- Yearly exam: Once a year, we recommend a comprehensive physical exam performed by a veterinarian. During this exam, we will plan to update yearly vaccines if indicated (Lepto, Lyme, Bordetella, Influenza). Rabies and Distemper/Parvo vaccines are updated every 3 years once initial series in complete.
- Heartworm and tick panel testing: is recommended once yearly to ensure the preventatives are doing their job! This is a simple blood test. We do recommend yearly testing, even if on routine preventatives.
- Wellness lab work: helps establish and monitor trends. This includes a complete blood count – monitoring white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets – and an adult chemistry panel – assesses liver, kidney and electrolyte health. We can often track or catch abnormalities on blood work that would show up without having any clinical signs facilitating early treatment!
- Fecal testing: once yearly fecal testing can ensure your dog doesn’t have any intestinal parasites. Simply scoop their poop the day of their appointment and bring it in to us!
- Preventatives: we recommend all dogs stay on routine heartworm and flea/tick preventatives all year round.
- Check out the Heartworm life cycle in the picture below or visit https://www.heartwormsociety.org/ for more information
- Heartworm infections are spread by mosquitos and can take up to 5 months to test positive. Our current preventatives can only kill heartworm during a specific life stage. Monthly administration, even during the winter months, is very important!
- Products carried by Everhart Veterinary Hospital
- Simparica Trio: once monthly for heartworms and intestinal parasites, fleas and ticks
- Heartgard: once monthly for heartworms and intestinal parasites
- Nexgard: once monthly for fleas and ticks
- Bravecto: once every 3 months for fleas and ticks
- There are many options for heartworm and flea/tick preventatives. If we don’t carry a specific product in house, check out our online pharmacy where we can guarantee the product quality.
- Dental cleaning: helps keep your dog’s teeth healthy and strong! Daily teeth brushing is recommended as dogs have the same teeth as we do. Dental products with the Veterinary Oral Health Seal of Approval have been shown to improve your dog’s teeth. Tartar accumulation can still occur even with routine brushing at home. Tartar can only be removed under general anesthesia.
- Check out the Heartworm life cycle in the picture below or visit https://www.heartwormsociety.org/ for more information
- Annual Wellness visit
- Yearly exam: Once a year, we recommend a comprehensive physical exam performed by a veterinarian. During this exam, we will plan to update yearly vaccines if indicated (Lepto, Lyme, Bordetella, Influenza). Rabies and Distemper/Parvo vaccines are updated every 3 years once initial series in complete.
- Heartworm and tick panel testing: is recommended once yearly to ensure the preventatives are doing their job! This is a simple blood test. We do recommend yearly testing, even if on routine preventatives.
- Wellness lab work: helps establish and monitor trends. This includes a complete blood count – monitoring white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets – and a senior chemistry panel – assesses liver, kidney and electrolyte health. We can often track or catch abnormalities on blood work that would show up without having any clinical signs facilitating early treatment!
- Certain endocrine disorders can start to manifest at this age range
- Hypothyroid
- Diabetes Mellitus
- Cushing’s disease
- If your dog is experiencing any change to their thirst, increased urination, changes in activity level or skin/coat changes, please let us know and we will recommend additional lab testing.
- Certain endocrine disorders can start to manifest at this age range
- Fecal testing: once yearly fecal testing can ensure your dog doesn’t have any intestinal parasites. Simply scoop their poop on the day of their appointment and bring it in to us!
- Preventatives: we recommend all dogs stay on routine heartworm and flea/tick preventatives all year round.
- Check out the Heartworm life cycle in the picture below or visit https://www.heartwormsociety.org/ for more information
- Heartworm infections are spread by mosquitos and can take up to 5 months to test positive. Our current preventatives can only kill heartworm during a specific life stage. Monthly administration, even during the winter months, is very important!
- Products carried by Everhart Veterinary Hospital
- Simparica Trio: once monthly for heartworms and intestinal parasites, fleas and ticks
- Heartgard: once monthly for heartworms and intestinal parasites
- Nexgard: once monthly for fleas and ticks
- Bravecto: once every 3 months for fleas and ticks
- There are many options for heartworm and flea/tick preventatives. If we don’t carry a specific product in house, check out our online pharmacy where we can guarantee the product quality
- Check out the Heartworm life cycle in the picture below or visit https://www.heartwormsociety.org/ for more information
- Arthritis screening – dogs can show arthritis as early as 5 years old. Checking for any changes in mobility is very important as they age.
- Check out this handout on osteoarthritis signs in dogs and let us know if you are seeing any signs!
- Pain medications, joint supplements, physical therapy, and acupuncture treatments can greatly improve their overall quality of life
- Dental cleaning: helps keep your dog’s teeth healthy and strong! Daily teeth brushing is recommended as dogs have the same teeth as we do. Dental products with the Veterinary Oral Health Seal of Approval have been shown to improve your dog’s teeth. Tartar accumulation can still occur even with routine brushing at home. Tartar can only be removed under general anesthesia.
