A wag of the tail or a purr can be a great indicator that your pet is feeling good. But, our pets don't always know how to tell us when something isn't feeling right. The best way to stave off potential health issues is not to wait until your pet is feeling down and out, but to maintain a regular schedule of annual (or in some cases, more frequent) screening physicals. During a wellness exam, we will review your pet’s record to ensure their wellness plan is in order.Wellness visits will always include a nose to tail checkup, and may also include diagnostics and treatments like screening tests and vaccinations.
Individualized Care for Your Unique Pets
Every pet is different and every home is unique. We customize each wellness plan to meet a patient’s individual needs, for a comprehensive, personal approach to pet care. Factors to consider in the wellness plan include:
- Pet type, species, or breed
- Age and life stage
- Weight and size
- Skin and coat needs
- Nutrition and dietary issues
- Dental concerns
- Activity level
- Socialization and bonding
- Training needs
- Lifestyle influences
- Household environment
- Overall health and condition
Your pet’s breed and age are primary in developing a plan for the next year. In a senior pet of any type, for example, we may explore age-related issues and possible modifications to the home, such as a softer sleeping area, a heated pad, or a ramp to make climbing easier.
Physical factors such as weight concerns, skin and coat care, or dental issues are also essential for ongoing wellness. Obviously, chronic disease or discomfort in a pet will negatively impact their happiness and well-being — and yours. Addressing such health risks and issues as soon as they are detected — through dietary or lifestyle changes, for example — can help to maintain your pet’s overall health and condition.
Socialization, bonding, and training concerns can also impact the happiness of both pets and their humans. Anxiety or reactivity can be distressing for both you and your pet. But the wonderfully rewarding give-and-take relationship between pets and their humans can be greatly enhanced with the appropriate training techniques and socialization.
Household factors that can impact the well-being of a pet include location, type of home, opportunities for activity, level of human interaction, cage or bed environment, and even issues such as temperature and humidity. Your home is their home and, at each wellness visit, we will examine and discuss household issues concerning the well-being of your pet family members.
Wellness Visits
At the initial wellness exam, we will review all of these factors to create a plan that addresses your pet’s overall health and happiness. A thorough physical examination and diagnostic testing — such as blood, urine, or fecal tests or screening for heartworm and tick-borne diseases — can also help to guide us in adapting the plan to keep your pet healthy and well. (All Creatures is proud to be enrolled in the Preventive Care Challenge with our reference laboratory. This means we are able to run specific screening panels for wellness checks for a discounted rate.) At every subsequent wellness visit, we will evaluate any issues that may have changed or new concerns that have developed since your pet was last seen.
This progressive approach to wellness care is beneficial, effective, and compassionate. Our veterinary team will support you and your pet by consistently reviewing their wellness plan for indicators of positive change, steady health maintenance, and the need for active treatment. In this way, we work to maximize your pet’s health, well-being, and longevity.
Appropriate vaccinations can also be essential for keeping your pet healthy and well. Some of the common vaccinations and their explanations are below.
Canine Core Vaccines
Rabies vaccine
The rabies vaccine protects your dog from one of the most dangerous, highly contagious, and fatal diseases. Rabies can be transmitted through the saliva of an infected animal. Once infected, the disease spreads through a dog’s central nervous system to the brain, resulting in death. Symptoms start with lethargy, fever, and vomiting, and progress to changes in behavior and temperament, aggression, difficult swallowing, and drooling.
Distemper/Adenovirus/Parvovirus/Parainfluenza (DA2PP) Combo Vaccine
Canine distemper is a highly contagious, life-threatening viral disease that can be spread through airborne exposure or direct contact with infected bodily fluids. (Dogs between 4 months and 4 years of age tend to be more susceptible than older dogs.) A dog who survives this disease may live with neurological problems for the rest of their life. Early symptoms are fever, loss of appetite, mild eye inflammation, and nasal discharge.
