Preventive medicine are medical procedures and treatments aimed at preventing disease and keeping your pet healthy.  There are several aspects of preventive medicine:

Regular Physical Examinations
Regular physical examinations will allow your veterinarian to assess your pet from the tip of their nose to the tip of their tail.  Physical examinations usually involve inspection of the ears, eyes, nose, oral cavity, skin, coat, lymph nodes, abdominal palpation and auscultation of your pet’s chest to detect any abnormalities in their heart or lungs.  Vital signs including temperature, heart rate and respiration rate are also taken.  By having a regular physical examination performed, your veterinarian may be able to detect disease before any clinical signs develop.  In senior patients (i.e. dogs seven years of age and older or cats eight years of age and older), semi-annual physical examinations are recommended.

Vaccinations
Vaccinations are given to protect your pet from a variety of diseases.  Some of these vaccinations are given annually while others are given every three years.  “Core” vaccinations are given regularly to all pets.  For dogs, these include: Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, Parainfluenza, Leptospirosis and Rabies.  For cats, core vaccines include: Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia and Rabies. 
“Non-core” or optional vaccines are offered to pets that are considered at a higher risk of developing these diseases.  Your pet may be deemed higher risk based on their interaction with other pets, travel to other areas of the country or other countries, outdoor activity or if they are boarded in kennels.  For dogs, non-core vaccinations that are offered include:  Kennel cough (also known as Bordetella), Giardia and Lyme Disease.  Non-core vaccines offered for cats include vaccines against: Feline Leukemia, Chlamydia and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus.  Vaccine titres can also be performed.  If you are not sure if your pet should receive any non-core vaccinations, please discuss it with your veterinarian.

NOTE:   Rabies vaccinations are required by law for all pets (including indoor cats) as it poses a human health risk. 

Parasite Control and Regular Fecal Examinations
Most pets will contract a parasite at some point in their lifetime.  These may include internal parasites such as intestinal worms, giardia and heartworm or external parasites such as fleas and mites.  These parasites can cause illness in your pet but many are zoonotic which means they can be transmitted from your pet to you or other members of your family.  Children, seniors and immunocompromised individuals (including AIDS or cancer patients) are at higher risk.  To keep both your pet and your family free of parasites we recommend regular fecal examinations to aid in the detection of internal parasites.  Annual fecal examinations are recommended but if your pet’s lifestyle places them at a higher risk of contracting these parasites, your veterinarian may recommend more frequent fecal exams.  Puppies and kittens are dewormed at regular intervals until they are six months of age.  Some parasitologists recommend year-round deworming for pets.  To determine if year-round deworming would be appropriate for your pet, please speak to one of our veterinarians.
Heartworm is another internal parasite that can be prevented.  Heartworm is a disease transmitted by mosquitoes that can be prevented using monthly preventive medications during the mosquito season (June to November).  Prior to giving preventive medications, a blood test is performed to ensure your dog is not infected with heartworm.  If you have any questions regarding heartworm, please discuss it with one of our veterinarians.

Nutrition
Proper nutrition is very important in pets and can actually prevent many diseases from occurring.  Special diets are available for: puppies and kittens, adult pets, weight management, oral health and senior pets.  If your pet is diagnosed with a disease or condition that requires a special diet, your veterinarian will recommend switching from a preventive diet to a therapeutic diet.  If you have any concerns about your pet’s nutrition, ensure you discuss them with one of our veterinarians or registered veterinary technicians.

Wellness Testing
Wellness tests are diagnostic tests that screen for underlying internal conditions so diseases can be detected before clinical signs appear.  Detection of problems at an early stage often makes them easier to treat.  These tests may include: 

1. Biochemical profile to check for signs of liver disease, kidney disease and abnormalities in blood glucose and protein (albumin).  More extensive profiles also assess the pancreas, cholesterol, calcium, phosphorus levels and electrolytes.
2. Urinalysis provides information about kidney function and check for signs of urinary tract infection, inflammation, crystals or abnormal cells.  The urine is also tested for glucose and ketones to assess for diabetes.  The urinalysis is most useful when combined with a biochemical profile.
3. T4 and thyroid function tests check for thyroid disease. Hypothyroidism (too little thyroid hormone) is common in dogs and can cause weight gain, lethargy and skin problems.  Alternatively, hyperthyroidism (high thyroid levels) is more common in cats.  Hyperthyroidism can cause weight loss, increased appetite, increased thirst and urination, vomiting and/or diarrhea.
4. A complete blood count (CBC) is used to assess the red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets.  It detects anemia, infection and blood clotting problems.

Oral Heath Care
Periodontal disease is an infection of the tissues that surround the teeth.  This is the most common disease that affects pets.  Tartar and bacteria can lead to a painful mouth, bad breath and bacteria that can be shed into the blood stream and cause damage to your pet’s internal organs. Prevention is the best defense against this disease.  At-home oral care may include tooth brushing with pet toothpaste, a specially designed oral care diet and/or oral cleansing gels or rinses.  In some cases, a dentistry under general anesthesia may be required.  Your veterinarian will assess your pet’s oral health status at their physical examination.