Animal Wellness
The key to a healthy pet is the early detection and prevention of disease.
Prevention is the real goal of wellness exams. When veterinarians see a pet on a regular basis, they can help pets avoid some preventable illnesses and diseases. Regular dental care, vaccinations, parasite control, and a balanced diet are essential for the health of your pet. It is recommended that pets under age seven have a wellness exam annually and over age seven bi-annually. This enables veterinarians the opportunity to detect, treat or, ideally, prevent problems before they become life-threatening.

On average, most dogs and cats reach adulthood by age two. By age four, many pets are entering middle age. And by age seven, most dogs, particularly larger breeds, are entering their senior years.
Because dogs and cats age seven times faster than people, significant health changes can occur in a short amount of time. The risks of cancer, diabetes, obesity, arthritis, heart disease, metabolic problems and other serious conditions all increase with age.

Pet wellness exams also help your veterinarian determine a proper prevention program, including a vaccination schedule tailored specifically for your pet. By using personalized pet health protocols, veterinarians can pinpoint specific preventive health care needs for your pet.

There are four basic wellness tests your veterinarian will use to diagnose the health of your pet:

• Complete Blood Count (CBC)
  This tests for anemia, infection, inflammation and the healthiness of blood cells.
• Chemistry Tests
  These panels survey many of the organ systems of the body to make sure they are working properly.
• Thyroid Function Tests
  These tests are useful in diagnosing increased (hyper) or decreased (hypo) functions of the thyroid gland.
• Urinalysis
  This test assesses the health and function of the urinary system. This is especially important in older animals to help with the early detection of kidney disease.