Canine Health Recommendations

Veterinarians recommend yearly wellness exams for the same reason your physician and dentist recommend them - if you can detect a problem in its early stages, it's more likely to be treated and resolved more effectively, more successfully and less expensively.

Oral Health Care

During the annual exam, your veterinarian will do an oral exam to check your pet's mouth for disease or abnormalities.  Oral disease is common and results in bad breath, painful gum and tooth infection.  In advanced cases, dental disease may compromise your pet's overall health.  We recommend daily teeth brushing, oral dental treats and professional cleanings to treat and prevent periodontal disease.

Spaying and Neutering

Spaying and neutering your pet is recommended.  Pet overpopulation is a major problem and unwanted pets are euthanized in shelters every day.  Discuss the risks and benefits of spay/neuter surgery with your veterinarian.

Vaccines:

Core Vaccines:

Rabies:  The vaccine is required by law and prevents infection by a fatal virus carried by skunks, racoons, bats, and other wildlife.  Rabies is a zoonotic disease, which means it can be transmitted to humans.  If your pet is bitten by wildlife or bites a human/animal, lack of a current vaccination will result in quarantine at the owner's expense.

DHPP (Canine Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus and Parainfluenza):  Recommended for all dogs to prevent these potentially fatal communicable diseases.  In particular, parvovirus can live up to two years in the environment and can cause fatal gastroenteritis.

Lifestyle Vaccines:

Leptospirosis:  A bacteria found in the urine of wildlife, commonly carried by skunks, raccoons, deer, rats, etc... that is passed through contaminated water (including puddles, streams, lakes).  The disease can be fatal and, although rare, it may pass to humans.

Bordetella (Kennel Cough):  A highly contagious upper respiratory illness passed via direct contact with other dogs or contaminated surfaces/items.  Recommended for dogs who visit kennels, groomers, dog parks or daycare.

Influenza:  This a highly contagious respiratory virus passed via direct contact with other dogs or contaminated surfaces/items.  Outbreaks are rare, discuss with your veterinarian whether this vaccine is appropriate.

Microchip

AKC reunite microchip is a safe and effective way to make sure that your pet will be identified properly to ensure it returns home to you quickly and safely.

Parasites:

Heartworm disease

Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal disease in pets.  It is caused by foot long worms (heartworms) that live in the heart, lungs and associated blood vessels of affected pets, causing severe lung disease, heart failure and damage to other organs in the body.  Heartworm disease is carried by mosquitoes and affects not only dogs, cats and ferrets, but also can be in other mammal species, including wolves, coyotes, foxes and - in rare instances-humans. 

Intestinal Parasites

Most dogs are exposed to and may harbor worms, like roundworms, whipworms, hookworms, tapeworms, and single cell organisms.  Dogs can contract intestinal parasites via different routes, such as when an animal inadvertenlty ingests parasite eggs or spores in contaminated soil, water, feces or food.

Fleas and Ticks

Fleas are especially common in our area.  They live wherever there are cats, dogs and other mammals - including indoors.  Consistent flea control is essential to prevent infestation and prevent itchiness and secondary skin complications.

Ticks occur anywhere wildlife and natural vegetation occur - including parks and backyards.  Ticks may carry bacteria or viruses that can be transmitted to a pet while the tick is attached and feeding.

Parasite Prevention

We recommend year round Prevention for all pets unless otherwise discussed with a doctor.

Simparica is a chewable treat taken monthly that protects your pet from flea and tick infestation. 

MilbeGuard is a chewable treat taken monthly that protects your pet from heartworm disease and intestinal parasites.

Revolution is a topical medications applied monthly that protects your pet from heartworm disease, intestinal parasites, fleas, and the brown dog tick.

Parasite Testing

Fecal analysis:  We recommend an annual screening for parasites that your dog may easily pick up from the environment and that may be spread to humans.  Common local intestinal parasites include roundworm, hookworm, whipworm and tapeworm.

Heartworm/tick borne disease screening:  Annual testing for heartworm is recommended by the American Heartworm Society for early detection of infection. The test we use also checks for Lyme, Anaplasmosis, and Ehrlichiosis, three common tick borne diseases. 

Early Detection Lab Work

Annual lab work is recommended as a precaution to detect early disease in your pet (i.e. kidney disease, liver disease, diabetes, thyroid disease, etc.) prior to your pet showing signs/symptoms.  Even pets that appear happy and healthy can have a hidden medical problem that might become serious, even life-threatening, if left undetected.  Blood and urine tests may help identify diseases at the earliest, most treatable stage possible.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to give our hospital a call and schedule an appointment today!

585-352-4040