Canine parvovirus (“parvo”) is a highly contagious, life-threatening viral disease that primarily attacks white blood cells and the gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms include severe diarrhea/vomiting, lethargy, fever, and loss of appetite. It is spread through direct contact with infected animals, feces/vomit, or surfaces.
Canine adenovirus is a highly contagious virus that can cause infectious canine hepatitis or respiratory infection. It may cause symptoms such as fever, gastrointestinal distress, a dry, hacking cough, or nasal discharge.
Canine parainfluenza is a highly contagious respiratory virus that can cause a dry, hacking cough, low-grade fever, and nasal discharge.
Leptospirosis vaccine
Leptospirosis is a bacterial infection that can be transmitted through the urine of infected animals such as raccoons, skunks, and rats. This bacteria can be passed via water, food, and soil that is contaminated with urine — in NYC, the primary risk is infected rat urine in contaminated puddles or soil. (Dogs that visit rural/woody areas are more prone to exposure as well.) Symptoms of leptospirosis are fever, vomiting, lethargy, and severe muscle and abdominal pain. They can also include eye and nasal discharge, excessive drinking and urination, and intestinal problems.
Canine Non Core Vaccines
Lyme vaccine
Lyme disease is one of the most common tick-borne diseases in the world. It is caused by a spirochete (bacteria) species of the Borrelia burgdorferi group. Once a dog is infected by a tick bite, the disease can cause problems like recurrent lameness due to inflammation of the joints. Other symptoms include decreased appetite and depression. In severe cases, the infected dogs can experience kidney, heart, or nervous system disease.
Bordetella vaccine
Bordetella (aka “kennel cough”) is an extremely contagious airborne infection of the upper respiratory tract, caused by the bacteria bordetella bronchiseptica. It can spread rapidly among susceptible animals who are in close proximity to other dogs (in boarding facilities or doggy day care, for example.) In most cases, the disease is generally mild, but occasionally it can be serious and even fatal. Puppies can suffer from chronic bronchitis. Symptoms include frequent dry coughing and gagging, loss of appetite, and fever.
Influenza vaccine
Canine influenza or "dog flu" is a highly contagious type A influenza virus that dogs have no natural protection against. Vaccination can protect against the two identified forms — H3N8 and H3N2. Outbreaks of the virus have occurred occasionally in our region and when they do, the flu spreads quickly amongst the dog population. Canine flu affects individual dogs differently, and the outcome of the illness can range from mild to fatal. We carry the bivalent vaccine (H3N2 and H3N8) at our hospital.
Feline Core Vaccines
FVRCP vaccine
The FVRCP vaccination protects your cat against three contagious diseases. FVR refers to feline viral rhinotracheitis, a severe upper respiratory infection caused by a feline herpes virus. C stands for calicivirus, an upper respiratory tract infection that can make your cat very ill and can lead to life-threatening pneumonia. And, P is for panleukopenia (feline distemper), a highly contagious disease that can affect a cat’s digestive system, bone marrow, and lymph tissue. Symptoms include fever, vomiting, ulcers and blisters in mouth, loss of appetite, discharge from eyes and nose, depression, and diarrhea.
Rabies vaccine
The rabies vaccine protects your cat from one of the most dangerous, highly contagious, and fatal diseases. Rabies can be transmitted through the saliva of an infected animal. Once infected, the disease spreads through a cat’s central nervous system to the brain, resulting in death. Symptoms start with lethargy, fever, and vomiting, and progress to changes in behavior and temperament, aggression, difficult swallowing, and drooling.
Feline Non Core Vaccine
Leukemia vaccine
Feline leukemia virus (FeLV) is a virus that causes cancer of the white blood cells and lymph system. It is spread through direct contact with other infected felines. A blood test can be done to confirm this disease. Weight loss, vomiting, diarrhea, labored breathing and anemia are common symptoms.
Visit our neighborhood clinic to obtain a comprehensive wellness plan for your pet.