Pet Preventive Care Kingston: Preventive Care for Dogs Kingston
What Goes into a Pet Preventive Care?
At Gardiners Road Animal Hospital, we believe that sound preventive health care is the simple and most successful way to keep your dog healthy and happy. Many canine diseases are easily preventable and most can be effectively managed and cured if observe early enough.
However, if permitted to develop and progress uncontrolled, many diseases can quickly become difficult, expensive to treat, and chronic. Therefore, we strongly motivate every dog owner to take a proactive procedure to preventive care.
Our comprehensive dog wellness programs typically consist of:
- Semi-annual wellness exams. Remember pets age seven to ten years for one of our years, so them going one year without seeing a vet is like us going 7 years without seeing a doctor
- Examination of all body systems of your pets including, but not limited to exams of the following body systems: Oral/dental, aural/ear, ocular/eye, musculoskeletal, neurologic, lymphatic, urogenital, abdominal, heart/lungs, dermatological/skin and accessory systems.
- Education of nutrition, health, behavior, medical and surgical issues by our staff and various resources we can make available to you (ie doctors, techs, handouts, and information available here on our website)
- Things you can do at home to support weight loss, diet, dental care, behavior, etc…
- Vaccination, diagnostics, and other preventative care recommendations based on your pet’s lifestyle.
- Also, see our wellness plan program on our services page to provide an affordable monthly payment option to provide your pet with the optimum preventative care plan.
Our goal is to copartner with you to ensure fine health for your dog. A healthy and happy canine associate will remain a loyal and loving member of your family for many years to come.
Your Dog’s Annual Physical Exam
Taking an agile role in a dog wellness program begins with seeing the veterinarian for periodic physical exams. The physical exam is a broad assessment of your dog’s health. Because your dog cannot talk, we rely on the owners to provide us with key detail to help us to assess your dog’s health. Assuming our pets will live to their early teens, receiving a yearly health exam service means they will only have about thirteen exams in a lifetime.
Our veterinarians will ask you particular questions and your answers will help escort the examination to assess overall health and reveal evolve health issues that can easily go modest. Based on age, health status and pre-existing constrain, some dogs require a physical exam annually, and others semi-annually (every six months). During the physical exam, your veterinarian will review diverse aspects of your dog’s health, including:
- Vaccination Status
- Parasite Control
- Dental Health
- Exercise
- A complete physical exam from nose to toes
- Behavior
- X-rays – primarily for older Pet Preventive Care
After the physical exam, our veterinarian will discuss with you their findings and what if anything should be done to keep your dog in optimal health.
The Effect of Proper Nutrition on Dog Wellness
Overall dog health and quality of life depend heavily on the amount and type of food consumed daily. Low-quality Pet Preventive Care food and treats high in fat or sugar can negatively affect your canine companion physically, emotionally, and mentally. This is why dogs of all ages and life stages can benefit from a sound nutrition program, including:
- Puppies: Generally speaking, puppies may need increased frequency of feeding and more proteins and fats
- Adult Dogs: Concern for weight management, breed-specific, and lifestyle specific nutrition choices
- Senior Dogs: Many senior dogs have health concerns that may require specific nutritional choices
To ensure the dog food you purchase has the correct blend of supplements, search for the words “complete and balanced nutrition” on the mark. For the best protein for your dog, you need a dog nutrition service in kingston.
It is important to understand that the above bullet points are meant to demonstrate that the nutritional needs of dogs do change through different stages of life. However, it is also important to understand that the above bullet points are not meant to serve as the basis for the nutritional program for your dog.
Many factors must be considered when creating a nutritional plan for a dog, including breed, age, health conditions, and more. This is why you should discuss your dog’s nutritional needs with a veterinarian at your next appointment.
Other considerations when choosing a diet include:
- The best canned or kibble diet for the breed, age, and activity level
- Items ok to add to your dog’s foodie some cooked veggies
- Supplements – what you may be using and what our vets want you to consider using
- Healthy dog snacks
- What to avoid feeding your dog
Many clients are afraid or embarrassed to discuss what they feed their dog with a veterinarian. You should always be open and honest with your veterinarian about what you are actually feeding your dog. We are happy to discuss any supplements or treats you may be using and it will help us have a complete picture of your Pet Preventive Care health.
This is a great topic for meeting that can allow us to partner with you and take a team approach to optimize your dog’s health. Some of your “people” food may even be a great addition to your dog’s diet. However, let us help you to determine the type and amount that is best.
