General Wellness
Wellness Visits for Preventative Care
At Beebout Veterinary Medical Center, we believe that annual wellness visits are important to your pet’s well-being! Wellness visits give us a chance to evaluate the overall health of your pet while also giving us a baseline for their own unique bodies and tendencies. Not only do these regularly scheduled visits keep us up-to-date with your pet’s health, but they also allow us to detect potential problems before they become serious. Regular visits to our center also make your pet more familiar with our veterinary hospital, which makes future visits easier for both of you.
Wellness visits typically consist of four parts:
The Exam
We start with a physical exam to take a close look at your pet’s outward health for any signs of problems. With every annual exam, we’ll become more familiar with your pet.
Diagnostics
Next, depending on what we find during the exam, we may suggest testing to screen for parasites, allergies, and/or other diseases. If necessary, we can suggest treatment to help.
Vaccinations
Vaccinations are another critical aspect of your pet’s wellness care. They prevent your pet from getting a variety of diseases that can negatively impact their quality of life.
Education
Collaboration is always vital in working to keep your pet as healthy as possible. During your visit, we’ll answer any questions you have to ensure that we’re both on the same page regarding their care.
Please consider making a Wellness Visit appointment with us today, so we can help you stay on top of your pet’s health care and well-being!
Diet & Nutrition
Maintaining a healthy body weight is a very important aspect of a pet’s overall physical health. Good nutrition and adequate exercise can help provide your pet with a happier and longer life!
A healthy diet and good nutrition can reduce or even eliminate the following problems:
- pet allergies
- itching and scratching
- dull coat
- arthritis
- joint and hip problems
- intestinal disorders
Being overweight can be a serious problem for animals, and can cause health problems – especially as they get older. With the right diet and exercise, all pets should be able to meet their dietary needs and stay within a healthy weight range. Please talk with us about how we can determine the optimal diet for your pet and their lifestyle. We’re happy to counsel you on the best nutritional options and exercise regimens available!
Vaccinations
One of the most important aspects of caring for your pet’s health is vaccinating them against potential diseases. There are a variety of diseases that typically affect our pets and animals—such as rabies, parvo, distemper, and influenza, to name a few.
Recommended Dog & Puppy Vaccines
There are certain vaccines that every dog needs, in addition to optional vaccines given based on risk level and lifestyle. Rabies, distemper, hepatitis, parvo, and parainfluenza are part of the core immunization category, which means they’re essential to every dog’s health.
- Rabies
- Distemper
- Hepatitis
- Parvovirus
- Parainfluenza
- Leptospirosis
- Bordetella
Recommended Cat & Kitten Vaccines
Cats may live out their days indoors, but that does not mean they are safe from infection. Humans can unknowingly carry harmful bacteria and viruses with them into their homes, which puts our feline friends at risk. Our recommended vaccines for cats include:
- Rabies
- Panleukopenia (feline distemper)
- Herpesvirus
- Calicivirus
- Feline leukemia (recommended for kittens and indoor/outdoor cats)
Parasite Control
The idea of your pet being infested with parasites can be a disturbing thought, but it’s also a medical issue that can have long-lasting consequences. Parasites can diminish the quality of life of your furry friend and even cause life-threatening health issues.
The following are some of the most common parasites:
Fleas
Fleas are small, wingless, brown, fast-moving insects you can see in your pet’s fur. They cause your pet a lot of inflammation and discomfort. If ingested while your pet is grooming themselves, fleas can transmit an intestinal parasite called tapeworm. Flea infestations can lead to anemia and fleas are also capable of transmitting serious diseases.
If your pet is showing signs of fleas such as continuous/abnormal scratching, gnawing, or licking, schedule an appointment right away.
Ticks
Some tick bites only cause mild irritation or swelling at the site, but other tick bites can infect your pet with serious illnesses. If left untreated, these diseases, such as Lyme disease, can lead to more severe health problems or even be fatal.
If you see a tick on your pet, please do not try and burn it off with a match. This doesn’t work and could harm your pet. It’s much safer to have one of our trained professionals remove the tick for you. Make an appointment with us immediately to limit the impact of the tick.
