Wellness examinations are as important for your pet as your yearly physical is to you.
It’s a chance for your veterinarian to assess your pet’s overall health, discuss any changes seen, and educate and update you on advancements in veterinary care. It’s also the perfect time to discuss any concerns or questions you may have about your pet.
Annual wellness examinations include:
- Examining your pet’s teeth, throat, and oral cavity
- Checking your pet’s vision and eyes
- Examining ears for infection, ear mites, allergic reaction, and other related health issues
- Assessing your pet’s heart and cardiac function
- Examining the skin
- Palpating lymph nodes and abdomen
- Examining the respiratory system
- Evaluating internal organ function and other systems
- Monitoring your pet’s blood count and serum chemistry
- Performing laboratory tests to determine the presence of specific diseases
- Assessing changes in your pet’s health since the last wellness visit
- Fecal check for the presence of intestinal parasites
Flea and Tick-Borne Disease
Fleas and ticks are more than a nuisance; they carry diseases that are dangerous to both you and your pet. Fleas can transmit tapeworms, and often you can see segments of the tapeworm in your pet’s stool. Ticks can carry a variety of serious illnesses, including Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
These problems can be avoided by using parasite prevention products available at Indian Hills Animal Clinic. When used properly, these products are safe and highly effective. Ask a hospital staff member to recommend a product that is right for your pet.
Heartworm Disease
Heartworm disease is a serious, life-threatening ailment for dogs and, to a lesser extent, cats. Mosquitoes spread the disease by injecting the parasite into your pet at the time of the bite. Clinical symptoms of heartworm disease develop slowly. Lack of energy and exercise intolerance are early symptoms of heartworms, as are coughing and difficulty breathing. Because heartworm disease is increasing in frequency and has serious risks, we recommend that your dog be tested annually.
Fortunately, prevention is simple and effective.
If you would like to have your pet tested for heartworm disease, please call in Indian Hills Animal Clinic at 205-345-1231 today.
Vaccinations
Vaccines are the best way to protect your pet against serious diseases and bacteria. While some vaccines prevent common infectious diseases, others protect against dangers present in a pet’s lifestyle. Indian Hills Animal Clinic follows the vaccination protocols recommended by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), thus ensuring that your pet receives the best protection possible.
Essential Vaccines for Dogs
- Rabies
- Distemper-Hepatitis
- Parvovirus
- Parainfluenza
- Canine Influenza H3N2
- Leptospirosis
- Bordetella, administered annually or within six months of boarding
Essential Vaccines for Cats
- Rabies
- Panleukopenia – Feline Distemper
- Rhinotracheitis – Feline Herpes Virus
- Pneumonitis
- Calicivirus
- Feline Leukemia Virus
- Rabies vaccination is mandatory and part of the protocol for both species. We also suggest the distemper vaccine for ferrets.
Puppy & Kitten Care
Whether purchasing a pet for the first time or introducing one into your multiple-pet home, a puppy or kitten quickly melts your heart. However, knowing how to properly care for your new pet will help eliminate any hassles and worries. Always ready to support you with exceptional pet care and guidance, Indian Hills Animal Clinic shares your joy in welcoming this new family member into your life.
The hospital’s puppy and kitten programs are designed to cover all the fundamental health care needs of your new pet during their early life stages.
Senior Pet Care
As with humans, pets in their senior years—those of about seven years of age and older—begin to go through a gradual reduction of their physical capabilities. While you cannot control age-related decline, you can influence your pet’s activity level, living conditions, access to quality senior veterinary care, and daily nutrition. With your veterinarian’s help, you can manage these factors in order to prolong your pet’s good health and vitality and increase his or her well-being, even as their pace slows.
Exotic Pet Care
We believe that all pets deserve the opportunity to lead happy and healthy lives. This is why we offer medical care for exotic or pocket pets such as rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, and rats. Dr. Smith is also experienced in avian pet care and performs routine exams, checks for internal diseases, and performs minor surgical procedures on birds.
Since it is often difficult to determine if an exotic pet is ill, we strongly recommend physical examinations twice a year to check for health problems, plus annual monitoring for nutritional and husbandry-related conditions.