Pet Wellness and Prevention
At Northshore Animal Hospital, we stress preventive care as the foundation for maintaining your pet’s well-being and giving them more happy, healthy years with you.
Why Preventive Care Matters
Due to their shorter lifespan, pets can age more rapidly than humans, making preventive care essential for maximizing their quality of life. Regular check-ups and preventive care measures help detect and address potential health issues early and contribute to your pet’s overall health and longevity.
Preventive Care Services
Wellness Exams
Wellness exams are the cornerstone of preventive care. During these exams, our veterinarians will assess your pet’s overall health, perform a nose-to-tail physical examination, and discuss any concerns or changes in their health or behavior. Regular wellness exams enable us to detect and address potential health issues early, ensuring your pet stays healthy and happy.
Vaccinations
Vaccinations are crucial for protecting your pet from contagious and potentially life-threatening diseases. Our veterinarians will create a personalized vaccination schedule based on your pet’s age, lifestyle, and risk factors, ensuring they receive the necessary vaccines to build immunity against diseases such as rabies, distemper, parvovirus, upper respiratory infections, and more.
Heartworm Prevention
Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal condition transmitted by mosquitoes. Our heartworm prevention options, including monthly oral medications and injectable preventatives, are tailored to your pet’s lifestyle and risk factors, providing year-round protection against this deadly parasite.
Flea and Tick Control
Fleas and ticks are more than just a nuisance—they pose significant health risks to your pet. Fleas can cause allergic reactions, skin infections, and even transmit tapeworms. Ticks carry diseases such as Lyme disease, ehrlichiosis, and anaplasmosis, which can have serious consequences for your pet’s health.
Our Flea and Tick Prevention Approach
Customized Prevention Plans
Every pet is unique, which is why we tailor our flea and tick prevention plans to suit your pet’s individual needs. Our veterinarians will assess your pet’s lifestyle, environment, and risk factors to recommend the most suitable preventive measures.
Effective Products
We offer a range of safe and effective flea and tick preventatives. Our products are designed to provide long-lasting protection against fleas, ticks, and other parasites, keeping your pet safe and comfortable.
Regular Administration
Consistency is key when it comes to flea and tick prevention. Our team will provide guidance on the proper administration of preventive products and help you establish a regular schedule to ensure your pet remains protected year-round.
Education and Awareness
We believe in empowering pet owners with knowledge about flea and tick prevention. Our veterinarians will educate you about the risks associated with fleas and ticks, how to check your pet for parasites, and the importance of preventive measures in maintaining your pet’s health.
Intestinal Parasite Prevention
Intestinal parasites such as roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms can affect your pet’s health and even pose risks to your family’s health. We offer routine fecal examinations and deworming treatments to detect and eliminate intestinal parasites, keeping your pet and household safe.
Dental Care
Dental health is integral to your pet’s overall well-being. Our dental care services include comprehensive oral examinations, professional cleanings, dental X-rays, and treatment for dental diseases such as periodontal disease and tooth decay. We also provide guidance on at-home dental care practices to maintain your pet’s oral hygiene between visits.
Nutritional Counseling
Proper nutrition is essential for supporting your pet’s overall health and vitality. Our veterinarians will assess your pet’s dietary needs and provide personalized nutritional counseling, including recommendations for balanced diets, portion control, and dietary supplements tailored to your pet’s age, breed, weight, and any existing health conditions.
Behavioral Health Evaluation
Behavioral issues can impact your pet’s well-being and the bond you share with them. Our team offers behavioral health evaluations to address concerns such as anxiety, aggression, compulsive behaviors, and inappropriate elimination. We provide guidance on behavior modification techniques, environmental enrichment, and training to promote positive behavior and enhance your pet’s quality of life.
Permanent Identification
A microchip is a tiny device about the size of a grain of rice implanted beneath your pet’s skin, typically between the shoulder blades. It contains a unique identification number that can be scanned using a microchip reader. This number is linked to your contact information in a secure database.
Benefits of Microchipping
- Permanent Identification: Unlike collars or tags, which can be lost or removed, a microchip provides a permanent form of identification for your pet.
- Reunification: If your pet ever goes missing, a microchip greatly increases the chances of reunification. Shelters, veterinary offices, and animal control facilities routinely scan lost pets for microchips.
- Updated Contact Information: It’s essential to keep your contact information current in the microchip database. This ensures that if your pet is found, you can be promptly contacted.
- Proof of Ownership: A microchip can serve as proof of ownership in situations where pet ownership is disputed or unclear.
The Microchipping Process
- Quick and Painless: Microchipping is a quick and virtually painless procedure. It can be done during a routine office visit, and most pets tolerate it well.
- Lifetime Protection: Once implanted, the microchip provides a lifetime of protection. There’s no need for replacement unless the chip malfunctions, which is rare.
- Registering the Microchip: After your pet’s microchip is implanted, it’s crucial to register it with your contact information in a reliable pet recovery database. At Northshore Animal Hospital, we handle this step for you! Look for an email from PetLink a day or two after your pet is microchipped. This ensures your pet’s safety and security, providing peace of mind for you and swift reunification if they ever go missing.
Schedule Your Pet’s Preventive Care Appointment
Give your pet the gift of preventive care by scheduling an appointment with us today. Our compassionate team is dedicated to providing the highest standard of care for your furry family members. Call us to book an appointment or book your appointment online.