|
Keeping your pet happier and healthier starts with puppyhood and continues throughout your pet's life. Our focus is on behavior, infectious disease control, control of internal and external parasites, dental hygiene, diet and weight management, blood pressure monitoring and routine bloodwork when indicated in adults and routine screenings for seniors. Prevention of disease is less expensive than treating.
General Guidelines
Wellness Exam:
Once yearly for pets 1-6 years old
Twice yearly for pets over 6 years old
Vaccinations:
Core vaccines- Canine Distemper-Adenovirus Type 2-Parainfluenza-Parvovirus
(DAPP) and Canine Rabies
Lifestyle-related vaccines - Leptosporosis, Canine Bordetella (Kennel Cough),
Porphyrmonas (Periodontitis prevention)
Intestinal Parasite Testing:
Twice yearly
Heartworm Preventative
Strategic Worming
Heartworm Disease:
Year-round Heartworm Preventative (Client’s choice)
Yearly Heartworm Testing
Zoonotic diseases:
Flea and Tick Control
Management of Intestinal Parasites
Preventative Dentistry:
Daily Brushings
Oral Solutions
A vaccination is available for breeds genetically predisposed to periodontal
disease.
Dental cleaning when recommended by the veterinarian
Diagnostics:
Fecal Testing
Heartworm Testing
Blood work as recommended by the veterinarian
Yearly Senior Health Profiles
Blood Pressure Monitoring
Optimum Wellness Plan
Year One
- Complete vaccination series. Number and type of vaccines will depend on age when examined, previous history, and risk factors.
- Begin heartworm preventative and flea and tick control.
- Socialize puppies at IVAH’s puppy parties.
- Begin dental hygiene practices.
- Spay and Neutering. Although these procedures can be done at any age, we encourage having them done between the ages of 5 and 7 months. We highly recommend having females spayed before their first heat.
Adult Years (ages 2-6)
- Annual health check-ups
- Appropriate vaccines will be administered.
- Tests for intestinal parasites, heartworm disease and tick borne diseases.
- Address any health issues determined upon examination.
- Weight Control and dental issues will be addressed. Weight and dental issues are the two most common problems for middle age pets.
- Blood work and Urinanalysis testing.
Senior Years (ages 7 – 10)
- Seniors will need to be seen twice yearly for a wellness exam
- Comprehensive blood work and urinanalysis will be performed once a year. Pets on long-term medication or pets with chronic diseases will need to be monitored more frequently.
- Appropriate vaccines will be administered.
- Blood pressure will be checked and ocular pressure will be tested for glaucoma.
- Heartworm testing, which is less expensive than treatment of the disease.
- A plan will be set up for handling any medical conditions found.
- Chest x-rays, and EKGs may be part of the examination.
- Yearly teeth cleaning should be done for most dogs.
Geriatric years (age 10 and above)
- Twice a year check-ups
- Blood work twice a year (if necessary)
- Intestinal Parasite testing twice a year
- Blood pressure and ocular pressure twice a year
- Heartworm testing once a year
- Chest x-rays and EKGs should be part of wellness profile.
- A treatment plan will be set up for any medical conditions found.
- Further diagnostics may be necessary for some pets.
- Appropriate vaccines will be administered.
- Diet and nutrition will be reviewed.
- Yearly teeth cleanings may be necessary. Good dental hygiene can add 2-3 years to your pet’s life.
Unfortunately, most of our dogs will not live past 15-16 years of age. When the time comes for the final act of caring, we provide euthanasia and cremation services. If you feel your pet is not in severe discomfort, or if you would rather they pass quietly on his or her own, we now offer hospice care for your pet. As in human medicine, our goal is to keep your pet comfortable with adequate nutrition and hydration. We also want your pet to be pain free until the end.
This is the most difficult time for all pet owners. We need to be thankful for the joyous time we had with them and unconditional love we shared together.
|
