Stop by for a Routine Checkup

One of the best things you can do for your pet is to keep him or her healthy. And one of the easiest and least expensive ways to do that is by bringing in your pet for regular exams and vaccinations. Dogs and cats, and other pets, age far faster than people, so significant changes in your pet’s health can happen in a short time. Wellness programs allow us to diagnose diseases and conditions early when they are easier to treat or manage.

Often, we can help prevent diseases entirely, just by ensuring that your pet has received appropriate vaccinations and preventives. We recommend that healthy adult dogs and cats visit Best Friends Veterinary Care once a year. Puppies, kittens, senior pets and pets with health issues or illnesses need more frequent checkups. We’ll work with you to create an individualized wellness program, including a vaccination and prevention protocol customized specifically to your pet. Call us today to schedule your pet’s wellness exam.

 

The designation of senior status depends on your pet’s size and breed. Cats generally live longer than dogs, and smaller breed dogs tend to live longer than larger breed dogs. We can help you determine if your pet is considered a “senior” pet. Before your pet reaches “senior” status, we recommend a baseline wellness exam and diagnostic workup which may include blood-work, fecal and urine tests, and possibly X-rays depending on your pet’s condition. This will help us determine what is normal or “baseline” for your pet, so we can track any changes as they occur. In most cases, your cat should have this visit at 8 years of age, and your dog at 7 years of age. Once your pet reaches “senior” status, he or she will lead a healthier life with more frequent, twice yearly or more frequently depending on your pet’s condition, exams and diagnostics.

 

Diagnosing certain conditions and diseases early is important throughout a pet’s life, but it becomes crucial when your dog or cat enters his or her senior years. The risks of arthritis, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, hormone disorders, kidney and liver problems all increase with age. Many dogs and cats may not show any signs or symptoms of disease, even serious diseases, until they are quite advanced.

 

We'll help your design a senior wellness plan tailored to your pet’s specific needs.

 

Many symptoms that are commonly attributed to age can be successfully managed or treated. We can also improve your pet’s quality of life in many ways: by identifying and preventing or reducing pain or other symptoms, by recommending an appropriate nutrition - diet and/or supplements and exercise plan or by suggesting environmental modifications to keep your pet comfortable and happy in his or her senior years.

 

A microchip is a tiny device about the size and shape of a grain of rice. It is placed just under the loose skin at the back of the neck. When a lost cat or dog without an ID tag is found, a veterinarian, veterinary technician or shelter personnel can use a handheld microchip scanner to check for a chip. If the pet has a chip, it will transmit its ID number to the scanner via a low-frequency radio wave. The veterinary hospital or shelter then calls the chip manufacturer, receives the pet owner’s contact information and calls the owner.

 

Even the most diligent and responsible pet owners cannot always be sure their pet won’t get lost. A leash could break or slip out of your hand. Your pet could push through a screen door or window, or a contractor or friend might accidentally leave a door or gate open. Your cat can quickly slip out the door unnoticed when you are coming in with an armload of groceries. Your pet may be frightened and run off to hide in the event of a burglary or after storm damage.

 

We still recommend that you use a collar and ID tag along with a microchip to identify your pet. The ID tag is still a reliable identification method. Pets that are wearing tags with current contact information are more likely to not end up in shelters and tend to get home faster than those without tags. However, collars and ID tags are not permanent. Collars are often removed (overnight or for grooming) and pets can lose them. With a permanent microchip, your pet will have a much better chance of being identified and returned safely and quickly to you. Pets without a microchip that end up in shelters may be adopted out to another family or even euthanized.