A Healthy Lifestyle is the Key

Wellness

Wellness is not just about vaccinations, but includes overall health, longevity, and quality of life for your pet. A state of wellness involves nutrition, weight management, exercise, and a positive behavioral style that fits your needs and lifestyle. At Vestal Veterinary Hospital, we assess these areas through a lifestyle survey about your dog, cat, or reptile. Then, we meet with you and your pet to develop a wellness plan that best suits your pet’s needs.

You are welcome to view these surveys, copy, and complete them in the comfort of your home:

Once completed, you may either fax or email the form to our office or bring it with you to your pet’s appointment. If you prefer to complete these forms with the help of our staff, we will be pleased to assist you with this at your pet’s first visit.

Internal Parasites:

Parasite control is an area of considerable importance to pet owners due to the potential threat that animal parasites pose to humans. Called "zoonotic diseases" because they can be passed from animals to people, the common intestinal worms of both dogs and cats are not to be taken lightly. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta is encouraging veterinarians to be far more proactive in the management of these diseases.

  • The CDC recommends annual stool examinations to check your pet for intestinal parasites.
  • The CDC also recommends the treatment of all kittens and puppies for roundworms and hookworms, regardless of fecal examination results. Therefore we give all puppies and kittens three doses of a de-worming medication (Strongid-T) at two-week intervals starting at the first visit that we see them.
  • DOGS - we recommend an annual blood test to check for the presence of heartworms. Additionally, we recommend a year-round once-a-month medication available to prevent heartworms and intestinal worms for all dogs.
  • CATS - we recommend all cats that go outside be dewormed and treated at least every other month with a medication called Drontal to control intestinal parasites.

External Parasites:

Never use over-the-counter flea and tick medication until you have spoken to us. Each pet has different needs, lifestyles, and sensitivities, and some over-the-counter products may be ineffective or even toxic for your pet. We will help you plan for the specific needs of your pet, and make recommendations for the appropriate products.

Dental Care:

Healthy teeth and gums make for much healthier pets. Many dental problems can be avoided by practicing preventative dental care at home. We recommend brushing teeth every 2-3 days. (This can be a challenge in cats, but worth the effort.) A dental diet called D/H is also very beneficial in maintaining oral health. It can be fed as the main diet or given out as treats.

View our Oral and Dental Health page for more information on this topic, as well as the AAHA Dental Care guidelines.

Spay and Neuter:

WE VIGOROUSLY RECOMMEND THAT ALL DOGS AND CATS NOT INTENDED FOR BREEDING SHOULD BE SPAYED OR NEUTERED AT ABOUT 6 MONTHS OF AGE. THIS WILL AVOID UNWANTED PREGNANCIES, POTENTIALLY FATAL UTERINE INFECTIONS, SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE THE RISK OF BREAST CANCER, REDUCE MALE TERRITORIAL URINE SPRAYING, AND RESULT IN A HEALTHIER PET THAT WILL GENERALLY LIVE LONGER AND BE HAPPIER IN YOUR HOME.

VOM: Veterinary Orthopedic Manipulation (Veterinary Chiropractic)

VOM is a non-invasive, non-painful chiropractic technique developed by veterinary surgeon Dr. William Inman in 1984. VOM utilizes the activator technique, a well-established, successful human technology to treat many musculoskeletal and orthopedic diseases of small animals.

What it treats:

  • Neck pain
  • Back pain
  • Degenerative disc disease
  • Spinal arthritis / spondylosis
  • Other degenerative musculoskeletal diseases

How it works:

The basis of this technology is the neurologic reduction of inflammation. By stimulating certain specific nerve endings we can induce the release of the body's own anti-inflammatory compounds.

Read our VOM Handout for much more information on this safe and effective treatment option.