Exams and primary care

Wellness exams

Routine wellness exams and preventative care form the foundation for a lifetime of good health for your pet. Annual and semi-annual physical exams allow our veterinarians to get to know your pet from nose to tail. They also enable us to address any changes as early as possible to prevent small problems from becoming large ones.

At your pet’s routine physical exam, our veterinarians will assess your pet’s health across a variety of categories, including but not limited to:

  • heart and lung function

  • weight analysis

  • skin, coat, eye, and ear health

  • dental and oral health

  • nutritional needs

  • behavior and temperament

  • vaccinations and parasite prevention

Your pet’s veterinarian will address any questions or concerns you might have and make recommendations based on the findings of the exam.

Vaccinations

Routine vaccinations are not only critical to preventing major illnesses in both your pet, the larger pet population, and public health, but some of them are also required by law. Core vaccines are recommended for all pets, while others may only be needed if a pet’s lifestyle and risk factors warrant it.

Core vaccines include:

  • Rabies (dogs and cats)

  • DA2PPV – Distemper, Hepatitis, Adenovirus 2, Parvo, and Parainfluenza (dogs)

  • FVRCP – Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus and Panleukopenia (cats)

Your veterinarian will discuss the recommended vaccines for your pet based on their lifestyle and risk of exposure.

Parasite Prevention

Fleas, ticks, heartworms, and intestinal parasites are all threats to the health of your pet, and we recommend year-round preventative medications to keep these pests away. Not only are they unpleasant, but some can also cause serious illness or even death. Zoonotic parasites are ones that can be passed from animals to humans, making parasite prevention essential to not only your pet’s health but the health of you and your family as well.

Routine Blood Work

Regular blood work is important to your pet’s overall health, and we offer annual routine testing. This allows us to assess your pet’s liver and kidney functions, red and white blood cell counts, blood sugar, and more. Having baseline blood work for your pet gives us something to compare with if your pet gets sick, and annual blood work is crucial to identify any trends over the course of your pet’s life.