Southside Animal Hospital
Wellness Exams

Wellness Exams

Wellness Exams

Their Best Life Starts Here

This is where it all begins! Comprehensive routine care is essential to ensuring our pets are happy and healthy today and helps provide them with as many good years with you as possible.

Not only do our pets age more rapidly than we do, but they also can’t tell us if something is wrong—which means that routine and preventative veterinary care is essential to their quality of life. 

We recommend annual wellness exams for all adult pets and semi-annual exams for seniors. Puppies and kittens need to be seen every three to four weeks until they’re about six months old.

Our Wellness Care Services Include:

  • Comprehensive physical exams
  • Vaccinations
  • Parasite prevention
  • Routine testing (heartworm testing, fecal screening, and more)
  • Microchipping
  • Nutritional consultations
  • Behavioral consultations
  • Medications & supplements
  • And more!

Wellness exams are so much more than “just an exam”— they’re a comprehensive assessment of every aspect of your pet’s health. Wellness exams typically include a thorough physical examination of your pet, including:

  • Inspection of the eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and teeth.
  • Palpation of the body to check for lumps, pain, or abnormalities.
  • Listening to the heart and lungs with a stethoscope.
  • Palpating the abdomen for any abnormalities or discomfort.
  • Evaluating the skin and coat condition.
  • Evaluating musculoskeletal health
  • Neurological assessment
  • Routine diagnostics as needed

We’ll also cover behavioral and nutritional concerns, vaccination needs, and parasite control. And, of course, you can ask as many questions as you want! 

We know that every furry friend is different, and we will tailor a plan that best fits your pet, your family, and your lifestyle. Get your best friend on the road to optimal health by scheduling their wellness and preventative care today! 

Puppy & Kitten Care

Having a new puppy or kitten in the house is so much fun, and let’s face it—it’s also a lot of work! We’re here to tailor a puppy or kitten care plan that is the best fit for your new friend and will ensure they start things off on the right paw so you’re free to focus on the important stuff, like all the cuddles and all the pictures. 

Our Puppy & Kitten Care Services Include:

  • Regular exams to monitor growth
  • Parasite screenings and routine deworming
  • Flea, tick, and heartworm protection
  • Customized vaccination schedules
  • Dietary consultations
  • Behavior and training advice

Give us a call at (850) 682-2626 to schedule your little one’s exam today—we can’t wait to meet them!

Vaccinations

In addition to preventing many life-threatening illnesses, vaccinations can prevent diseases prevalent in wildlife and those that can be passed to humans. Vaccinating your pet is essential to their health and the health of the larger pet and human population!

Which vaccines should your pet have? Core vaccines are those recommended—and possibly required by law—for most pets. 

Core vaccines include:

  • Rabies (legally required for all dogs and cats in Florida)
  • DA2PPV – Distemper, Hepatitis, Adenovirus 2, Parvo and Parainfluenza (dogs)
  • FVRCP – Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus and Panleukopenia (cats)

Other non-core but recommended cat vaccinations include FIV, which protects against feline immunodeficiency virus, and FeLV, which protects against feline leukemia. Bordetella and canine influenza shots are recommended for dogs who frequent dog parks, boarding kennels, or any place where they socialize with other canines.

Your Southside Animal Hospital veterinarian can advise you which vaccinations are required or recommended for your pet based on their age, health, and lifestyle. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call us at (850) 682-2626.