Preventative Care
Research performed by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) emphasizes the importance of preventative care for pets including wellness exams, immunizations, parasite testing, parasite prevention, routine fecal screening, and basic annual lab work.
Preventative care visits help pets live longer and more comfortable lives through early detection and intervention of disease.
Wellness exams
Wellness exams are the cornerstone of preventative care. During these exams, a veterinarian will thoroughly inspect the pet from nose to tail including examination of the eyes, ears, oral cavity, lymph nodes, auscultation of heart and lungs, screen for lameness and joint disease, palpate the abdominal cavity, examine the skin and coat, notate and recommend further testing for any abnormal lumps/bumps, and assess overall body condition.
Immunizations
Wellness visits are the ideal time to administer vaccinations because a healthy pet is in a better position to respond to vaccinations adequately than a pet who is ill or injured. Age and lifestyle are taken into consideration when determining which vaccinations are necessary to best protect your pet.
Parasite Screenings
Pets in South Central Texas are exposed to a wide variety of parasitic diseases. Even pets that live primarily indoors are susceptible to parasites due to our abundant population of insects and wildlife that transfer and transmit these diseases year-round in our area. Routine annual parasite screening includes: a heartworm test, tick-borne disease screening, and an intestinal parasite examination.
Parasite Prevention
Pets in our area should receive year-round broad-spectrum parasite control to protect them from heartworms, intestinal parasites, fleas and ticks. Age and lifestyle are taken into account when deciding which medication options will best protect your pet.
Routine Labwork
Age-appropriate diagnostic testing is imperative to detect and treat emerging underlying health conditions as early as possible. This is especially important for pets because, by nature, they often mask or do not show symptoms of illness until the disease has become severe.
Dental Cleanings
Maintaining a healthy mouth is key to preventing dental disease which can lead to pain, tooth loss, difficulty eating, and bad breath. Additionally, dental disease has the potential to affect virtually every organ in the body as bacteria spreads through infected gum tissue and into the bloodstream. Dental cleanings include a thorough dental exam, dental x-rays, cleaning, and polish. This procedure is performed under general anesthesia for thoroughness.
Microchipping
Microchipping is a permanent and simple means of identification as opposed to collars or tags which can break or be removed. Pets that are microchipped are twice as likely to be returned to their owners when lost than pets that are not chipped.
Spay and Neuter
According to the AVMA, spayed/neutered dogs and cats live longer on average, than those who are not. This advantage is likely due to the health and behavioral benefits of the procedures. Your pets age, breed, intended purpose and individual health are all taken into consideration when determining the best time to plan for these procedures.