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Adult Wellness Care
A yearly wellness exam for pets one to six years of age is essential to keep your pet healthy. This is like visiting
your own doctor every 7 years. At the appointment, a thorough history is collected to see how your pet is doing.
The veterinarian will ask about any problems or changes you have noticed. Next, a full physical exam is performed.
The doctor will check their eyes, ears, teeth/gums, skin and coat. The doctor will also listen to your pet's
heart and lungs. Any vaccines that are due will be administered and necessary tests will be run. The veterinarian
will be able to address any questions or concerns you have. We will discuss your pet's lifestyle and activities
to determine if additional diagnostics or treatments would be beneficial to your pet's health.
Another very important part of wellness care is a fecal flotation test. This test checks for many common
intestinal parasites such as tapeworms and roundworms. Besides causing health problems for your pet,
intestinal parasites that dogs and cats carry maybe zoonotic, which means they can be transferred to humans.
The CDC (The Center for Disease Control) http://www.cdc.gov/Healthypets/browse_by_animal.htm is recommending
fecal tests twice a year. According to the CDC, a recent national survey of shelters revealed that almost
36% of dogs nationwide harbored parasites capable of causing human disease. Testing and treating for parasites
not only keeps your pet healthy, it also protects the rest of your family and the community.
The only thing needed to perform this test is an acorn size portion of fresh stool.
If intestinal parasites or their eggs are found, the doctor will prescribe a medication that will
rid your pet of the specific parasite(s).
Our healthcare team will also provide you with information and instructions on how to keep your
pet's teeth free of plaque and tartar, minimizing the need for a dental cleaning under anesthesia.
See our website's client education section for a video demonstration of proper home dental care.
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