Pet Wellness
Penelope Bowdler
Regular wellness exams, appropriate preventative medicine, and good nutrition are all important components of keeping your pet happy and healthy. At The Vet at BlueRidge, our goal is to establish an ongoing, long-term relationship with you and your pet from the start. We are able to provide the best medical care when we are already familiar with your pet, their lifestyle, and their medical history. Pet wellness involves the following:
Puppy and Kitten Wellness Visits – At the first puppy or kitten visit, our veterinarians perform a complete physical exam so that any current health problems can be identified and addressed. Virtually all puppies and kittens are infected with intestinal parasites from their mother’s milk. We start a schedule of regular deworming and perform intestinal parasite screens to ensure that all parasites are eliminated. Kittens are tested for Feline Leukemia Virus and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FeLV/FIV) which are untreatable, contagious, ultimately fatal diseases. Your pet is placed on an appropriate vaccination schedule. Guidance is provided regarding food, training and monthly preventatives.
Appropriate Vaccination – There is not a one-size-fits-all approach to vaccination. An appropriate vaccination protocol will be recommended for your pet depending on their age, health status, lifestyle, and exposure risks. The State of Georgia requires that all pets over twelve weeks of age be current on vaccination for Rabies.
Monthly Preventatives – Monthly preventatives are recommended to keep your pet free of fleas, ticks, heartworms and intestinal parasites. These preventatives should be administered 12 months out of the year in Georgia as it never gets cold enough for long enough to completely eliminate parasites. Parasites not only threaten your pet’s health but can cause health problems for humans as well. Even “indoor-only pets are at risk. For more information on individual parasites, visit www.petsandparasites.org
Sterilization – Unless you intend to breed your pet, we recommend that they be spayed or neutered at an early age. Unsterilized pets are at greater risk for development of mammary cancer, prostate abnormalities, life-threatening pyometra, and behavioral problems.
Good Nutrition – Feeding your pet a good quality food and maintaining them at an ideal weight is one of the most important aspects of your pet’s long-term health. Find out more under Nutrition Counseling.
Annual Wellness Visits – A thorough physical exam every year is important for early disease detection. At the annual wellness visit, your pet’s recommended vaccines will be updated and testing for heartworm disease and intestinal parasites will be performed as appropriate. If abnormalities are detected as a result of the physical exam, additional testing may be advised. We recommend a physical exam every six months for pets older than 7 years (see Geriatric Medicine).
Puppy and Kitten Wellness Visits – At the first puppy or kitten visit, our veterinarians perform a complete physical exam so that any current health problems can be identified and addressed. Virtually all puppies and kittens are infected with intestinal parasites from their mother’s milk. We start a schedule of regular deworming and perform intestinal parasite screens to ensure that all parasites are eliminated. Kittens are tested for Feline Leukemia Virus and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FeLV/FIV) which are untreatable, contagious, ultimately fatal diseases. Your pet is placed on an appropriate vaccination schedule. Guidance is provided regarding food, training and monthly preventatives.
Appropriate Vaccination – There is not a one-size-fits-all approach to vaccination. An appropriate vaccination protocol will be recommended for your pet depending on their age, health status, lifestyle, and exposure risks. The State of Georgia requires that all pets over twelve weeks of age be current on vaccination for Rabies.
Monthly Preventatives – Monthly preventatives are recommended to keep your pet free of fleas, ticks, heartworms and intestinal parasites. These preventatives should be administered 12 months out of the year in Georgia as it never gets cold enough for long enough to completely eliminate parasites. Parasites not only threaten your pet’s health but can cause health problems for humans as well. Even “indoor-only pets are at risk. For more information on individual parasites, visit www.petsandparasites.org
Sterilization – Unless you intend to breed your pet, we recommend that they be spayed or neutered at an early age. Unsterilized pets are at greater risk for development of mammary cancer, prostate abnormalities, life-threatening pyometra, and behavioral problems.
Good Nutrition – Feeding your pet a good quality food and maintaining them at an ideal weight is one of the most important aspects of your pet’s long-term health. Find out more under Nutrition Counseling.
Annual Wellness Visits – A thorough physical exam every year is important for early disease detection. At the annual wellness visit, your pet’s recommended vaccines will be updated and testing for heartworm disease and intestinal parasites will be performed as appropriate. If abnormalities are detected as a result of the physical exam, additional testing may be advised. We recommend a physical exam every six months for pets older than 7 years (see Geriatric Medicine).