Wellness Care for Your Pet
Wellness care is essential for your pet throughout its lifespan regardless of whether it's a puppy or an elderly animal. Puppies and kittens require routine examinations to check their growth and develop immunity.
Pet insurance plans offer pet wellness insurance as a supplement. Pet wellness coverage is different from pet insurance on several levels.
Vaccinations
Vaccines have been recognized as saving lives more than other treatment. They prevent diseases that could otherwise be fatal or cause prolonged and severe illness, pain, and death. In the majority of cases, prevention is far more effective and less expensive than treatment.
Immunizations are a very important aspect of pet wellness and can help prevent serious illnesses that affect dogs and cats as well as humans. Vaccines contain microorganisms that have been killed or altered and are administered to the body to increase the immune response. Vaccines can help the immune system detect and fight pathogens that cause disease without having to suffer the more severe effects that can result from an illness or infection.
Kittens and puppies should receive a full set of vaccinations in the early stages of development to help build a strong immune system against infectious diseases. Our veterinarian will suggest the appropriate vaccines for your pet based on their age and the type of lifestyle.
pet care website are rabies distemper and parvovirus. They are vital for all dogs and cats to protect against the ravages of infections that could be easily transferred to humans. The most important vaccines are administered in two doses at the age of a kitten or puppy and then boosters each year.
Other vaccinations are possible according to lifestyle and risk factors. Dogs that visit boarding and grooming kennels, dog parks and training classes for instance, could need to be vaccinated.
All pets are usually recommended to receive the hepatitis A vaccine and hepatitis B and C. They help stop a variety of deadly diseases that can be passed on from animals to humans and vice versa. A combination vaccine, also known as a A2PP or FVRCP for canines and cats respectively, guards against the most prevalent infectious diseases that can be transmitted between these species. The lyme vaccine, which is recommended for dogs who live in areas with many deer, guards them from bites caused by the deer tick, also referred to as the illegitimately called deer tick, which can cause a serious bacteria-related infection.
Fecal Exam
A fecal examination, sometimes known as a fecal floating, is a microscopic inspection of your pet's stool. This allows your veterinarian to detect intestinal parasites such as hookworms and roundworms. They can be transmitted to family members and other pets.
A fecal sample may be collected in many ways. Your vet may use an specialized fecal sample loop that is placed in the rectum, then pulled back to obtain a sample. This method is especially useful to identify worms and cysts. Your veterinarian may also perform an smear that is direct, spreading a small amount of the pet's feces on a microscope slide. This test comes with the disadvantage that it will only be reliable when there is no fat or cellular matter in the sample.
A centrifugal flotation test is another method. The test is conducted on the fecal sample for parasite eggs by mixing it with a particular solution. The eggs will float and can be observed under a microscope. This method is more sensitive than direct smears but results are still dependent on the details of the procedure as well as the particulars of the specimen.
The best way to ensure that your pet isn't infected with intestinal parasites that can affect his health or spread to other pets and family members is to perform annual fecal examinations. These conditions can be uncomfortable for your pet and could cause more serious health issues that require treatment. Some intestinal parasites, like hookworms and roundworms can be transferred to humans. This is a major health risk.
It is important to include fecal testing in your pet's routine to ensure well-being. All pets should have a Fecal test at least once a year. This is more frequent for puppies and animals in a space which is conducive to parasites. Intestinal parasites can be a major cause of illness in pets, causing diarrhea, weight loss and vomiting. In addition to detecting parasites the fecal test can identify blood or other abnormalities which could be a sign of illness or an ongoing infection.
Dental Exam
Dental health of your pet is an essential aspect of health care. Without proper dental care teeth of pets could become infected and lead to other health problems like tooth decay, bad breath and gum disease. These conditions start when tartar forms on the teeth and affects the surrounding tissues. The buildup can also be absorbed into bloodstreams and then travel to other organs like the kidneys, heart, and liver. This could increase the risk of serious disease and trigger inflammation. Regular brushing at home and dental cleanings help keep your pet’s teeth clean.
During the dental examination, our vet will evaluate your pet's mouth for indications of tartar and plaque. The veterinarian will employ the tool for scaling to remove the tartar, and then the probe will be used to examine for pockets beneath the gum line where periodontal problems begin. X-rays of the entire mouth are taken to check the bones and roots of the teeth.
Patients at a high risk of developing dental disease or who are getting older should undergo an exam for dental health at least once a year. In addition to a thorough physical examination, the vet will also discuss your pet's diet, weight and behavior with you. The vet will give you information on any changes that you may observe in your pet and may suggest additional tests or treatments if required.
Wellness plans can be an excellent way to save money and pay for preventive treatments, such as dental cleanings and heartworm tests. These plans are similar to traditional pet insurance but they cover pre-determined medical expenses rather than covering a whole visit. Our veterinarians will be pleased to discuss the various plans and options with you.
Contact our Spring Hill veterinarians to schedule an appointment today! We will conduct an examination for health, suggest vaccinations, and other preventive measures for your pet. We hope to see you soon!
Parasite Control
Whether of the internal or external variety, parasites are organisms that feed on your pet, robbing her of essential nutrients. They can also cause severe damage to her organs and systems, leading to a variety of uncomfortable symptoms. In extreme instances, some parasites (such as heartworms) could even cause death. Many people believe that parasites are a part of pet ownership. But it's not the case. Our veterinary team is versed in the types of parasites you should look for in your local area and can help to understand how these bugs affect your pet and what can be done to combat them.
Effective control of parasites in pets can greatly reduce the chance of disease transmission to other pets in the household as well as human. This means administering preventative flea and tick treatment throughout the year, using collars to keep ticks out, and grooming your dog frequently, especially after she's been outside. Inspecting for signs of parasites like chewing, scratching, or licking, can help you ensure that your pet is free of these parasites.
Internal parasites, such whipworms and roundworms as well as tapeworms, typically get acquired by accidentally ingesting microscopic parasite eggs from areas that have been infected by the faeces of affected animals. These parasites are also zoonotic. This means they can be transmitted from pets to humans (and in reverse).
Ectoparasites such as ticks and fleas are more likely to be present in urban areas with large population of pets, but they can be found in homes in all locations. Fleas can cause severe allergic reactions in pets and also transmit vector-borne diseases such as cat scratch disease (Bartonella), Lyme disease, Ehrlichia, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Ticks are also an important issue in the sense of causing painful, itchy and allergic reactions in pets and possibly transmitting vector-borne diseases such as Lyme disease and ehrlichia to humans.
All pets in shelters should be treated with a basic external-internal parasite control protocol at the time they first arrive to the shelter. This should include a preventative treatment that includes an oral dewormer that works against roundworms, hookworms, and ticks and fleas (Nemex or Strongid is the most commonly used product).