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Pet Wellness Care Tools To Ease Your Day-To-Day Life
Wellness Care for Your Pet

Health care is vital for your pet throughout its lifespan, whether it's a puppy or an older animal. Puppy and kittens require regular checks to monitor growth and strengthen their immunity to common illnesses.

Pet insurance plans often offer pet wellness coverage as an additional benefit. Wellness coverage for pets is different from pet insurance on many levels.

Vaccinations

Vaccines have been recognized as saving more lives than any other treatment. They prevent diseases that could otherwise be fatal or cause long-term and severe discomfort, illness, or death. In most cases, prevention is far more efficient and less costly than treatment.

Immunizations are an important facet of pet wellness care and can prevent serious diseases that affect cats and dogs as well as humans. Vaccines are prepared from dead or altered microorganisms given to the body to trigger the immune system to react to invaders. Vaccines can train the immune system to recognize and fight disease-causing organisms without having to suffer the more serious effects that come with infection or illness.

Puppies and kittens must receive the full range of vaccines in their early stages of development to build up a strong defense against infections. Our veterinarian will advise the appropriate vaccinations for your pet based on its age and the type of lifestyle.

Rabies, distemper, and parvovirus are regarded as the most important vaccines. They are considered to be essential for all cats and dogs, as they guard against fatal infections that can be transmitted to people. Core vaccines are given in a series of two injections during puppy or kittenhood and then boostered annually.

Non-core vaccinations can be recommended based on lifestyle and risk factors. For instance, dogs who visit boarding kennels, groomers training classes, and dog parks may need to be vaccinated against bordetella (kennel cough), which is highly transmissible, as well as leptospirosis a zoonotic illness that can cause liver and kidney failure in humans as well as pets.

All pets are generally advised to receive the hepatitis A vaccine, as well as Hepatitis B and C. These vaccines help in preventing the spread of several fatal diseases from animals to humans and vice to. A combination vaccine referred to as a DAP (or FVRCP) for cats or dogs protects against common infections that can be transmitted between the two species. The lyme disease vaccination, which is recommended for dogs that travel in areas where deer are often encountered, guards against bites of the illegitimately named deer tick which can trigger the serious bacterial infection known as Lyme disease.

Fecal Exam

A fecal exam is also referred to as a fecal flotation, is a microscopic examination of your pet's stool. This gives your veterinarian the chance to find intestinal parasites such as hookworms, roundworms, whipworms and giardia, which aren't easily identified and can compromise your pet's health. They may also transmit to your pet's family members.

A fecal sample can be obtained in several ways. Your vet may use an specially designed fecal sample loop that is inserted in the rectum, and then pulled back to obtain an fecal sample. This method is especially useful in identifying cysts and worms. Your veterinarian can also conduct an smear that is direct, spreading a small amount of your pet's feces onto the microscope slide. This test comes with the disadvantage that it can only be accurate if there is no fat or cellular matter in the sample.

Another option is a centrifugal float test. This tests the fecal sample for parasite eggs by mixing it with a specific solution. This causes the eggs to flounder and can be observed under microscope. This method is more sensitive than direct smears, however, the results depend on the specifics of the procedure and particulars of the specimen.

Annual fecal exams are the best way to make sure your pet does not have an intestinal parasite infection which could impact their health and may be passed on to other animals or family members. These infections can be uncomfortable for your pet and could cause more serious health issues that require treatment. Some intestinal parasites, such as hookworms and roundworms can even be transmitted to humans and pose a serious health risk.

It is crucial to include fecal tests in your pet's routine of wellness care. Every pet should undergo fecal testing at least once per year. This is especially important for puppies and animals living in an environment that is prone to parasites. Intestinal parasites can be a major cause of illness in pets, causing diarrhea and weight loss, as well as vomiting. In addition to detecting parasites the fecal test may also detect blood or other abnormalities that may be a sign of a disease or ongoing infection.


Dental Exam

Pet dental care is an important part of wellness. Pet teeth can become damaged without proper oral hygiene and can cause health issues like bad breath, tooth decay, and gum disease. These conditions start when tartar accumulates on the teeth and causes damage to the surrounding tissues. The buildup could also enter the bloodstream and spread to other organs such as the kidneys, heart and liver. This could cause inflammation and increase the risk of developing serious illnesses. Dental cleanings and regular at-home brushing can help keep your pet's dental health in check.

During the dental exam, your veterinarian will check the mouth of your pet to look for indications of tartar and plaque. The veterinarian will use the tool for scaling to remove the tartar, and a probe to check for pockets in the gumline where periodontal diseases begin. To look at the bones and roots of the teeth X-rays are taken of the entire mouth.

Patients who are at risk of developing dental disease, or those who are over the age of 65 should undergo an exam for dental health at least once a year. In addition to a comprehensive physical examination, the vet will discuss your pet's diet, weight and behavior with you. If you notice any changes in your pet, the vet will provide helpful information about the reason for the change and suggest additional tests or treatments, if required.

Wellness plans are an excellent option to save money and pay for preventive treatments, such as dental cleanings and heartworm tests. These plans are similar to traditional pet insurance but they pay for medical expenses that are pre-determined instead of paying for an entire visit. Our veterinarians are available to review the different plans with you.

Contact our Spring Hill veterinarians to schedule an appointment today! We can conduct an exam for health, recommend vaccinations, and other preventive measures for your pet. We are looking forward to seeing you soon!

Parasite Control

Parasites, whether they are internal or external, are a group of organisms that feed on your pet and rob her of essential nutrients. They can also cause severe damage to her organs and systems, leading to a variety of uncomfortable symptoms. In extreme cases, some of these parasites (such as heartworms) can even be fatal. Many people believe that parasites are a part of pet ownership. However, this is not true. Our veterinary team is versed in the types of parasites to watch out for in your geographical area and can help you understand how these bugs can affect your pet and what can be done about them.

Responsible pet parasite control can significantly reduce the risk of disease transmission to other pets in the household as well as humans. This means administering preventative flies and tick treatment throughout the year, wearing a collar to keep ticks away and grooming your dog often, especially after she's been outdoors. Checking her coat for indications of a parasite infestation like chewing, scratching, and licking, will aid in ensuring she is free of these pests that cause a lot of trouble.

Internal parasites like tapeworms and roundworms are often acquired accidentally by ingesting parasite eggs that have been discovered in areas that are contaminated by excrement from animals suffering from infection. These parasites can also be zoonotic, meaning they can be passed from pets to people (and vice versa).

Ectoparasites, such as ticks and fleas are most likely to occur in urban areas with large pet populations, but they can be found in homes in all areas. The fleas can cause severe allergic reactions and transmit vector-borne diseases such as Lyme disease, Ehrlichia and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Ticks can also be a problem. They can cause allergic reactions, cause itching and cause discomfort in pets and transmit vector-borne diseases like Lyme disease to humans.

All shelter pets should be treated with a basic internal and external parasite control regimen when they are first brought to the shelter. This should include prophylactic treatment with a minimum of an oral dewormer that works against hookworms and roundworms as well as an insecticide and tick preventative (Nemex and Strongid are most commonly used products).

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