Maintaining your pet’s health and well-being requires proactive care, including regular veterinary clinic trips for routine wellness services, rather than waiting until an illness develops. Wellness care can prevent many health issues and detect others in their earliest stages. We review the reasons why our State Ave Veterinary Clinic team recommends all pets visit us at least once yearly.

1. Earlier detection of pet health issues

Annual wellness examinations—or biannual exams for senior pets—allow our team to identify health problems in their early stages. Problems detected early are generally more responsive to treatment and less expensive to manage, which means we can slow or sometimes reverse the disease and add years of comfort to your pet’s life. An annual wellness exam includes a head-to-tail physical assessment to detect subtle changes that you may not notice in your pet at home, and may also include blood and urine health screening tests to assess internal organ function.

2. Preventing infectious pet diseases

Vaccinations for pets are essential for preventing common—and often deadly—infectious diseases, such as rabies, distemper, parvovirus, and panleukopenia. Our team will discuss your pet’s lifestyle and vaccination needs at each wellness visit to customize a protection protocol. Vaccination is also critical for community and local pet population health, as unvaccinated pets can spread diseases to other pets—and sometimes humans.

3. Eliminating parasites and vector-borne pet diseases

Parasites such as fleas, ticks, heartworms, and intestinal parasites are extremely common in all pets and thrive in rural areas like ours although every region has different risks. They can pose serious health risks—for example, mosquito-transmitted heartworms can cause heart failure or sudden death, and ticks can transmit Lyme disease. Wellness visits allow us to screen your pet for common parasites and develop a prevention protocol that keeps the creepy crawlies away.  We will evaluate your travel/lifestyle and educate you on the risks and preventative recommendations.

4. Ensuring your pet’s diet is optimal

Nutrition is vital to your pet’s health, but each pet’s needs vary wildly, based on their species, age, lifestyle, metabolism, and general health. Proper nutrition can prevent or treat certain health conditions, such as arthritis or kidney disease, and give your furry pal the fuel they need to stay active. Our team provides personalized dietary recommendations that we adjust as your pet progresses through various life stages.

5. Maintaining pet dental health

Dental disease is the most common health problem diagnosed in dogs and cats and can lead to significant pain, reduced quality of life, and bacterial translocation to vital organs—ultimately shortening your pet’s healthy years. Regular dental check-ups and complete oral health treatments including diagnostic X-rays/CT scans, probing,  and ultrasonic cleanings can prevent dental disease from slowing down your pet and ensure they can eat, drink, play, and chew to their heart’s content.

6. Addressing pet behavioral concerns

Wellness visits are a chance for us to discuss your pet’s behavioral concerns. Our veterinary team is equipped to handle most behavior issues and we always start by ruling out underlying medical problems, such as pain, infection, or hormonal imbalances, that could be causing the inappropriate behavior. Once we address the primary health concern, we can provide recommendations for behavioral modification or medications.

7. Reducing pet obesity and its health risks

 Obesity is a growing problem among pets, putting them at risk for developing diabetes, arthritis, heart disease, respiratory disorders, kidney disease, and cancer. Most pet owners do not recognize their pet’s extra pounds, which can be detected/assessed during routine wellness visit weigh-ins. Weight management is complex and requires working closely with our veterinary team. We try to come up with recommendations based on the owner’s lifestyle and the pet’s needs including healthier treats, proper diet, recommended exercise, and the joys of bonding with your pet. 

8. Providing adaptive care for senior pets

Senior pets require special care and frequent visits so we can diagnose and manage age-related health conditions, such as arthritis, kidney disease, or cognitive decline. Wellness visits for senior pets focus on providing the highest possible life quality and adjusting to their ever-changing needs. Regular check-ups can help manage pain, improve mobility, and support mental health during your furry pal’s golden years.

Wellness visits ensure early detection and treatment of health issues and prevent common diseases from shortening your pet’s life. Contact our State Ave Veterinary Clinic team to schedule your pet’s next wellness visit and take the first step toward their healthier life.