Senior dog - 8 years and older

• Physical examination every 6 months
• Appropriate vaccinations for age and lifestyle
• Rabies vaccination - required by SC state law of every dog and cat
• Intestinal parasite test
• Discussion of flea and tick prevention
• Wellness blood profile (which includes chemistry, red and white blood cell count, thyroid and heartworm test)
• Urinalysis
• Osteoarthritis discussion
• Eye pressure test
• Chest and/or abdominal x-rays
• Geriatric EKG
• If on chronic medications (e.g., pain, heart, kidney) discussion on appropriate monitoring tests    

Aging, is not a disease, it's a fact of life.

Visit our "Geriatric Wellness" page.

Find information and videos on

ways to help your pet age healthfully.

Adult Cat - 1 to 7 years

of age

• Yearly physical examination   
  Appropriate vaccinations (if indoor cat, Respiratory vaccines and if outdoor cat, respiratory and Leukemia vaccines)
• If  outdoor cat should consider Leukemia/FIV testing every year
• If outdoor cat, intestinal deworming
• Discussion of heartworm, flea and tick prevention
• Dental examination with discussion of preventatives
• Consultation on diet, weight, and/or behavior problems

• Baseline blood panel
• Baseline chemistry panel
• Urinalysis

Senior Cat - 8 years

and older

• Physical examination every 6 months
• Appropriate vaccinations (if indoor cat, Respiratory vaccines and if outdoor cat, Respiratory and Leukemia vaccines)
• If outdoor cat - intestinal deworming
• Discussion of heartworm, flea and tick prevention
• Administration of flea/tick control
• Wellness blood profile (which includes chemistry, red and white blood cell count, thyroid and heartworm test)
• Urinalysis
• Chest X-ray
• Geriatric EKG
• Blood pressure readins
• If on chronic medications (e.g., pain, heart, kidney) discussion on appropriate monitoring tests

Heartworms: It's as bad as it sounds.

But easy to avoid.

Heartworm is a deadly, but easily preventable diseas, that too many pet owners don't take seriously. Heartworms, as the name implies, live in a dog or cat's heart and are transmitted by mosquitoes. The adult heartworms produce offspring, called microfilariae, which circulate in the infected animal's blood. When a mosquito bites an infected animal, it sucks out blood containing the microfilariae that become larvae. When the mosquito bites another animal the infected larvae are then transmitted.

Most pet owners wouldn’t knowingly put their pet at risk of becoming infected with a potentially deadly disease. Yet according to the American Heartworm Society (AHS), millions of pet owners fail to protect their pets by not using a heartworm preventive year-round especially in the southern states. 

Too many pet owners also have a false sense of security because their pets do not go outside. All pets (as young as 8 weeks ) need protection — nearly 55 percent of all reported feline heartworm cases are diagnosed in indoor cats!  The most common signs in the cat include difficult breathing, coughing and vomiting.  These signs can be associated with a wide range of other diseases. Dogs may become listless, tire easily, develop a cough, become anemic and in severe cases develop complications in the liver, kidneys, lungs and other major organs.

                               Dog require a yearly heartworm test and physical exam.

It is important to remember that heartworm preventives are drugs, which by federal law require a prescription. A doctor-patient relationship must be established before a prescription can be written.  Dogs are required to have a yearly physical and heartworm test, cats are not.  Pet owners must also be aware of purchasing heartworm preventatives from on-line pharmacies.  Though you will save few dollars, you will lose the manufacture’s warranty on the product, which will pay for your Veterinary bill if your pet were to become positive.

                                                    Heartworm prevention is easy! 

Tri-Heart Plus is now our product of choice in the battle against heartworms in dogs.

It is a safe and delicious treat that is easier on your wallet.

For more information on the dangers of heartworms visit The American Heartworm Society.

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Potential Animal Zoonotic Diseases

 

Zoonotic refers to diseases that can be passed from animals (domesticated or wild) to humans.  These infectious diseases, caused by bacteria, viruses or disease causing organisms (fleas, ticks, parasites) can live in animals as well as HUMANS.  Zoonotic parasites are transmitted primarily from a contaminated environment, not from normal contact with your pet. Learn to protect your family and pets by following some simple precautions.

What you can do:

• Wash your hands after touching pets, and before eating. Good hygiene is crucial especially

for children, the elderly, and those with weakened immune systems.

• Dispose of pet feces properly and promptly.
• Keep cats indoors to prevent them from hunting wild animals or fights.
• Clean litter boxes daily and always use gloves.
• Disinfect litter boxes weekly with boiling water.
• Trim your pet’s claws to reduce scratching.
• Bathe and brush your pet frequently.
• Keep your pet flea & tick free with Frontline, Revolution or Comfortis
• Keep your pet free of intestinal parasites (Tri-Heart for dogs/Revolution for cats)
• Ensure your pet’s vaccinations are up to date.
• Spay or neuter your pet to cut down on roaming or aggressive behavior.

 

What not to do:

• Do not take in sick, wild, animals such as raccoons, rabbits or birds.
• Do not let your pet eat raw meat, drink from the toilet bowl.
• Do not handle your pet’s feces or urine with your bare hands

 

 

 

 For additional information about how to keep you family safe from parasites

 

visit: Companion Animal Parasite Council