Canine Wellness Program
Your adult dog will require less intensive home care now that he or she has adjusted to the family routine, but even adults develop health and behavior issues that are important to discuss at the Annual Wellness Examination.
Vaccine Program Assessment
In order to stay free from the most common infectious diseases, we recommend that your adult dog be boosted for distemper (DHLPP) annually, and Rabies every three years (after the initial one-year vaccine). Your veterinarian (depending on your dog's activities and potential for exposure) may also recommend Corona and Bordetella vaccines.
Parasite Control
Dogs that spend more time outdoors and in public parks are at higher risk for acquiring intestinal parasites. A fecal examination will be done yearly to determine what parasites may be present. Fleas are a common nuisance in our area, and can cause skin irritation that may even lead to intense itching and dermatitis. Fleas also carry tapeworms which are transmitted to your dog when he or she bites and licks at itchy skin. There are a variety of new and innovative products available to control flea. Your veterinarian can guide you to the best product for your dog's life style and skin condition.
Dental Examination
Most animals will begin to acquire some level of dental disease by the time they are 2-3 years of age, regardless of the diet fed. If steps have not been taken to slow the progression of the accumulation of dental tartar, most dogs will have established dental disease by the time they are 5 to 6 years old. A full evaluation of your dog's oral cavity will be done yearly to determine when and how often a professional dental prophylaxis will be necessary, and what steps can be taken at home by you to insure good oral health for your dog.
Nutritional and Weight Control Counseling
A large percent of well cared for dogs are overweight to obese, regardless of the diet fed. This is because of inadequate activity, over-feeding, feeding table food, or a combination of these factors. Obesity is a risk factor in dogs due to the increased workload for the heart, liver, kidneys and musculoskeletal systems. If your dog is overweight and gaining (even small amounts) each year, a dietary evaluation and recommendation will be made to help restore your dog to a more healthful body weight.
Behavioral Counseling
Inappropriate house soiling, destructiveness, excessive barking, and aggression are among the most common behavioral problems in dogs. While none of these behaviors are easy to alleviate, all can be evaluated as to their apparent cause and steps taken to rule-out medical problems associated with them. Depending on the cause, many of these behaviors can be successfully treated using behavior modification, medications or both. If your dog is beginning to exhibit any disturbing behaviors, discuss them in detail with your veterinarian.
Heartworm Testing and Prevention
Dogs that begin heartworm prevention as puppies and continue monthly medication given year round are unlikely to become infected with this parasite. If you have not routinely given heartworm medicine each month, or have not been made aware of the risks of heartworm disease, your veterinarian will be happy to discuss it with you. We recommend testing with a simple blood test every other year to assure that your dog has not been exposed to heartworm, even if monthly prevention has been used. Dogs that have not received preventative medicine monthly or have only received it part of the year should be tested before beginning heartworm medication, and then annually. This is especially important if you travel with your dog. The incidence of heartworm disease in a given geographical area is largely dictated by the amount of rainfall, ambient temperature and occurrence of mosquito breeding grounds in the area.