Keeping pets healthy is all about taking pet preventative care measures to boost the immune system and stave off harmful diseases. Waiting until pets are ill or experiencing symptoms of sickness or disease is not proactive healthcare. At our animal clinic, we value pet preventative care and believe it can help dogs and cats live longer and healthier lives than pets that do not receive ongoing wellness care.

Our preventative care service typically consists of an annual examination from our veterinarian. Here at Animal Medical Center, we treat your pet like a part of the family, which means identifying and stopping life-threatening illnesses before they have a chance to become a problem. We approach animal health from a total body perspective, starting with a physical examination.

Dr. Oh examines weight, as well as the eyes and nose and he may also ask questions about your pet's behaviors and request a blood test to help assess the internal health of your dog or cat. Another important part of pet preventative care is examining the mouth and teeth for the early signs of periodontal disease. The majority of pets develop the disease at some point in life, despite the fact that it is completely preventable with good hygiene and regular teeth cleanings.

At the end of the examination, our veterinarian administers routine vaccinations and boosters to all dogs and cats to help prevent preventable illnesses such as rabies and bordetella. We can also provide dogs with the canine flu vaccine each year around the same time humans get their flu shots.

Puppy and Kitten Wellness and Pet Senior Care Both Benefit from Pet Preventative Care

Puppy and kitten wellness is slightly different than adult pet wellness care; young dogs and cats require closer and more frequent attention during their youth. Young pets do not have the immune strength of older pets, and they also require more vaccinations than older dogs do. Furthermore, Dr. Oh prefers to monitor pet growth during the first few weeks and months of life to ensure that puppies and kittens transition well from the mother's milk to solid foods. We may also make recommendations for the types of foods to feed your young pet to help keep the teeth free of tartar, as well as to provide the proper nutrients for healthy growth and development.

Pet senior care is similar to kitten and puppy care; we prefer to see older dogs and cats more frequently than once per year. Especially after age seven or eight, pet senior care becomes more important than ever, as it is during this time that arthritis and other joint problems can begin to set in, and pets may begin to gain more weight due to decreased activity levels. Our pet senior care program involves many of the same examinations and tests that other adult dogs are submitted to, but perhaps on a more frequent basis.

If you are in need of a veterinarian to care for your dog or cat's preventative health needs, call us for an appointment today. We look forward to meeting you soon!

(661) 255-5555