All pets need regular visits to a veterinarian at least once a year. Physical exams and preventative care allow our doctors to detect disease in its earliest stages and to implement vaccination protocols that protect your pet from costly and sometimes fatal diseases.
Puppies and kittens need to be seen at 8, 12, and 16 weeks of age for an examination and vaccine boosters. It is important to perform an intestinal parasite test (stool test) on puppies and kittens at the first visit and prophylactic deworming at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks of age. A Feline Leukemia test is also recommended at your kitten’s first time visit before starting his/her vaccine protocol.
Once your pet is past its initial puppy/kitten vaccinations, a regular physical exam is the most important thing you can do to keep your pet healthy. During the exam our doctors will perform a thorough investigation of your pet’s eyes, ears, mouth, skin, and all of his/her associated cavities. Your pet’s annual visit will also include a heartworm (blood) test for dogs, an intestinal parasite (stool) test, and vaccinations. The vaccinations your pet needs will be determined by your pet’s age and risk factors. The most commonly recommended vaccinations include:
In addition to your pet’s annual examination, the doctors at NHVH also like to perform annual preventative wellness blood screening tests. Although we perform a thorough physical exam on your pet we cannot assess how your pet’s internal organs are functioning. Blood testing is the internal examination for your pet and frequently detects illness before any signs of disease are apparent. Blood work results allow our team to treat your pet’s health condition which leads to a better outcome and possibly lower treatment costs.