Preventive Care

Because our pets age at a quicker pace than we do, it is important that they receive appropriate preventative care which includes early detection screenings to identify any health concerns or diseases in their earliest stages.

Pets aged 7 years or older should visit their veterinarian twice a year for wellness exams. These exams are the key to detecting any health problems that could endanger your pet.... Read more

Fleas and ticks are capable of transmitting infection and disease to pets through a bite. Many pets also suffer from severe allergic reaction to the bites of fleas and ticks. It is imperative that owners prevent these parasites by using one of the many commercially available products that protect pets from fleas and ticks.... Read more

Vaccines and regular health exams are key preventive care measures and are critical to the well-being of your pets to help protect them from potentially deadly infectious diseases.

The process of immunization against disease begins in your pet’s body as a result of receiving vaccines, usually by injection.

VCA veterinarians recommend:

• Giving core vaccines to dogs (distemper, canine adenovirus, parvovirus and rabies, leptospirosis)
• Other vaccines, such as lyme, influenza and bordetella may also be recommended based on your dog's needs
• Giving core vaccines to cats (panleukopenia, rhinotracheitis, calicivirus and rabies)
• Starting a vaccine program between 6 and 9 weeks of age to begin proper lifelong protection
• Giving vaccines every 3-4 weeks until a pet reaches 15 to 17 weeks of age.... Read more

Our hospital offers guidance on a number of parasite control programs. The most common parasites that afflict pets are fleas and ticks.

Fleas and ticks are capable of transmitting infection and disease to pets through a bite.... Read more

Our hospital offers and encourages preventive medicine services through early disease detection and wellness programs for adult and senior dogs.

Because pets are living longer, they may experience increased problems with chronic illnesses and cancer. The earlier a problem is diagnosed and a treatment plan started, the better the outcome.... Read more

Vaccinations are critical to the well-being of our pets, because they protect against potentially deadly viral diseases like Distemper, Parvovirus, Leptospirosis and Rabies in dogs, and Panleukopenia, Feline Leukemia Virus and Rabies in cats.

Dogs

• Annual Rabies Vaccination - Rabies is always fatal (in both animals and humans). Since there is no cure, prevention by vaccination is the only solution.... Read more

At VCA Animal Hospitals we want to work with you to help your pets maintain a healthy weight, so they can live a long and happy life with you.

Visit our hospital for an evaluation, and if it looks like your pet might need to lose a few pounds, we’ll discuss the steps you can take and provide the tools you need for successful pet weight loss. And we’ll be there every step of the way offering support and encouragement!

A wellness exam is an overall general health assessment and complete physical examination that may include diagnostic testing, blood tests, urinalysis, checking a stool sample, and parasite screening. In many cases, a wellness examination can help detect the early stages of disease. Wellness exams are recommended for most pets at least annually, but more often (at least every 6 months) for senior pets and pets with chronic health issues.... Read more

Wellness tests are important to assist the veterinarians in creating an overall portfolio of your pet's health.
By including blood tests in your pet’s routine exams, it is possible to create a wellness “baseline” against which future testing can be compared. This can help make it easier to detect any potential abnormalities or concerns.... Read more