Wellness Exams

Why are wellness exams important?

Wellness exams give us a chance to evaluate the overall health of your pet while also giving us a baseline for their own unique bodies and tendencies. They also allow us to detect potential problems before they become serious, and even make your pet more familiar with our veterinary hospital, making future visits easier on them and you.

Vaccinations

Why are vaccinations important?

Vaccinations are vital to the health and protection of your pet and serve as a preventive measure in combating viral diseases like Parvovirus, Parainfluenza virus, Distemper, Panleukopenia, Feline Leukemia Virus, Rabies, and bacterial diseases such as Lyme and Leptospirosis.

Explore vaccine recommendations for dogs here

Explore vaccine recommendations for cats here

When should my pet get vaccinated?

Vaccinations are particularly important for puppies, kittens, and other young animals that have immature immune systems. Veterinary vaccinations generally begin at 6-8 weeks of age and then boosted throughout your pet’s life depending on the vaccine. Our doctors will determine the appropriate vaccination plan for your pet.

Parasite Control

When should I seek treatment for parasites?

Fleas:

If your pet is showing signs of fleas such as continuous scratching, gnawing, or licking, schedule an appointment immediately. Additionally, flea dirt, the by-product of fleas that look like coffee grounds or pepper, can usually be seen by looking at your pet’s abdomen or by combing your pet’s coat with a fine-tooth comb.

Ticks:

If you see a tick on your pet, we recommend calling us to limit the impact of the tick. If you notice the tick outside of business hours, follow this tutorial to safely remove the entire tick: The Best Way to Remove a Tick

Prevention is key when it comes to ticks. One of the most common and effective prevention methods is a monthly oral medication. Chat with us today to explore the options.

Heartworms:

The best treatment for heartworms is prevention. One of the most common and effective prevention methods is a monthly oral medication. Talk with us at your next visit to learn more.

The parasite is transmitted through mosquito bites and usually, the pet shows no signs for months. Later symptoms include difficulty breathing, coughing, weight loss, tiring easily and listlessness. In many cases, pets do not show outward signs until advanced stages of the disease. An annual blood test is recommended to screen for heartworms. This disease can be treated if found early, but treatment is much more challenging and can be costly.

The best approach to heartworms is prevention. One of the most common and effective prevention methods is a monthly oral medication. Talk with us at your next visit to learn more.

Microchipping

Microchip identification is the most reliable way to find lost pets and return them home to their owners. The procedure is safe, easy, and inexpensive. If you plan to travel out of the country, microchips are also necessary.

How does microchipping work?

The small microchip (the size of a grain of rice) is injected under the skin between the shoulder blades of your pet in a relatively harmless veterinary procedure. The chip is permanent, lasting the whole life of the pet. Your information must be registered with your bar code number so that you can be contacted if your pet ever becomes lost.

If a pet is found, all animal care facilities (shelters, hospitals, etc.) will scan the pet for a microchip using a special microchip reader that is simply waved over the skin. Once a microchip is found, a special hotline is called, and the lost pet is reported. The pet owner is then called immediately and given the contact information about where to pick up their pet.

Looking for your pet? Access the Universal Pet Microchip Lookup here.