Dog and cat vaccines and wellness. Aside from rabies vaccines, much of what falls under this umbrella is drastically underrated. It’s easy to only take a pet to see their doctor when something seems wrong, but the benefits of annual visits can be life-changing…life-extending.
We cannot stress enough how often we have caught a problem early and been able to start treatment before a condition became worse. We had the opportunity to discover it during an annual Wellness Exam.
Wellness Exams, often paired with vaccines, heartworm tests, and fecal exams to keep to an annual schedule, are when your dog or cat gets its nose-to-tail inspection. During these checkups we examine:
There are times, and even ages, where it becomes appropriate to opt for a basic blood panel to be included in a pet’s annual routine so that we are able to get a great, complete picture of total health from the inside out. This is especially helpful in older or overweight pets, just like with people!
All together, we often catch problems early, helping us to extend lives.
Cats are less likely to receive regular Wellness Exams and preventive care compared to their canine counterparts. This seems to stem from the fact that cats tend to be more self-sufficient, and as caretakers, we all get in a habit of tending to more obvious needs of dogs. Dogs are more likely to get heartworms, more likely to chew and swallow inappropriate things, more likely to injure an ACL, etc, but cats need care just as frequently.
Because cats are less likely to show you that something might be wrong early on, we are on a mission to raise some awareness about the importance of routine and preventive care for our kitty friends, too! When it comes to anything pertaining to cat nutrition, aging, or even many kinds of parasites, cats have just as much going on. Cats are even more prone to certain types of illnesses such as chronic kidney disease (CKD) – they just aren’t in your face panting about it.
Vaccinations, heartworm tests, and fecal exams are the other three most common services that are scheduled on an annual basis. Rabies vaccinations are required by NC law by 4 months of age.
Vaccines are true life-savers. There are a number of illnesses that are far too easily spread and cause too much suffering. Parvo, distemper, FIV, and feline leukemia, to name a few, are devastating to pets. If you have any questions regarding the safety or recommended schedules of vaccines, just ask us!
Learn more about rabies requirements at the (Raleigh) Wake County info page.
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At Falls Village Veterinary Hospital, a Raleigh, NC veterinarian, dogs, cats & their families deserve the best. In fact, we specialize in delivering warm, compassionate care that reminds our clients and patients how unique and important they truly are. We provide complete veterinary care including dentistry, laser therapy, surgery, and more. Call us today!
