We’ve all heard the saying “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. In this post I’ll explain why scheduling regular exams is especially important for your pets – especially since they can’t tell you when they don’t feel well or something hurts.
Here are the top FIVE reasons why regular physical exams can actually save you $$ and are good for your furry family:
# 1. Annual physical examinations help us catch problems early, when treatment is less expensive, and we often have a better prognosis. For pets over 7 years old, regular exams are more important than ever – six months in a senior pet’s life is the equivalent of 3 – 4 years in our life.
Annual wellness exams are when we review your pet’s entire health picture.
# 2. Parasite screening is an important part of wellness exams. Did you know that some parasites dogs and cats carry are “zoonotic” – meaning they can be transmitted to you and your children? We recommend year round preventatives for intestinal parasites, heartworms, fleas and ticks – not only to keep your pets healthy, but also to keep your family safe. Parasite testing is part of your pet’s annual examination.
# 3. Dogs and cats need dentists too. Dental disease can wreak havoc on the health of people and pets. Unlike human doctors, veterinarians play the role of dentist in your pet’s life. Mouth infections, cracked or fractured teeth are one of the most common findings we make during the physical exam.
We were recently completing a six-month geriatric progress exam on one of our favorite pug patients Winston. He’d been rubbing his head on the sofa and his dad assumed his ears were bothering him. What Winston really had was a painful tooth abscess. After some minor dental work and a course of antibiotics, he’s good as new.
# 4. Staying trim is as important for pets as it is for us. We’re not just your pet’s doctor and dentist; we’re also the nutritionist! Over 50% of the pets we examine each year are obese. Excess weight creates the same problem in pets as it does in people. Diabetes, common in overweight pets, is extremely expensive to manage, and it shortens life span- sometimes dramatically.
At Noah’s Ark we track your pet’s weight through the years, and even create weight loss plans if your pooch or kitty packs on a few extra pounds. Whether you want to purchase food, or make your own raw or cooked diet – we’ve got a solution for you.
# 5. Don’t take a shot in the dark. During your pet’s annual wellness examination we review your pet’s age, lifestyle, history and make recommendations for which vaccines, if any, your pet needs. While we don’t have room for a long discussion about immunology here, what you need to know is this: Your pet does not need every vaccine, every year. The wellness appointment is where we make sure your pet is protected from deadly diseases, but not over-vaccinated – which can create it’s own set of problems.
Why Use Noah’s Ark?
We’re not your average vet office. Here are just some of the things that make us better:
#1. EXPERIENCE: Dr. Todd has over 30 years of experience. All of our doctors complete over 40 hours per year of continuing education to stay informed of all the latest developments in the field.
#2. HOLISTIC APPROACH: Our practice philosophy is to find the root of the problem a pet is having. This is in sharp contrast to conventional practices that tend to focus on symptoms. Our goal is to get your pet vitally healthy and happy from within. We don’t use a cookie cutter approach to this process, we treat each case individually.
#3. AAHA ACCREDITED: The American Animal Hospital Association is the body that inspects and accredits animal hospitals in the United States and Canada. To be accredited, Noah’s Ark was evaluated on over 900 standards covering patient care, client service and medical protocols. Only 15% of hospitals achieve this distinction. Noah’s Ark is dedicated to providing the very highest level of service to patients and clients– we’re the only hospital in our area to achieve this distinction.
#4. PREVENTION SERVICES: Our doctors do thorough, hands on, nose to tail physical examination of your pet when they see us for semi-annual or annual exams. You’ll also leave with a comprehensive PET HEALTH REPORT CARD that details the doctor’s findings and recommendations. Two weeks after your pet’s visit, you’ll also receive a PET HEALTH ID CARD with your pet’s picture and a summary of their medical record – very convenient for travel or boarding.
#5. HAVE IT YOUR WAY: We do our very best to accommodate your wishes. Need to get in same day? We do our best to make a same day appointment- even if it means extending our hours that day. Have a favorite doctor? You choose who you want to see.
