Preventative Veterinary Medicine

At Unionville South Pet Hospital we like to think of ourselves as a partner in your pet's lifelong healthcare, so we take a proactive approach to wellness recommendations.

We're committed to helping you give your pet a long and healthy life and we know that preventative wellness care is the most effective and least expensive way to achieve that objective.

Wellness Recommendations: 

Thorough physical examinations are a vital part of any wellness program.  On average, pets age 7 years to our one, so to keep on top of things, we recommend you bring your pet for a full exam once a year. Seeing your pet annually for a complete head-to-toe exam helps us to detect problems early when treatment for many conditions would be most effective.

Because pets are usually very good at hiding their pain, we're often able to detect many medical conditions that you were unaware of during the annual exam. Early detection, recognition, and timely treatment can be the key to a long, healthy life.

Vaccinations are tailored to your pet's needs and risks of exposure. In recent years there has been much research and debate within the veterinary profession regarding appropriate wellness care and vaccination protocols.

At Unionville South Pet Hospital we believe that vaccinations are still absolutely critical to protect your pet against contagious diseases. Not all vaccinations should not be given yearly and some may be needed only every three years. We'll recommend a vaccination protocol for your pet based on their exposure risk and according to the latest research available. Most adult dogs should be vaccinated every 12 months for Bordetella and Leptospirosis, and once every three years for Distemper/Parvo. Cats require some vaccinations yearly and others every three years, and those vaccinations may be split and given separately in order to decrease stress on the immune system.

Parasite prevention is an important health care concern not only for your pet but for your family as well. Each year the Centers For Disease Control (CDC) reports many cases of parasitic diseases which are spread from pets to people. Most of these diseases can easily be prevented with routine veterinary care.  

We recommend puppies and kittens receive a series of fecal tests and dewormings and adult companion animals should have a health assessment and fecal test every year.

In our area, dogs and cats also face a significant risk of heartworm infections. We recommend that dogs be tested annually and that both dogs and cats take a year-round preventative once a month to prevent these deadly parasites.

Wellness blood work (annual health screen) should be performed on all pets older than 6 years of age. A complete profile and urinalysis to look for diseases such as diabetes, kidney disease, thyroid disease, and anemia may be recommended for senior or ill pets. These types of diseases cannot be detected during a physical exam alone and early intervention can significantly affect your pet's response to treatment.

Additional resources

https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4951314