Canine and Feline Wellness
New Puppy and Kitten
Congratulations on becoming a puppy or kitten parent! It is best to make an appointment to do a thorough physical examination as well as a fecal exam to check for intestinal parasites within days of bringing them home. We will discuss nutrition and create a vaccine and preventative care plan together. Vaccine schedules vary due to the age of the pet and which vaccines are necessary for their lifestyle.
The Middle Years
Annual exams are important to check your pet’s overall health
- We want to make sure their weight remains healthy
- Discuss prevention and treatment of dental disease
- Check the health of the eyes
- Examine ears and skin to look for allergies, infections, lumps and bumps
- Listen to the heart and lungs
- Palpate the abdomen to detect abnormalities
- Assess the muscles and skeleton for lameness
Senior Care
We recommend seeing a senior patient twice a year. As they are aging it is helpful to detect changes and give treatment earlier. Larger dogs age more quickly and are considered seniors at a younger age, sometimes as young as five. Smaller dogs and cats are considered senior between 7 and 9.
- We definitely watch for weight changes, along with changes in eating habits.
- Heart disease is better treated when detected early.
- Changes in drinking and urination can clue us in to infections, endocrine disease such as diabetes, kidney, thyroid and adrenal disease, and some forms of cancer.
- We want to make sure that we take measures to keep them pain free from arthritis.
- There are mentation changes that can be treated when diagnosed early.