Heartworms
Heartworms are transmitted when an infected mosquito bites your pet. Heartworms are parasites that live in the heart and its surrounding blood vessels. The adult heartworm produces offspring called microfilariae, which circulate in the pet’s blood. Unrecognized and untreated heartworm infections can be fatal.
The best treatment for heartworms is prevention. One of the most common and effective prevention methods is monthly oral medication.
Symptoms include difficulty breathing, coughing, weight loss, tiring easily, and listlessness. In many cases, pets do not show outward signs until the advanced stages of the disease. An annual blood test is recommended to screen for heartworms. This disease can be treated if found early, but it can be costly.
Is there anything I can do to prevent parasites to begin with?
Yes, thankfully there is! Our team at Beebout Veterinary Medical Center is happy to help you find the best preventive regimen based on your pet’s risk factors and health status. It is important to discuss with us yearly which pest control products are ideal for your household based on the everyday life of your pet!
Allergies
Similar to allergies in people, dogs and cats can be allergic to almost anything—things in their household environment, outside environment, or even their food. Symptoms can range from itchiness and ear or eye infections to constant licking and even vomiting or diarrhea. Many pets suffer from allergies which can directly affect their quality of life, as well as their owner’s, so it’s important to address this issue.
Oftentimes, allergies correlate with skin issues—itchiness, scabbing, or hair loss. We’re glad to help examine and diagnose various skin conditions and see if they might be related to allergies of some kind. Ask how we can help if you suspect your pet might be suffering from allergies.
Some common pet allergens include:
- Flea dirt
- Pet dander
- Dust mites
- Cleaning products
- Certain foods
- Cigarettes
- Perfumes
Dentistry
Your pet’s dental hygiene is more important than you may think! In animals, dental disease can actually lead to more serious health issues with the heart, liver, and kidneys, and can affect your pet’s entire body through the bloodstream. In fact, 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats over three years of age suffer from some form of dental disease, making it the most common pet health issue among our pet population. However, many pet owners aren’t aware of the importance of dental care to their pet’s health.
There are a lot of different ways to improve your pet’s dental hygiene, including home teeth brushing, dental chews, and regular dental inspections. The most effective way to protect your pet from dental disease though is through professional cleanings. At Beebout, we perform thorough cleanings, including the area beneath the gums that is especially difficult for you to see or access at home.
Not sure if your pet needs a dental checkup? Look for these signs, which indicate not just poor oral hygiene, but can also signal poor overall health:
- Bad breath
- Red and swollen gums
- Excessive drooling
- Dropping food while eating (could indicate oral pain)
- Yellow/brown buildup on the teeth
- Pawing at mouth
- Change in behavior (sleeping more often, reluctant to play with chew toys)
- Decreased appetite, weight loss
Pet Identification
Microchips have become a very popular and safe way to permanently identify your pet and you as the owner in the unfortunate case that your pet is lost. A microchip is a small device that can be easily inserted under your pet’s skin. It is as quick and painless as a vaccine. Your information is registered with a national database and if a lost pet is found, you can be contacted. Most veterinarians and animal shelters have scanners that read the microchip number and allow the owner to be identified. Microchips have helped reunite thousands of pets with their families!
In addition to microchipping your pet, we would recommend having a collar identification system on your pet as well.
We would be glad to help you ensure your pet will be safe if he or she is ever lost—just schedule an appointment with us below!
Spay/Neuter
Beebout Veterinary Medical Center recommends spay or neuter surgery for almost every dog and cat. This routine procedure brings a number of health benefits to both male and female pets, such as avoiding cancer, reducing aggressive behaviors, eliminating pyometra (uterine infection), prostate, and testicular cancers, and males and females are less likely to get lost or injured, as it reduces roaming instincts.
In addition, spaying and neutering help combat the issue of pet overpopulation. Each year, millions of cats and dogs end up in shelters and many of them will never find forever homes.
WHEN TO SPAY OR NEUTER YOUR DOG OR CAT
We generally recommend all puppies and kittens receive a spay or neuter surgery around six months of age. After your pet’s first round of vaccinations, we will discuss a timetable for your pet’s surgery. It is always best to spay and neuter sooner, rather than later.
