Your pet deserves the best in veterinary care. Our local staff is dedicated to providing, not just emergency care, but ongoing wellness for your family pet.
Animals of all kinds need consistent, regular professional medical attention throughout their lives. Veterinary wellness checkups enable you to help ensure that your pet receives the proper diagnostic, examination and preventative treatments necessary to ensure optimal health on a daily basis.
Annual Wellness Checkups
When your pet gets their annual wellness checkup, here’s what you can expect. First, your pet will be checked over in a general way that starts with a physical examination. This is done to help catch any potential obvious problems such as deformities, growths, areas of pain or discomfort, or motility issues.
During the visit, you’ll discuss your pet’s health at home, and you’ll have the opportunity to convey anything that may be concerning you, such as changes in behavior or appetite, or anything else that’s changed since the last visit. Your vet will also ask you specific questions in order to highlight common potential issues, as well as to get a better sense of the animal’s lifestyle at home.
Next, your pet’s file will be carefully reviewed, with an eye toward ensuring that all preventative treatments and any local government mandated animal treatments are brought up to date during the annual wellness checkup. These may include things like:
- Vaccinations
- Inoculations
- Parasite control treatments
Wellness Services
Annual wellness checkups provide the chance for your pet to receive needed diagnostic procedures and treatment in a wide range of service areas. Additional services that may be conducted during your pet’s annual veterinary check up include items such as:
- microchipping
- dental examination and treatment
- spaying/neutering
- blood testing
- heartworm testing/treatment
- flea dipping
- FIV testing
- Parvo virus testing
- and more
Wellness Checkups for Special Situations
Consistent wellness checkups are also crucial for pets that fall into special categories, such as aging pets and relatively newborns, like puppies and kittens.
Senior Pet Care
Older pets often develop a range of age-related issues, such as loss of appetite, mobility challenges and failing eyesight. Veterinary wellness checkups support the health aging of your beloved pet to help ensure quality of life for as long as possible.
Puppy and Kitten Care
At a minimum, you should strive to have your new puppy or kitten get a visit when they are about eight weeks of age. Early wellness checkup can reveal health conditions you should be aware of, as well as to build a baseline of health that can be used throughout your new pet’s life. In addition, if you’re a new pet owner, you can receive valuable advice and tips on caring for your young pet, such as tooth brushing techniques and parasite control.
These are just some of the many services and treatment options available during routine veterinary wellness checkups at Millbrae Animal Hospital. We are dedicated to providing the most advanced care for your pet and we can’t wait to be a part of your pet's whole life health!
Comprehensive Pet Wellness Care in Millbrae, CA
Prioritizing the long term health of a companion requires a proactive approach to medical care and preventative management. Our vet near you provides the necessary expertise to identify subtle changes in the physiological state of your dog or cat. Every patient at our pet hospital receives a personalized health plan that addresses their specific age, breed, and activity level. Maintaining a routine of preventative checkups is the most effective way to protect the bond you share with your animal.
The Significance of the Annual Wellness Exam
An annual wellness visit serves as the foundation for a lifetime of health and disease prevention. During this appointment, a thorough physical examination is performed to assess the integrity of the musculoskeletal system and the function of the internal organs. The veterinarian will listen to the heart and lungs to detect early signs of cardiovascular or respiratory issues. Diagnostic screenings, such as blood work and urinalysis, are used to evaluate kidney and liver health before clinical symptoms appear. If a problem is caught early, the medical team can implement a management strategy to mitigate further damage.
Essential Vaccinations and Disease Prevention
Immunizations are a critical component of pet wellness that protect your animal from various contagious and deadly viruses. A specific vaccination schedule is developed by the doctor based on the exposure risk and lifestyle of the individual patient. Core vaccines provide immunity against common threats like rabies, distemper, and parvovirus in dogs, or panleukopenia in cats. These treatments stimulate the immune system to recognize and fight off pathogens before they can cause serious illness. Since the protection from these shots can fade over time, booster doses are administered at regular intervals to maintain a strong defense.
Comprehensive Parasite Control and Management
Parasite control involves the systematic prevention of internal and external organisms that can compromise the comfort and health of your pet. Heartworm disease is a particularly dangerous condition that is transmitted by mosquitoes and can lead to fatal heart failure. Monthly preventatives are used to kill larval stages of heartworms before they mature into adults. Fleas and ticks can also carry a variety of blood borne diseases and cause severe skin irritation or allergic reactions. Your veterinarian will recommend specific products to ensure your home and pet remains free from these invasive pests.
Personalized Care at Millbrae Pet Hospital
Millbrae Pet Hospital remains dedicated to serving the community with advanced medical knowledge and compassionate support. Every visit to our facility is an opportunity to improve the vitality and happiness of the animals we treat. To learn more or schedule an appointment, call our office at (650) 583-1500. Your proactive involvement in their healthcare journey ensures a brighter and healthier future for your pet.