Just as with humans, optimum pet health isn’t achieved overnight. It requires a combination of preventive care, healthy lifestyle choices, and ongoing effort. That’s why at Bay Country Veterinary Hospital, we believe in working with our clients so that they are educated and informed about what we can do together to keep pets happy and well.
A Closer Look at Proper Pet Care
The first step to ensuring good pet health is a comprehensive physical exam. For pets between the ages of 1 to 7, we recommend that this be performed annually. For senior pets or those who have a chronic condition, we suggest physical examinations at least twice each year.
During this nose-to-tail exam, the veterinarian will check the patient’s ears, eyes, nose, mouth, teeth, coat, and skin, palpate the abdomen, and inspect the limbs and paw pads to ensure all is well. Your pet’s weight and temperature will also be measured. It’s helpful to establish a baseline for each patient so, if health or behavioral changes do take place, the causes can be diagnosed and treated quickly.
During your pet’s wellness exam, our veterinarians will discuss parasite prevention. Because certain parasites can be transmitted from pets to humans, we recommend an intestinal parasite screening each year for cats and dogs. In addition, preventive deworming is recommended to ensure that your pet is free and clear of harmful internal parasites. Dogs require one additional test that cats do not. It is a four-fold screening that tests for heartworm disease and three tick-borne diseases —Lyme disease, Ehrlichia, and Anaplasmosis.
In order to protect your pets from fleas and ticks, our veterinarians will discuss how much potential exposure your pets receive to these parasites and will make recommendations about preventive measures accordingly. Should you need to purchase flea treatment or control products, our in-house pharmacy will enable you to do so quickly and easily.