Skip to main content

Wellness Exams

Our pets are more than just animals in our homes. They are a special part of our families, and they’re only with us for a precious amount of time. That’s why wellness care and preventative medicine are so very important.

When we are able to examine your pet at least once a year, we are able to take preventative measures to protect them from the dangers they’ll encounter throughout their lifetime. We are also able to identify the signs of potential medical concerns and address them right away – before they become a more serious and costly problem. Disease prevention and early detection can add years to your loved one’s life, and improve the quality of those years exponentially.

The wellness care available to patients of Dykes Veterinary Clinic has been specifically designed to support a lifetime of good health. As pets age, their health care needs change. Our wellness services will adapt right along with these changes, providing your pet with the most precise and effective care he or she needs with each and every visit. From the first round of vaccines to specialized senior care, and every moment and milestone along the way, we will be right by your side through it all.

A typical wellness visit with us involves a complete “nose to tail” physical exam through which the doctor will evaluate your pet’s present health. We want to be sure everything is functioning just as it should, and identify any concerns or abnormalities as early as possible. When we are able to detect and address illness in its earliest stages, we are much better able to achieve a positive prognosis for your pet.

Our wellness care covers everything that is important in keeping your pet happy, healthy and strong, including: customized vaccination plans, parasite prevention and control, nutrition and weight management, behavioral advice and anything else the doctor may deem necessary. The goal is to stay on top of your companion’s health and be as proactive as possible so that if and when an issue arises, it can be taken care of in the most timely and effective manner.

Routine wellness visits also allow our doctors and care team to get to know you and your pet on a more personal level. Only when we truly understand who your companion is and what his or her unique needs are can we develop the most customized and effective health care plan possible. We want to become more than just your pet’s doctor; rather, your lifelong partner with the shared goal of helping your loved one enjoy as many happy, healthy years as possible.

Dykes Veterinary Clinic offers comprehensive wellness care for animals of all ages and species. Let us help improve the chances of your cherished companion enjoying many happy, healthy years by your side.

Kitten Wellness

Our kitten wellness program is designed to help get your kitten started on the right path to a long and healthy life. The first few months are a critical period in your kitten’s development, and we can give you the support and tools necessary to help him or her grow into a well-mannered, healthy cat, including information and advice on nutrition, litterbox training, and behavior. Schedule your kitten for their first exam as soon as possible. Until your kitten has received a series of vaccines, they are susceptible to many serious but preventable diseases. Depending on your cat’s risk, we may also advise vaccinating them against other diseases, such as feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). In addition, your kitten will need to be tested and treated for parasites, which are common in young cats.

Most kittens are prone to intestinal parasites, which can cause coughing, weight loss, and a potbellied appearance in cats (although they may not cause any symptoms). Kittens need to be treated for intestinal parasites, not only to help rid them of the infection but also to prevent you and the rest of your family from becoming infected. Some intestinal parasites are zoonotic, which means they can be transmitted from pets to people. By ensuring that your kitten is treated, you can keep your entire family safe.

We look forward to meeting your new kitten! Schedule your appointment today.

Puppy Wellness

Our puppy wellness program is designed to help get your puppy started on the right path to a long and healthy life. The first few months are a critical period in your puppy’s development, and we can give you the support and tools necessary to help him or her grow into a well-mannered, healthy dog, including information and advice on nutrition, training, behavior, and socialization. Schedule your puppy for their first exam as soon as possible. Until your puppy has received a series of vaccines, they are susceptible to many serious but preventable diseases. Your puppy will also need to be tested and treated for parasites, which are common in young dogs.

Most puppies are prone to intestinal parasites which can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal signs (although dogs can have worms without showing any symptoms). Puppies need to be treated for intestinal parasites, not only to rid them of the infection but also to prevent you and the rest of your family from becoming infected. Intestinal parasites can be zoonotic parasites, which means they can be transmitted from pets to people. By ensuring that your puppy is treated, you can keep your entire family safe from these and other parasites.

We look forward to meeting your new puppy! Schedule your appointment today.

Adult Wellness

Bringing your pet in for an annual diagnostic and wellness checkup can help reassure you that your dog or cat is healthy or help us detect hidden diseases or conditions early. Early detection can improve the prognosis of many diseases, keep medical costs down, and help your pet live longer. Many dogs and cats are good at hiding signs that something is wrong, so subtle changes in their health or behavior might be easy to overlook. And, depending on the disease, some pets don’t show any symptoms. Dogs and cats age quicker than humans, so it is even more crucial for our companion animals to receive regular exams. In addition, the risks of arthritis, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, hormone disorders, and kidney and liver problems all increase with age.

During your pet’s wellness exam, we will perform a physical assessment, checking your dog or cat from nose to tail. We will also make sure your pet receives appropriate vaccinations and preventives. We will perform a diagnostic workup, which may include blood, fecal, and urine tests to check for parasites and underlying diseases. We may also recommend that your pet receive dental care.

When your pet is nearing his or her senior years, we will recommend a baseline exam and diagnostic workup so we’ll know what’s normal for your pet. This will enable us to keep track of any changes. Please let us know if you’ve noticed any physical or behavioral changes in your pet, as well as any other concerns you might have.

Call us today to schedule your pet’s exam! If you have any questions about our adult wellness program, please let us know.

Senior Wellness

As dogs and cats get older, they need more attention and special care. Our senior wellness program can help your pet remain fit and healthy as he or she ages and help us catch any potential problems earlier when they’re easier to treat or manage. Regular veterinary exams can actually help your pet live longer, too!

Diagnosing diseases and certain conditions early is important throughout a pet’s life, but it becomes even more critical when your dog or cat enters his or her senior years. The risks of arthritis, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, hormone disorders, and kidney and liver problems all increase with age. In addition, dogs and cats may not show any signs of even serious diseases until they are advanced.

Senior status varies depending on your pet’s breed and size. Smaller dogs tend to live longer than larger dogs, and cats generally live longer than dogs. We can help you determine what life stage your pet is in. Before your dog or cat reaches senior status, we recommend that you bring your pet in for a baseline exam and diagnostic workup. This will give us a record of what’s normal for your pet so we can keep track of any changes. In most cases, we suggest this checkup for when your dog turns 7 years of age or your cat turns 8 years of age. Thereafter, your senior pet will benefit from more frequent veterinary exams and diagnostic testing.

We can treat many symptoms that are commonly attributed to age, including those associated with cognitive dysfunction syndrome (similar to Alzheimer’s in humans). We can also improve your pet’s quality of life in many ways: by identifying and preventing or reducing pain, recommending a nutrition and exercise plan, and suggesting environmental modifications. We will tailor a senior wellness plan to your pet’s individual needs. If you have any questions, we can discuss our senior wellness program in more detail. Call us today to schedule your pet’s exam!