Your Partner in Lifelong Preventative Pet Care
Priority #1 is keeping your dog healthy. When you bring your friend in for a yearly wellness exam, you help us establish a personalized health baseline so we may update your pet with age- and health-appropriate protocols. It’s also a great time to discuss any questions you may have concerning your pooch!
Examinations
Your pet’s annual physical allows your veterinarian to complete a nose-to-tail examination and note any changes to your pet’s health. Your veterinarian will check everything, from your pet’s ears, eyes, and mouth to the function of the heart and lungs. You can also expect your veterinarian to record your pet’s weight, examine the skin and coat, and feel the body for any unusual lumps or bumps.
Vaccinations
Vaccinations play a vital role in your pet’s overall health by preventing harmful pet diseases. After discussing your pet’s lifestyle with you, your veterinarian will determine which vaccinations are right for your pet. We commonly administer these vaccinations:
- DHPP (distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza, and parvovirus)
- Rabies
- Leptospirosis
- Bordetella (kennel cough)
- Lyme disease
- Canine influenza
Parasite Control
Annual Parasite Testing
Tick-borne diseases and heartworms are a concern for dogs in our area. As part of your dog's annual wellness exam, we recommend a yearly 4DX blood test, which screens for:
- Heartworm disease
- Ehrlichiosis
- Lyme disease
- Anaplasmosis
Annual blood testing helps detect these diseases early, often before your pet shows any signs of illness.
Annual Fecal Testing
We also recommend bringing a fresh stool (fecal) sample to your dog's annual wellness visit. A yearly fecal test helps ensure your pet is free of intestinal parasites, including:
- Roundworms
- Hookworms
- Whipworms
- Tapeworms
Some intestinal parasites can be transmitted from pets to people, making routine screening an important part of your pet's preventive care.
Parasite Prevention
Prevention is the key to protecting your pet from harmful parasites. We recommend year-round parasite prevention, including:
- Regular heartworm prevention
- Regular flea and tick prevention
- Annual fecal testing and parasite screening
- Deworming as recommended by your veterinarian
By combining preventive medications with annual blood and fecal testing, we can help keep your pet healthy and protected throughout the year.
Nutrition & Exercise
Proper nutrition and exercise are essential to your pet’s total health. Obesity causes health complications and severely decreases life expectancy. During your wellness visit, you can expect your veterinarian to discuss nutrition choices and exercise tips, as well as suggest changes to your pet’s diet and exercise regime as needed.
