Why We Recommend Pet Wellness Care
Good health takes effort. Routine pet exams are important for our four-legged family members because their lives are much shorter than ours, and they may be at risk for certain diseases. Unlike us, our pets try to hide their illnesses, which can worsen very quickly if left untreated. Therefore, we recommend annual or semi-annual wellness exams for all of our patients in Cincinnati and surrounding areas to ensure they stay healthy and happy.
Our doctors create personalized wellness plans to suit the needs of every pet and every owner. We always have a time and place to care for your pet. Furthermore, we take a preventative approach with wellness care, utilizing physical exams, blood tests, vaccinations and more to help pets enjoy longer lives.
What We Include In Pet Exams
The wellness exam starts with a physical. Along with weight, heart rate and temperature, we will want to check your pet's:
- Eyes, nose, teeth and gums
- Ears, skin, coat and nails
- Heart, lungs, and abdominal organs
- Limbs, joints, paws, tail and reproductive organs
Your veterinarian will make note of their findings and address potential problems. This may involve treatments to correct the issue, or adjustments to your pet's lifestyle. Our goal is to take preventative measures to maintain your pet's health and avoid harmful diseases in the future.
In addition to the physical exam, we recommend annual bloodwork for all pets, as well as annual blood and fecal testing to screen for heartworm and intestinal parasites. We offer heartworm testing for both dogs and cats, because parasites are an ongoing problem for both. Additionally, we recommend semi-annual bloodwork for senior pets and those on chronic medications to ensure their health is closely monitored.
Many of our senior patients have chronic conditions, so we recommend seeing them for twice-yearly work-ups specifically related to their health problems. Older pets are prone to various maladies including arthritis, diabetes, heart disease and cataracts.
Parasite Prevention
Parasite prevention is a key aspect of pet wellness. Fleas, ticks and mosquitoes can transmit various illnesses to not only our pets, but to us as well. Common conditions associated with these parasites include:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Intestinal blockage
- Anemia
Intestinal parasites such as roundworm, hookworm and whipworm can also cause trouble for pets. New puppies and kittens are often born with roundworms, and should be treated for them right away. Some parasites are zoonotic which means it is possible to transmit to people as well.
Heartworm disease is dangerous because it may not produce symptoms for several years. When an infected mosquito takes a blood meal from an animal, they transfer the larvae (microfilaria) into the host. These larvae travel through the bloodstream and take root in the heart and associated blood vessels. Left untreated, heartworms can cause serious damage to the heart, lungs and other organs.
Parasite-transmitted diseases can be prevented with the right protection. Call us today at (513) 242-2141 to learn more and schedule an appointment for your pet.