Services

Wellness Services

Wellness Care

Prevention is the key to your pet's long term health as well as minimizing the cost of care. Our doctors strongly recommend routine wellness exams, vaccinations, regular lab work, deworming and fecal checks, as well as medications to prevent heartworm, fleas and ticks. Our wellness program begins with twice a year physical examinations.

Wellness care is offered at a reasonable cost. Most of the tests we recommend can be done during your dog or cat's regular exam. These examinations are similar to the yearly physical you receive from your doctor. It is a chance to assess your pet's overall health, discuss any changes we see, update you on advancements in veterinary care, and for you to discuss any concerns or questions you may have.

The yearly wellness care exam we recommend includes:

Examine the heart and lungs
Check the teeth and oral cavity
Assess vision, eyes, and ears
Palpate the lymph nodes, abdomen and examine the skin
Palpate the joints and muscles

Parasite Control

Deworming and Fecal Check: Though our area does not suffer from an epidemic-like level of dangerous parasites, they are always present in the environment. Importantly, if brought into your home, these parasites can be passed from your pet to you and your family. For example, we normally associate parasites, such as roundworms, tapeworms, and hookworms with cats and dogs, but people can also be infected with the same parasites. Regular fecal checks and deworming are the best way to prevent parasitic disease and the transmission of intestinal parasites from pets to people. It also prevents the shedding of parasite eggs, which contaminate yards or any place a pet defecates.

We offer a variety of preventives and would be happy to help you determine which is best for your companion. It is also possible for dogs to test positive for heartworm. We recommend that all dogs have an annual blood test for heartworm.

» Learn more: Zoonotic threats

Routine Blood Work

A complete physical should include a full blood workup. Not only can a full chemistry panel and complete blood count identify the presence of underlying disease processes, but these tests help create a baseline should your pet become ill between routine examinations. Additionally, blood work is necessary if your veterinarian recommends a dental cleaning, removal of a skin mass, or any other procedure that requires anesthesia.

We also recommend complete blood testing annually for all pets over the age of seven.

» Learn more: Vaccinations, leptospirosis info, heartworm disease, parasite control

Birds, reptiles, and small mammals

We understand how important your exotic pet is to you, and that's why we have taken a strong interest in the treatment of these animals. The diagnostic and treatment options available for our dog and cat patients we also provide for our exotic patients. The doctors at Highland Animal Hospital have a special interest in treating birds, ferrets, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, mice, rats hedgehogs and reptiles.

» Learn more: Small mammals, reptile basics, reptile species, feeding reptiles, reptile enclosures
iguana care, feeding, and socialization