Wellness Care and Preventive Medicine
The doctors and staff of Westwood Animal Hospital are concerned about the health and well being of our patients and their families. Puppies and kittens should be examined soon after birth and dewormed every 2 weeks until 6-8 weeks of age. At this age, vaccinations and a monthly parasite prevention program are started. After the final puppy/kitten boosters are administered, the semi-annual regular wellness visits are initiated.
We recommend regular wellness visits every 6-12 months for all of our canine and feline patients in order to closely monitor the health of your pet.
Each wellness visit typically includes:
- Comprehensive Physical Exam- Your pet’s exam will be very similar to a physical exam that you would have, including evaluation of: ears, eyes, mouth and teeth, internal organs, skin and coat, etc.
- Intestinal Parasite Exam- (Please bring in a fresh (within 12 hours) fecal sample in a sealed plastic bag if possible)
- Heartworm Test- (canine) every 12 months
- Vaccinations- Any necessary vaccinations based on the lifestyle of your pet
- Lab work- Recommended every 6-12 months for early detection of metabolic problems. In patients that are 5-7 years old, we will typically run a Wellness Profile in our in-house laboratory with results typically reported the same day. In our patients that are 8+ years old we will usually recommend a Senior Comprehensive Profile.