Veterinary Care and Prevention for Pets

From your new puppy or kitten to your aging farm dog, Sullivan Veterinary Clinic will meet all of your veterinary care needs. To assist you in your efforts of raising a healthy, happy pet, these pages offer a variety of information about:

• Choosing and caring for a puppy or kitten
• Changing needs of aging pets
• Vaccines and the diseases they prevent
• Wellness planning that meets your needs

The material on these pages is intended to assist you not only in choosing an animal companion, but also in making informed decisions about your veterinary care. Begin here when you find yourself asking questions such as:

• Are all these vaccinations really necessary?
• Is this treatment helpful or will it put my pet through unnecessary pain and suffering?
• What does wellness care mean, anyway?
• How can I find out more about this disease or condition?

While we don't expect to answer all of your questions on these pages, we intend for it to be a starting point. The information may assist you in making difficult decisions about your veterinary care or in preparing for a meeting with your veterinarian to address your specific concerns.

Giving our clients what they need to make informed decisions is just one of the ways Sullivan Veterinary Clinic puts you first!

Wellness Means Quality Veterinary Care

Whether you raise livestock, performance animals, or household pets, you want them to be as healthy and vigorous as possible. Our wellness program addresses these issues for all of our clients, developing plans that meet your specific veterinary needs and long-term objectives.

Wellness is the foundation for quality health care: a long-range view of the animal's type and lifestyle combined with our clients' needs and goals. It is more than simply treating sick animals—it is a plan dedicated to helping you maintain healthy, productive animals for their optimum lifespan.

Regular wellness exams allow us to evaluate your animal’s general health and to be aware of problems before they become serious illnesses. We may also perform diagnostic tests, including blood tests and X-rays.

Areas of evaluation include the following:

• Vital statistics—We record temperature, pulse, respiration (breathing) rate, and body weight, critical indicators for both general health and potential areas of concern.
• Ears—We check your pet’s ear canals as they are critical to protecting the inner ear, but can also become a home for parasites and other foreign objects.
• Eyes—We examine the inner structures and outward appearances of the eyes, which reveal many health issues including anemia, infections, glaucoma, cataracts, high blood pressure, jaundice, kidney problems, allergies, eye injuries, and ulcers.
• Mouth—We inspect gums, teeth, tongue, and palate for tartar buildup, dental abnormalities, fractures, loose teeth, tumors, infection, and other problems.
• Heart and lungs—We use a stethoscope to listen to the heart and lungs for early signs of disease.
• Reproductive organs—We check your pet’s reproductive system for swellings, discharges, and breast lumps and may discuss the many health benefits of spaying or neutering.
• Skin—We examine the animal’s skin and hair for fleas, ticks, other external parasites, and wounds, as well as signs of allergies, infection, warts, and tumors.

Of course, vaccines are a critical part of any animal’s wellness program. And visit our Dental Care page, offering veterinary dental recommendations, information, and tips on home dental care.

For more information, please contact the team at Sullivan Veterinary Clinic!