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 issue 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. Visit our Vaccinations page for more in-depth information on this subject. And visit our Dental Care page, offering veterinary dental recommendations, information, and tips on home dental care.

Animal wellness care is often a project for the whole family. Helping children understand the fundamentals of caring for a pet can be both a great experience and a frustrating struggle. For a helpful parent resource on raising happy kids with healthy pets, enjoy the Growing Up With Pets website.