The Motive Behind Pet Wellness Care Is Everyone's Passion In 2023
Wellness Care for Your Pet
Wellness care is essential for your pet throughout its lifespan regardless of whether it's a puppy or an older animal. Kittens and puppies require regular checks to monitor growth and build immunity to common illnesses.
Pet insurance plans offer pet wellness coverage as an added benefit. Wellness coverage for pets is different from pet insurance on a variety of levels.
Vaccinations
Vaccines have been acknowledged as saving lives more than any other medical treatment. This is due to their ability to prevent diseases that could be life-threatening or cause severe and prolonged illness, suffering, and death. In most cases prevention is more cost-effective as well as effective than treatment.
Immunizations are an essential element of pet care and they can aid in preventing serious illnesses in dogs and cats as well as humans. Vaccines are the preparations of dead or altered microorganisms that are introduced into the body to trigger the immune system to react to the invader. Vaccines are a way to help the immune system detect and fight disease-causing organisms without suffering the more serious consequences associated with an illness or infection.
Puppies and kittens must receive a full regimen of vaccines in their early stages of development to build up a strong defense against infections. Our veterinarian will recommend the appropriate vaccinations for your pet based on their age and the type of lifestyle.
Rabies, distemper and parvovirus are all considered to be essential vaccines. They are vital for all cats and dogs as they guard against deadly infections that can be easily transmitted to humans. The core vaccines are administered in two doses at the time of kittenhood or pup, and then boosters are given every year.
Non-core vaccinations may be recommended depending on lifestyle and risk factors. For instance, dogs who frequent groomers, boarding kennels training classes, or dog parks may need to be vaccinated against bordetella (kennel cough) which is highly contagious, and leptospirosis, a zoonotic illness that can cause liver and kidney failure in pets as well as humans.
The hepatitis A, the hepatitis B, and hepatitis C vaccines are also typically recommended for all pets. These help to prevent a number of deadly diseases that can be passed on from animals to humans and vice versa. A combination vaccine referred to as a the DA2PP (or FVRCP) for cats or dogs protects against common infectious diseases which can be passed between the two species. The lyme disease vaccine which is recommended for dogs who travel in areas where deer are often encountered, shields them from the bites of the untruly named deer tick, which can cause the serious bacterial infection known as Lyme disease.
Fecal Exam
A fecal examination, sometimes known as a fecal floating, is a microscopic examination of your pet's stool. This allows your vet to detect intestinal parasites like hookworms, roundworms, whipworms, and giardia that aren't easily identified and can compromise your pet's health. They can spread to your family members as well as other pets.
There are a variety of ways to collect an fecal sample. Your veterinarian may employ the specialized fecal loop, which is put into the rectum, and then pulled back to obtain an fecal sample. This method is particularly useful for identifying cysts and worms. Your veterinarian can also conduct an smear that is direct, spreading a small amount of your pet's feces onto slides under a microscope. This type of test has the disadvantage that it can only be reliable when there is no celluloid or fat in the sample.
Another method is a centrifugal float test. This test the fecal specimen for parasite eggs by mixing it with a special solution. The eggs will appear to float and can be seen under a microscope. The advantage of this method is that it's more sensitive than direct smears, but the results still depend on the procedural details and specimen attributes.
Annual fecal exams are the best method to make sure that your pet doesn't have an intestinal parasite problem which could impact their health and may be spread to other pets or family members. These infections can cause discomfort for your pet, and can even lead to more serious issues that require treatment. Some intestinal parasites, such as roundworms and hookworms can be transmitted to humans and pose a significant health risk.
It is crucial to include fecal tests in your pet's routine to ensure wellness care. Every pet should undergo fecal testing at least once per year. This is more often for animals that are puppies or living in a space that is prone to parasites. Intestinal parasites can be the main cause of illness in pets and can cause weight loss, diarrhea and vomiting in many animals. In pet care at home to detecting parasites, the fecal test can identify abnormalities in blood or other indicators which could be a sign of a disease or ongoing infection.
Dental Exam
Dental health for pets is an essential aspect of wellness care. Pet teeth can be infected without proper oral care and cause other health problems like bad breath, tooth decay and gum disease. These conditions start when tartar forms on the teeth and causes damage to the tissues surrounding them. The buildup can also travel through the bloodstream to other organs like the heart, kidneys and liver. This can cause inflammation and increase the risk of contracting serious diseases. Regular brushing at home as well as dental cleanings can help keep your pet's teeth clean.
During a dental examination, our veterinarian will examine your pet's teeth for signs of tartar and plaque. He or she will use a scaler to eliminate the built-up tartar and then a periodontal probe to examine the gum pockets line, where periodontal diseases begin. X-rays of the entire mouth are taken to examine the roots and bones of the teeth.
Dental exams are recommended at least every year, but regular exams are recommended for patients with elevated risks for dental disease or are in their older years. The vet will also discuss with you your pet's weight, diet and behavior. If you notice any changes in your pet, the vet will be able to provide useful information regarding the reason for the change and suggest additional tests or treatments if needed.
Wellness plans are a great way to save money and cover preventive treatments like dental cleanings and heartworm tests. These plans are similar to traditional pet insurance plans, but they pay for pre-determined medical expenses rather than covering the entire visit. Our veterinarians will be happy to discuss the different plans and options with you.
To schedule an appointment for your pet, call our Spring Hill vets today! We can conduct an examination for wellness as well as update vaccinations and recommend any other preventive measures your pet may require. We are looking forward to seeing you soon!
Parasite Control
No matter if they are of the internal or external variety, parasites are organisms that feed on your pet, depriving it of vital nutrients. They can also cause severe damage to her organs and systems, which can lead to a myriad of unpleasant symptoms. In extreme instances (such as heartworms), some of these parasites can be fatal. Many people believe that parasites will always be a part of pet ownership. However this isn't the case. Our veterinary team knows what parasites are prevalent in your area and can explain how they affect your pet.

A well-managed pet parasite control program will reduce the chance of spreading disease to humans and other pets living in the home. This means administering preventative flies and tick treatment throughout the year, using collars to keep ticks away, and grooming your dog often especially after she's been outside. Inspecting for signs of parasites like chewing, scratching, or licking, can help you ensure that your pet is not afflicted with these pests.
Internal parasites like roundworms and tapeworms are usually acquired by accident through the ingestion of parasite eggs that have been discovered in areas that are contaminated by excrement from animals suffering from infection. These parasites may also be zoonotic, which means they can be transmitted from pets to humans (and vice versa).
Ectoparasites, such as ticks and fleas are more likely to be present in urban settings with high pet populations, but they can be found in homes in all locations. Fleas can cause severe allergic reactions in pets, and also transmit vector-borne diseases like cat scratch disease (Bartonella), Lyme disease, Ehrlichia, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. Ticks can also be an issue in terms of causing painful, itchy and allergic reactions in pets, as well as the possibility of transmitting vector-borne illnesses such as Lyme disease and ehrlichia to humans.
All shelter pets should be treated with a basic internal and external parasite control protocol when they first come into the shelter. This should include prophylactic treatments with the minimum of an oral dewormer that's effective against roundworms and hookworms as well as an insecticide and tick preventative (Nemex and Strongid are most commonly used products).