Wellness & Vaccinations

What’s the secret to helping your pet enjoy a truly amazing life?

As pet parents, we want our furry family members to live as many years as possible. The best way to accomplish this is by making a commitment to ongoing wellness care.
By scheduling regular checkups with the Hoschton Animal Hospital team, you’ll protect your pet from many common ailments that can affect companion animals. You’ll also improve the chances of early diagnosis in the event of an underlying illness.

These simple things can add years to your best friend’s life.

Prevention & Health Management

At each visit, we’ll check your pet from nose to tail, looking for anything out of the ordinary. We’ll then create a preventative care plan that will include vaccines, parasite control, nutrition and weight management, and anything else we deem relevant.

The doctor might also recommend occasional health screenings. These routine tests allow us to identify and address potential health problems early, before they have a chance to develop and worsen.

Getting to Know You

Annual visits give all of us at Hoschton Animal Hospital the chance to truly get to know you and your pet. Developing a relationship with you and bonding with your animal friend is an integral part of the care we provide. You want your pet to enjoy as many happy, healthy years as possible. Hoschton Animal Hospital can help you achieve that goal!

Puppy & Kitten Care

The dedicated team at Hoschton Animal Hospital is here to help you ensure your puppy or kitten gets off to the best start possible. Make sure to schedule your new pet’s first appointment within the first few weeks of bringing them home. The initial visit provides us an opportunity to meet and offers you a chance to ask questions. We strive to address any concerns you may have about owning a puppy or kitten and teach you the best ways to care for your new family member. This is a special time for you and your pet, and we want to ensure you feel supported in this transition. Our comprehensive approach addresses your pet’s needs from vaccinations to a proper diet. During your pet’s first visit, we will conduct a physical exam, develop a vaccine schedule, discuss your pet’s diet, and develop a parasite prevention plan. We will also discuss the importance of getting your pet spayed or neutered and microchipped.

Senior Pet Care

As pets age, their needs change. Pets over the age of 7 are more susceptible to diseases and heal more slowly, however, with proper care you can help your pet live a longer, happier life. Our team at Hoschton Animal Hospital can help you navigate your pet’s senior years with you. We do recommend more frequent wellness exams which will help us detect problems before they become advanced. Additionally, we may recommend changes to your pet’s diet, exercise, and other aspects of their healthcare as they mature. It can be very difficult to detect when your pet is in pain, but there are some signs that they may be experiencing discomfort in their older years. If you notice any of the following, your pet may be in pain:

  • Difficulty getting up, easing into a comfortable position or limping.
  • Fatigue, including decreased stamina on walks.
  • Reluctance to be groomed, picked up or touched in certain areas.
  • Urinary or fecal accidents

If any of these behaviors begin to occur, visit us so a source of the pain can be identified, and treatment can begin.

Vaccinations

Vaccinations are an essential part of your pet’s health care plan starting from the time they are very young. Pets should begin their vaccinations between 6 and 12 weeks of age and require boosters throughout their life.

Many common diseases can easily be prevented by vaccinating your pet. Core vaccines, or essential vaccines, for canines include rabies and DAPP. Core vaccines for felines include rabies and FVRCP. Depending on your geographical area and pet’s exposure, you may also consider optional, non-core vaccines. Noncore vaccines for canines include leptospirosis, bordetella, parainfluenza, lyme disease and canine influenza. Noncore vaccines for felines include feline leukemia.

At Hoschton Animal Hospital, we’ll help you create a vaccine schedule appropriate for your pet’s age, breed, lifestyle, and environment. We will also review any possible side effects of your pet’s vaccinations and how to address them.

Parasite Prevention & Control

Parasites can pose a variety of health concerns for your pets and your family, but we can help you develop a prevention routine to keep everyone safe. At Hoschton Animal Hospital, we recommend keeping your pets on year-round prevention to stop pests before they become a problem.

Common parasites include fleas, ticks, heartworms, and intestinal worms. During your pet’s annual exam, we will test your pet for parasites with a thorough physical exam, a fecal test, and a blood test. Even if your pet is on year-round prevention, annual tests are still extremely important to detect parasites, even if you don’t see any symptoms.

Our knowledgeable healthcare team will help you develop a prevention plan that fits your lifestyle. You can keep your pets safe with either monthly oral medication or topical treatments. We will discuss what method can most effectively address your family’s needs.