Preventive Medicine is the cornerstone of a healthy long life for your pet. At Antigo Veterinary Clinic, we feel that preventive care is about much more than just immunizations, and that your visit with us should not just be a cursory checkup with administration of “shots” that you’re not sure what they’re for, and a wave goodbye. On the contrary!
The most important part of ensuring your pet stays healthy is a routine physical exam. During your pet’s wellness visit, your veterinarian will conduct a thorough physical examination of your pet, checking the eyes, ears, nose and mouth, heart and lungs, abdomen and musculature, lymph nodes, neurologic system, urinary system and skin/coat. Any concerns noted by the veterinarian will be explained to you.
We’ll discuss the five components of keeping your pet healthy and helping them live a long life:
- Healthy body weight, diet and exercise – we’ll review the diet you’re feeding, your pet’s body condition score, and recommendations for achieving ideal body weight
- Addressing any dental disease early (studies show that pets with routine dental care live 2-3 years longer than their peers) – we’ll review home dental care options, best products as recommended by the Veterinary Oral Heath Council, and explain professional teeth cleaning services when recommended for your pet
- Parasite prevention and infectious disease prevention – fleas, ticks, intestinal worms and heartworm disease are all potential risks for your pets. We can help demystify these risks and explain how to keep your pet parasite free through routine screening testing and use of preventives. When considering immunizations, we follow the American Animal Hospital Association and American Association of Feline Practitioners Guidelines. We use four-year core vaccines and risk-tailored vaccine protocols. If your pet has chronic health problems, we will discuss alternatives to immunizations such as vaccine titers and ways to reduce risk of exposure.
- Routine/annual screening for early signs of disease with laboratory testing – We offer age-specific laboratory screening for health problems for pets of all ages. This helps establish a baseline of “normal” for your pet, and helps us detect early indicators of diseases, which in turn leads to earlier onset of treatment and better treatment outcomes.
- Senior and Geriatric Care, with attention to arthritis and pain management – older pets have unique needs; one of the more common problems they face is arthritis. Pets don’t show pain the way humans do. We can help you recognize signs your pet may have arthritis pain, and recommend both medication and therapy options to help them, such as laser therapy, chiropractic and massage/physical therapy.