- 6 month visit
- Vaccines if needed
- Wellness or disease management lab work: Certain conditions – like hypothyroidism, kidney disease, Cushing’s disease – require lab work every 6 months or sooner to ensure their medication is appropriate
- Dental cleaning
- Arthritis screening
- Exam every 6 months
- Biannual exam: Twice a year, we recommend a comprehensive physical exam performed by a veterinarian. During this exam, we will plan to update yearly vaccines if indicated (Lepto, Lyme, Bordetella, Influenza). Rabies and Distemper/Parvo vaccines are updated every 3 years once initial series is completed.
- Heartworm and tick panel testing: is recommended once yearly to ensure the preventatives are doing their job! This is a simple blood work test. We do recommend yearly testing, even if on routine preventatives.
- Senior lab work: helps establish and monitor trends. This includes a complete blood count – monitoring white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets – and a senior chemistry panel – assesses liver, kidney and electrolyte health, checking thyroid levels and a urine sample. We can often track or catch abnormalities on blood work that would show up without having any clinical signs facilitating early treatment!
- Certain endocrine disorders can start to manifest at this age range
- Hypothyroid
- Diabetes Mellitus
- Cushing’s disease
- If your dog is experiencing any change to their thirst, increased urination, changes in activity level or skin/coat changes, please let us know and we will recommend additional lab testing.
- Certain endocrine disorders can start to manifest at this age range
- Fecal testing: once yearly fecal testing can ensure your dog doesn’t have any intestinal parasites. Simply scoop their poop on the day of their appointment and bring it in to us!
- Preventatives: we recommend all dogs stay on routine heartworm and flea/tick preventatives all year round.
- Check out the Heartworm life cycle in the picture below or visit https://www.heartwormsociety.org/ for more information.
- Heartworm infections are spread by mosquitos and can take up to 5 months to test positive. Our current preventatives can only kill heartworm during a specific life stage. Monthly administration, even during the winter months, is very important!
- Products carried by Everhart Veterinary Hospital
- Simparica Trio: once monthly for heartworms and intestinal parasites, fleas and ticks
- Heartgard: once monthly for heartworms and intestinal parasites
- Nexgard: once monthly for fleas and ticks
- Bravecto: once every 3 months for fleas and ticks
- There are many options for heartworm and flea/tick preventatives. If we don’t carry a specific product in house, check out our online pharmacy where we can guarantee the product quality.
- Check out the Heartworm life cycle in the picture below or visit https://www.heartwormsociety.org/ for more information.
- Arthritis screening – dogs can show arthritis as early as 5 years old. Checking for any changes in mobility is very important as they age.
- Check out this handout on osteoarthritis signs in dogs and let us know if you are seeing any signs!
- Pain medications, joint supplements, physical therapy, and acupuncture treatments can greatly improve their overall quality of life
- The 2 best things for arthritis management are keeping them active and weight management
- The more dogs lay around, the more they will only be able to lay around
- Overweight dogs have more pressure on their joints that can lead to pain and immobility. If you feel your dog is overweight, your veterinarian can provide the recommended caloric intake for the day and check for any underlying conditions that can cause weight gain.
- Dental cleaning: helps keep your dog’s teeth healthy and strong! Daily teeth brushing is recommended as dogs have the same teeth as we do. Dental products with the Veterinary Oral Health Seal of Approval have been shown to improve your dog’s teeth. Tartar accumulation can still occur even with routine brushing at home. Tartar can only be removed under general anesthesia.
- Lifestyle evaluation: Senior dogs often have changes to their vision or healing that can make navigating their day-to-day routine more of a challenge. If you are worried about vision or healing loss in your pet, we can discuss with your veterinarian at their next visit! Mobility issues like arthritis can impact their interest in long walks or playtime. There are many ways to help patients with arthritis live pain free during activity. An active dog is a happy dog!
- Behavioral/Senility evaluation: Changes in dog’s attitude, aggression, behavior at night or personality can be a sign of underlying cognitive changes for senior dogs. Does your dog bark randomly at night? Do they sleep all day and pace all night? Do they seem more sensitive to touch or sound and are quicker to bite than when they were younger?
- Check out this article on Canine Cognitive Dysfunction: https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=9773661
- If you are seeing any changes listed above, please schedule an appointment with your veterinarian to discuss
- Environmental evaluation: Senior dogs often need modified home environments to accommodate changes in their mobility. Things like extra rugs throughout the house or ramps into the car or onto the couch can be very helpful for older dogs with mobility issues. Toe grips can also help provide extra grip for dogs who may have trouble with slipping. These are rubber pieces that are glued to their nails to provide extra support. Frequent nail trims so nails do not become overgrown are also an important maintenance care for senior dogs.
