Canine Care

Most healthy pets only see us a few times a year, but these visits are extremely important in the effort to keep your pet healthy and for early detection of potential problems. At each wellness visit, we’ll do a full physical exam, check stool samples for intestinal parasites, run a heartworm test, give vaccines, and recommend monthly heartworm protection. See the tabs below for our recommendations for each stage of your pet’s life.

Puppies

The following recommendations are approved by the American Animal Hospital Association and the American Veterinary Medical Association:

  • All puppies should have intestinal parasite testing and deworming in accordance with CDC recommendations
  • Appropriate identification via microchipping
  • Year-round parasite control with efficacy against heartworms, intestinal parasites, and fleas, with or without tick protection

Examination and Vaccination Timeline:

  • 6 weeks: Pediatric examination, Canine Distemper/Parvo vaccine, Bordetella (Kennel Cough)
  • 9 weeks: Pediatric examination, Canine Distemper/Parvo vaccine, Bordetella (Kennel Cough), Bivalent flu vaccine (H3N2 and H3N8)
  • 12 weeks: Pediatric examination, Canine Distemper/Parvo vaccine, Leptospirosis vaccine (included with distemper vaccine), Bivalent flu vaccine (H3N2 and H3N8), Lyme vaccine
  • 15 weeks: Pediatric examination, Canine Distemper/Parvo vaccine, Leptospirosis vaccine (included with distemper vaccine), rabies vaccine, Lyme vaccine

Adult Dogs

The following recommendations are approved by the American Animal Hospital Association and the American Veterinary Medical Association:

A preventive healthcare examination at least annually

Vaccines:

  • Canine Distemper/Parvo vaccine at 1 year of age, then every 3 years
  • Rabies vaccine at 1 year of age, then every 3 years
  • Bivalent flu (H3N2 and H3N8) vaccine annually
  • Leptospirosis vaccine annually
  • Bordetella (Kennel Cough) every 6 months
  • Lyme Vaccine annually

Intestinal parasite testing every 6 months in accordance with CDC recommendations.

Heartworm testing annually in accordance with American Heartworm Society recommendations.

Continuation of year-round parasite control with efficacy against heartworms, intestinal parasites, and fleas, with or without tick protection.

Senior Dogs (over 6 years of age)

*Giant breeds are classified as “senior” at 4 years of age since they age faster.

The following recommendations are approved by the American Animal Hospital Association and the American Veterinary Medical Association:

  • A preventive health care examination 6 months
  • Annual labwork (including complete blood count, chemistry, thyroid level, urinalysis, and heartworm testing) for early disease detection. Older animals are more at risk for chronic conditions like kidney or liver disease and endocrine problems. Early on, there may not be any outward signs of trouble, so your pet may still seem quite normal. More frequent testing can help catch potential health problems in the early stages before they become more difficult to manage or even life-threatening.
  • The same vaccinations as listed for adult dogs:
    • Canine Distemper/Parvo vaccine at 1 year of age, then every 3 years
    • Rabies vaccine at 1 year of age, then every 3 years
    • Leptospirosis vaccine annually
    • Bivalent flu (H3N2 andH3N8) vaccine annually
    • Bordetella (Kennel Cough) every 6 months
    • Intestinal parasite testing every 6 months in accordance with CDC recommendations
    • Lyme vaccine annually
  • Heartworm testing annually in accordance with American Heartworm Society recommendations
  • Continuation of year-round parasite control with efficacy against heartworms, intestinal parasites, and fleas, with or without tick protection