Wellness Care

Recommended care includes:

• Nutritional counseling (many illnesses stem from improper diets)
• Weight monitoring and fecal testing for parasites
• Nail, beak, and wing trims as needed
• Screening for infectious diseases like psittacosis and polyomavirus
• Most birds don’t require vaccines, but certain parrots may benefit from polyomavirus vaccination in high-risk environments like aviaries or shows.

Regular checkups also give us an opportunity to review your bird’s diet, environment, and behavior—three key factors in supporting their long-term health.

Vaccines are tailored to your cat’s age, lifestyle, and risk exposure—especially if they go outdoors or live in multi-pet homes. Here’s a general guideline for vaccine recommendations:

We’ll work with you to determine the right vaccines for your cat based on their environment, lifestyle, and medical history.

Welcoming a new kitten? The first few months are full of learning, growing, and cuddles—but also important medical care. Our kitten wellness care helps lay the groundwork for lifelong health by combining expert veterinary support with education and early protection.

During your kitten’s visits, we’ll cover:

• Nutrition and feeding guidance.
• Litter box training and behavioral advice.
• Socialization and stress-reducing tips.
• Parasite testing and deworming.
• Custom vaccine schedule based on lifestyle and risk.

Kittens are vulnerable to parasites and contagious diseases, many of which are preventable through timely vaccination. Some parasites can also be transmitted to people (zoonotic), so early treatment helps protect your whole household.

We recommend scheduling your kitten’s first exam as soon as possible so we can begin vaccinations and care right away.

Even if your adult cat seems healthy, annual wellness exams are vital. Cats are naturally stoic and can hide signs of illness until a condition is advanced. With routine checkups, we can catch issues early and keep your cat’s care up to date.

During an adult cat wellness visit, we’ll:

• Perform a full physical exam from nose to tail
• Track changes in weight, dental health, skin, and behavior
• Administer core and lifestyle-appropriate vaccines
• Test for parasites, heartworm (if applicable), and other concerns
• Discuss diet, exercise, and enrichment tailored to your cat’s needs

We may also recommend baseline bloodwork and dental care, depending on your cat’s health and age. Our goal is to keep your cat feeling their best and prevent issues before they start.

Cats are considered seniors around 8 years of age, though some may experience age-related changes sooner. Our senior wellness services provide extra care, more frequent checkups, and deeper insight into how your cat is aging—so we can act quickly if something’s not right.

With senior cats, we focus on:

• Detecting early signs of chronic illness (like kidney disease, hyperthyroidism, or arthritis).
• Monitoring for cognitive changes or mobility decline.
• Managing pain, nutrition, and weight more closely.
• Conducting routine lab work (blood, urine, fecal testing) every 6–12 months.
• Supporting comfort and quality of life through every season.

We’ll start with a baseline exam and diagnostics so we can track any changes over time. And if you’ve noticed any shifts in behavior, appetite, or mobility, let us know—early intervention makes a big difference.

Vaccinations are a key part of preventive care. Based on your dog’s age, lifestyle, and risk factors, we’ll create a vaccine schedule that keeps them safe and protected.

Not sure which vaccines your dog needs? We’ll discuss your dog’s environment, travel, social exposure, and overall health to make recommendations tailored to their lifestyle.

The first few months of your puppy’s life are full of growth, learning, and exploration. Our puppy wellness program is designed to support this critical development phase and help your puppy build a healthy foundation for life.

During your puppy’s wellness visits, we’ll guide you through:

• Nutrition, training, and behavior tips.
• Socialization and enrichment.
• Parasite prevention and deworming.
• A customized vaccination schedule.
• General health screenings.

Puppies are especially vulnerable to parasites and diseases, so timely vaccinations and parasite control are essential—not only for your pup’s safety but for your family’s health too. Many intestinal parasites are zoonotic, meaning they can be passed from pets to people.

We recommend bringing your puppy in for their first exam as soon as possible. The earlier we begin care, the better we can protect your pup’s health.

As your puppy grows into adulthood, routine veterinary care becomes just as important. Dogs are experts at hiding signs of illness, which means annual exams help us spot subtle changes early—before they develop into something more serious.

During your adult dog’s annual wellness visit, we’ll:

• Perform a full nose-to-tail physical exam.
• Evaluate weight, mobility, skin, coat, and dental health.
• Update vaccines and parasite prevention.
• Run diagnostic screenings as needed (bloodwork, fecal, urine).
• Offer lifestyle guidance on diet, activity, and behavior.

