Pet Wellness Services
Optimal Veterinary Wellness Programs
for Your Vancouver Pet
Safeguarding Your Pet's Good Health
At Salmon Creek Veterinary Clinic, protecting your pet's health is our first priority. That's why we offer a variety of customized pet wellness plans designed to maintain your pet's good health no matter their life stage - all while providing you significant cost savings in the process.
Your pet's annual or semi-annual wellness examinations are your veterinarian's chances to assess your pet's overall health, discuss any changes with you, educate and update you on advancements in medical care, and for you to discuss any concerns or questions you may have. Your pet's wellness examination at our Vancouver veterinary hospital includes your veterinarian's commitment to:
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During each examination at our veterinary hospital, your Vancouver veterinarian also takes the time to listen to your concerns, answer your questions, and give you all the information you need to be the best caregiver to your pet. Good communication between you and your pet's doctor ensures your beloved companion is receiving the optimal care and attention needed to live a long, healthy life.
At home, watch for subtle changes in your pet's body weight, appetite, water intake, urination and bowel habits, general attitude and activity level. Should your pet exhibit any changes or signs of potential illness, please don't wait. Call our office right away for an appointment.
Balanced Vaccinations
Vaccinations are the number one way you can protect your beloved companion from serious infectious diseases and bacteria. However, our pets are each unique, and not every one of them requires the same series or frequency of vaccines.
Your veterinarian at Salmon Creek Veterinary Clinic will assist you in deciding which preventive measures are necessary for your pet at our office in Vancouver, and will tailor a puppy vaccine or kitten vaccine protocol based on your pet's breed, age, lifestyle and recommendations from the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Adult Dog and Puppy Vaccines | Adult Cat and Kitten Vaccines |
Core Puppy Vaccines: Distemper, Parvovirus, Parainfluenza, Adenovirus 2, Bordetella, Rabies | Core Kitten Vaccines: Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia, Feline Leukemia, Chlamydia, Rabies |
Core Adult Dog Vaccines: : Distemper, Parvovirus, Parainfluenza, Adenovirus 2, Bordetella, Leptospriosis, Rabies | Core Adult Cat Vaccines: Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia, Feline Leukemia, Chlamydia, Rabies |
Your pet's vaccine schedule is balanced to provide needed protection while not over-vaccinating. Please talk to your veterinarian about customized vaccination protocols and why they are best for your pet.
Caring for Your New Puppy or Kitten
Bringing a puppy or kitten home is a very exciting time for you and your family. Your veterinarian and medical team at Salmon Creek Veterinary Clinic share your joy and are here to support you with individualized puppy and kitten wellness programs, vaccinations and home care guidance.
Your puppy's or kitten's first year of care at Salmon Creek Veterinary Clinic will include:
- Physical Examinations: Your pet’s lifetime of wellness starts with a comprehensive nose-to-tail physical examination of your puppy or kitten at our Vancouver office. Puppies and kittens should have 3-4 exams between the ages of 8-16 weeks. These longer visits are important because they provide your veterinarian with an opportunity to assess your pet's overall health and administer vaccines.
- Vaccinations: Due to their developing immune systems, puppies and kittens must receive a series of properly staged vaccines. Because every puppy and kitten is unique, we tailor our vaccination recommendations based on their lifestyle and/or breed and according to the suggested medical guidelines.
- Diagnostic Testing: Puppies should be tested for Heartworm and kittens tested for Feline Leukemia and Feline Immunodiciency Virus.
- Extended Discussion: Do you have questions about nutrition, training, vaccinations, spaying or neutering, grooming, or parasite protection? What about tips for introducing your new pet to other pets and family members? We take plenty of time during these visits to offer health care and training advice, and talk with you about any concerns you may have.
Puppy and kitten visits are an excellent way to get your new pet started on the road to a happy and healthy life. Let's take these important first steps together. Please call today to schedule an appointment for your new pet!
Senior Pet Care
Senior Wellness Exams
This semi-annual visit includes a routine physical examination, gives you an opportunity to discuss concerns regarding your pet's age, and may include specialized lab work to detect the early signs of disease processes. Your veterinarian tailors these exams and tests to your pet's age, breed, lifestyle and physical condition to best meet his or her health needs. Because a mature pet's condition can change significantly in a short period of time, we recommend that families bring in their senior pets approximately every 6 months.
Dental Care
Unfortunately, dental disease is all too common in pets, especially older pets, and it represents a significant systemic health risk. Because bacteria in the mouth can enter the bloodstream and be passed to other organs, periodontal disease has been found to have associations with kidney, liver, lung, and heart disease. Additionally, pets in oral distress will often have difficulty or discomfort when eating. All pets should have regular dental exams and cleanings, and they are especially important for pets in their senior years.
