Preventative Care for all stages of your pets lives

Puppies and Kittens have a specific need for appropriately timed care.

• Initial Vet Visit: Schedule a checkup with a veterinarian within the first week to establish a preventive care plan, including vaccinations and parasite prevention. 
• Vaccinations: Both puppies and kittens need protection from serious diseases through a series of vaccinations, with specific vaccines recommended for each species. 
• Parasite Control: Discuss options for managing fleas, ticks, and other internal and external parasites with your vet. 
• Spay/Neuter: Your vet will advise on the best timing for spaying or neutering your pet. 

Our adult pets need to stay up to date on their preventatives to help ensure a long and healthy life. 

• Regular Vet Appointments: Schedule biannual checkups for pets. They age much faster than us, so biannual visits are highly recommended.
• Oral Health: Regular veterinary exams and cleanings are crucial to prevent dental disease, which can impact overall health. 
• Vaccinations and Preventative Care: Stay up-to-date on vaccinations and parasite prevention. 
• Health Monitoring: Watch for changes in weight, appetite, mobility, and drinking habits, as these can signal underlying health issues. 

Our senior patients have specific needs to help keep them comfortable in their later years of life.

• Regular Checkups: Older pets need more frequent vet visits to monitor their health and catch age-related issues early. 
• Vaccinations & Parasite Control: Keep up with routine vaccinations and parasite prevention, as a senior pet's immune system are typically weaker. 
• Dental Care: Dental health is crucial; regular vet dental exams and home care prevent gum disease and other complications. 
• Monitor for Changes: Look for lumps, changes in behavior, weight fluctuations, and signs of discomfort that may indicate a health problem. 

 Heartworm Testing

• Why it's necessary: Testing ensures the effectiveness of your prevention plan and catches infections early. A heartworm-positive dog given a preventive can have serious and potentially fatal reactions. 
• When to test:
  • All dogs 7 months and older should be tested annually. 
  • A test is also required before starting prevention on adult dogs. 
  • Test immediately if you miss doses or a lapse in prevention occurs. 
  • Testing may be necessary if traveling to areas with high heartworm prevalence. 
• What the tests detect:
  • Antigen Test: Detects proteins from adult female heartworms. 
  • Microfilaria Test: Detects baby heartworms (microfilariae) circulating in the blood. 
• Puppies: Puppies can start prevention without a test before 7 months of age but need to be tested 6 months after their initial dose, again 6 months later, and annually thereafter. 

Heartworm Prevention

• Why prevention is key: Heartworm disease is spread by mosquitoes and can cause severe damage to a pet's heart, lungs, and blood vessels if not prevented. 
• How to prevent it:
  • Administer a heartworm preventive medication monthly. 
  • The Americal Heartworm Society recommends year-round, 12-month protection. 
• Types of prevention: We offer oral, injectable, and topical forms of prevention. 

 Baseline bloodwork establishes a pet's normal health metrics, providing a crucial reference point for your veterinarian to detect and monitor health issues as your pet ages. This testing typically involves a Complete Blood Count (CBC) to assess blood cells and a Blood Chemistry Panel to evaluate organ function and electrolytes. Regular baseline testing, particularly in middle-aged and senior pets, helps catch conditions like kidney disease, liver problems, or thyroid issues before they become serious. 

A comprehensive baseline includes:

• Complete Blood Cell Count: Measures red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets to screen for infection, inflammation, anemia, and other blood disorders. 
• Blood Chemistry Panel: Evaluates various organs and systems, including the liver, kidneys, and pancreas, and checks for glucose, electrolytes, and protein levels. 
• Thyroid Function: Detects imbalances in thyroid hormones, which can affect metabolism and overall health. 
• Urinalysis: A companion test that helps detect urinary tract infections and crystals. 

Why it's important

• Establishes "Normal": Establishes what is normal for your individual pet, as some animals have "abnormally normal" values that are healthy for them. It provides a critical reference point for your veterinarian to compare future test results and make informed treatment decisions. 
• Early Detection: Allows for the early detection of underlying diseases or organ dysfunction before visible symptoms appear. 
• Trend Monitoring: Veterinarians can monitor trends and detect subtle changes over time, which is essential for managing chronic conditions. 

When to get baseline bloodwork 

• Young Pets: Recommended in early adulthood to establish values to compare as they age.
• Middle-Aged & Senior Pets: Annual or biannual bloodwork is crucial for monitoring age-related changes and catching problems early.
• Some medication therapies require that we monitor your pets values every 3-6 months to ensure their body is able to handle it properly.

By having regular baseline bloodwork done, you and your veterinarian can work together to keep your pet healthy and detect any health issues at the earliest possible stage.