Health Checks
Annual health checks are a great way to keep your pet in top shape. They also help your vet identify and treat any health concerns before they become serious.
During your visit your pet will be given a thorough examination which generally includes your pets weight, body condition, skin, fur, eyes, ears, teeth and mouth. Vaccinations and parasite control are also an important part of your pets health check. Your vet will ask lots of questions about your pets health and it is a great opportunity for you to chat about any concerns or questions you might have too such as nutrition, weight and behaviour. If your vet has any concerns he or she may suggest further testing, such as a blood test or x-ray.
Vaccinations
Vaccinations play an important role towards the long term health of our pets, particularly puppies and kittens. Generally an initial series of three vaccines are required for puppies and kittens over a 6 month period, followed by an annual booster to maintain immunity against disease. Your veterinarian will give your pet a full examination before administering any vaccinations.
We recommend that you schedule at least one yearly appointment with your vet, for a general health check and to ensure a current vaccination program is in place.
Microchipping
A microchip is a permanent method of identification for your pet. It contains a unique identification code that is recorded on a national database with details about the animal and owner. If your pet is lost, their microchip can be easily scanned by a vet, ranger or animal shelter so they can reunite you with your pet. The chip itself is small, about the size of a grain of rice and is implanted underneath your pets skin. It can be done during a normal consultation.
If your pet is not microchipped, please call us to make an appointment. If you find a lost pet, please contact us to arrange a scan so we can reunite microchipped pets with their owners.
Ultrasonography
An ultrasound scan uses high frequency sound waves to create live images of the inside of your pets body. Ultrasound scans are most useful for looking at problems associated with organs, vessels and tissues without surgical intervention. Ultrasounds also provide the most reliable form of pregnancy diagnosis and give accurate estimates for the anticipated birth date.
Ultrasounds are safe and painless. Areas of hair may have to be shaved and a water soluble gel will be applied between the transducer (probe) and the clipped area of your pets skin to be examined. Sedation or general anaesthesia may be required in some cases to keep your pet still enough during the examination.
Need an appointment?
Call us on 03 8784 4444 to book an appointment for your pet.
Or drop in any time during consultation hours at 357-359 Belgrave Hallam Road, Narre Warren North.
Dental Checks
The health of your pets teeth and gums has a significant impact on their quality of life. Unfortunately dental disease is a common health problem for many dogs and cats. All pets should have a regular dental check up and dental clean if required.
Unlike us, our pets won’t sit still and open their mouth to allow for a comprehensive examination. For this reason our pets need to have a general anaesthetic for a professional dental clean. Once anaesthetised, we can give their teeth a thorough cleaning using our specialised dental equipment. When your pet goes home we will also discuss methods of reducing dental disease in the future.
Regular attention to your pets teeth is the best way to prevent dental disease. Talk to our vets about how to keep your pets teeth and gums healthy.
Parasite Control
A parasite is an organism that lives in or on another species and benefits by deriving nutrients at the others expense. Common parasites in pets include fleas, ticks and worms. Our vets can help you determine the most suitable products and program to protect your pet from parasites.
A great time to discuss parasite control is during your pets annual health check. There are a number of treatments available such as tablets and chews, topical medications, annual injections, shampoos and sprays.
Radiography (x-rays)
Radiography is an imaging technique using x-rays to look at the internal structure of your pet. Radiographs are particularly useful for diagnosing diseases or defects involving bones, the chest or abdomen.
In order to have an x-ray taken, we require our patients to be motionless, which often requires sedation or general anaesthesia. After the x-ray has been studied by your veterinarian you will be given an explanation of what was detected and a treatment plan based on the diagnosis.
Clinical Pathology
Clinical pathology involves the laboratory evaluation of blood, fluids or body tissues in order to analyse and diagnose specific health conditions.
Our in-house laboratory allows our vets to perform a range of diagnostic tests to achieve accurate results within minutes. This is particularly important for ill patients or those needing emergency treatment. In some cases, more specialised tests may need to be performed by an external veterinary laboratory. These test results can take a bit longer to receive.
