Preventive Medicine for Your Pets

Healthy Visits, Vaccines, Wellness & Preventive Medicine
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Benefits of Preventive Medicine

A regular physical exam is a gift 🎁 to your pet that will produce tangible benefits to their health and well-being, as well as provide you with potential for cost savings and peace of mind!!

Veterinarians recommend physical exams every six months rather than only annually because pets age 4 – 7 times faster than humans, so a six-month interval for them is equivalent to several years in human terms, allowing health conditions to develop rapidly in a shorter timeframe. Semi-annual exams become more important as your pet enters middle age and are essential for senior pets.

The transition from middle-aged to senior pet occurs around 7 years of age for medium-sized dogs, a year or two earlier for large and giant breeds, and a year or two later for cats and small dogs.

 

Practice Manager, Chelsie Reeves, with a Fear Free Peanut Butter lick board to distract a Labrador during an exam

 

TOP 10 REASONS FOR REGULAR PET PHYSICAL EXAMS

  1. Early Disease Detection: Catching illnesses early often means more treatment options, lower costs, better prognosis, improved quality of life, and increased lifespan by addressing small issues before they become big problems.
  2. Vaccinations and Preventive Care: Staying current on vaccines and parasite prevention protects your pet from serious and potentially fatal diseases like rabies, distemper, and heart worms — and prevents parasite exposure and infection of your family.
  3. Dental Health: Regular exams can prevent painful dental disease, which can lead to infection or impact the heart, kidneys, or liver.
  4. Unnoticed Illness or Injury: Pets often mask symptoms; annual exams reveal hidden issues before they worsen.
  5. Age-Appropriate Care: As pets age, their needs change. Exams allow the veterinarian to tailor care to your pet’s life stage.
  6. Pain Prevention: Pets often hide pain; annual exams help detect and relieve discomfort from conditions like arthritis or injuries.
  7. Skin and Coat Issues: Allergies, infections, or parasites are common and may go unnoticed until they cause severe discomfort.
  8. Behavior Issues: Many behavioral changes (e.g., aggression, accidents in the house) have medical causes that can be addressed during an exam.
  9. Weight Management: Overweight pets face higher risks for diabetes, arthritis, and heart disease. Annual visits ensure their diet and activity are appropriate.
  10. Building a Health History: Regular visits and annual wellness blood work creates a comprehensive medical record that helps in diagnosing and treating future issues more accurately.

 

LEARN MORE AT THE AVMA: Preventive Pet Healthcare Resources

 

 

Veterinary Assistant Vin Singh holding a Golden Retriever Puppy

 

HOW OFTEN DOES MY PET NEED A CHECKUP?

 
How often does my pet need a checkup? To keep your pet in optimum health, two veterinary physical exams per year is the genarally recommended standard of care. We all know dogs and cats age faster, but they are also living longer than ever thanks to  advances in veterinary medicine and nutrition. That’s the good side, the bad side is our pets are faced with the common conditions that come with older age.
 
 
It’s best to treat disease early and even better to uncover it before it becomes obvious. Twice yearly vet checks give us the chance to diagnose problems early.  The cost of prevention is often just a fraction of the cost of treating a condition that’s more advanced and diagnosing a disease early in its course increases the chances of a successful outcome.
 
 
Many pet owners don’t know that there are plenty of serious, even fatal diseases seen in middle age. So, middle age is a good time to establish a baseline with yearly bloodwork and it may reveal a problem before your pet even shows symptoms.
 
 
It’s not just bloodwork that needs monitoring. The most under-appreciated tool a veterinarian uses is a thorough physical exam.  In fact, our pets routinely get a more comprehensive physical than most people. Dr. Rowan estimates 80% of his diagnoses are based on physical exam.
 
 
Believe it or not, when a veterinarian performs a thorough exam s/he assesses over 50 parameters.  The ability to do this well is probably the most important skill a vet possesses. Pet parents can learn how to perform a mini physical exam to learn what is normal for their pet.
 
 
 At Paoli Vetcare, we tailor our care to your pet. Rest assured that our recommendations for feeding, parasite prevention, vaccines, dental care and diagnostic testing are based on each individual pet’s physical exam findings, age, breed, sex, and lifestyle and medical history. We don’t believe a one-size-fits-all package of annual blood tests is a cost-effective approach to veterinary medicine.
 
 
Paoli Vetcare is one of an elite group of veterinary hospitals that maintain the highest standards of excellence. Nearly 60% of pet owners think their veterinary hospital is accredited when it is not.  AAHA-accredited hospitals are the only animal hospitals to regularly pass onsite evaluations based on more than 900 standards of veterinary care. Only 15% of vet hospitals are accredited!
 
 
Together the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) have developed new health guidelines for dogs and cats. Recent research has found that vet visits are declining while preventable diseases in pets are increasing. The guidelines provide the foundation for the the practice of preventive veterinary medicine.
 
 
It is more important than ever to realize the value of routine wellness care. A comprehensive approach to your pet’s healthcare enhances the human-animal bond. Many pet parents only think of vet visits in association with vaccination and treatment of obvious disease. But, preventive vet care is a critical part of the prescription for a long, happy and healthy relationship with your pet.

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What Our Customers Say

Jay Rowan is a great vet. I love the way he practices medicine – very caring, compassionate, and practical. I trust him completely with my pets – we have been going to him for more than 10 years.

Betsy H.

Cat vomited her food for 2 days, ate little if anything the following 2 days. Emily suggested what to feed her & symptoms to monitor before making office visit. Dropped off cat Fri. Received call from Dawn w/ thorough info/diagnosis. All is well.

Kay Blatt

Dr. Rowan took the time to listen to my concerns regarding my dog’s symptoms and completed a thorough examination.

Cathryn W.

Veterinarians You Can Trust

Vet Examining a Corgi

Jay Rowan, VMD

With over 35 years of experience as a general practitioner, Dr. Rowan has seen it all! He aims to treat your pets as if they are his own. Stop in to check out Doc's unique collection of veterinary antiques and vintage advertising featuring dogs and cats. Clients appreciate his exceptional “petside” manner and pragmatic approach.
Dr. Dawn Urioste USDA certified vet with veterinary patients

Dr. Erin Downes

Dr. Erin Downes is a pet enthusiast and an educator, and one of Paoli Vetcare’s greatest strengths. A lifelong lover of animals, Erin has spent three decades putting pets first.

Dr. Dawn Urioste USDA certified vet with veterinary patients

Dr. Lauren Trusa

Dr. Trusa loves developing long-lasting relationships with both clients and pets. She believes it’s crucial to carefully listen to all your concerns, skillfully communicate her recommendations, and thoroughly answer your questions. Dr. Trusa has over ten years experience and especially enjoys veterinary dentistry and surgery.

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