Wellness Care

Wellness Exams

You go to the doctor regularly, but does your pet? Regular wellness exams are an integral part of your pet's preventive health care program. During an exam, we perform a thorough physical examination of your pet. We examine your pet's heart and lungs, look at his or her joints, muscles and oral cavity and test your pet's vision and hearing, among other evaluations.

We recommend all pets undergo a complete physical exam at least once a year, though more frequent exams can help better prevent disease and chronic problems. An exam is also an excellent time to ask any questions you may have about your pet's health care or behavior. During an exam, we may offer you advice regarding your pet's diet, vaccination schedule and other topics.

Vaccinations

Vaccinations are a must for your pet! Thanks to advances in veterinary medicine, many diseases once fatal to pets can now be prevented through vaccination. At Abingdon Square Veterinary Clinic, we know your pet is unique - that's why we create individualized vaccine protocols for all of our patients. We base our vaccination protocols on your pet's lifestyle, environment and other risk factors, as well as American Animal Hospital Association guidelines. We work with you to develop a vaccine plan that best suits your pet.

Microchipping

It's a fact: identification keeps your pet safe. Each year, millions of pets go missing. While a sturdy ID tag and collar are a good start, microchipping your pet is a safe, effective form of identification that can help bring your pet home safely. A microchip is about the size and shape of a grain of rice. It carries a unique identification number that corresponds to a national pet database. This database contains your pet's vital information, including your contact information. Veterinary hospitals and animal shelters across the country use special scanners to detect and read microchips; if your pet is lost, his or her microchip is scanned and the information it contains is used to reunite you and your best friend.

Flea, Tick and Heartworm Prevention

Parasites aren't just a pain for your pet - they can affect you and your family as well. That's why prevention is key. Abingdon Square Veterinary Clinic offers a parasite prevention product that is specific for your pet.

Fleas and ticks are tiny parasites that can have a big impact on your pet's health. Flea infestations can lead to more serious skin diseases and even allergic reactions in your pet. Ticks are a leading carrier of Lyme disease and untreated pets run an increased risk of contracting this disease.

Heartworm is a serious, life-threatening disease that affects both dogs and cats. Left untreated, heartworms can lead to damage to the heart, lungs and, in some cases, death. Infected mosquitoes are the primary carriers of heartworms. Symptoms are slow to appear, but include coughing, difficulty breathing, and lack of energy in dogs, and convulsions, diarrhea, fainting, rapid heart rate and lethargy in cats.

Senior Pet Care

Pets age faster than people and your best friend is considered a "senior" around the age of 7. Your pet may seem just as playful and spry as ever, but senior pets have health care needs that are very different from younger pets.

For senior pets, prevention is key. Because symptoms of disease might be disguised as the regular signs of "old age," it's important to keep an eye on your pet's behavior and overall health. Senior pets are at an increased risk for many chronic conditions, including diabetes, arthritis, hypothyroidism and cancer. Without treatment, these diseases may progress rapidly.

Abingdon Square Veterinary Clinic provides your senior pet with a complete wellness care program. This program includes a thorough physical examination, specific laboratory tests and vaccination protocols.