Wellness Exam

Prevention is the key, when it comes to keeping your pet healthy.  The doctor’s of Vale Park Animal Hospital recommend regular wellness exams to help establish a baseline measurement of your pet’s health and, most importantly, allow us to detect disease and health problems before they become more serious and more expensive to treat.

Vale Park Animal Hospital recommends all pets undergo a complete examination at least once a year, though more frequent exams may be encouraged for pets over the age of seven. During an examination, our veterinarians conduct a thorough survey of your pet. We examine your pet’s heart and lungs, check his or her vision and hearing, palpate the abdomen (for signs of swelling), check muscles and joints for signs of arthritis and much more. Routine blood tests are also performed during an examination. These tests are used to detect signs of diabetes, heart disease, parasite infection (such as heartworms) and other potential problems.

Vaccinations

There are many components of your pet’s overall health care plan.  This plan may include vaccinations. Many diseases once fatal to pets can now be prevented through the use of vaccinations. Every pet is different and has his or her own unique needs when it comes to vaccines.  After initial puppy or kitten vaccines, a vaccine plan will be recommended at the time of your visit.

Microchipping

Unfortunately, collar and ID tag may not be enough to make sure your pet gets home safely if he or she is lost. Microchipping your pet is an effective way to help make sure your pet makes it back home. A microchip is about the size and shape of a grain of rice and is implanted beneath your pet’s skin between the shoulder blades. The microchip is encoded with a unique number that is viewable to most veterinary hospitals and animal shelters across the country that are equipped with special scanners capable of detecting and reading the microchip.  A number is visible on the scanner and when the manufacturer of the chip accesses their data base, your contact information is made available for contact.   At Vale Park Animal Hospital, we use the Avid microchip system.  Microchipping is inexpensive, and unlike a collar and tag this information cannot be separated from your pet.

Nutritional Counseling

Choosing the best food for your pet’s needs is extremely important for their well being.  Your pet’s diet has a profound effect on his or her overall health. A well-balanced diet prevents obesity (a common problem among many pets) and promotes good health. Some pets may be allergic to certain kinds of food and we can offer advice regarding specialty or prescription diets that best fit your pet’s needs. We discuss pet nutrition with our clients during each visit and our Doctor’s and staff are happy to answer any questions you may have.

Internal Medicine

Internal medicine involves the care and treatment of non-surgical concerns for patients.  Like people, pets can suffer from a wide variety of medical conditions affecting blood, organs, and hormones.  At Vale Park Animal Hospital, our veterinarians have a keen interest in diseases like diabetes, Cushing’s disease, and other challenging conditions.  Through education and early detection many internal medicine ailments can be managed or cured, and we are proud to provide these services to your pet.

Allergic Disorders

Many dogs and cats suffer from allergies. Dogs are more prone to the problem. The problem is usually manifested by itchiness. Dogs may scratch or lick their feet.  Cats are more likely to groom excessively and appear to lose hair.  Sneezing, eye and ear infections are other signs of allergy. Allergies can be seasonal (to pollens or molds in the spring, summer or fall) or fleas and house dust mites anytime.  Year round allergies can also suggest sensitivity to food. Allergic disorders and skin diseases are a common component of veterinary internal medicine cases - they represent nearly 25% of patients presented to veterinarians for treatment. 

Geriatrics

Dogs and cats age much more quickly than we do.  An adult dog or cat ages approximately four times as fast as we do!   That means that an annual examination of your pet is comparable to going to your doctor every four years. All older pets should have regular examinations. The examinations should include laboratory tests to identify problems when they are manageable.  Many times, we can extend the lives of many pets if we could identify problems early by available testing methods.

Puppy & Kitten Wellness Care

Wellness care begins with a good puppy or kitten immunization program.  Although there is some controversy about how often to vaccinate adult pets, immunization of puppies and kittens is critical to preventing serious contagious diseases.  Heartworm and flea prevention is begun during these early visits, as well as screenings and treatments for common intestinal parasites and ear mites.  We also offer puppy classes and help with the housebreaking and early training to give your new arrival a great start as your new family member.