At Arrowhead Veterinary Clinic we believe preventive healthcare is the most important aspect of helping the human-animal bond last as long as possible. There are many aspects of preventive healthcare and we will partner with you to determine what is important to you within this aspect of your pet’s health.
Preventive healthcare starts with routine wellness exams. During a wellness exam, the veterinarian with perform a thorough physical exam of your pet from head to toe. All of your pet’s body systems will be evaluated and findings recorded in their permanent medical file. Each time your pet comes in for an exam, their medical file will be reviewed to monitor for concerning trends or changes from the previous exam. The frequency that your pet should be examined depends on their life stage. Puppies and kittens will be examined during each vaccination visit to ensure they are growing appropriately. Adult dogs and cats should be examined at least once a year. Senior and geriatric pets should be examined at least twice a year due to their aging rate and increased risk of underlying health issues.
The wellness exam is not limited to the physical exam of your pet. These appointments are the perfect opportunity to discuss questions and concerns with your pet’s health expert, the veterinarian.
Vaccinations
Vaccinations are an integral part of routine preventive healthcare. Many diseases are easily preventable with the appropriate use of vaccines. Vaccines have come a long way and are considered safe and cost effective. If you have concerns regarding vaccinations, we would be happy to discuss vaccine titers as an alternative.
Parasite Prevention
Parasite prevention is another aspect of preventive healthcare. Parasites not only cause irritation to your pet but can pose a significant health threat to them. Some parasites may even transmit diseases that affect their human family members. Based on your needs and your pet’s lifestyle, together we will make a parasite prevention plan that will keep you and your pets safe.
Dental Disease
Dental disease is the most common disease diagnosed in pets. The effects of dental disease are not limited to changes within your pet’s mouth, but can also cause issues with their heart, liver and kidneys. Routine dental healthcare consisting of daily at home care and annual professional dental cleanings has been proven to extend pet’s lives. Please reference our Dental Healthcare Page for more detailed information.
Preventive Diagnostics
Our pets cannot verbalize when they are not feeling well and rely on us to be their voice. Unfortunately, many diseases may not manifest until a significant percentage of organ function has been compromised which means we may not see changes at home until advanced disease. Preventive diagnostics help to detect internal changes early. By starting annual preventive diagnostics when your pet is still a juvenile, we can develop trends that are specific to your pet and detect changes that may still be within normal reference ranges but are abnormal for your pet.
Behavior and Anxiety
Many pets’ exhibit behavior and anxiety related issues which can be damaging to the human-animal bond. Your pet’s mental wellbeing is as important as their physical. There are many options to help with your pet’s anxiety from calming music and pheromones to supplements and modification training to pharmaceuticals. If you are concerned your pet has behavior or anxiety related issues please reach out to us.
Nutrition
Nutrition lays the foundation for preventive healthcare. Many diseases can be prevented by feeding a well-balanced, high quality diet. We know the information surrounding nutrition can be confusing, and we want to provide you with reliable information so you can make the most informed nutritional decision for your pet. Please reference our Nutrition Page for more detailed information.
Spaying/Neutering
One of the most important health decisions you’ll make for your pet is whether to have them spayed or neutered. There are many benefits to have your pet spayed or neutered such as reducing unwanted marking behavior, mess related to heat cycles, and pet overpopulation. Along with these benefits, life threatening illnesses including cancer, infections, and traumatic injury from roaming can all be greatly reduced when your pet is spayed or neutered. Spaying/Neutering your pet has been proven to support a longer, healthier life.
