Preventative Medicine
Preventative Annual Exams For Dogs And Cats Keep Your Pet Healthy!
A healthy pet is our goal! At Jonesborough Animal Hospital, our veterinarians suggest an annual preventative exam for all pets. During your pet’s exam, we will give your pet a full physical examination. We examine his or her vision, hearing, heart and lung function, and test their joints and muscles. All of the information that we collect during an annual exam helps us establish a baseline level of your pet’s health and allows us to better treat your pet. Remember that early detection ensures prompt action so that we may solve your pet’s health problem before serious consequences occur.
When you are a part of your pet’s health care plan, we believe your pet will be healthier during his or her lifetime. Exams are a great time for you to share information with us about your dog and cat’s health. We may ask you questions about your pet’s diet and lifestyle, and we encourage you to ask any questions you may have about your pet during the annual exam.
Our annual wellness exams include:
- Comprehensive physical exam, including ear examination, musculoskeletal evaluation, coat and skin analysis, weight assessment, nutrition discussion
- Dental Evaluation
- Heartworm test and heartworm preventative
- Internal parasite test
- Vaccinations as needed
Additional Services For Cats:
- Feline Leukemia and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus Blood Test
- Vaccination as needed, including FVRCP, FELV, Rabies
Information On Vaccines, Heartworm Prevention And Flea And Tick Control:
Rabies vaccine. Rabies is transmitted to pets and humans from bite wounds of infected animals. Wild animals, such as skunk, raccoons, and bats can be carriers of this disease. All puppies and kittens should be legally vaccinated for rabbies at 12 weeks of age. An annual booster will be given in one year if it is not overdue. When given, it will be repeated every three years.
DHPPLV vaccine. This is a combination vaccine that vaccinates against Canine Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus, and Leptospirosis. To ensure good immunity these vaccines will need to be boosted multiple times. Vaccines are started at 6 weeks of age and boosted every 4 weeks until 14 weeks of age.
FVRCP vaccine. This is a combination vaccine that vaccinates against Feline Distemper (aka Panleukopenia), Rhinotrachetitis, and Calicivirus. Vaccines are started at 6 weeks of age and boosted every 4 weeks until 14 weeks of age.
Feline Leukemia Vaccine. Feline Leukemia Vaccine is recommended for kittens and cats that are of “high risk,” such as indoor/outdoor cats/kittens.
Bordetella. Also known as “kennel cough”. We recommend the intranasal vaccine at 12 weeks then annually thereafter.
Heartworm Prevention. Heartworm disease is a serious disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes and if left untreated can be fatal. We recommend your dog and cat be on year round heartworm prevention starting at your puppy’s or kitten’s first visit. Your dog will need to be tested with a simple blood test for heartworm disease on an annual basis.
Flea and Tick Control. We recommend using flea control/prevention year round. Ticks are usually seen March through November and prevention is used as needed.
