Wellness Exams | Vaccination Schedule :: Veterinary news + tips | Animal General

Previous Issues

[newsletters are in pdf format]

November 2008 newsletter[Download as pdf»]

Help Pets Stay Healthy Longer

The Importance of Wellness Exams

The importance of annual wellness exams for your pet cannot be overstated. To avoid illness and to remain in vibrant good health, every pet, regardless of age, should have at least one wellness exam per year. This applies to young pets and to those who live indoors. Pets over the age of seven have reached senior status and generally require semi-annual wellness exams. Your veterinarian is pleased to suggest an appropriate physical examination schedule dependant upon your pet's age and health that will help keep him/her in tip-top shape.

There are two basic reasons why such exams are considered an integral part of your pet's health care plan. First, animals are unable to vocalize feelings of illness Often they hide their distress from owners until a disease is fairly well advanced. Second, the aging process in animals is five to seven times faster than it is in humans and diseases develop more quickly and affect animals younger than we realize. Annual examinations allow your veterinarian to evaluate your pet's general health and to identify any health problems before they become serious illnesses. Just as in human medicine, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Simply put: early detection equals a higher cure rate for your pet and more years together.

Looking to Adopt?

Are you looking to expand your family with the inclusion of another animal? Do you pine for some extra snuggle time with a furry friend? Check out our adoption page»

Lionel + Carter, kittens

Read more suggestions, the sequel to our "dog blog" story, Wild Bird Fund updates, and more in our November Newsletter

Vaccination Wellness Schedule

New York State Law Health Code 11.66 requires all dogs and cats three months of age or older to receive a primary vaccination against rabies, and to receive re-vaccinations or booster vaccinations. NYS fine is $200 for a dog or cat unvaccinated or not up-to-date against rabies.

CATS

Rabies vaccination - Required annually by New York State law.
FVRCP (commonly known as Feline Distemper) vaccination - Given every three years. The FVRCP vaccine administered by Animal General protects against Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, and Panleukopenia. These viruses are extremely contagious and life-threatening.
Fecal examination - Checks for parasites. Recommended annually. Yearly fecal testing is important for diagnosing intestinal parasites that can be dangerous to the health of both you and your cat.
FeLV (Feline Leukemia) vaccination - Available upon request if the cat's lifestyle puts it at risk.

DOGS

Rabies vaccination - Required every three years by New York State law.
Canine Distemper vaccination - Administered every 3 years. The "distemper" vaccine administered by Animal General protects against Canine Distemper, Adenovirus – Type 2, Parainfluenza, and Parvovirus.
Bordetella (known as Kennel Cough) vaccination - Recommended annually.
Leptospirosis - Given annually. Leptospirosis is a zoonotic bacterial infection that affects humans and dogs.
Fecal examination - Annually. Yearly fecal testing is important for diagnosing intestinal parasites that can be dangerous to the health of both you and your dog.
Heartworm blood test - Performed every two years. Heartworms are a parasite spread through a mosquito-carrier. It only takes one mosquito bite for your dog to become infected. With a monthly oral preventative, such as Interceptor, you can be sure your dog remains heartworm free. Interceptor also protects your dog against most intestinal parasites. We recommend year-round prevention.
Lyme Disease vaccination - Animal General does not recommend the Lyme vaccine. Use of a Preventic® collar, if your dog spends time in wooded areas or areas in or around a beach, is recommended in conjuction with Frontline®

Kitty Corner

Revered Felines: Cats were the objects of mysticism and worship in Egypt because they controlled the rodent population. Egyptians also trained cats to hunt and fetch wild birds. Cats were mummified when they died and buried either with their owners or in special cat cemeteries all over Egypt. They were also buried with embalmed mice for an occasional snack, as ancient Egyptians believed in preparing all beings for anything they might need or want in the afterlife.)