Louisville vet, veterinarian in Louisville, KY

Routine Preventative Care

Examinations
Younger pets should have a full physical exam annually. Older pets should come for an exam once every six months and sooner if a problem arises.

Vaccinations
Our vaccination protocol is customized to each pet's personal exposure and risk. We educate our clients about the various vaccinations available and then determine if the benefits of inoculation outweigh the risks. Routine vaccines for dogs include: Rabies, Distemper combo (distemper, parvovirus, adenovirus, hepatitis, and parainfluenza), Leptospirosis, Lyme, and Bordetella (Kennel Cough vaccine). Routine vaccines for cats include Rabies, Distemper combo (Panleukopenia, Calici, and Rhinotracheitis), and Leukemia.

Deworming and Fecal Checks
Parasitic zoonoses are diseases in humans caused by pet parasites. While we normally associate parasites, such as roundworms, tapeworms, and hookworms with cats and dogs, people can accidentally be infected with the same parasites. Regular fecal exams (twice yearly) to detect the presence of parasites in your pet and proper treatment is the best way to prevet parasitic disease in your pet and the possibility of zoonosis.

Routine Bloodwork All kittens should be tested for Feline Leukemia and Feline Immunodefiency Virus (FIV). We also see a number of heartworm positive dogs. For this reason, all dogs should be tested annually for heartworm disease. We also recommend annual comprehensive blood work for the following:

Preventative Medications
We recommend that all dogs be on yearly prevention for heartworm, fleas, and ticks. There is an increasing number of cats that have fleas that only go outdoors occasionally and some who never go outdoors. An added bonus for using the product "Revolution" on cats is that it also prevents earmites and heartworms. We sell a variety of preventatives and would be happy to help you determine which is best for your companion.