At the Concord Veterinary Clinic, we believe that effective health care for pets should be focused on protecting their health and overall well-being at every stage of their life, and not just treating a problem when it occurs. That’s why we stress a veterinary practice called pet wellness care. This is a holistic approach that involves nurturing the whole body of your pet with the goal of preventing disease and disorders before they occur. It includes wellness exams for dogs and cats, thorough diagnostic testing to detect disease and hidden injuries, disease prevention measures, and an emphasis on a healthy diet and lifestyle to keep your pet vigorous and active throughout their lives. We partner with you to create a customized program of preventative care and wellness based on your pet’s age, breed, living environment, and physical condition.
Wellness Exams for Dogs and Cats in Concord
The Pet Wellness Care Method
An effective veterinary wellness program includes several areas of veterinary care, working together to both promote lifelong good health at every age and to detect the signs and symptoms of underlying disease, injury, and congenital defects so that treatment can be provided before serious injury occurs.
- Pet Wellness Exams – Wellness exams for dogs and cats are the foundation of preventive health care. Your pet should have both physical and dental examinations at least once a year throughout their lives to monitor their overall health and physical condition. Regular checkups allow your vet to discover the early signs of disease and physical disorders so that treatment can be prescribed before the condition progresses.
- Vaccinations – Cats and dogs are susceptible to many types of serious diseases that can cause pain, misery, and death. Some can be transmitted to other animals and even humans. Making sure your pet is fully vaccinated against the most common diseases is an important part of prevention.
- Diagnostic Testing – Along with wellness exams for dogs and cats, diagnostic analysis of blood, urine, stool, saliva, and other types of samples is a vital part of detecting problems before they become serious. We have a modern laboratory onsite that provides very accurate results, often within minutes. We can also provide heartworm tests, tick disease panels, and testing for early kidney disease in both dogs and cats.
- Parasite Control – External and internal parasites such as tapeworms, roundworms, and hookworms as well as fleas and ticks are common in pets. They can carry diseases such as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Lyme Disease, Tularemia, and Plague. They can make your pet miserable and, left untreated, can be very harmful to their health. Fortunately, once detected, they are easy to control.
- Spay And Neuter – Having your vet spay or neuter your pet provides them with many health benefits. They include reducing or eliminating the risk of cancer and several other reproductive organ diseases. It will also help to alleviate undesirable behaviors such as aggression, fighting, and urinating to mark their territory.
- Nutritional Assessment – Just like their human owners, pets often get sick and unwell because they are not getting the nutrients their bodies need at different stages of their lives. Their lifestyle, age, breed, and living environment also have an impact on their nutritional requirements. With dog and cat wellness exams and diagnostic testing, we can work up a nutritional profile and recommendations specifically for your pet.
- Weight Management – Keeping your pet at a healthy weight is also very important for overall health and quality of life. Your veterinarian in Concord will use the information gathered from wellness exams and diagnostic testing to develop a balanced diet for your pet that will help to control their weight and provide them with the nutrition they need.
- Exercise – Lack of regular exercise is a leading cause of physical ailments in pets as well as people. It’s especially important for cats and dogs that spend most or all of their time inside to follow a regular exercise plan. Your vet will help you plan a routine that will work for your particular situation, including ways to exercise your pet indoors.
Having regular wellness exams for dogs and cats and other types of preventive care performed is important at every stage of a pet’s life. We provide age-appropriate care for puppies and kittens as well as cats and dogs in their middle and senior years.
Contact Concord Veterinary Clinic in Concord, CA, for more information or to schedule an appointment.
