Parasitic Prevention & Wellness Testing
Parasite Season begins May 15th, is Your Pet Ready?
At Centre Street Animal Hospital, we know that our patients are well loved. Our pet owners go above and beyond to ensure the highest standard of care possible. And we seek to support this dynamic.
So it is important for you to know that heartworm, wellness and fecal testing are critical to your pet’s preventive healthcare.
And sure enough, it’s that time of year to protect your beloved pet from the potential threats that this Spring season may bring. All dogs and cats are susceptible to contracting parasitic disease in the Spring and Summer, including, but not limited to, heartworm and fleas.
And as with all of your pet-related health considerations, we seek to partner with you to provide preventative care, to ensure the vitality, welfare and long life of your pet.
Read on to learn more!
Heartworm & Wellness Testing Promotion
In a continued effort to support the care of your pet and our ongoing partnership with our clients, our Heartworm and Wellness Testing Promotion is being offered at two significantly discounted, flat fee rates (depending on your pet’s needs):
Traditional Adult (Standard) Wellness Blood Panel, which includes:
- The Blood Collection Procedure
- A full blood count
- An adult chemistry and electrolyte panel
- Heartworm DNA test
- 5 tick DNA test
Senior (Advanced) Wellness Blood Panel, which includes:
- The Blood Collection Procedure
- A full blood count
- An expanded/advanced chemistry and electrolyte panel
- Heartworm DNA test
- 5 tick DNA test
- Basic thyroid level screen
Don’t miss out on this cost-saving opportunity! Click on the link below to learn more about our promotion and pricing or contact our office to book your appointment.
Wellness Testing
What Can You Expect
It can be disconcerting to both pet and owner when blood has to be drawn. And so it’s helpful to know what to expect.
Annual Wellness Testing involves evaluating blood, which is usually obtained when collecting your pet’s heartworm sample. Organ function and blood counts can be evaluated depending on the wellness test you choose. Many indicators of disease can be detected, including abnormalities of kidney, liver, heart, thyroid and pancreatic function, so this is a useful test – one that can provide peace of mind.
The test results remain in your pet’s file to be used as a baseline for comparison with future wellness tests or blood work in the event of injury or illness.
When you consider that in each calendar year, your pet’s age is on average 4-7 ‘human’ years, annual blood screens are all the more essential.
Why Bother with Preventative Medications?
Understanding the Need
You might think that it’s unnecessary to implement a preventative course of medication for your pet. But in fact, these medications protect against the maturation of any heartworms that may have already caused infection.
So you see – your pet may already be infected, and you simply don’t know it. So the medication does more than just prevent infection – it can actually reverse the impact of an existing infection (if it is administered in time)!
Regular heartworm testing is strongly recommended to ensure that your pet has not become infected in the past. While current heartworm preventives are very effective, infection can occur for a variety of reasons including missed doses and inappropriately administered medications.
And while heartworm has become a household concern, it is actually a potentially fatal disease caused by infection with the parasite Dirofilaria immitis, which is transmitted by the mosquito.
Heartworm is serious business. Once your pet is infected, the parasite matures and grows, ultimately damaging the heart and lungs.
Although symptoms are not always evident they can include:
- Weight loss
- Lethargy
- Reduced exercise tolerance
- Coughing
We recommend Revolution as the most medically advanced protection. Oral heartworm alternatives are available if needed.
Cats can also be infected with heartworm. Although cats are more resistant hosts, it is a good idea to discuss the available heartworm tests for cats so you can make an informed decision.
Why Should My Pet Have a Fecal Examination?
Be in the know!
It may not be the most attractive topic of conversation, but fecal examination is a very important diagnostic tool and is used to identify the presence of intestinal parasites in your pet.
Intestinal parasites pose a risk to your pet’s health and to the health of your family, as some of these parasites are zoonotic, meaning they can be transmitted to people.
The Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) recommends the regular administration of parasite preventive and fecal exams 1-4 times per year depending on the age and lifestyle of the pet and its family.
Along with heartworm testing, regular fecal exams and wellness tests help us to partner with you to evaluate your pet’s overall health.
Call us today to book your pet’s Heartworm test at which time we will discuss Wellness Testing and appropriate fecal testing for your pet’s specific age, breed, physical health and preexisting conditions.
Find Us on Facebook!
Check out our Facebook page! Click the link to the left and ‘like’ us!
From the moment you walk through our doors and register your pet, you are part of our family. So why not join our Facebook community?
It’s a great way to connect with us more personally. Our Facebook page features new developments in our office, useful tips and activities, interesting seasonal facts, and adorable pictures! And we always welcome your comments and feedback. We hope to see you there!
Thank you for the great information Dr. Slome. This is definitely a tough time for my Chuck, particularly with the fleas and ticks since we go camping a lot. Thank you for taking care of him and always looking out for his best interest.