Examinations
Next to you and your family, your veterinarian is one of the most important people in your pet’s life. You should identify a veterinarian for your new pet before you bring it home and arrange for a first appointment as soon as possible. The first vet visit gives you and your veterinarian an opportunity to establish your pet’s baseline level of health and identify any potential long-term or chronic health problems. This visit can confirm the health status identified when you purchased your pet.
When you meet with the vet, be sure to discuss your daily care routines, home environment, any anticipated problems or concerns you may have, ask questions about any behaviors about which you need more information and your grooming preferences, particularly nail clipping. Your vet will examine your pet to ensure healthy bones, joints and muscles, and good heart, eye, ear and other organ functions. Bloodwork and other tests will be discussed at each visit when appropriate.
Your pet may experience some stress going to the vet. The best way to alleviate this is with positive reinforcement, attention and happy visits. Stop in at the vet’s office with your dog a couple of times when it doesn’t need to be examined so that your dog associates the clinic with positive experiences. Pet your pet and give him or her praise when they behave calmly and well at the vet’s office. Take some treats to help keep your pet happy and to have staff give your pet. Fortunately, vet staff is experienced at handling pets of all sorts and will likely make your job much easier.
After the first visit and your pet’s initial vaccinations, you should plan on getting your pet checked by the vet once a year. Some pets need more frequent exams or lab work depending on the age or presence of any diseases.
Vaccinations
Your pet is bound to come in contact with an infectious disease at some point during their life. It’s an unavoidable truth. Pathogens are spread in the air, in the physical environment, and on our clothing. Therefore, even if your pet stays indoors, they can still be exposed to harmful viruses that can impact their health and quality of life. Fortunately, modern veterinary medicine makes it possible for us to keep dogs and cats safe from these once life-threatening diseases.
Properly administered vaccinations benefit your pet, you and your family, and the community in which you live. Here’s how:
- Vaccinated pets are protected against preventable, and potentially life-threatening, diseases.
- Vaccinated pets avoid costly (and potentially painful) treatments for preventable diseases.
- Vaccinated pets are protected from wildlife that may spread debilitating diseases like Rabies.
- Vaccinated pets minimize the spread of diseases between other pets and from pets to people.
At Indian Tree Animal Hospital, our veterinarians recommend core vaccines for all pets and non-core vaccines for some pets based on factors such as lifestyle, age, and risk of exposure. Your veterinarian will work with you to devise a vaccination protocol that will keep your pet fully protected and never over-vaccinated.
Core vaccines are recommended for all dogs and cats we see.
Core Canine Vaccines
- Rabies Vaccine is required by law and protects your dog from contracting the deadly Rabies virus. Indian Tree Animal Hospital offers the option of a one-year or three-year Rabies vaccine.
- DA2PPv Vaccine is a combination vaccine that protects dogs from four serious diseases including distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza, and parvovirus.
Core Feline Vaccines
- FVRCP Vaccine is a combination vaccine that protects cats from three life-threatening airborne viruses, including rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and panleukopenia.
- Rabies Vaccine is required by law and protects your cat from contracting the deadly Rabies virus. Indian Tree Animal Hospital offers the option of a one-year or three-year Rabies vaccine.
Non-Core vaccines are recommended for pets based on factors such as age, lifestyle, current health status, and risk of exposure.
Non-Core Canine Vaccines
- Bordetella Vaccine protects against kennel cough, a serious and contagious upper respiratory viral infection that is passed from dog-to-dog. Administered every 6 months, we recommend the Bordetella vaccine to dogs that spend a lot of time with other dogs, stay at boarding facilities, and visit groomers.
- Leptospirosis Vaccine prevents dogs from contracting Leptospirosis, a contagious bacterial disease that can be found in wildlife and livestock. Present in nearly every environmental setting – rural, suburban, and urban – dogs can become infected by drinking, swimming, or walking through water contaminated by the urine of wildlife including squirrels, rabbits, foxes, etc. Once infected, Leptospirosis can be passed to other dogs and produces symptoms including fever, vomiting, and liver and kidney failure. Additionally, Leptospirosis is Zoonotic and is highly-recommended for households with children. It can cause similar symptoms in humans. Puppies can receive their first vaccination at 12 weeks of age and should have a booster 3-4 weeks following, then annually. Adult dogs should receive vaccination annually.
- Canine Influenza (CIV) Vaccine is a highly contagious viral infection transmitted by coughing, barking and sneezing. This vaccine is recommended for dogs who come into in close contact with infected dogs in places like kennels, groomers, and day care facilities. Canine influenza can also be spread indirectly through objects like food and water bowls, collars and even leashes, or people who have been in contact with infected dogs. Puppies can receive their first vaccination at 12 weeks of age and should have a booster 3-4 weeks following, then annually. Adult dogs should receive vaccination annually.
Non-Core Feline Vaccines
- Feline Leukemia (FeLV) Vaccine protects cats from Feline Leukemia, a deadly viral infection that attacks the immune system and for which there is no treatment. The virus is spread from cat to cat by direct contact with blood, saliva, urine, etc. All cats should be tested for FeLV, and any cats going outside should be vaccinated. Kittens can receive their first vaccination at 12 weeks of age and should have a booster 3-4 weeks following, then annually. Adult cats should receive vaccination annually.
Vaccines are essential in maintaining your pet’s health! If you have any questions or concerns regarding your pet’s vaccine recommendations, or if you are unsure if your pet is up to date on their vaccines, please feel encouraged to have a discussion with your veterinarian.
Parasite Control
Microchipping
Accidents happen all too easily and quickly, even to the most conscientious pet owners. In fact, approximately 10 million dogs and cats are lost or stolen from their families each year. That’s a lot of pets!
For your pet’s safety and your peace of mind, we recommend all dogs and cats be microchipped as a part of essential preventative care. Because microchips maximize the likelihood of a lost pet returning home to his or her family, we recommend microchipping your pet sooner rather than later.
Microchips are inserted subdermally between the shoulder blades. The process is similar to administering a vaccine and can conveniently be done during a routine appointment. Once the microchip has been inserted, it’s your responsibility to register your pet’s microchip in the national database with the unique serial number attached to the microchip and your current contact information.
Importantly, to ensure your pet’s microchip is reliable for a lifetime, it’s critical that you update your contact information in the database should you ever change home addresses or phone numbers. Without current contact information registered, you will not be able to be contacted if your pet is found!
For the most comprehensive identification, Indian Tree Animal Hospital also recommends pet parents use breakaway collars and ID tags. While these forms of identification are not as foolproof as a microchip, they can help people identify your pet as a lost family pet who may need to be rescued.