Preventative Care
We believe the best way to promote overall health is through preventative care. Regular checkups allow us to establish a baseline in your pets’ health and make us aware of any changes that may indicate future problems. Annual vaccinations are also recommended, however our recommendations are based on each pet’s lifestyle and exposure risk. Please note, that all pet’s seen within our clinic must be up to date on their rabies vaccinations as required by law.
We highly recommend bringing your pet in for regular exams, whether annually for a young pet (less than 7 years old), or bi-annually for older pets (over 7 years old). Often health problems that are not caught early can become more severe issues when left untreated, so checkups are important even when your pet appears healthy for a greater chance of early detection.
As your pet ages, there are other items we recommend beyond just an exam and routine vaccinations:
Dogs (>7 years of age)- annual geriatric blood work, including a urinalysis. As dogs age, they can be prone to developing osteoarthritis which can cause pain, requiring pain management options based on the pet’s severity and lifestyle. But not all limping is due to joint disease. Some dogs can develop bone cancers that, in their early stages, can mimic osteoarthritic pain. In these instances, x-rays (or radiographs) would be recommended in order to properly diagnose. Older dogs are also prone to develop certain metabolic disorders that can be detected early with routine lab work.
Cats (>7 years of age)- annual geriatric blood work, including a urinalysis. Cats are very stoic animals and many times can have mild disease that goes undetected. Many cats as they age will develop a decrease in their kidney’s function, and early detection can help slow down the degenerative nature of their disease. Older cats are also more prone to diseases such as hypertension (high blood pressure) and hyperthyroidism (typically due to an over productive thyroid gland), so blood pressure and thyroid level checks are also recommended in aging feline patients.