1625 Tonganoxie Rd

Tonganoxie, KS 66086

Your Veterinary Clinic Blog

Why Get a Preventive Care Exam?

2018-07-01

If you only visit Smith Veterinary Clinic when your pet is injured or sick, you’re missing the opportunity to get a complete picture of her health. The preventive care exam allows our veterinarians to detect potential health issues and begin monitoring or treating them right away.  By committing to preventive care, you could extend it by months or years. It’s well worth the investment when you consider how much love and joy your pet brings into your life.
 

Our Recommended Schedule for Preventive Care Exams


If your pet is normally healthy and between the ages of 12 months and seven years, an annual exam is usually sufficient. Pets enter middle-age around age seven and their senior years around age 10, so we recommend bi-annual check-ups for pets in this age group. This is when we most often start seeing issues such arthritis, diabetes, and kidney disease. Your puppy or kitten under one year will need to come in several times before his first birthday for routine vaccinations and monitoring.
 

Required vaccines for dogs include canine adenovirus, canine parvovirus, distemper, and rabies. The first shot offers protection for both hepatitis and respiratory disease. Essential vaccines for cats include feline calicivirus, feline panleukopenia, rabies, and rhinotracheitis. Our veterinarians will also discuss several optional vaccines you may want to consider for your pet depending on her species, age, lifestyle, and general health. Unless you plan to breed your dog or cat, we recommend sterilization as soon as possible. We can complete the spay or neuter procedure as early as six months.
 

A Typical Preventive Care Exam


If your pet needs a new vaccine or booster, we will provide it at this appointment. This is also a great time to talk to our staff about any behavioral concerns, parasite prevention, exercise, and diet. We will check your pet for parasites and let you know if we discover any. Our comprehensive preventive care exam also consists of the following:

  • Intestinal or stomach problems, which might show up as abnormal stools, diarrhea, or vomiting
  • Unusual urinary discharge or mammary gland issues in females
  • Nasal issues, which might include labored breathing, allergies, asthma, coughing, or sneezing
  • Coat and skin for problems with anal sacs, hair loss, pigment changes, or excessive shedding
  • Teeth and gums for oral health diseases
  • Legs and feet for problems such as torn nails, weakness, limping, or joint pain
  • Eyes and ears for signs of normal vision and hearing as well as absence of unusual discharge
  • We will check your pet's weight at each visit to establish a baseline and let you know if we have any concerns about being overweight or underweight

Our staff will complete further diagnostic testing if we notice any potential issues during your pet’s exam. This may include a blood or urine test, x-ray, stool sample, or whatever is necessary to diagnose the health condition. We will contact you with the results as soon as possible and discuss a treatment plan at that time as well. If your pet needs medication or other follow-up treatment, you may be able to order what you need from our online store. 
 

If it’s been more than a year since your adult pet’s last preventive care exam or six months since your senior pet had an exam, please contact us at (913) 845-3061 to schedule an appointment. We will let you know our preferred schedule for puppies and kittens the first time you bring your new pet to see us. 

Comments

( There are no comments yet. )

Post a Comment

Categories

Recent Posts

Curiosity Sparks Danger: How Pets Start Fires and What You Can Do To Prevent Them

Did you know that pets accidentally start nearly 1,000 house fires every year in the United States? It’s a scary thought, but it doesn’t have to be a reality in your home. Our furry companions are naturally curious and love to explore their surroundings, but sometimes their adventures can put them, and your entire household, at risk. The good news? With a little awareness and a few easy changes, you can protect your pets and keep your home safe from fire hazards

Read More
Is It a Hot Spot?

If your dog won’t stop licking, chewing, or scratching one spot, it’s natural to wonder: “Is something wrong with my pet?” While occasional itching can be common, constant attention to a single area can signal a more serious issue, such as a hot spot. These inflamed patches of skin can appear almost overnight and quickly become painful and infected without treatment.

Let’s explore what hot spots are, what causes them, and how to help your dog heal quickly.

Read More
Debunking Myths About Heartworm: What Every Pet Owner Should Know

Think heartworm is just a summertime issue? Or that your indoor cat is safe from it? You're not alone—many pet owners have heard (and believed) myths about heartworm disease. But the truth is, this serious and potentially deadly condition affects pets in every state and can impact even those who never leave the house.

Let’s clear up the confusion and give you the real facts about heartworm—so you can protect your furry family members with confidence.

Read More

Providing Exceptional Veterinary Care

At Smith Veterinary Clinic, we treat your pets as if they were our own.

Request Your Pet’s Appointment