Wellness Care for Your PetIf you're a puppy, or an old age pet, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is vital throughout the life of your pet. Kittens and puppies require regular checkups in order to monitor their growth and increase their immunity.Pet insurance plans typically provide pet wellness coverage as an additional benefit. Wellness coverage for pets is different from pet insurance on several levels.VaccinationsVaccines have been recognized as saving more lives than any other medical treatment. They prevent diseases that would otherwise be fatal or cause severe and prolonged discomfort, illness, or death. In pet care website of cases, prevention is far more effective and cost-effective than treatment.Immunizations are an essential aspect of pet wellness and can help prevent serious illnesses that affect cats and dogs as well as humans. Vaccines are prepared from dead or altered microorganisms introduced into the body to stimulate the immune system to react to the invader. Vaccines allow you to train the immune system to recognize and fight diseases-causing organisms, without having to suffer the more severe effects that come with an illness or infection.Puppies and kittens must receive the full range of vaccines during their initial stages of development to build up a strong defense against infections. Our veterinarian will advise the correct vaccines for your pet depending on their age and the lifestyle they lead.Rabies, distemper and parvovirus are all considered to be essential vaccines. They are required for all dogs and cats as they guard against the ravages of infections that could be easily transferred to humans. The core vaccines are administered in two doses at the age of a kitten or puppy and then boosters each year.Other vaccinations are possible depending on the type of lifestyle and risk factors. Dogs who go to boarding and grooming kennels, dog parks and training classes, for example, may need to be vaccinated.All pets are usually recommended to get the Hepatitis A vaccine as well as hepatitis B and C. These vaccines help prevent the spread of several fatal diseases from animals to humans and vice to. A combination vaccine called a the DA2PP (or FVRCP) for cats or dogs guards against common infectious diseases which can be passed between the two species. The lyme vaccine, which is recommended for dogs that travel in areas where there are many deer, guards them against the bites from the deer tick, also referred to as the illegitimately called deer tick, which can lead to a severe bacteria-related infection.Fecal ExamA fecal examination, sometimes known as a fecal floating, is a microscopic look at your pet's stool. This allows your vet to identify intestinal parasites such as whipworms, roundworms and hookworms and giardia, which are difficult to identify and can affect your pet's health. care pet can infect other pets and family members.A fecal sample may be collected in a variety of ways. Your vet could use a specialized fecal sample loop that is inserted into the rectum, and then pulled back to obtain a sample. This technique is particularly helpful to identify worms and cysts. Your doctor can conduct an immediate test by putting the small amount of feces onto the microscope glass. The drawback of this kind of test is that it is only reliable if the fecal sample is not mixed with fat or other cellular material.Another method is centrifugal float tests. The test is conducted on the fecal sample for parasite eggs by mixing it with a special solution. The eggs then appear to float and are visible under microscope. The benefit of this method is that it is more sensitive than a direct smear but the results still depend on the procedural details and characteristics of the specimen.Regular fecal checks are the best way to be sure that your pet does not have an intestinal parasite infection that can affect their health and could be passed on to other animals or family members. These conditions can cause discomfort to your pet and may even cause more serious illnesses that require treatment. Certain intestinal parasites, like hookworms and roundworms are transferred to humans. pet care at home is a major health threat.Fecal testing is an important and easy part of your pet's wellness care routine. It is recommended that all pets undergo a fecal test at least once a year, and more frequently for puppies and those living in environments that are conducive to parasites. Intestinal parasites can be an important cause of illness in pets. They can cause diarrhea, weight loss and vomiting in a variety of animals. In addition to detecting parasites, the fecal test can also detect abnormalities in blood or other indicators that could be signs of a disease or ongoing infection.Dental ExamDental health for pets is a crucial aspect of wellness care. Pet teeth can get infected without proper oral care and cause other health problems such as bad breath, tooth decay, and gum disease. pet and home care begin when tartar builds up on the teeth, and affects the surrounding tissues. The buildup can also move through the bloodstream to other organs like kidneys, the heart and liver. This can increase the risk of developing serious illness and cause inflammation. Dental cleanings and regular at-home brushing can help keep your pet's dental health in check.During the dental exam, our veterinarian will check the mouth of your pet for indications of tartar and plaque. He or she will use a scaler to eliminate the built-up tartar and then a periodontal probe to check the pockets under the gum line, where periodontal diseases begin. X-rays of the entire mouth are taken to check the bone and roots of the teeth.Patients who are at risk of dental disease, or those who are over the age of 65 are advised to undergo an exam for dental health at least once a year. In addition to a comprehensive physical exam, your vet will discuss your pet's diet, weight, and behavior with you. The vet can provide you with information about any changes you might notice in your pet and may suggest further tests or treatment if necessary.Wellness plans can be an excellent option to save money and fund preventive procedures, like dental cleanings and heartworm tests. These plans are similar in nature to traditional pet insurance, but reimburse pre-determined medical costs instead of covering the entire visit. Our veterinarians are happy to discuss the different plans and options with you.Contact our Spring Hill veterinarians to schedule an appointment today! We'll conduct an annual wellness check or update vaccinations, and suggest any other preventive measures your pet may require. We look forward to seeing you soon!Parasite ControlIf they are of the external or internal kind, parasites are a variety of organisms that feed off your pet, robbing her of vital nutrients. They can also cause severe damage to her organs and systems, leading to a myriad of unpleasant symptoms. In extreme cases (such as heartworms) there are instances where these parasites could be fatal. Many people believe that parasites are an aspect of owning a pet. But it's not the case. Our vet team is aware of the types of parasites that are prevalent in your area and can describe how they could affect your pet.The proper management of pet parasites can help reduce the chance of spreading disease to other pets and humans within the home. This means administering preventative flies and tick treatment throughout the year, using a collar to keep ticks at bay and grooming your dog regularly especially after she's been outdoors. Examining your pet's coat for indications of an infestation such as chewing, scratching, and licking will also aid in ensuring she is free of these pests that cause a lot of trouble.Internal parasites, like roundworms, whipworms, and tapeworms, are typically acquired through accidental consumption of micro-sized parasite eggs from areas that have been infected by the faeces of affected animals. These parasites can also be considered zoonotic. This means they can be passed from pets to humans (and vice versa).Ectoparasites like ticks and fleas are most likely to be found in urban areas with large population of pets, but they can be found in homes in all locations. Fleas are known to cause severe allergic reactions and transmit vector-borne illnesses such as Lyme disease, Ehrlichia and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Ticks are also a significant problem, both in the sense of causing painful, itchy, and allergic reactions in pets as well as the possibility of transmitting vector-borne illnesses like Lyme disease and ehrlichia to humans.At minimum, all shelter pets should receive a basic internal and external parasite control program at the time of intake. This should include prophylactic treatments with a minimum of an oral dewormer that is effective against roundworms and hookworms as well as a tick and flea preventative (Nemex and Strongid are the most commonly used products).