It is essential that you take a proactive approach to care for your pet’s overall wellness. Wellness encompasses everything from diet & nutrition to scheduling annual physical exams. Committing to your pet’s wellness can help them live longer, healthier lives and reduce their risk of disease or infection. Regular visits to the vet can help ensure that your pet is living their healthiest life and it can help your veterinarian detect any potential issues before they become serious. Being proactive with your pet’s wellness can help extend their life and save you from potentially expensive medical bills in the future.

Your pet should see their veterinarian about once every year for an annual physical. Older pets should visit twice per year to help prevent any major health developments and guarantee early treatment. A wellness exam will typically involve a physical exam of their ears, nose, eyes, skin, coat, teeth, and gums. Your veterinarian will also listen to your pet’s heart and lungs to assess their function. Weight is recorded and their nutrition is evaluated.

From the ages of 1 to 4 years, we recommend an annual exam. We recommend dental cleanings from the age of 2. Vaccines will be checked and any required boosters are given. As your pet matures between the ages of 4 and 6 years, we will do blood screening for thyroid problems. Once your pet reaches the age of 6, he or she is considered a senior pet, and we add a series of blood tests designed just for seniors as well as screenings for joint problems. Dental concerns are addressed, vaccinations assessed, and parasite prevention is continued.

For all pets, an annual faecal exam is done to check for intestinal parasites, including: Giardia, Coccidia, Roundworms, Tapeworms, Hookworms, Whipworms.

In addition, we test dogs annually for heartworms, Lyme disease, Anaplasma, and Ehrlichia. After a negative heartworm test, we will prescribe heartworm prevention medication that contains a dewormer to help control some of the more common intestinal parasites. At ages 1 through 4, vaccinations will be updated with boosters as indicated by your pet’s current needs and lifestyle.