Wellness Care

One of the goals of Northwood Animal Hospital is to prevent disease in our patients and clients by developing a regular program of preventative medicine for the pets we treat.

Here are some of our recommended practices:

All susceptible species (dogs, cats, and ferrets) should be on a monthly parasite prevention program, specifically protecting against heartworms, intestinal parasites, fleas and/or ticks. Some of these intestinal parasites are zoonotic, meaning you can get them from your pets. The whole family, including the pets, are healthier with regular veterinary care. Consult with one of our staff to devise the appropriate preventative program to meet the individual needs of your pets.

Physical exams and fecal checks are recommended to be performed on your pets twice a year. One year for a dog is like 5-7 years between exams for a person. If we can detect a disease process early, or note something about the condition of your pet (such as obesity) that could predispose your pet to illness, early intervention may be able to stop or at least slow the progression of the disease. Outdoor cats should be screened for Feline Leukemia and FIV yearly through a blood test.

Due to the prevalence of heartworm disease in our area, we highly recommend that all dogs be tested yearly for heartworm disease as well-performing twice a year screening for intestinal parasites, even if your dog is receiving prevention regularly.

Northwood Animal Hospital recommends Wellness Screening for dogs and cats over the age of 7 years. In addition to the regular lab work needed for all ages (heartworm testing, fecal floatation) we recommend running full general health panels for senior pets. This more extensive lab work varies from pet to pet depending on their needs. Included in most panels are a CBC (complete blood count to evaluate cells in the blood), a chemistry panel to check organ function, thyroid screening and urinalysis.

The preventative program for puppies and kittens centers around protecting them from parasites and infectious viruses which can wreak havoc on their little bodies. We would like to see your new puppy or kitten within a few days after it comes to live with you. We will perform a full physical exam and check for intestinal parasites. Kittens that have not previously been screened for FeLV or FIV should have that blood test run. Starting at 6 weeks of age, puppies and kittens need vaccines administered which are then boostered every 3 weeks until 14-16 weeks of age when they are old enough to receive a Rabies vaccine. Puppies and kittens need to be dewormed and started on the appropriate preventative program for their lifestyle.

We advise that all pets (dogs, cats, and rabbits) be castrated or spayed unless intended for breeding purposes. It is recommended in most cases that the surgery occurs between 4 and 6 months of age. Surgical neutering helps prevent some unwanted behavioral problems (aggression, wandering, marking). It also prevents some types of cancer (breast cancer and reproductive cancers) as well as preventing some other life-threatening conditions (pyometra, dystocia, and prostatic disease).

We tailor the vaccine needs of your pet based on their lifestyle. When you come for your appointment, you will be asked a series of questions relating to where your pet spends most of their time and who they spend it with. Based on your answers to those questions and in consultation with you, the doctor will customize a vaccine protocol for your pet. We do recommend the core vaccines for all pets unless they are medically unwell (DA2PP for dogs; FVRCP for cats, and Rabies vaccines for both, even if they spend all of their time indoors). Some pets need non-core vaccines depending on their risk of exposure to the diseases for which the vaccines protect (Bordetella, Leptospirosis, and Canine Influenza for dogs, Feline Leukemia in cats). We recognize the three-year length of protection for many of our vaccine boosters in adult pets (DA2PP, FVRCP, and Canine Rabies). Vaccines such as FeLV, Bordetella, and Leptospirosis are given yearly for susceptible pets.

This is not a comprehensive listing of our preventative medicine policies but gives you some idea of how we go about helping you give your pet a happy, healthy life. Please call if you have any questions about your individual pet.