concern that is seen more often in female pets. Other concerns for all older pets include kidney disease, dementia, and cancer.
Veterinary Visits
Pets should be taken to see their veterinarian twice a year for a senior wellness checkup. During these visits, the vet will perform a physical examination during which the animal’s weight and muscle tone and the range of motion of its joints are checked. The vet will also check the eyes, heart, and abdomen during the exam. If necessary, additional tests may be ordered, such as blood tests and chest X-rays.
Senior Pet Dental Care
Oral care is crucial for senior pets. An older animal that has dental problems or disease can experience extreme pain. This can impact the animal’s ability to eat and lead to a loss of appetite. The bacteria from dental disease can also cause severe health problems if they enter the bloodstream and can impact the animal’s liver, heart, or kidneys. In addition to difficulty eating, other signs of oral problems include bad breath, pawing at the face, brownish teeth, and swollen gums. Fortunately, it isn’t too late to start brushing a pet’s teeth using a finger brush or a long-handled toothbrush with pet toothpaste. Chew toys are also beneficial for keeping pets’ teeth clean, and they should have their teeth, gums, tongue, and mouth checked and annual tooth cleanings by a veterinarian, which is often done under anesthesia.