Preventive Veterinary Services for Cats and Dogs in Dartmouth
One of the best ways to keep your pets healthy is to take a proactive approach with preventive veterinary services. Your local Dartmouth animal hospital can help you take charge of your pet’s wellbeing by scheduling examinations and annual check-ups, prescribing preventive care medications, providing vaccinations, and offering advice that you can use to expand vet care for cats and dogs. Everything from nutrition to exercise can help to reduce overall health issues and risks of disease to ensure a long and happy life for your pet. Veterinary care in Massachusetts is available for pet owners in the Southcoast region at Anchor Animal Hospital in Dartmouth.
Veterinary Check-ups
When your pet is young, as in a puppy or a kitten, multiple visits to the vet are often required to ensure that they get all of the milestone exams, vaccinations, and preventive veterinary services they need to create a healthy base. Adult dogs and cats, meaning pets that are one-year or older, might only require annual check-ups, depending on their breed and any health risks or conditions. This means a once-a-year visit to the veterinarian to check their eyes, ears, weight, overall health and determine if there are any issues that need to be addressed. Senior pets, as in those who are seven years of age or older, may require twice-a-year visits or more frequent visits, depending on their health. Pets that are overweight, have dental issues, are diagnosed with a serious health condition, or are at risk for developing health concerns may need to visit even more often.
Each pet is different because their needs, stage of life, and health concerns are unique to them. Even littermates growing up in the same house may have very diverse requirements, so it pays to work with your local Dartmouth animal hospital to create a plan for veterinary care in Massachusetts on a case-by-case basis. Vet care for cats and dogs can help ensure a long and healthy life, prevent many serious conditions from occurring, and ensure a safe environment for your pet and household. Preventive veterinary services address a wide range of risks, concerns, and diseases. Based on the findings discovered during your veterinary check-ups, recommendations will be provided for dental care, nutrition, vaccinations, preventive treatments, and other suggestions based on the specific needs and risk factors associated with your pet.
Preventive Treatments & Vaccines
Keeping pets healthy is a serious business. Preventive veterinary services frequently include various treatments and vaccines used in combination to prevent infections, disease, and other issues. Pets should be vaccinated to protect them from many deadly and highly contagious diseases. While some vaccinations are required by local government regulations, others can be optional, depending on where you live and your pet’s lifestyle. Work directly with your local veterinarian to ensure the best possible veterinary care in Massachusetts for your dog or cat. There is a whole list of vaccinations that need to be given to puppies and kittens in the early stages of life, as well as other vaccines that should be updated with “booster” shots as your pet ages. Core vaccines, such as rabies, canine distemper, canine parvovirus, canine hepatitis, feline panleukopenia, feline viral rhinotracheitis, and feline calicivirus, are recommended for most pets and should be given on a specific schedule.
Other preventive treatments can include services for the prevention of fleas, ticks, and other parasites, including heartworm. Dental care can also be essential, as studies reveal that most cats and dogs have some degree of dental disease by the time they are just three years of age. Based on the findings during your exam at our Dartmouth animal hospital, the veterinarian will recommend a multi-faceted approach that includes a variety of vaccinations, preventive treatments, and exams throughout your pet’s lifetime. The more you can do to prevent common issues from occurring, the easier it will be to maintain your pet’s health throughout their estimated life expectancy. The more you can share with your veterinarian about your pet’s diet, activity, and daily lifestyle, the easier it will be to estimate the services they will need for a long and healthy life. To schedule vet care for cats and dogs at Anchor Animal Hospital, contact our team directly by calling 508-996-3731. We are located on State Road in Dartmouth, Massachusetts, and serve pet patients throughout the Southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod, and Rhode Island region.