We’ll also monitor for early signs of chronic conditions like arthritis, allergies, diabetes, or heart disease—conditions that are more manageable with early intervention.

As dogs age, their needs evolve. Our senior wellness care helps you navigate your dog’s golden years with confidence and compassion. Smaller dogs are generally considered seniors around 7 years old; larger breeds may reach senior status sooner.

Senior dogs benefit from more frequent exams (every 6 months) so we can:

• Detect age-related changes early.
• Manage chronic conditions like joint pain or kidney disease.
• Monitor for signs of cognitive decline.
• Customize nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle recommendations.
• Provide supportive therapies to improve comfort and quality of life.

We’ll also conduct baseline diagnostic testing to track changes over time and tailor care to your dog’s unique needs.

Exotic pets often hide signs of illness until they become seriously ill, making regular veterinary exams especially important. Preventive care allows us to catch subtle changes early, before they develop into more serious problems. It also gives us the opportunity to discuss husbandry, diet, and overall care to support your pet’s long-term health.

Because the needs of exotic pets can vary significantly, we offer personalized care that may include physical exams, parasite screening, diagnostics, dental procedures, and consultations related to daily care and environment.

Every pet deserves expert veterinary attention—no matter their size, shape, or species.

Please contact us in advance to see if we can accommodate your exotic pet and their specific care needs.

We recommend regular veterinary wellness exams at least once per year, with more frequent visits for animals in breeding programs, herd outbreaks, or under intensive management. These visits provide an opportunity to:

• Assess body condition and growth.
• Monitor nutrition and feeding strategies.
• Perform diagnostic testing (e.g., fecal exams, bloodwork).
• Check for lameness, parasitism, or early signs of disease.
• Inspect the skin, eyes, and oral cavity.
• Administer age- and risk-appropriate vaccinations.
  

Newborns, Kids, Calves, and Lambs: Colostrum intake is vital within the first 24 hours. Early-life vaccines may begin around 4–8 weeks, depending on maternal antibody levels. Monitor for congenital issues, diarrhea, and navel infections.

Growing Young Stock: Monitor weight gain, deworm regularly, and administer core vaccinations. Castration and disbudding may occur in this stage.

Breeding Adults: Focus on reproductive health, parasite control, nutritional support, and vaccinations that protect against diseases affecting fertility, pregnancy, and offspring viability.

Seniors: Older animals require monitoring for chronic conditions like arthritis, weight loss, dental wear, or metabolic issues. Disease resistance may decline, so vaccination and nutrition plans may need adjustments.

Vaccination recommendations vary slightly between cattle, sheep, and goats, but these core vaccines are commonly recommended across species to prevent serious, often fatal diseases.

• Clostridial Diseases (7- or 8-Way): This vaccine protects against multiple deadly bacteria that cause conditions like blackleg, tetanus, and enterotoxemia (“overeating disease”).
• Tetanus: The tetanus vaccine prevents muscle stiffness, paralysis, and death caused by bacteria that often enter through wounds or surgical sites.
• Rabies: Rabies vaccination is essential to prevent a fatal viral disease that can affect livestock and be transmitted to humans.
• Leptospirosis: This vaccine helps protect breeding animals from bacterial infections that cause abortions, weak newborns, and kidney or liver damage.
• Respiratory Complex (Cattle): Cattle are vaccinated against IBR, BVD, PI3, and BRSV to prevent respiratory disease, reproductive losses, and reduced performance.

Additional non-core vaccines are based on your farm animal’s location, lifestyle, and level of exposure. These vaccines could include:

• Pinkeye (Cattle): This vaccine helps prevent eye infections that can lead to ulcers, blindness, and decreased productivity—especially during fly season.
• Campylobacter (Vibrio): This vaccine reduces the risk of abortions and infertility in breeding cattle, sheep, and goats.
• Chlamydia: Vaccinating against chlamydia helps prevent enzootic abortion outbreaks in sheep and goats.
• Brucellosis: In regions where it’s required, this vaccine protects heifers from a bacterial disease that causes abortion and infertility.
• Johne’s Disease: The Johne’s vaccine helps control a chronic wasting disease in herds where infection is already present.
• Footrot (Sheep/Goats): Footrot vaccination reduces the occurrence of painful, contagious hoof infections common in wet or crowded conditions.
• Orf (Soremouth): The orf vaccine protects sheep and goats from a viral skin disease that causes painful scabs around the mouth and udder.
• Pinkeye (Cattle): This vaccine helps prevent eye infections that can lead to ulcers, blindness, and decreased productivity—especially during fly season.

