The annual health exam is one of the cornerstones of a preventive health care program to help keep your pet healthy and happy for a longer life.

Our appointments are 30 minutes long. The veterinarian will examine all areas of the body, including the mouth, ears and eyes. She will then palpate (touch) the abdomen, joints, limbs etc to feel for any abnormalities. The doctor will always listen to the heart and lungs. Please raise any concerns you may have regarding your pet’s health so they may be addressed completely. We really encourage this.

Depending on the age and health status of your pet, the veterinarian may suggest taking a blood sample, a urine sample or running other tests. We make it even easier by offering Comprehensive Wellness Plans that pass on savings of up to 20% to you.

Dental disease is the most common problem we see in dogs and cats (even in the 2-6 years of age group) and is a major contributor to other health problems. We routinely find dental problems that owners were completely unaware of. These need to be addressed quickly to prevent pain and the loss of teeth. Click here to learn more about an IVH Dental.

We also frequently identify various types of heart disease, usually in the more mature animals. Most of these pets are not yet showing any signs of disease. If we initiate treatment before they are showing signs of heart failure, we will be able to help them live even longer than if we’d waited until they showed even the earliest signs of failure.

We will ALWAYS ask you to bring in a fecal sample (the size of a walnut) to check for intestinal parasites and other intestinal problems.

Why do we do this test? If your pet is not being de-wormed monthly, then we need to make sure that he/she doesn’t have a parasite. Even if your pet is on a monthly de-wormer, it is important to check for parasites to make sure the medication is working and to look for other parasites not controlled by the medication.

We guarantee that if you give the de-wormer monthly according to our recommendations, your pet will not have the parasites it prevents. If your pet tests positive for one of those parasites, we will cover the costs of eliminating that parasite.

We cannot emphasize enough just how important the annual health exam is to maintaining a happy, healthy pet who will be with you a long time.