Wellness Care

No two pets are created equal. Each pet individual deserves the best quality veterinary care available. At Animal Kind Veterinary Hospital, keeping your family pets healthy is our goal. A thorough history, including up-to-date blood test results, gives us a baseline against which we can measure changes in your pet’s health.

Early detection and treatment are so important to make sure your pet stays in top condition. Many medical conditions have a much better long-term prognosis if caught early, and may warrant a specific monitoring plan. 

ANIMAL KIND’S COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO PET CARE

During your pet’s regular examinations, Animal Kind Veterinary Hospital’s veterinarians will show you symptoms of health problems to look for, and we’ll listen carefully to your questions and observations. You, the educated and involved pet owner, are your pet’s best ally. The more knowledge you have, the better informed your decisions about treatment and care options will be.

During each exam, in addition to a complete nose-to-tail hands-on check, we will take the time to examine and discuss:

• Weight, diet, and nutrition
• Vaccines
• Heart, skin, ears, lungs, and eyes
• Behavior issues or changes
• Teeth and your pet’s mouth

For all pets, an annual fecal exam is done to check for intestinal parasites. In addition, we blood test dogs for heartworm. After a negative heartworm test, we will prescribe heartworm prevention medication.

BEGIN KITTEN AND PUPPY EXAMS EARLY

Ideally, we want to see a new puppy or kitten within 24 to 48 hours of when he or she joins your household. We will look over your new pet and advise you on when to start regular examinations and immunizations, usually at six to eight weeks.

We will check your pet for any problems concerning:

• Teeth
• Heart murmur
• Kneecaps
• Congenital problems
• External and internal parasites (bring us a fecal specimen)

As your new pet returns to us every three or four weeks until 12 to 16 weeks of age, we will discuss and schedule:

• Vaccinations
• Spaying or neutering
• Diet, nutrition, and the proper foods
• “Potty” and house training
• Behavioral problems and concerns
• Prevention of parasite infestations

Your pet’s early visits are useful to begin desensitization of the feet and mouth to help make future dental examinations and nail trims more comfortable for everyone. Frequent, positive contact with our staff members from an early age enhances your pet’s future interactions with your family and other people.

PUPPY AND KITTEN NUTRITION IS VITAL

Because obesity is such an easily avoidable pet health problem, we are eager to talk about nutrition issues with you. It is very important that your new family member establishes good eating and exercise habits now. Feeding your pet the right amount and kind of pet food from his or her first day in your home will help to prevent health problems caused by either nutritional deficits or being overweight.

Animal Kind Veterinary Hospital’s veterinarians will continue to work with you as your pet grows from a puppy or kitten into a healthy adult and eventually a faithful senior pet. We’ll be glad to watch your pet live a long, happy life.

PET VACCINATIONS ARE IMPORTANT TO PREVENT DISEASE

Beginning when your new pet is about six to eight weeks old, we start to administer vaccinations. Immunization is one of the most important ways to prevent disease. Animal Kind Veterinary Hospital follows vaccination guidelines set by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), and leading universities.

We always tailor the vaccinations your pet receives by taking into account his or her lifestyle, how much contact there will be with other animals, places you travel to, and the environment your pet spends the most time in. For example, if your dog loves to be outdoors, we might recommend a preventive vaccine against leptospirosis. If your pet is frequently boarded or attends daycare, a kennel cough vaccine is required.

All puppies and kittens require multiple rounds of vaccines at specified intervals to make sure the immune system is enabled to protect against disease. We will design a vaccine protocol that fits your pets needs. Each time you bring your pet in for a visit, we will review his or her individualized records, and vaccine boosters will be given as needed.

WE’RE THERE FOR ALL STAGES OF YOUR PET’S LIFE

With continuing improvements in veterinary care, we can do much more to ensure that your best friend will remain with you much longer.

During wellness examinations, in addition to the gentle hands-on exam as your pet ages, we will screen for:

• Arthritis
• Kidney and liver function
• Heart disease
• Dental problems and disease
• Diabetes
• Thyroid problems
• Hypertension

Other diagnostic tools are also used so that we can make accurate diagnoses. Early detection of disease can improve treatment outcome.

We may use:

• Blood tests
• Urinalysis
• X-rays

SENIOR PET HEALTH CONCERNS & PAIN MANAGEMENT

Now, more than ever, we can offer you more choices to treat pet health problems such as:

• Lameness
• Disc ailments
• Arthritis
• Cushing’s disease
• Addison’s disease

There are many new medications and dietary supplements available to help improve your pet’s quality of life. Drugs are available in many forms, so it’s easier than ever to find one that your pet can take with less difficulty. These drugs and supplements help us to lessen the effects of arthritis, ease symptoms, and relieve pain. Exercise helps keep your pet in good condition and helps him or her to have better mobility.

We will make sure you have the information you need to take preventive steps to help keep your pet healthy and happy.