Pet Wellness Services
Why Wellness Care Is So Important for Your Pet
At Cottage Grove Animal Hospital, our veterinarians recommend annual wellness examinations for your adult pet, because if a health problem or issue can be detected in its early stages, there is a far greater likelihood it can be resolved and treated with less difficulty, less expense, and greater success.
Regular comprehensive examinations also help your veterinarian and you establish a baseline for your pet's health, evaluate any changes based on your pet's medical history and make informed decisions about your special companion's veterinary care.
Your Pet's Wellness at Every Age and Stage
Each stage of your pet's life presents different health issues that require attention and care. Your veterinarian at Cottage Grove Animal Hospital will develop a health care plan for your pet that takes into consideration special needs, lifestyle, breed and home life.
Your pet's annual examination at our animal hospital in Cottage Grove includes:
- Examining your pet's teeth, throat and oral cavity
- Checking your pet's vision and eyes
- Examining ears for infection, ear mites, allergic reaction and other related health issues
- Assessing your pet's heart and cardiac function
- Examining the skin
- Palpating lymph nodes and abdomen
- Examining the respiratory system
- Assessing changes in your pet's health since the last wellness visit
During each examination, we also take the time to listen to your concerns, answer your questions, and keep you up-to-date on all the information you need to be the best caregiver to your pet. Understanding the benefits of healthy habits, preventive medicine, and regular examinations helps you and your pet lead a long, happy life together.
Vaccinations
Vaccinations are the best way you can protect your beloved pet from serious infectious diseases. However, not every pet requires the same series or frequency of vaccines. At Cottage Grove Animal Hospital, we determine a vaccination protocol based on your pet's lifestyle, susceptibility to disease, prevalence of disease in our area, and the most current recommendations from the American Veterinary Medical Association. Our goal is to maintain optimal health and protection while not over-vaccinating your pet. We recommend the following vaccines:
Puppies & Kittens
Core puppy vaccines: Canine Distemper, Hepatitis (Adenovirus Type 2), Parvovirus, Parainfluenza and Rabies
Core kitten vaccines: Feline Rhinotracheitis virus, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia and Rabies
Non-core puppy vaccines: Bordetella, Lyme Disease
Non-core kitten vaccines: Leukemia
Adult Dogs & Cats
Core adult dog vaccines: Canine Distemper, Hepatitis (Adenovirus Type 2), Parvovirus, Parainfluenza and Rabies
Core adult cat vaccines: Feline Rhinotracheitis virus, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia and Rabies
Non-core adult dog vaccines: Bordetella, Lyme disease
Non-core adult cat vaccines: Leukemia
If you would like to schedule an appointment to get your pet up-to-date on vaccinations or learn more about our vaccination protocol, please give us a call at (651) 768-0200.
Puppy and Kitten Care: Starting Off on the Right Paw
The first year of care for your new puppy or kitten is the most important. As a part of your new pet's special care, your veterinarian at Cottage Grove Animal Hospital partners with you to create a custom health plan that includes the vaccinations and examinations required to get the best start in life.
Your puppy and kittens first year of care will include:
- Physical Examinations: Your puppy's or kitten's lifetime of wellness starts with its first comprehensive physical exam. Puppies and kittens should have 3-4 exams between the ages of 8-16 weeks. These visits are important because they provide our veterinarians with an opportunity to assess your pet's overall health, administer vaccines, and discuss common behavioral situations.
- Vaccinations: Due to their developing immune systems, puppies and kittens must receive a series of properly staged vaccines. Because every puppy and kitten is unique, we tailor our vaccination recommendations based on their lifestyle and/or breed and according to the suggested medical guidelines.
- Diagnostic Testing: In addition to fecal tests, kittens should be tested for Feline Leukemia and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus.
- Additional Recommendations: Your veterinarian will also discuss and recommend other services, such as spaying or neutering and microchipping.
We also take plenty of time during these visits to offer general health care, nutrition and training advice and talk with you about any concerns you may have. This is your new kitten or puppy and we're happy to answer all your questions!
Senior Care
Pets that are about seven years of age and older begin to experience a gradual reduction of their physical capabilities. Preventive care examinations at Cottage Grove Animal Hospital that are tailored to your pet's age, lifestyle and risk factors can prevent common diseases or detect them at early, easily treatable stages and provide your pet an extended period of vitality and good health.
Our senior wellness exams may include blood work to detect early signs of disease, nutritional counseling and discussion of arthritic pain prevention. Dental care at this point in life also becomes even more important. We recommend dental exams and cleanings for all pets, but especially for those in their senior years.
The best time to begin your pet's senior care program and recognize the need for a little extra TLC is before age-related conditions begin to occur. With help from your veterinarian at Cottage Grove Animal Hospital, you prolong your pet's good health and increase his or her well-being, even as his or her pace slows a bit.
Flea and Tick Prevention in Cottage Grove
Fleas and ticks are more than a nuisance; they carry diseases dangerous to you and your pet.
In Minnesota, ticks can carry serious illnesses, including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Anaplasmosis and Ehrlichiosis. They are significant threats to your pet, especially during the warmer months of the year. Ticks tend to thrive in wooded areas or in high grass. It is often difficult to keep your pets away from tick infested areas, so if they go exploring check them carefully when they come inside. Remember, prior to feeding, ticks can be as small as a poppy seed!
Like ticks, fleas are most abundant during the warm weather. However, if left untreated, they can be a problem year-round. In fact, flea infestation is one of the most common medical problems veterinarians see. Your pet can be allergic to fleas, and just one bite can result in a severely painful skin infection. Fleas can also transmit serious diseases such as bartonellosis (the bacteria that causes "cat scratch disease" in people), and parasites like tapeworms.
The good news is these problems can be avoided by using one of the safe, effective prescription strength parasite prevention products available at our animal hospital's in-house pharmacy. Please ask a member of our medical team to recommend a product that is right for your pet.
Heartworm Disease and Your Pet
Heartworm disease is a serious, life-threatening disease transmitted by mosquitoes. It affects dogs and, to a lesser extent, cats. In the U.S., Heartworm disease is most common along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts from the Gulf of Mexico to New Jersey and along the Mississippi River and its major tributaries, but it has been reported in dogs in all 50 states.
Clinical symptoms of Heartworm disease develop very slowly. Early symptoms include lack of energy, exercise intolerance, coughing, and difficulty breathing. Because Heartworm disease is increasing in frequency and is a serious and deadly condition, we recommend your dog be tested annually. If you administer monthly Heartworm prevention, we recommend testing every other year.
Fortunately, Heartworm disease prevention is simple and effective. For your convenience, effective preventives for your pet are available at our in-house pharmacy. If you would like to have your pet tested for Heartworm disease, or if you would like additional information on how best to protect your pet from this dangerous parasite, please contact Cottage Grove Animal Hospital today for an appointment.