Wellness Care for Your Pet

Wellness care is crucial for your pet throughout its lifetime regardless of whether it's a kitten or 836614.Xyz an old animal. Kittens and puppies require regular examinations to check their growth and increase their immunity.

Insurance plans for pets typically offer pet wellness coverage as an additional benefit. However, the coverage for pet wellness differs from pet insurance in many ways.

Vaccinations

Vaccines have been credited with saving lives more than other medical treatment. They can prevent diseases that would otherwise be fatal or cause long-term and severe illness, pain, and death. In most cases prevention is more cost-effective and efficient than treatment.

Immunizations can be a vital part of pet care, and they can help prevent serious illnesses in dogs and cats as well as humans. Vaccines contain microorganisms that have been killed or altered and are administered to the body to stimulate the immune response. In this way the immune system is able to recognize and fight off the disease-causing organism, without being subject to the more severe effects of infection or illness.

Kittens and puppies should receive a full set of vaccinations during the early stages of development to help build an immune system that is strong and resistant to infectious diseases. Our veterinarian will suggest the correct vaccinations for your pets according to their age and the lifestyle they lead.

Rabies, distemper and parvovirus are all considered to be essential vaccines. They are considered essential for all cats and dogs, as they protect them from dangerous infections that are easily transmissible to people. The most important vaccines are administered in two doses at the age of a kitten or puppy and then boosters each year.

Non-core vaccinations can be recommended based on the lifestyle and risk factors. For example, dogs that visit boarding kennels, groomers training classes, and dog parks could require vaccination against bordetella (kennel cough) which is extremely transmissible, as well as leptospirosis an zoonotic disease that could cause kidney and liver failure in humans as well as pets.

The hepatitis A, the hepatitis B and hepatitis C vaccines are recommended for all pets. They help stop a variety of deadly diseases that could be passed on from animals to people and vice versa. A combination vaccine, referred to as a A2PP or FVRCP for cats and canines respectively, protects against the most common infectious diseases that can be passed between these species. The lyme disease vaccination, which is recommended for dogs who travel in areas where deer are often encountered, shields them from the bites of the illegitimately named deer tick which can trigger the serious bacteria-related infection known as Lyme disease.

Fecal Exam

A fecal examination, also called a fecal floatation, is a microscopic look at your pet's stool. This gives your veterinarian the chance to identify intestinal parasites such as whipworms, roundworms and hookworms and giardia, which are not easily diagnosed and can affect the health of your pet. They can be transmitted to family members and other pets.

There are a variety of ways to collect the fecal sample. Your doctor may use an specialized fecal loop which is placed into the rectum and pulled back to obtain the collection of a sample. This method is particularly helpful in identifying worms and cysts. Your veterinarian can also perform an immediate smear, which involves spreading a small amount the pet's feces on the microscope slide. This test comes with the disadvantage that it will only be reliable when there is no fat or cellular matter in the sample.

A centrifugal flotation test can be another method. The feces are mixed with a specially-formulated solution to check for parasite eggs. The eggs will rise, and they can be seen under microscope. The benefit of this method is that it's more sensitive than a direct smear however, the results are still dependent on the details of the procedure as well as specimen attributes.

The best way to ensure that your pet isn't infected by intestinal parasites that can cause health problems or spread to other pets and family members is to conduct annual fecal examinations. These infections can be uncomfortable for your pet and can cause more serious health issues that require treatment. Some intestinal parasites, such as roundworms and hookworms can be transmitted to humans and pose a significant health risk.

Fecal testing is a crucial and simple component of your pet's health care routine. Every pet should undergo Fecal test at least once a year. This is especially important for animals that are puppies or living in a space that is conducive to parasites. Intestinal parasites are a major 836614.xyz cause of illness in pets that can cause diarrhea, weight loss and vomiting. The fecal tests can reveal parasites, as well as blood or other abnormalities which could be signs of disease or infection.

Dental Exam

Dental health of your pet is a crucial aspect of health care. If you don't take care of your oral health, pet teeth can become infected and lead to other health issues like tooth decay, bad breath and even gum disease. These conditions begin when tartar builds up on the teeth, which affects the surrounding tissues. The buildup can also travel through the bloodstream to other organs such as the heart, kidneys and liver. This could increase the risk of serious disease and trigger inflammation. Regular dental cleanings and brushing help keep your pet's teeth clean.

During a dental exam our veterinarian will look over your pet's teeth for evidence of plaque and tartar. The vet will use the tool for scaling to remove the tartar and an instrument to look for pockets beneath the gumline where periodontal diseases begin. X-rays of the entire mouth are taken to examine the bone and roots of the teeth.

Patients with a high risk of dental disease, or those who are over the age of 65 should undergo an examination for their teeth every year at a minimum. In addition to a comprehensive physical examination, the vet will discuss your pet's diet, 836614 weight and behavior with you. The vet will provide you with information about any changes you observe in your pet and may suggest further tests or treatments if required.

Wellness plans are excellent ways to cover preventive care and also save money on routine expenses such as wellness exams, dental cleanings and heartworm tests. These plans are similar to traditional pet insurance, however, they reimburse pre-determined medical expenses instead of paying for the entire visit. Our veterinarians are available to discuss the various plans with you.

To make an appointment for your pet, contact our Spring Hill vets today! We can perform a wellness exam or update vaccinations, and suggest any other preventive measures your pet needs. We hope to see you soon!

Parasite Control

Parasites, whether they are internal or external, are organisms which feed on your pet and rob the animal of vital nutrients. They can also cause severe damage to her organs and systems, leading to a variety of uncomfortable symptoms. In extreme cases (such as heartworms) there are instances where these parasites can be fatal. Many people believe that parasites are a normal part of being a pet owner but this doesn't necessarily have to be the case. Our vet team is versed in the types of parasites you should look for in your local area and can help understand how these bugs can affect your pet and what can be done about them.

A well-managed control of pet parasites can greatly reduce the chance of transmitting disease to other pets in the home as well as human. This means regularly administering preventative flea and tick treatment year-round, using a tick collar whenever possible, and grooming your pet regularly especially after she has been out. Examining your pet's coat for signs of a parasite infestation like scratching, chewing and licking, will ensure that she is free from these pests that cause a lot of trouble.

Internal parasites like roundworms and tapeworms are usually acquired accidentally through the ingesting of parasite eggs found in areas contaminated with the faeces of animals that have been infected. These parasites can also be zoonotic, which means they can be transmitted from pets to people (and reversed).

Ectoparasites, such as ticks and fleas are most likely to occur in urban areas with large population of pets, but they can be found in homes in all areas. The fleas can trigger severe allergic reactions in pets as well as transmit vector-borne diseases like cat scratch disease (Bartonella), Lyme disease, Ehrlichia, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Ticks are also an issue in the sense of causing painful, itchy and allergic reactions in pets and the possibility of transmitting vector-borne illnesses like Lyme disease and ehrlichia to humans.

At minimum all pets in shelters should receive a basic internal and external parasite control protocol at the time of intake. This should include prophylactic treatments with the minimum of an oral dewormer that's effective against hookworms and roundworms as well as an insecticide and tick preventative (Nemex and Strongid are the most frequently used products).