Our veterinarians believe that prevention is the key to your pet's long-term health, as well as minimizing the lifetime cost of care. The wellness exam is similar to the yearly physical you receive from your doctor. We highly recommend yearly wellness exams, vaccinations, regular lab work, de-worming and fecal checks, as well as medications to prevent heartworm, fleas, and ticks.
The wellness exam also provides you with one-on-one time to discuss any concerns you may have regarding your pet's health.
This exam consists of a nose-to-tail evaluation of your pet. During the exam we:
- Inspect your pet's oral cavity, teeth, throat, and dental hygiene.
- Examine your pet's eyes and check his or her vision.
- Scan his or her ears for infection, ear mites, allergic reaction, and other related health issues.
- Evaluate your pet's respiratory and cardiac function.
- Test your pet's reflexes.
- Palpate lymph nodes and abdomen.
- Inspect the skin.
- Palpate joints and muscles for arthritis and other orthopedic conditions.
- Suggest appropriate laboratory diagnostics to evaluate the function of internal organs, blood, and other systems.
New Puppy and Kitten Care
Bringing home a new puppy or kitten is exciting for any family! New pets add energy and fun to your home, and are a source of unceasing affection as they bond with you.
Puppies and kittens also require a little extra attention to ensure they get a healthy start in life. Comprehensive physical exams during these early, developmental stages are important.
Your first visits with any one of our veterinarians are perhaps the most important. These initial visits are when the client, doctor, and animal first meet and begin to form a relationship that lasts for your pet's lifetime.
You can discuss these puppy and kitten health questions:
- Diet, including types of food to feed and guidelines on feeding intervals and quantities.
- House training.
- Behavior.
- Spaying and neutering.
- Vaccine protocol.
- Pet health insurance.
- Microchipping, including if it's right for your pet and the best time to do it.
- Fecal exams for worms and other intestinal parasites.