Pet Wellness Services at Native Palm Animal Hospital
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, so the old saying goes. At our Jupiter, Florida animal hospital, Dr. McMindes and Dr. Burgess recommend regular wellness examinations for the same reason that your physician or dentist recommends them: if a health problem or issue can be detected in its early stages, there is a far greater likelihood that it can be resolved and treated with less difficulty, less expense, and greater success.
Preventive Health for Jupiter Pets
During your pet's wellness examination, our veterinarians perform a complete physical to assess your pet's overall health and to give you, the pet owner, an opportunity to discuss any questions or concerns you may have. Have you noticed any recent subtle shifts in your pet's health or behavior? Have you observed any changes in body weight, appetite, water intake, urination and bowel habits, and/or activity level? Changes may be signs of medical problems. Seemingly insignificant lumps and bumps under the skin may be indications of infection or tumors. Ear infections, abscessed teeth, and gum disease are common, painful conditions that may not become noticeable until seriously advanced.
A comprehensive physical examination helps your veterinarian and you evaluate your pet's health and make informed decisions about your special companion's veterinary care. Continuing an ongoing dialogue between you and your pet's doctor ensures that your beloved companion is receiving the optimal care and attention that he deserves so that he can live a long and healthy life.
Wellness Examinations at Every Age and Stage
Each age and stage of your pet's life presents different health issues that require attention and care. When you bring your pet to Native Palm Animal Hospital, we work with you to create a lifetime preventive health care plan that takes into consideration his/her special needs, lifestyle, breed and home life. This includes a balanced schedule of vaccines to protect your pet against dangerous disease, regular pet dental care and pet microchip identification should your pet become lost. We also provide nutritional and behavioral counseling, advanced diagnostic testing, laser and laproscopic surgeries, and much more.
Our commitment to your pet's health begins with an annual examination which includes:
- Examining your pet's teeth, throat, and oral cavity
- Checking your pet's vision and eyes
- Examining ears for infection, ear mites, allergic reaction, and other related health issues
- Assessing your pet's heart and cardiac function
- Examining the skin
- Palpating lymph nodes and abdomen
- Examining the respiratory system
- Evaluating internal organ function and other systems
- Monitoring your pet's blood count and serum chemistry
- Performing laboratory tests to determine the presence of specific diseases, including heartworm disease
- Assessing changes in your pet's health since the last wellness visit
- Deworming and fecal check for the presence of intestinal parasites
Our veterinarians also take the time to answer your questions and discuss any concerns you may have. Understanding the benefits of healthy habits, preventive medicine, and regular examinations help you and your pet lead a long and happy life together.
Puppy and Kitten Care: Starting Off on the Right Paw
The first year of care for your new puppy or kitten is the most important. Like human infants, puppies and kittens require special attention in order for them to grow and develop well. Our team at Native Palm Animal Hospital partners with you so that your new companion receives the vaccinations and examinations required to get the best start in life.
Your puppy and kittens first year of care will include:
Physical Examinations: Your puppy's or kitten's lifetime of wellness starts with its first comprehensive physical exam. Puppies and kittens should have 3-4 exams between the ages of 8-16 weeks. These visits are important because they provide our veterinarians with an opportunity to assess your pet's overall health, check for genetic conditions and to administer vaccines.
Vaccinations:Due to their developing immune systems, puppies and kittens must receive a series of properly staged vaccines. Because every puppy and kitten is unique, we tailor our vaccination recommendations based on their lifestyle and/or breed and according to the suggested medical guidelines.
Diagnostic Testing: Puppies should be tested for internal parasites and kittens tested for Feline Leukemia and Feline AIDS.
Additional Recommendations: Your veterinarian will also discuss and recommend other services, such as spaying, neutering and microchipping.
Senior Care: A Little Extra TLC
Pets that are about seven years of age and older begin to go through a gradual reduction of their physical capabilities. This process can be slowed and managed through proper veterinary care that can help prevent common diseases or detect them at early and easily treatable stages, and provide your pet an extended period of vitality and good health.
There is also an important role for you to play as your pet's primary caregiver. You can influence your pet's activity level, living conditions, access to quality senior veterinary care, and daily nutrition. With the help of one of our Jupiter veterinarians, you can manage these factors in order to prolong your pet's good health, vitality, and increase his or her well-being, even as his or her pace slows a bit.
Vaccinations for Florida Cats and Dogs
Vaccinations are the number one way you can protect your beloved pet from serious infectious diseases that were once responsible for the death of many dogs and cats. They prepare your dog or cat for exposure to certain viruses and bacteria, so when exposed, the immune system can destroy the invaders before the body becomes overwhelmed. Native Palm Animal Hospital follows the vaccination protocols established by the American Veterinary Medical Association, thus ensuring that your pet receives the very best possible protection.
Illnesses such as Leptospirosis, Distemper, Bordetella, Parvo virus, and Rabies can debilitate your dog and shorten his life. We also encourage you to vaccinate your cat against Feline Leukemia, Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis (Feline Herpes Virus), Feline Parvo, and Rabies.
Bringing your pet to Native Palm Animal Hospital for regular wellness visits and vaccinations are an important part of your pet's overall health care program. To better ensure the long term health of your pet, we want to provide your Jupiter pet with the maximum protection available.
If you would like to schedule an appointment to get your pet up-to-date on vaccinations, please give us a call at (561) 747-9991.
Heartworm Disease
Heartworm disease is a serious, life-threatening disease transmitted by mosquitoes. It affects dogs and, to a lesser extent, cats. In the U.S., heartworm disease is most common along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts from the Gulf of Mexico to New Jersey and along the Mississippi River and its major tributaries, but it has been reported in dogs in all 50 states.
Clinical symptoms of heartworm disease develop very slowly. Early symptoms include lack of energy, exercise intolerance, coughing, and difficulty breathing. Because heartworm disease is increasing in frequency and is a serious and deadly disease, we recommend that your dog be tested annually.
Heartworm disease prevention is simple and effective. For dogs, a once-a-month heartworm preventive can be given as a chewable treat. This same chewable medicine prevents not only heartworms from developing, but also kills and prevents most other types of worms that can infect your dog. Cats are protected by applying a drop of heartworm prevention liquid to the skin once a month. We recommend this to prevent heartworm disease as well as fleas, ear mites, and other types of worms that can infect your cat.
If you would like to have your pet tested for heartworm disease, or if you would like additional information on how best to protect your pet from this dangerous parasite, please call Native Palm Animal Hospital today for an appointment.
Flea and Tick Prevention in the Southeast
In Florida, fleas are a year-round problem for pets and their owners. They are not just a nuisance; they can cause serious problems for both you and your pet. For example, fleas can transmit tapeworms, and often you can see segments of the tapeworm in your pet's stool. Your pet can also be allergic to fleas, and even just one flea bite can cause an intense allergic reaction, resulting in a severely painful skin infection. Although tick-borne illnesses are less of a problem in our area than in other parts of the country, ticks in Florida can carry a variety of serious illnesses, including Lyme disease, Ehrlichiosis, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
Fortunately, there are many safe and effective flea and tick control products available, and our trained staff will help you choose the correct preventive regimen based on your pet's risk factors and health status. It is important to discuss with your veterinarian which external pest control products are ideal for your household, based upon the everyday life of your pet.
For more information about Native Palm Animal Hospital's comprehensive wellness services for Palm Beach County pets, please send an email or call our veterinary team at (561) 747-9991.