Optimal Veterinary Wellness Programs for Your Pet

We believe good veterinary wellness care must be unique to each pet at their particular life stage. For example, a Golden Retriever puppy has completely different wellness needs than a 12-year-old Pug. Rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach to wellness, we want to identify your pets' unique needs and build a plan specifically for them.

To that end, we take the time to get to know you and your pet. We ask open-ended questions and practice active listening. We give you the time to explain what you have seen at home and any concerns you have about your pet. Then, we perform a full physical exam to assess their overall health. Finally, we share our findings with you and our recommendations to keep your pet as healthy as possible.

In general, we believe preventative medicine is the best medicine. Therefore, we recommend either core vaccines or vaccine titers to prevent infectious disease. We also typically recommend medications to prevent parasites such as fleas, ticks, heartworms, and intestinal parasites. As your pet ages, we believe in screening lab work to identify any problems early so they can be effectively managed. Throughout your pet's life, we believe in the importance of diet and judicious use of supplements. We also believe in behavior counseling, when needed, to curb any negative behaviors your pet is developing throughout life.

Geriatric Care

Older pets have special health needs and may require more attention and care than younger pets. As your pet ages, changes occur in his physical condition that warrants more frequent visits to the veterinarian. If medical problems are recognized and treated when they are first detected, the treatment may be easier for your pet and less costly for you. Twice-a-year wellness examinations, special health services, and veterinary diagnostics are recommended for older dogs and cats to diagnose medical problems in the early stages.

A geriatric exam is more extensive than a simple check-up and includes a complete physical exam, oral and rectal examinations and recording of body weight and body condition. Your veterinarian also examines your senior pet's ears, eyes, and various internal organs. Some laboratory work may be done, including a complete blood count, urinalysis, fecal exam, and perhaps endocrine blood tests and other complementary examinations. Establishing a baseline is an added benefit and can ultimately help your older pet should there be any changes, even small ones, to your pet's health.

Vaccinations

Due to the many recent discoveries and innovations in veterinary medicine, your pet can be protected against most major infectious diseases. Today, many veterinary immunizations and preventative treatments are available that did not exist a decade ago.

Vaccines are useful in preventing canine distemper, parvovirus, bordetella, rabies, influenza and other diseases in your dog and feline leukemia, panleukopenia, rabies in your cat. Our staff at Granite State Animal Hospital can assist you in deciding which preventative measures are necessary for your pet.

Up-to-date vaccinations play a large part in keeping your pet healthy and free from disease. However, not every pet requires the same series or frequency of vaccines. Our veterinarian tailors a vaccine protocol that is specific to your pet based on his or her lifestyle and the recommendations from the American Animal Hospital Association.

Vaccine schedules are balanced to provide needed protection without over-vaccinating your pet. Please contact us at 603-894-6099 or via email for more information about vaccinations.

Parasite Prevention

Fleas and ticks are virtually everywhere. Although they're a bigger problem in certain parts of the country and at specific times during the year, no cat or dog is completely safe from them. Fortunately, many safe and highly effective products are available. Fleas and ticks are more than a nuisance; they carry diseases dangerous to both you and your pet. Fleas can transmit tapeworms, and often you can see segments of the tapeworm in your pet's stool. (Ticks are the main carriers of Lyme disease.)

Fleas are most abundant during the warm weather; however, if left untreated, they can be a nuisance year-round. Ticks tend to thrive in wooded areas or in high grass. It's often difficult to keep your pets away from tick-infested areas, so if they do go exploring, check them when they come inside. In some areas, ticks can carry a variety of serious illnesses, including Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.

Flea and tick problems can be avoided by using parasite prevention products that are available at our hospital. When used properly and according to our directions, these products are very safe and effective.

Allergy / Dermatology

If left untreated, allergy-related conditions can fester and become serious health concerns for your pet. Therefore, it is important to be able to identify the first signs and symptoms of allergies and dermatological conditions.

These include:

• Inflamed ears
• Hotspots
• Scratching
• Rubbing (eyes or mouth)
• Flaking
• Skin lesions
• Hair loss
• Red itchy skin bumps
• Asthma-like wheezing or respiratory issues

These problems can indicate a serious dermatological or allergic reaction to fleas, pollen, dust, and various foods. If you notice any of these symptoms, it is important that you bring your pet in for an evaluation. If left untreated, these problems can become severe medical problems. At Granite State Animal Hospital, we take the time to explain your pet's condition, how to prevent future occurrences and the proper method of treatment.