Preventative Care

When it comes to our pets, we all want to see them enjoy as long and healthy a life as possible. The best way to achieve this goal is through a commitment to wellness and preventative care. Twice a year exams, allow our doctors to gather a complete and accurate snapshot of your pet’s current health, and then use that information to monitor his or her ongoing health over time. In many cases, we are able to identify potential medical concerns and address them early – before they have a chance to develop into a more serious problem. This can vastly improve the length and quality of your pet’s life.

At Merrick Animal Hospital, we follow a comprehensive system of care that is meant to serve our patients through each stage of life they experience. From your puppy or kitten’s first round of vaccinations to ongoing parasite prevention, nutrition and weight management and regular exams as your pet ages, to the specialized care he or she will need during the senior years, our wellness services will provide your companion with everything he or she needs to enjoy a lifetime of good health.

Wellness visits at Merrick Animal Hospital include a complete “nose to tail” physical examination as well as a comprehensive evaluation of all of your pet’s major organ systems. During the exam, we’ll ask you questions about your pet’s behavior, appetite, exercise habits, and regular activities at home. We also welcome any questions or concerns that you may have about your pet. The more we get to know you both, the more customized approach to wellness care we can create, ensuring that your companion receives the best possible care over the course of his or her lifetime.

Vaccinations
Vaccines can help our animal companions live longer, healthier lives because they provide protection against a variety of serious, sometimes life threatening diseases. Yet just because there’s a vaccine available, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s something every pet should receive. Part of the wellness care at Merrick Animal Hospital includes developing a customized vaccination plan for each patient, based on his or her unique needs and risk factors. Once we’ve got our list of recommended vaccines, we’ll then create a personalized schedule and ongoing booster routine to help keep your pet healthy and safe.

Parasite Prevention
Companion animals are at risk of becoming victims of a wide variety of internal and external parasites, from fleas and ticks to heartworms and intestinal worms. Some parasites can also be passed from animals to humans, placing even the human members of your family in danger. Parasite testing is an important way to protect your pet’s health and keep your home safe, and it’s an integral part of the wellness care available for patients of Merrick Animal Hospital. Our knowledgeable staff will provide you with a comprehensive parasite control program, including a schedule for parasite testing, guidance on what signs to look for that may indicate the existence of parasites in your home, guidance on how to control parasites in and around your home, treatment options if your pet has parasites, and recommendations for year round control and prevention of parasites in the future.

Puppy & Kitten Wellness Plans
Congratulations on the newest four-legged addition to your family! Get your new puppy or kitten on the right path toward becoming a happy, healthy adult dog or cat with our comprehensive Puppy and Kitten Wellness Plans. These visits include a full “nose-to-tail” physical examination through which we will look for any signs of illness and make sure that your new pet is in good health. We’ll also discuss your new companion’s recommended vaccine schedule as well as the best plan for parasite testing, treatment, and prevention, spaying or neutering, diet, environmental enrichment, and microchip identification. We will work hard to help you understand your pet’s health considerations, and we encourage you to be involved in decisions regarding your puppy or kitten’s health care. Let’s take these important first steps together!

Senior Wellness Care
Just as our health care needs change as we age, your pet’s health care needs also evolve over time. Nutritional needs, exercise habits, and many aspects of your pet’s daily routine can change as your pet ages, as will his or her subsequent veterinary care needs. At Merrick Animal Hospital, we understand the aging process and can help you help your pet enjoy the golden years happily and comfortably. Routine blood work and other routine diagnostic testing are important for senior pets because these tests allow us to evaluate how your pet’s health is either responding to current management strategies or changing with age.

Your senior pet’s wellness examination also provides an opportunity for you to bring up any questions or concerns that you may have about your pet. We encourage you to be involved in important decisions regarding your pet’s health care. Even if your senior pet is already being treated for a medical condition, treatment recommendations may change as a condition progresses. Sometimes medication dosages need to be adjusted, or medication may need to be changed. That’s why keeping up with wellness visits is so important.

Older pets make wonderful companions, and thanks to advances in veterinary medicine, pets are living longer than ever! You are an important ally in your senior pet’s health care. We are here to help ensure that your pet enjoys these later years in life as safely and happily as possible.

Office Hours

Monday:

8:00 am-6:00 pm

Tuesday:

8:00 am-6:00 pm

Wednesday:

8:00 am-6:00 pm

Thursday:

8:00 am-6:00 pm

Friday:

8:00 am-6:00 pm

Saturday:

8:00 am-1:00 pm

Sunday:

Closed

Location

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