Please contact us in advance to see if we can accommodate your farm animal and their specific care needs.

Foals & Weanlings: Early care focuses on establishing a healthy start with proper nutrition, deworming, and the introduction of vaccines starting at 4–6 months of age, depending on maternal immunity.

Yearlings & Young Adults: As horses begin training or competition, we monitor joint health, development, and provide booster vaccines, deworming, and dental care.

Mature Adults: Regular wellness visits, nutritional management, dental floating, and vaccinations tailored to lifestyle (travel, show, breeding) are essential during this stage.

Seniors (15+ years): Older horses benefit from more frequent monitoring for age-related conditions such as arthritis, Cushing’s disease (PPID), metabolic issues, and dental wear. Vaccine response may vary with age, and care is adjusted accordingly.

Vaccines that are recommended for all horses due to high risk of exposure, severity of disease, and potential public health concern:

• Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE): Protects against a mosquito-borne virus that causes deadly brain swelling; common in the Southeast.
• Western Equine Encephalitis (WEE): Similar to EEE, this mosquito-borne virus causes neurological disease and is often fatal.
• West Nile Virus: Prevents a serious viral infection spread by mosquitoes that causes muscle tremors, weakness, and paralysis.
• Tetanus: Guards against a toxin-producing bacteria found in soil that causes painful muscle stiffness and often death.
• Rabies: Protects against a 100% fatal virus that can be spread to humans and other animals through bites.
• Equine Influenza (Flu): Reduces severity of a highly contagious respiratory virus that causes coughing, fever, and nasal discharge.
• Equine Herpesvirus (EHV-1 & EHV-4): Helps prevent respiratory illness, abortion in mares, and potentially fatal neurologic disease.

These diseases pose serious risks and are often fatal without vaccination. Core vaccines are typically administered annually, with some—such as EEE, WEE, and West Nile—boosted every six months due to higher regional mosquito activity. 

Additional non-core vaccines are based on your horse’s location, lifestyle, and level of exposure. These vaccines could include:

• Strangles: Reduces the risk of a highly contagious bacterial infection that causes abscessed lymph nodes and respiratory symptoms.
• Potomac Horse Fever: Protects against a seasonal, waterborne disease that can lead to diarrhea, fever, and laminitis.
• Botulism: Prevents a deadly toxin-based disease that causes muscle paralysis; especially important for foals and horses fed haylage.
• Leptospirosis: Guards against a bacterial infection that can cause eye disease, kidney failure, and abortion in pregnant mares.
• Rotavirus: Protects foals from severe diarrhea caused by this highly contagious virus; administered to pregnant mares.
• Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA): Reduces the risk of respiratory illness and reproductive issues; important for breeding animals.
• Anthrax: Prevents a rare but rapidly fatal bacterial disease found in certain soil-rich or flood-prone areas.

General care for small mammals, pocket pets, and rabbits includes:

• Annual wellness exams with dental and gastrointestinal evaluations
• Weight monitoring and nail trimming
• Parasite screening and prevention (especially for outdoor rabbits and group-housed pets)
• Diet and habitat consultations tailored to each species’ natural behaviors
• Spaying/neutering to prevent reproductive disease and manage behavioral issues (particularly important for rabbits and ferrets)

Rabbits are prone to dental problems and digestive issues, both of which can develop quickly and become serious without early detection. Regular veterinary exams help monitor for these conditions and offer guidance on diet, housing, and stress reduction. In some cases, we may recommend vaccination against Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus (RHDV), depending on regional outbreaks.

Ferrets have unique needs and benefit from routine wellness care to monitor for common conditions such as adrenal disease and insulinomas. They also require vaccinations—most notably for rabies and canine distemper—along with annual exams and age-appropriate diagnostics.

While most small mammals and pocket pets don’t need vaccines, ongoing veterinary care supports their quality of life by helping catch health concerns early and fine-tuning their care environment.

Please contact us in advance to see if we can accommodate your pocket pet and their specific care needs.

General care for reptiles includes:

• Annual physical exams and fecal testing
• Evaluation of enclosure conditions: temperature, humidity, UVB lighting
• Calcium and vitamin supplementation to prevent metabolic bone disease (MBD)
• Monitoring for signs of respiratory infections or skin issues
• Vaccines: Reptiles do not receive vaccines, but they benefit significantly from regular wellness checks and parasite screening.

Exams also provide a chance to fine-tune your pet’s husbandry, helping you maintain the ideal conditions that promote their health and longevity.

Please contact us in advance to see if we can accommodate your pocket pet and their specific care needs.