Wellness Services
Wellness Examinations
The staff at MapleShade Animal Hospital is committed to providing comprehensive, personalized medical care for your pet. As medical professionals, we recognize that preventive medicine is the best way to keep your pet healthy and limit the lifetime cost of care. We work closely with you to develop the best health care plan for your beloved pet.
Good Communication Leads to Good Health
When you don't feel well, you visit the doctor and trust that she/he will listen and provide you with reliable information and medical advice. The same goes for your pet. The doctors and staff at MapleShade Animal Hospital take the time to listen to you and examine your pet thoroughly. Our standard office visit is 30 minutes, so no one feels rushed in receiving the best care and educational resources possible. This office visits also allows us to develop a clear picture of your pet's health status, so we can recommend the best health maintenance and treatment program.
Preventive Pet Health Care
The basis of our approach to your pet's continuing good health is an annual pre-vaccine pet wellness examination, which includes thorough screenings for a number of common diseases and ailments that could affect your pet's overall health. During this comprehensive exam, our veterinarians check the following parameters in detail:
- Weight
- Temperature
- Body condition
- Coat and skin quality
- Cardiovascular function
- Respiratory function
- Teeth and gum condition
- Eyes, ears, nose, throat
- Rectal/anal sac condition
- Abdominal palpation to detect abnormal intestine, kidney, liver or spleen size, as well as detect large tumors from these organs
- Lymphatic system
- Basic neurological system
- Musculoskeletal system
- Behavior and socialization progress
Pre-vaccine exams are required for your pet for three very important reasons:
- Immune system compromise: To ensure vaccine efficacy, the doctor must make sure your pet is healthy. The vaccine may not respond well or provide the intended protection if your companion is afflicted with a certain disease.
- Vaccine reaction: The injection site should be monitored for vaccine reaction.
- Maturation rate in animals is very fast: Because young animals mature so quickly, a complete physical must be performed to assess any developmental concerns.
Vaccinations at MapleShade Animal Hospital
Vaccines prevent diseases that were once responsible for the death of many dogs and cats. They prepare your dog or cat for exposure to certain viruses and bacteria, so when exposed, the immune system can destroy the invaders before the body becomes overwhelmed.
However, not every pet requires the same series or frequency of vaccines. At MapleShade Animal Hospital, our Dale City veterinarians determine a vaccination protocol based on your pet's lifestyle, susceptibility to disease, geographic location, and the most current recommendations from the American Veterinary Medical Association. Our goal to is to maintain optimal health and protection while not over-vaccinating your pet.
Core Vaccinations for Puppies: Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus and Parainfluenza (DHLPP), Bordetella, and Rabies
Core Vaccinations for Kittens: Feline Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, and Panlueukopnia (FRCP) and Rabies. Initial series of the feline leukemia virus (FeLV) vaccine also encouraged
Non-core Vaccinations Recommended for Puppies: Lyme and Leptospirosis
Core Vaccinations for Dogs: Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus and Parainfluenza (DHLPP) every three years until your dog is 10 years old; and Rabies every three years
Recommended Non-Core Vaccinations for Dogs: Bordetella, Lyme, Leptospirosis, and Influenza
Core Vaccinations for Cats: Rabies yearly and Feline Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, and Panlueukopnia (FRCP) every three years until 10 years old
Recommendation Non-Core Vaccinations for Cats: Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV)
If you would like to schedule an appointment to get your pet up-to-date on vaccinations, please give us a call at 703-670-7668.
Puppy and Kitten Care: Starting Your New Puppy or Kitten Off on the Right Paw
The first year of care for your new puppy or kitten is vital. Like human infants, puppies and kittens require special attention to grow and develop well.
Our team of veterinarians and technicians partner with you to create a custom health plan so your new companion receives the vaccinations and examinations required to get the best start in life.
Your puppy or kitten's first year of care will include:
- Physical Examinations: Your pet's lifetime of wellness starts with its first comprehensive physical exam. Puppies and kittens should have 3-4 exams between the ages of 8-16 weeks. These visits are important because they provide our veterinarians with an opportunity to assess your pet's overall health and administer vaccines.
- Vaccinations: Due to their developing immune systems, puppies and kittens must receive a series of properly staged vaccines. Because every puppy and kitten is unique, we tailor our vaccination recommendations based on their lifestyle and/or breed and according to the suggested medical guidelines.
- Diagnostic Testing: Puppies should be tested for intestinal parasites and kittens tested for intestinal parasites and Feline Leukemia/FIV.
- New Puppy Kit: Each client who brings in a new puppy for its first wellness exam will leave with a complete kit containing information of nutrition, crate training, and vaccine protocol. Also included is a book on puppy training by renowned trainer Ian Dunbar.
- Puppy Socialization Classes: Puppy socialization is a critical component of early development. Socialized puppies handle new situations and sounds better, have more positive interactions with non-family members and strange dogs and are less likely to develop future behavior problems. We feel so strongly about this that we offer monthly puppy socialization classes at no charge!
- Additional Recommendations: Your veterinarian will also discuss and recommend other services, such as spaying, neutering and microchipping, nutritional counseling.
Parasite Prevention and Control
Parasites can be real pests. Both external (fleas, ticks) and internal (heartworm, hookworm, whipworms, tapeworms, roundworm) parasites can cause problems for your pet and your family. Prevention is the best approach to eliminating these pests. Please ask a staff member at MapleShade Animal Hospital for the best way to prevent parasite problems in your pet.
Heartworm Disease
Spread by mosquitoes, heartworm disease is a serious condition. Fortunately, preventive medications exist to prevent heartworm disease in your beloved companion. The veterinarians at MapleShade Animal Hospital recommend monthly heartworm preventatives for both dogs and cats.