Pet Wellness Care in Terre Haute, IN

New puppies and kittens are always exciting to welcome into our homes, but it’s also important to make sure they’re healthy at the start of your life together. We recommend that all new puppies and kittens be brought in as soon as possible for their first wellness exam. The wellness exam helps us determine whether your pet is harboring an underlying health problem, and if we find a problem, we can take the necessary steps to treat it.

We also use the wellness exam as an opportunity to talk with you about your pet’s needs in the following areas:

• Nutrition
• Exercise
• Parasite prevention
• Vaccines
• Socialization
• Training and behavior
• Other care recommendations

Once your dog or cat enters their first year as an adult, their health needs will change. Your veterinarian will place greater emphasis on health maintenance and providing routine diagnostic testing to check your pet for hidden diseases and other conditions.

It is also critical to continue your pet’s regimen of disease protection with parasite preventatives and vaccines. Yearly nose-to-tail exams, vaccinations, and comprehensive blood and fecal tests are all core aspects of wellness care.

While it is generally accepted that most pets become seniors at about 7 years of age, the aging process affects all pets differently. What’s more, certain large dog breeds often reach their senior stage sooner. Regardless, we recommend more specialized attention for senior dogs and cats, including more frequent wellness exams, because seniors are more prone to debilitating health conditions.

At Brown Veterinary Hospital, we advise seeing your senior pet for a wellness exam at least once a year, or possibly every 6 months, depending on their condition. Many pets do not show obvious signs of pain or illness, so we recommend ongoing screens for conditions including:

• Arthritis
• Diabetes
• Cancer
• Heart disease
• Kidney disease
• Liver disease

Staying on top of your senior pet’s checkups makes it easier for us to help you ensure a good quality of life for your pet. Together, we can reduce or prevent debilitating symptoms such as pain, stiffness, cognitive dysfunction, and weakness. We want your pet to enjoy their golden years with you as much as possible!