Veterinary Services PREVENTATIVE HEALTH CARE Prevention is the key to a long, healthy life for your pet. With that in mind, Village Animal Clinic emphasizes proactive preventive medicine. Pediatric Care ~ Puppy/Kitten Health Plans: Puppies and kittens require a series of examinations, testing and vaccinations. Our Puppy/Kitten Health Plans provide everything your new family member needs to get off to a healthy start in life. The early stages of your pet’s life are the most important. We are here to advise you on potty training, behavioral training and the medical care that your pet needs in the early stages of their life. Puppies and Kittens will go thru a series of inoculations starting from 9 weeks of age. They will receive vaccinations and parasite prevention every 3-4 weeks, until they reach the age of 16 weeks. They should also be starting their Heartworm and Flea prevention at this time. For more information on the importance on parasite prevention, please refer to that section in the website. (LINK) WELLNESS EXAMS After completing a yearly or semi-annual Comprehensive Physical Examination, our veterinarian will evaluate your pet’s age, breed, and lifestyle to determine the risk of potential disease. After discussing your pet’s needs, we will custom design a preventative health care plan and vaccination schedule for your pet. Why is a Wellness Blood Screen Important to Your Pet? More than 10 percent of pets brought to veterinary clinics for checkups have some type of underlying disease or abnormality. Many of these pets appear normal upon physical examination, and their abnormalities would go undetected without a wellness screen - a blood test designed to detect these silent problems. Early detection of disease is key. Once a problem has been identified, we can make appropriate treatment recommendations at a point when treatment will make the most difference. Often, a simple diet change is all that’s needed to avoid major health problems. Our staff can perform a blood test designed to detect these silent problems that will check your pet’s liver, kidneys, electrolytes, minerals and blood sugar. We usually have the results in 24 hours. Remember, early diagnosis means better disease management and prevention, and a longer, happier life for your pet. We Love Senior Pets: Dogs and cats over the age of 7 are seniors and need special attention. They are at risk for the development of cancer, diabetes, and other serious medical conditions. Often these conditions come on gradually, and owners may not detect the ongoing discomfort they may cause. To keep your pets feeling their best, and with you as long as possible, we recommend twice yearly checkups along with diagnostic testing to check for common geriatric disorders. Today, new pharmaceuticals, better nutrition and preventive veterinary care are helping pets live longer than just a few decades ago. Although senior pets may not have the energy of their youth, they still have plenty of love and companionship to offer. Make sure your pet’s senior years are happy and healthy by providing the extra attention and veterinary care needed. A senior health screen exam involves blood testing and provides a sophisticated laboratory analysis of your pet’s bodily functions. Testing helps to diagnose blood disorders, kidney and liver disease, diabetes, infection, thyroid and other hormonal problems before they become apparent. Heartworm and Flea/Tick Prevention Without preventative, your dog may be at risk from heartworms, which cause a potentially deadly infection of the heart and lungs of your pet. Along with heartworms, roundworms and hookworms are the most common parasites to infect the intestines of dogs. These parasites may even be transmitted to humans and cause abdominal pain, skin irritations, neurological problems and blindness. Interesting Fact: Did you know…. that the hookworm parasite can be found in 15% of commercially sold potting soil. By treating your dog monthly, you not only help protect your pet, you reduce the risk of spreading parasites to other pets and humans. It is also extremely important to protect your pet from fleas and ticks by using a monthly preventative. Flea bites can cause flea allergy dermatitis as well as causing skin infections. Ingested fleas can transmit tapeworm, and pets infected with fleas, can become anemic. Heavy flea infestations may even cause death. Infected ticks can transmit organisms that cause diseases such as Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever along with other diseases. DERMATOLOGY and ALLERGY TESTING Does your dog lick, bite, chew and scratch? Does your dog get frequent ear infections? Does your dog “break out” in crusts or bumps? These are signs of Atopic Dermatitis, or Allergic Skin Disease. Atopic dermatitis is a genetically determined tendency to have allergic reactions to normal substances in the environment, like mold, dust mites, dander, pollens and flea saliva. Allergies in the dog are similar to “hay fever” in people, except that a pet’s allergies affect their skin. Allergies can be controlled, but not cured, and will usually get worse if not treated. Dr. Jennifer Prior has a special interest in the diseases of the skin. Our dermatology and allergy expertise includes: Atopy/allergic skin diseases Bacterial and fungal skin infections Biopsy Blood Allergy Testing Ear diseases and recurrent otitis externa Ear flush Ear polyp removal Genodermatoses (hereditary skin diseases) Hormonally-induced hair loss and skin diseases Immune-mediated skin diseases Immunotherapy Intradermal allergy testing (skin testing) Parasitic diseases Serum allergy testing Laser Therapy This therapy eases pain and improves mobility, allows your pet to heal faster after surgery, provides your older pet relief of aches and pains and allows for more freedom and improved quality of life. Every day disorders such as lick granulomas and chronic ear infections that cause severe pain and discomfort are instantaneously relieved. House Calls - Veterinarian house calls are available for those hard to travel pets as well as Technician House calls. Ask us today for pick up and delivery of your pets for care. Back To Top