Skin Conditions
As with humans, aging causes your pet's skin to become more susceptible to a range of medical issues as well as become less elastic and heal more slowly. A range of dermatological conditions can cause changes, such as hair loss and new growths; therefore, we recommend regular examinations of your pet's skin and hair at our Vancouver veterinary hospital, especially if you notice itching, hair loss, or painful areas.
Home Care
There is also an important role for you to play as your pet's primary caregiver. While you cannot control age-related decline, you can influence your pet's activity level, living conditions, access to quality senior veterinary care, and daily nutrition. Following these helpful tips will help preserve your pet's quality of life:
- Avoid excessive weight gain. Talk to your veterinarian about the sources of your pet's daily calories and avoid treats that are high in fat and sodium.
- Keep your pet's living and areas clean, dry and warm at all times.
- If possible, regularly check your pet's mouth for reddened gums, loose teeth or unusual swellings. Check eyes for redness, unusual cloudiness, discomfort and discharge. Check ears for wax build-up, discharge or unusual odors.
- Thoroughly groom and inspect your older pet's skin regularly. Look for lumps, bumps and wounds.
- If your older pet's eyesight is impaired, avoid relocating furniture and changing his or her surroundings. Also, try not to drastically change your pet's daily routine.
- Any changes associated with eating, drinking or elimination should be noted and discussed with your veterinarian, as these may be indicate disease.
- Take your older pet for regular senior checkups, even if he or she seems to be well. It is always easier and less expensive to prevent a problem rather than treat a problem.
The best time to begin your pet's senior care program and recognize the need for a little extra TLC is well before age-related conditions begin to set in. We can help ensure you and your faithful companion enjoy many more happy and healthy years together.
Flea and Tick Prevention in the Pacific Northwest
Fleas and ticks are more than a nuisance; they can carry diseases dangerous to both you and your pet.
Fleas are most abundant during the warm weather; however, if left untreated, they can be a problem year-round. In fact, flea infestation is one of the most common problems veterinarians see. Your pet can be allergic to fleas, and just one bite can result in a severely painful skin infection. Fleas can also transmit serious diseases such as bartonellosis (the bacteria that causes “cat scratch disease” in people), and parasites like tapeworms.
Although ticks are less of a problem in our area, they can carry a variety of serious illnesses, including Lyme disease, Ehrlichiosis, and Anaplasmosis. Ticks and tick eggs live in the grass and weeds. Check and brush your dog after being outside, especially in grassy or brushy areas. If a tick is attached to your dog's skin, remove it carefully with tweezers and wash the affected bite area and your hands afterward. If you plan to travel with your dog to an area where these diseases are more of a problem, please talk to your veterinarian about the precautions you can take to protect your pet.
The best course of action to protect both your pet and yourself from fleas, ticks and the potential of tick-borne disease is prevention. There are many safe, effective oral and topical flea and tick control products available at Salmon Creek Veterinary Clinic. Your veterinarian can help you choose the correct preventive regimen based on your pet's risk factors and health status.
Heartworm Disease and Your Pet
Heartworm disease is a serious, life-threatening disease transmitted by mosquitoes. It affects dogs and, to a lesser extent, cats. Today, Heartworm disease is found almost everywhere in the continental United States.
Clinical symptoms of Heartworm disease develop very slowly. Early symptoms include lack of energy, exercise intolerance, coughing and difficulty breathing. Because Heartworm disease is increasing in frequency and is a serious and deadly disease, we recommend your dog be tested annually.
Fortunately, Heartworm disease prevention is simple and effective. If you would like to find out more information on how best to protect your pet from this dangerous parasite or if you'd like to have your pet tested for Heartworm disease, please call Salmon Creek Veterinary Hospital in Vancouver today, for an appointment.
Caring for Your Rabbit or Guinea Pig
We also offer optimum wellness care programs for rabbits and guinea pigs. Since it is often difficult to determine if these smaller pets are ill, we strongly recommend physical examinations twice a year to check for health problems plus annual monitoring to check for nutritional and husbandry-related conditions.
To survive attacks from their predators, rabbits and guinea pigs normally conceal their illnesses in the wild. As a result, their medical problems often go unnoticed for long periods. By the time you recognize there is a problem, the condition is often extremely serious. With bi-annual medical examinations by your veterinarian at Salmon Creek Veterinary Clinic, problems are often diagnosed before they become serious medical conditions.
After acquiring your new rabbit or guinea pig, a complete wellness appointment is strongly recommended. This veterinary examination at our Vancouver office includes a thorough physical exam, husbandry and nutritional consultation, disease screening and laboratory testing if necessary. Before bringing your pet into your home, you want to make sure he or she is healthy.
For more information on all the ways the Vancouver veterinary team at Salmon Creek Veterinary Clinic can help you take good care of your pet, please give our office a call today!