Wellness and Prevention

We’ve Got Preventive Care Covered

Routine exams, vaccines, nutrition, and more to keep your dog or cat healthy, happy, and thriving.

Comprehensive Wellness Care for Every Stage of Life

At Gentle Touch Veterinary Hospital, we believe preventive care is the key to longer, healthier, and happier pet lives. We partner with pet owners to provide individualized, comprehensive wellness services that keep their pets optimally healthy and detect potential problems early.

Wellness visits

Semi-annual wellness visits for adults and monthly wellness visits for young puppies (they are growing and changing fast!)are the cornerstone of your pet’s preventive healthcare plan. Wellness visits are essential because they allow us to establish a health baseline and monitor your pet for changes over time. They also allow for early disease detection, which leads to more effective treatment and better outcomes.

During a wellness visit, our veterinarians conduct a thorough physical and behavioral assessment. You are encouraged to ask questions and raise any concerns you might have, and we’ll discuss recommended products or services to keep your pet in optimal condition.

Physical exams

Our veterinarians perform a comprehensive physical exam each time your pet visits. Wellness exams focus on detecting common health issues that may go unnoticed at home, such as dental disease, a heart murmur, or arthritis. We check your pet from nose to tail, including their eyes, ears, mouth, skin, and coat, as well as their cardiovascular, respiratory, and musculoskeletal systems. Our approach is thorough, gentle and compassionate, ensuring your pet feels comfortable and cared for during the exam.

Vaccinations

Vaccinations are essential for preventing infectious diseases that can cause serious health issues. By vaccinating your pet, you not only protect them but also help control the spread of pet diseases in the community. Our hospital offers a full range of core and non-core vaccines for dogs and cats  and will work with you to develop a customized vaccine protocol.

Our hospital offers the following vaccines for dogs:
  • Rabies
  • Distemper, parvovirus, and adenovirus (DAPP)
  • Leptospirosis
  • Bordetella
  • Lyme disease
  • Canine influenza

Our hospital offers the following vaccines for cats:
  • Rabies
  • Feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and panleukopenia (FVRCP)
  • Feline leukemia virus (FeLV)

Parasite prevention

Parasite prevention protocols protect your pet from the serious health issues caused by fleas, ticks, heartworms, and intestinal worms. Effective prevention also reduces the risk of parasite transmission to other household pets and vulnerable family members, especially children. Our veterinarians assess each pet’s lifestyle to develop a year-round prevention plan.

We offer the following parasite prevention services:

  • Fecal parasite testing and treatment
  • Heartworm testing and treatment
  • Skin and ear mite testing and treatment
  • Deworming medications
  • Heartworm prevention products
  • Flea and tick prevention products

Early disease screening

Routine wellness diagnostics and screening tests help catch health issues early, often before symptoms appear at home. Early detection allows more effective treatment and can add years to your pet’s life. Our hospital offers a range of diagnostic tests, including blood tests, urinalysis, and diagnostic imaging.

Recommended wellness screening tests provide a comprehensive picture of your pet’s health and may vary based on their health history, age, and breed. Our veterinarians may discuss the following tests with you at your pet’s wellness visit:

  • Blood work
  • Urinalysis
  • Parasite screening
  • Canine tick-borne disease screening
  • Feline viral disease screening
  • Blood pressure screening
  • X-rays
  • Ultrasound