Dog Dental Care
Your dog’s oral health is key for continue overall health. Dental disease is generally gradual and dogs modify to living with oral pain and will not show signs they are painful. It is difficult for owners to know when their dog has dental disease or oral pain. At Grah Kingston, we are providing quality Pet Dental Care Service in Kingston. We are known as one of the best in dog dental care and cat dental care vet clinics in Kingston open 7 days a week.
For this reason, a main part of the physical exam is an oral exam. throughout this part of the exam, we will look at the teeth, tongue, and oral cavity. The unfortunate reality is that periodontal disease affects most Pet Preventive Care by age 3-4.
Some of the possible dental conditions which can affect your dog include:
- Malocclusion
- Tooth Loss/broken teeth
- Mouth Sores and Ulcers
- Gingivitis
- Periodontal Disease
This is why regular and rigorous dental care is essential to your dog’s overall health. A thorough oral cleaning is something you should trust your veterinarian every 6-12 months, but brushing can be executing on your canine companion in the comfort of your home. You can also help facilitate good dog health by providing toys and treats formulated to help strengthen and/or clean your dog’s teeth and gums.
Protecting Your Dog from Fleas and Ticks
Fleas and ticks are a great annoyance to your dog and family. These pesky insects cause discomfort and can carry disease to your dog and perhaps to your family. While these parasites are common, it is our goal that your pet never has to awareness of the irritation fleas and ticks cause. We can work with you to set up a preventive plan to avoid infestation of your pet and your home.
We will help to customize a plan of action for your dog based upon the Pet Preventive Care lifestyle, number, and type of pets in the household. There are so many flea and tick products on the market. They are not all created equal and some are not effective and even dangerous. Our doctors and staff are very knowledgeable about these parasites and the best way to prevent them. Part of the annual physical exam is developing and managing the best flea and tick treatment plan for your dog.
What You Should Know About Dog Vaccinations
Vaccinations are a foundational and critically important part of the preventive care plan. The vaccinations we recommend will prevent diseases that, while not common, are still a serious threat to the health, longevity, and quality of life of your dog.
The only reason they are not common is because of the superb vaccines we have to protect your dog and hopefully the rest of the dogs that your dog will come into contact with. When owners stop vaccinating, we see a renewal of these very deadly diseases.
Generally, a vaccine custom consists of a series of immunizations given to your dog as a puppy, proponent at one year and then periodically throughout its lifetime. we are providing quality services of Pet vaccines Kingston. We are providing the best Kittens Vaccines in Kingston open 7 days a week.
Although the rabies vaccine is the only vaccination currently essential by law in most states, we strongly recommend making sure your canine associate is up to date on all of its core and non-core vaccinations. Your veterinarian can help determine a vaccination schedule as part of your dog’s health program based specifically on the lifestyle, geographic location, and pre-existing medical conditions of your dog.
Intestinal Parasites in Dogs
Canine intestinal parasites commonly referred to as “worms”, are one of the most common conditions seen in both young puppies and adult dogs. Dogs can contract worms by:
- Ingesting eggs (most commonly stepping in feces and licking paws later)
- Passed from the mother during gestation
- Consuming an intermediate host like a flea or a small animal
Furthermore, some worms can infect human beings, making intestinal parasites a health issue for dogs and humans alike. Our veterinary team can prescribe a preventive program to help your dog remain parasite-free, and implement a treatment program to fight off any existing infestation.
Senior Dog Care
Having a senior dog can be repose and rewarding. Most senior dogs have settled into a gentle routine and require less exercise. We love senior dogs for their calm manner and the elderly sagacity they can bring to our lives. It is our goal to help your senior dog age gracefully and comfortably.
At Gardiners Road Animal Hospital, we understand that the experience of caring for older dogs can be a tremendously pleasing one that magnifies and enriches the lives of dogs themselves, as well as their human caretakers. Therefore, we offer a full array of senior dog preventive care services, including:
- Senior Dog Wellness Exams
- Nutritional Consultation
- Body Condition Evaluations
- Dental Care
- Pain assessments and pain management
- Exercise/Activity Recommendations
- Vaccinations
At GRAH, we have a diverse and talented team of Veterinary professionals. You can trust the skills of our vets, leaving the care and treatment of your pet in their capable hands. Let us earn your trust by becoming one of our veterinary families at GRAH.
