Resolutions don’t have to be ruff….Meow is the time to set your pet up for a Healthy and Yappy 2018.

1. Veterinary Examinations –

Every year, every pet.  Ideally twice a year is best.  Our veterinary examination checks your pet from tip of nose to tip of tail and all areas in between.  We look for disease and disorders that you may not have noted and can offer recommendations for a healthy pet.  We look for signs of dental disease, weight loss (or more likely gainL), joint disease, lumps, bumps, muscle changes, coat and fur issues, etc.

2. Preventive Lab Test-

The most basic of lab tests would be a heartworm and fecal test for both dogs and cats.  However, we practice a preventive wellness lifestyle.  This means we want to know how your pet is doing on the inside.  How are the organs and body functioning?  In order to perform a physical exam of the inside of the body, blood and urine testing is combined with the fecal/heartworm testing.  This creates a unique picture of your individual pet’s health. This is great for over the time monitoring as we compare each new year’s results with the previous year’s results and can trend changes that are significant for your pet.  Preventive lab tests also let us detect changes that may be occurring before your pet is clinical and before you may even know there is an issue.

3. Dental Care-

Dental disease is by far one of the most commonly diagnosed disorders among our pets.  By 3 years of age, 85% of all pets have some degree of dental disease.  Flip a lip and take a look at your pet’s teeth, but really look at the back teeth.  The canine teeth and premolars build up most of the plaque, tartar and disease. The gums can become red and inflamed. There may be an odor.  Bark Breath and Tuna Tongue are not normal.  Only a professional veterinary dental assessment and treatment with anesthesia will provide proper dental care.  At home preventive care can slow the formation of disease, but our professional services are the best, once the plaque and tartar has formed.  Most pets need this service once a year.  Some pets can go 2-3 years between cleanings while for others its every 6 months.

4. Weight Control-

There is an obesity epidemic in pets just as with their human counterpoints.  This is a fact.  It is very easy for our pets to consume more calories than their body needs and burn less due to more sedentary life styles.  We love our pets and many times we show that love with treats and goodies and extra food.  Proper nutrition with balanced ingredients and a basic exercise program is needed. We can guide you with prescription weight loss and weight management diets with exact calorie requirements.  Regular weight checks can be done to make sure we are on a good schedule of weight control.

5. Parasite Preventives-

One of the most important things you can do for your pet is to be sure they are on proper parasite preventive medications.  These medications are designed to prevent heartworm disease, flea and tick infestation.  Some of the preventives also prevent ear mites and help to control intestinal parasites.  Most of these are administered on a monthly basis, but some extend from 3-6 months long, depending on the type used.  It is far easier and much less expensive to prevent these parasitic infestations than to treat them.  Also, by preventing flea infestation and tick bites , you are also preventing the most common type of tapeworms and tick borne diseases (Lyme, ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, etc).

6. Vaccinations-

Proper vaccinations have reduced so much needless suffering from preventable disease.  Rabies vaccination, as required by law is very important as this disease is deadly to both pets and people.  Dog vaccinations for distemper, hepatitis, parvo, bordetella, influenza, leptospirosis and lyme disease may be needed depending on your dog’s lifestyle.  Cat vaccinations for rhinotracheitis, calici, panleukopenia and feline leukemia may be needed depending on your cat’s lifestyle.  Vaccine titers can be performed to better determine if your pet needs a particular vaccination booster.   Our hospital use purified vaccines with fewer ingredients that have minimal side effects and allow for less volume of vaccine to be administered.  This improves the safety factor of our vaccines greatly.

Make a New Year’s Resolution for your pet’s optimal care and keep it going all year long.  Then next year, rinse and repeat.