Veterinarians frequently only see pets for puppy or kitten exams and legally mandated immunizations. What many pet owners fail to realize is that modern veterinary science has provided tools that enable veterinarians to diagnose and treat a whole range of conditions that were previously considered to be simply declining health due to old age, with euthanasia being the only humane solution.
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Hi, I'm Dr. Francis at Seven Hills Veterinary Hospital, Inc. Today, we're going to go over what to expect with your first visit with your new puppy or kitten. It's very important that you schedule an appointment as soon after you adopt or purchase your new pet. We want to make sure that they're healthy. We're going to do a full physical examination. Certainly we're going to be very aware to look out for any birth defects such as cleft palates, hernias or heart murmurs. And we'll look at their eyes and ears, make sure that their feet look good, that their teeth are coming in correctly, and that they overall just look good.
We are going to discuss vaccinations. We typically give vaccines at eight weeks, 12 weeks, and 16 weeks. It will depend to some extent on the lifestyle of your pet. If your cat is going to be inside only, if your dog will be going to a groomer or a dog park or a boarding facility, those sorts of things.
It's very important that you write down any and all questions that you have to bring to your first appointment. We want to make sure that nothing is forgotten and we address all of your concerns. We'll also discuss deworming for intestinal parasites and getting started on heartworm preventative for dogs. We'll discuss nutrition so you know exactly what to feed, how much, and how often.
There are also behavioral issues to review, such as litter pan use and house training. We’ll discuss when to spay or neuter your pet and what that procedure involves, as well as microchipping and whether pet insurance might be a good option. Call today to schedule your appointment — we look forward to caring for your new family pet.
With regular veterinary checkups and early treatment, yesterday’s old age and end of life for a pet is now the new pet middle age, with more years of good health and activity ahead.
Seven Hills Veterinary Hospital, Inc encourages pet owners who are looking forward to years of healthy and active companionship with their dog or cat to consider twice-yearly veterinary wellness checks.
The first visit each year includes a health exam and discussion of behavioral or routine changes. The second visit, six months later, includes a health check and a review of nutrition needs.
If your pet is due for vaccinations, they will be administered during these visits. At Seven Hills Veterinary Hospital, Inc, we follow a three-year vaccination protocol to avoid overvaccination. We ask clients to complete the disease risk assessment prior to vaccination so we can tailor a plan specific to your pet and lifestyle.
Our wellness plans also include early detection diagnostics such as blood work, fecal exams to detect parasites that may spread to people, and heartworm testing.
Twice-yearly wellness exams are a valuable investment — saving money long-term and, more importantly, supporting a longer, healthier life for your pet.