Services
-- Preventative Care --
A comprehensive physical exam may be the most important diagnostic tool we have to care for your pets. As dogs and cats age much more quickly than humans, we feel that twice yearly physical exams are vital for both the short-term and long-term health of your pet. These exams can allow us to detect problems early, potentially before they become clinically apparent to you. With early detection, treatments and recommendations can be given which can significantly benefit the prognosis for your pet. During a physical exam, Dr. Schatzle or Dr. Vineyard will evaluate your pet’s eyes, ears, nose, throat, teeth, gums, heart, lungs, musculoskeletal system, skin, coat and the lymph nodes. Any specific problems or concerns you have about your pet will be addressed at that time as well. After this examination, the doctor will work with you to develop a plan for treating your pet.
Immunizations, also known as vaccines, are an integral part of any preventative healthcare program. We feel that each pet has her own individual needs. That’s why at La Costa Animal hospital, we tailor a vaccine schedule specifically for your individual pet. Discussion of your pet’s individual needs for vaccinations will be addressed at the time of the physical examination. For those dogs at higher risk, we even offer specialized immunizations such as a rattlesnake vaccine.
Fecal examinations and dewormings are also considered part of any good preventative care program. These are used as a means to both diagnose and treat a variety of intestinal parasites. Many intestinal parasites are not visible to the naked eye, and can only be found with a microscopic examination of the feces. Intestinal parasites can be damaging to not only your pet, but potentially to your family as well. A variety of parasites that we see in animals are zoonotic, that is, transmissible to people. This is especially problematic for people with compromised immune systems such as children and the elderly. Routine fecal screenings are essential for the health of your pets and family.
Heartworm disease is an emerging concern for dogs in San Diego County. Although not previously seen in our area, cases of this life threatening disease are on an incline in recent years. We therefore recommend a yearly blood test to determine the heartworm status of your dog. A heartworm antigen test is a simple blood analysis that we perform in our hospital, with results available in about ten minutes. Once determined that your pet is negative, a monthly preventative pill will be prescribed to protect against heartworm infection. It should be noted that although heartworm disease can occur in cats, it is of extremely low occurrence in our area, and therefore is not part of our routine preventative care program for cats at this time.
Spaying and neutering your pet is considered a mainstay of all preventative health programs. As routine spay procedures involve removing both the uterus and ovaries, it eliminates the possibility of uterine and ovarian cancers. When performed at a young age, it has also been proven to drastically decrease the risk of mammary (breast) cancer. Neutering a male eliminates the risk of testicular cancer as well as a majority of prostatic diseases. Neutering also makes males less likely to roam, become lost, or get into fights.