Pet Wellness Services
Pets First Animal Hospital is a full-service veterinary hospital dedicated to providing compassionate and extraordinary veterinary care for your beloved four-legged family members. As pet owners ourselves and people who have dedicated our lives to the care of companion animals, we have placed our focus on providing the best preventative medical care possible. Simply stated, preventing illness and disease is the best means to ensure the health and wellbeing of your pet as well as to minimize the lifetime cost of care.
This is why we offer thorough, nose-to-tail wellness exams, dental prophylaxis and appropriate vaccines for all of the animals we provide care for. These simply are the fundamentals of an effective preventative care plan. We also offer a wide range of health maintenance services such as behavior and nutritional counseling, alternative medicine, microchip lost pet ID, specialized senior and puppy/kitten packages, complete laboratory evaluations, and more. We also have a Pet Boutique in our hospital filled with veterinarian approved nutritional products, pet clothes, leads, toys, and treats.
Unfortunately, we also realize that some of our pets may experience a periodic illness or injury, which is why Pets First Animal Hospital is ready to meet any medical challenge. We have advanced diagnostic equipment such as radiographs and ultrasound, modern surgical suite, wide range of pain management drugs and delivery methods, and an extensive list of referral specialists covering a wide range of medical modalities: neurology, ophthalmology, oncology, physical therapy, and intensive care.
Please take a look through the services we offer in order to learn why we believe they are important to the health of your pet, and how we will meet the very high standards you have for your furry friend. We also invite you to give us a call at (719) 550-1744 to ask any questions or to set up an appointment.
Wellness Exams
You go to the doctor regularly, but has your pet had a recent exam?
Because our pets can’t tell us how they feel, a regular physical examination is a very important piece of your pet’s health care. We recommend a complete nose-to-tail physical examination at least once a year, though more frequent exams are encouraged, particularly for our geriatric patients.
A routine examination provides you and your veterinarian with the opportunity to develop a picture of your pet’s overall health as well as to spot potential medical issues before they become serious health concerns. It’s also an opportunity for you to ask any important questions you may have about your pet’s health, habits and daily care. We also use this time to inform you about home healthcare for your pet and offer important advice and new information on the care of your particular type and breed of animal.
During your pet’s wellness checkup, Pets First Animal Hospital doctors will individualize our recommendations to the age, health and lifestyle of the pet as well as the concerns of our client. We will also perform a thorough physical exam that includes the following:
Listen to your pet’s heart – Early signs of cardiac disease such as heart murmurs and abnormal heart beat patterns known as arrhythmias can be heard through a stethoscope. Discovering these initial indicators of trouble ahead can lead to identifying and treating the underlying condition before it becomes a more serious health threat.
Listen to your pet’s lungs – Health issues such as infections, obstructive diseases and other problems can be detected by listening to your pet’s lungs through a stethoscope. The doctor can also assess the overall pulmonary health of your pet.
Check your pet’s teeth and oral cavity – Examining your pet’s teeth and mouth is an important part of preventing dental disease, which is one of the most common health concerns in pets. Very young animals, such as kittens and puppies, also need to be checked to ensure they are developing an appropriate bite and that they are losing their baby teeth at the right time. We also take the time to discuss proper home dental care with you.
Evaluate your pet’s vision – All diseases follow relatively predictable processes and if found early can be more easily treated. Ocular conditions, which can also be prevented through regular care and screenings, are no exception.
Look into your pet’s ears – As with dental disease, ear disease is relatively common in many types of pets. Issues such as low-grade allergies, swimming or bathing, reactions to certain foods, mites and other parasites can all cause and contribute to otitis or ear disease. Though you may feel this is an area that can be well-handled at home, the fact is that many ear diseases are difficult to detect and require medical treatment.
Palpate the lymph nodes, abdomen and skin – By feeling the skin, we are looking for unusual lumps or swellings as well as evaluating for skin discolorations, lesions or patterns of hair loss or thinning. These can indicate the presence of more systemic problems, especially metabolic diseases, which most commonly occur in middle-aged animals.
Palpate joints and muscles – By examining the joints, legs and other areas of the body, we are able to evaluate for swollen joints, decreased muscle tone and variations in muscle size between the limbs. We also observe your pet's gait for developmental issues. In puppies, we look for early indications of hip or elbow problems. For older pets, we look for signs of arthritis, which can be well-treated if found early.
Lab work – A complete physical includes a heartworm test, parasite screening, and should include a full blood workup. Not only can a full chemistry panel and complete blood count identify the presence of underlying disease processes, but these tests help create a baseline should your pet become ill between routine examinations. Additionally, blood work is necessary if your veterinarian recommends a dental cleaning, removal of skin masses, or any other procedure that requires anesthesia.