Comprehensive Wellness & Preventative Care

In Temple, TX

The key to giving your pet a long, healthy life starts with regular wellness exams. At Barks + Bliss, we treat your pet like family, focusing on prevention and early detection to keep them feeling their best. Through gentle, thorough checkups and personalized preventative care, we can often catch health concerns before symptoms appear, helping your pet stay active and happy. We’re here to guide and support you with the knowledge you need to make confident, informed choices. Together, we’ll help your beloved companion enjoy many healthy, joy-filled years by your side.

Looking to keep your pet happy and healthy for years to come? Book their next wellness check—we’re here to support you every step of the way.

Caring for Cats and Dogs in All Life Stages

At Barks + Bliss, we provide personalized wellness care for dogs and cats at every stage of life. From playful puppies and curious kittens to wise and gentle seniors, your pet’s care is tailored to their unique needs, because they deserve nothing less.

Our goal is to start puppies and kittens with a solid foundation of preventative care and nutrition. We will test for intestinal parasites and treat accordingly. We will recommend prevention against heartworms, intestinal parasites, and fleas and ticks. Follow-up visits will be needed to complete their puppy and kitten vaccines, during which time their development will be monitored.

We follow vaccine recommendations from the American Animal Hospital Association and the Feline Veterinary Medical Association. This usually means 4 to 5 visits in their first year of life to ensure they are adequately protected from infectious diseases.

Most pets benefit from being surgically sterilized (“spayed” for females or “neutered” for males) at an appropriate age.  For cats, sterilization at 5 months of age is recommended.  For small breed dogs, 6 months of age is generally recommended. For large breed dogs, 9 months to 15 months is generally recommended and even longer for a giant breed dog. Your veterinarian will make recommendations depending on your pet’s risk and lifestyle.

Learn more about spay & neuter surgery.

Most pets enter their adulthood when they turn one. By this time their activity levels and nutritional needs will have changed. Our doctors will continue to see your pet every six to twelve months for wellness checks, routine vaccinations, preventative care medications, and recommended laboratory testing as appropriate for their age and lifestyle. We will monitor any changes or health care needs of your pet and partner with you to provide the best care.

Just like in the case of humans, more health care issues arise as pets age. We will want to see your senior pet (7 years and older) one to two times a year for exams. We may recommend diagnostics including lab work and/or imaging. Identifying and treating disease early, before it is in an advanced state, is always best for your pet to ensure the healthiest life possible.

Common senior pet conditions include:

  • Skin diseases
  • Eye changes (cataracts, tumors, glaucoma)
  • Allergies
  • Kidney disease
  • Dental and periodontal disease
  • Thyroid and adrenal issues
  • Arthritis
  • Heart Disease
  • Lung Disease
  • Cancer