Wellness & Prevention
Scheduling an annual wellness exam for your pet is critically important. Pets age at a faster rate than humans, therefore, the veterinarian may be able to detect and alert you to any issues with your pet at their annual wellness exam.
At each wellness exam, the veterinarian will conduct a thorough physical exam of your pet, checking head to tail for any abnormalities. Should any health problems be found, the veterinarian will prescribe medications or recommend additional medical treatments.
Along with an annual wellness exam, there are other measures that pet owners can take to keep their pets happy and healthy year-round. Munhall Veterinary Hospital recommends the following preventative care:
- Immunizations – vaccination against the most common diseases are recommended for all puppies and kittens as well as annual boosters for our mature patients. reminders are sent to notify you when a pet is due for their vaccines.
- Laboratory tests – annual fecal exams for all pets, wellness blood screening for our older pets, and heartworm and Lyme testing for dogs and leukemia virus screening for cats.
Prescribed medications – always administer any medications prescribed by your veterinarian. - Flea & Tick medications – we recommend application and/or administration of these products during all warm weather months until a killing frost in late fall.
Heartworm disease – annual testing along with monthly preventative to prevent this deadly disease. - Diet & Nutrition – talk to us about the appropriate diet and amount of food to feed your pet.
- Grooming – brush your pet’s fur regularly and get your pet professionally groomed if needed.
- Dental Cleaning – brush your pet’s teeth but also have your pet’s teeth examined and cleaned by a veterinarian regularly.
- Exercise – provide regular exercise for your pet to ward off weight gain and to release energy.
- Microchip – a small chip inserted into the back of your pet’s neck. If your pet is ever lost or stolen, a simple scan can help reunite you with your pet.