Wellness Exams
Choosing Den Herder Veterinary Hospital means choosing a true partner in your pet’s health. We are committed to providing a personalized, transparent experience, backed by a team that genuinely cares about your furry, scaly, or feathery family members.
Annual wellness exams are a cornerstone of maintaining your pet’s health. At Den Herder Veterinary Hospital, these exams allow us to comprehensively monitor your pet’s well-being throughout their life stages. Establishing a baseline of health during these regular check-ups helps our experienced veterinarians and support staff detect any changes or concerns early on, ensuring your pet gets the best care possible.
What to Expect
It’s best to bring puppies and kittens in for their debut check-up early on. For dogs and cats under six years old, an annual wellness exam is recommended. Pets aged 7 years or older, often referred to as senior pets, benefit from biannual examinations. Each visit provides an opportunity for our team of veterinary professionals to create the best wellness program for your furry friend, tailored to their individual needs in consultation with your veterinarian.
During a wellness exam, your veterinarian will typically check for a range of potential health concerns to ensure your pet’s overall well-being. These can include:
- Physical Examination: Checking your pet’s overall body condition, weight, skin, coat, eyes, ears, nose, and mouth for any abnormalities.
- Vaccination Status: Ensuring vaccinations are up-to-date to prevent various diseases.
- Parasites: Checking for fleas, ticks, mites, and internal parasites such as worms through fecal tests.
- Heart and Lungs: Listening to your pet’s heart and lungs for any irregularities or signs of heartworm disease.
- Musculoskeletal System: Assessing joints, muscles, and bones for any signs of injury or arthritis.
- Dental Health: Examining your pet’s teeth and gums for dental issues like plaque buildup, gum disease, or tooth decay.
- Nutritional Assessment: Discussing your pet’s diet and ensuring it meets their nutritional needs.
- Behavioral Assessment: Discussing any behavioral concerns or changes in behavior.
- Blood Tests: We recommend yearly blood tests to check organ function, detect infections, or identify underlying health issues.
- Senior Pet Health: For older pets, additional checks for conditions common in aging pets like kidney disease, diabetes, or cancer.
Regular wellness exams are crucial to catch any health problems early and ensure your pet’s well-being. It’s also an opportunity for you as a pet owner to discuss any concerns you might have about your pet’s health or behavior with your veterinarian.
Dog & Cat Vaccinations
Young animals are like kids–it’s a never-ending job to keep them safe and happy. Pet vaccinations are a relatively inexpensive but very important way to protect his or her health. In addition to preventing many life-threatening illnesses, vaccinations can prevent diseases prevalent in wildlife and those that can be passed to humans. It’s important to administer vaccinations when pets are puppies and kittens because their young immune systems are still developing and need protection to stay healthy.
While any medical treatment involves some degree of risk, in the case of vaccinations, the benefits far outweigh any potential side effects. Adverse reactions are rare and usually mild and short-term when they do occur.
Which vaccines should your pet have?
“Core” vaccines are those recommended – and possibly mandated by law – for most pets.
Canine Core vaccines include:
- Rabies – Vaccinated every 3 years
- Bordetella – Vaccinated for every year
- DHPP – Vaccinated every 3 years
- Leptospirosis – Vaccinated for every year
Additional Recommended Canine Lifestyle Vaccines Include:
- Influenza – Vaccinated every year
- Lyme – Vaccinated every year
Feline Core vaccines include:
- Rabies – Vaccinated every year
- FVRCP – Vaccinated every year
Additional Recommended Feline Lifestyle Vaccines Include:
- Feline leukemia virus – Vaccinated every year
It’s also important to note that even pets who live primarily indoors should be vaccinated, as they can still be exposed to a disease. Our team can advise you which vaccinations are required or recommended for your pet based on age, health, and lifestyle.
Preventative Care
Preventative care is essential to keeping your pet healthy and happy. We recommend Simparica Trio year-round for flea, tick, and heartworm prevention to protect your pet from common parasites. For our canine patients, we also suggest yearly heartworm tests to catch any potential issues early. Additionally, we recommend annual fecal exams for all pets to check for intestinal parasites and ensure their overall well-being.
For our feline patients, we also recommend year-round parasite prevention, with product recommendations based on their lifestyle. Regular preventative care helps us keep your pet in the best possible health year-round.
We provide senior pet wellness, too.
Senior pets hold a special place in our hearts, and we know they mean the world to our clients. We offer thorough senior pet physical exams and take the time to discuss what to expect as your four-legged friends age.
For senior pets, transitioning to semi-annual wellness exams is a proactive step. As pets age, their health needs often change, and more frequent check-ups become essential. These semi-annual visits provide a more comprehensive monitoring system, allowing us to address age-related issues promptly, manage chronic conditions, and adjust care plans as needed.
As part of their biannual exams, we also recommend senior x-rays and ultrasounds to screen for early signs of cardiac changes and monitor the health of vital abdominal organs. Additionally, we suggest early detection blood work and urinalysis to catch any underlying issues early. This proactive approach helps us detect potential masses that could be cancerous or life-threatening if left undetected.
These more frequent check-ups offer numerous advantages:
- Early Detection: Regular monitoring helps catch any health changes or issues before they become severe, improving treatment outcomes.
- Tailored Care: Adjusting wellness plans as pets age ensures their specific needs are met, whether it’s managing arthritis, addressing dental concerns, or adjusting dietary requirements.
- Quality of Life: Proactive care can enhance a pet’s quality of life as they age, ensuring they remain comfortable and happy.
- Client Education: These visits offer opportunities for pet owners to learn more about age-related changes in their pets and receive guidance on proper care and management.
By offering comprehensive senior pet wellness exams and guidance on managing the aging process, we hope to demonstrate a commitment to ensuring that senior pets receive the attention and care necessary to maintain their health, comfort, and happiness as they age.
Schedule An Appointment For Your Pet Today
Call our office at 319-232-5292 or schedule online to book your appointment today!
