Preventative Pet Care

We focus on preventative medicine by partnering with our clients to help their pets live long healthy lives. This is done through regular thorough wellness exams, tailored vaccine protocols based on each pet’s lifestyle, wellness lab work, nutrition counseling, dental health assessments, and parasite prevention. Caught early through regular checkups, many diseases can be avoided, cured, or controlled more effectively.

One of the most important aspects of caring for your pet’s health is vaccinating them against potential diseases. Our veterinarians will work closely with you to determine the best vaccination protocol for your pet based on their lifestyle and unique risks.

Parasite prevention is another important aspect of wellness care. Heartworms, fleas, ticks, and intestinal parasites are all found in Florida. Having the right prevention plan in place for your pet’s lifestyle is critical to prevent the spread of disease.

Congratulations on your new addition to your family! At Vet Next Door, we understand how important it is to get your puppy or kitten off to a good start. Now is the time to start talking about health care, nutrition, behavioral training, and socialization with your new pet.

What to expect?

• Develop a vaccination plan
  • We follow guidelines set by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) regarding vaccination protocols for puppies and kittens. Typically, your pet will be due for vaccinations every 3-4 weeks between the ages of 8 weeks and 16 weeks old.
• Track growth and development with regular physical examinations at each booster visit.
• Fecal parasite testing and deworming
  • Intestinal worms and other parasites such as Coccidia and Giardia are common amongst puppies and kittens. These parasites are typically acquired from the mothers or a contaminated environment.
• FeLV/FIV testing (kittens)
  • Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukemia virus (FeLV) can cause many types of illness as well as death in infected cats. These viruses do not infect humans or other animals but are very contagious between cats. If your cat is new to the family or you adopt another cat, testing is advised before introducing the new cat to other cats in the household.
  • FIV is more commonly found in male cats that are not neutered and in cats that fight with other cats. There are no vaccines available in the United States that can protect cats from FIV infection. Prevention is accomplished by regular testing and separating positive cats.
  • FeLV is more commonly spread among cats that live together. The virus can also be spread from mother to kittens and among cats that fight. It is mainly spread through saliva when cats groom each other, and when food and water bowls are shared. Several vaccines to protect cats from FeLV infection are available. Vaccination is recommended for all kittens, again one year later, and regularly for cats that have access outdoors. Adult indoor-only cats living alone or with uninfected cats may not need to be vaccinated after the first 2 years. Your veterinarian will help assess your cat’s vaccination needs.
• A puppy or kitten welcome bag with goodies to help get your new family member off to the right start!

We’re ready to help get your furry family member off to the best start possible. We look forward to meeting them!