Preventative Medicine is Key
Just as we need to go to the doctor for routine physicals and lab work; dogs and cats also need to go to the vet for annual or semi-annual wellness exams. Our pets age much faster than us, so ensuring that your pet receives annual exams and regular lab work helps them remain healthy as they age. Routine appointments provide us with an opportunity to detect early warning signs of many illnesses and age-related problems. When problems are detected early, it is often possible to begin treatment in time to prevent serious complications. At Richboro Veterinary Hospital, we believe that preventative care and wellness exams are a crucial component of ensuring your companion’s long-term well-being.
Annual Exam Checklist
Our annual exams consist of doing:
- Evaluation of their past and current medical history
- A complete physical exam. This will tell us a lot of information from dental disease, heart disease, osteoarthritis, to nutrition issues.
- Vaccinations. Getting our pets up-to-date on their vaccines are crucial to their long term health.
- Bloodwork. Regular bloodwork is important to keep track of health trends, and testing for heartworm/tick born diseases (such as LYME!)
- Parasiticides (aka “preventatives”) are very important to general health and comfort for our pets.
- Recommendations. Whether it be joint supplementations, nutritional tips, or training, we will discuss what is needed.
Vaccinations
Vaccines are vital to their general well being, as it can keep deadly diseases away! Core vaccines are Rabies and DAPP (also referred to as “distemper/parvo”). DAPP comprises of 4 vaccines in 1 – Distemper, Adenovirus, Parvovirus, and Parainfluenza.
Other IMPORTANT vaccinations are: crLyme, Leptospirosis, and Bordetella. We are in Lyme disease country and getting vaccinated for the bacteria that causes this disease will help with preventing Lyme disease. Leptospirosis is a bacteria carried by wildlife and passed in their urine, so it likes to live in wet areas. It can cause acute kidney and liver failure if contracted and can be directly transmitted to humans from animals. This disease unfortunately is also in the area, which is why it is highly recommended. Bordetella is one part of numerous pathogens that cause “kennel cough”. It however can cause significant upper and lower respiratory infection.
Bloodwork
It is always good to get regular bloodwork to keep track of normal values, even if your pet is healthy, so that we can keep track of their normal values. It also helps us to keep track of trends and changes if there are any abnormalities, specifically with the bone marrow, liver, kidneys, or electrolytes. We recommend bloodwork roughly every other year of their lives, until they are officially a “senior” patient and then transitioning to every year from that point on.
Parasiticides (“Preventatives”)
These include heartworm and flea/tick preventatives. We carry multiple options to create the best options for your individual pet. This is very important in our area as Lyme disease and ticks are VERY common. Heartworm is transmitted by mosquitoes and has become more common in our area. This is due to transportation of heartworm positive pets from the south, as well as natural progression of the disease in the states.
Muzzles and Comfort Packs
Muzzles and Comfort packs are HUGE parts to our daily lives at RVH. If one or both are recommended to your pet, please don’t be offended. It is for the safety of us AND your pet. Please click the links below for more information on both and how we at RVH use them!
Pet Wellness Exam in Richboro, PA
Having your pet examined regularly is one of the best things you can do for their long-term health. If you are looking for a vet who provides affordable and comprehensive pet wellness exams in the greater Richboro, Churchville, Ivyland, Wrightstown, and Newtown, PA areas, we're here to help. We would love to meet you and your furry little friend! Contact us today to learn more.
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