Welcome to Balsam Animal Hospital, where we prioritize the proactive health and happiness of your beloved pets through our comprehensive wellness visits and services. Regular wellness check-ups are the foundation of preventive care, allowing our experienced veterinary team to detect potential issues early and ensure the continued health and well-being of your pet.
During wellness visits, our veterinarians conduct thorough physical examinations, checking for signs of illness, and injury, and monitoring key indicators of your pet’s well-being. These routine check-ups also provide an opportunity for vaccinations, parasite prevention, routine blood work, and dental assessments to ensure your pet’s optimal health.
Canine Vaccines
Canine veterinary vaccines are essential components of preventive healthcare, safeguarding our canine companions from a range of potentially serious and life-threatening diseases. Vaccination is a proactive and effective way to strengthen a dog’s immune system, protecting against viruses and bacteria that can cause severe illnesses. Core vaccines for dogs typically include those for distemper, parvovirus, adenovirus, and rabies, addressing widespread threats.
Beyond core vaccines, lifestyle, and regional factors may influence additional vaccinations. Kennel cough, leptospirosis, Lyme disease, and canine influenza are examples of non-core vaccines that may be recommended based on a dog’s specific risk factors and exposure.
The vaccination schedule is typically initiated during puppyhood, with boosters administered yearly to maintain immunity throughout a dog’s life. These vaccines not only protect individual dogs but also contribute to the overall community by preventing the spread of infectious diseases.
Canine Vaccines Offered:
- Parvovirus
- DHPPV combo vaccine (Distemper, Adenovirus, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus)
- Leptospirosis
- Lymes
- Bordetella
- K9 Influenza- bivalent vaccine H3N2 & H3N8
- Rabies
Feline Vaccines
Feline vaccines are crucial tools in safeguarding the health and well-being of our feline companions. These vaccines are designed to protect against various viral and bacterial infections that can pose serious threats to cats. Core vaccines for cats commonly include those for feline panleukopenia, feline calicivirus, feline herpesvirus, and rabies.
In addition to core vaccines, non-core vaccines may be recommended based on a cat’s lifestyle, exposure, and individual risk factors. These can include vaccinations for feline leukemia, chlamydia, and Bordetella.
The vaccination schedule typically begins in kittenhood, with a series of initial vaccinations followed by boosters to establish and maintain immunity. Regular veterinary check-ups and consultations are essential to tailor vaccination plans to the specific needs of each cat, ensuring optimal protection.
Feline Vaccines Offered:
- FVRCP combo vaccine (Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia)
- FVRCP+FELV (Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia + Leukemia)
- Feline Leukemia
- FVRCP+Ch (Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia + Chlamydia)
- Bordetella
- Rabies
Heartworm Testing and Prevention
Ensuring the well-being of our beloved pets involves comprehensive care, including vigilant heartworm testing and effective prevention. These parasitic worms can invade the heart and lungs of both dogs and (less commonly) cats, leading to potentially life-threatening conditions. Prevention is paramount in safeguarding our furry friends. Veterinarian-prescribed heartworm preventatives, administered consistently, offer a crucial defense. Regular check-ups and screenings further ensure early detection.
We recommend this yearly heartworm screening as part of your pet’s wellness routine. This simple blood test helps identify the presence of heartworms, enabling us to implement appropriate preventive measures. Our veterinary team offers a range of safe and effective heartworm preventives for your pet’s lifestyle and needs, ranging from once-a-year injections to monthly oral medications.
Preventing heartworm disease not only safeguards your pet’s health but also contributes to the overall well-being of your family and community. If you have questions about heartworm testing or need guidance on preventative options, schedule a consultation with our veterinary team.
Flea, Tick, and Parasite Prevention and Solutions
Preventing flea and tick infestations is crucial for maintaining a healthy and happy living environment. These small, blood-eating insects not only bring discomfort but also pose significant health risks, as they can transmit diseases and trigger allergic reactions in animals and people alike. By prioritizing the use of veterinarian-recommended preventative medications, pet owners establish a powerful defense against these parasites.
For fleas, consistent preventative medication, maintaining a clean living environment, and maintaining regular grooming practices, can help prevent infestations from ever taking hold. This is key, as fleas tend to find human households a particularly comfortable environment, nesting in carpets, rugs, between floorboards, and under wall moldings. Preventative medications become the linchpin in preventing these infestations long before they can ever take hold and ensure comprehensive protection for your pet from the illnesses they carry.
In outdoor environments where ticks thrive, preventative medications take center stage as key players in reducing the risk of tick-borne illnesses. Coupled with practices like wearing protective clothing in high-density tice areas, using tick repellents, and routine pet checks, these medications contribute significantly to the overall defense strategy employed to keep your pets parasite-free. Additionally, creating a ‘tick-safe’ zone around the home through meticulous lawn and garden maintenance enhances the efficacy of preventative medications against these blood-feeding arachnids by eliminating their preferred living environment.
The integration of preventative medications into your efforts against fleas, ticks, and other parasites, underscores their pivotal role in fostering a harmonious living environment for pets and their human families. Through consistent and proactive use, pet owners can provide an efficient defense against the persistent threats posed by these pests. Our veterinary professionals are here to help guide you in selecting the appropriate parasite-control products to keep your pet protected year-round based on their specific needs!
