Pet Wellness Services
What stands out most when you visit Hearthstone Animal Clinic is our desire to provide your pet with the best personalized care possible within a practice that has a family oriented atmosphere.
The basis of our model of care is prevention. As medical professionals we know that the best means to maintain your pet’s health and wellbeing as well as to minimize the lifetime cost of care is through an individualized preventative care plan. This is why we recommend thorough wellness exams, appropriate vaccines, proper dental care, lost pet microchip ID, and nutritional counseling.
For some pets, it may be a good idea to perform DNA testing for breed identification while for others behavioral counseling will help strengthen the human/animal bond. However, no matter your pet’s preventative care needs, our facility and services are designed to provide high-quality care through each age and stage of his or her life.
High-quality preventative medicine also includes strong client/doctor communication. It is important that we respect your thoughts, opinions and concerns as well as share our veterinary knowledge with you. In fact, client education is something we emphasize and our entire health care team is committed to providing personal attention to the unique concerns of each of our clients.
We also recognize that our pets may become ill or suffer an injury during their lifetime. A preventative care regimen can reduce the likelihood of illness as well as help identify a wide range of possible illnesses at an early and treatable stage. We are also supported by a range of diagnostic equipment, state-of-the-art surgical suite and a network of board certified veterinary specialists when necessary.
Hearthstone Animal Clinic understands the special role your pet plays in your family and is dedicated to becoming your partner in your pet’s health care. Our clinic motto is We treat you and your pet like part of our family, which is something our many clients would say we live up to each and every day.
Please take a moment to go through our services and learn why we believe they are important to the care of your pet. Then feel free to give us a call to set up an appointment or speak with a member of our staff.
Your Pet's Wellness Exam
An ounce of prevention is most certainly worth a pound of cure when it comes to keeping our pets healthy and limiting the lifetime cost of care.
As medical professionals, Hearthstone Animal Clinic knows that the cornerstone of any preventative care program for your pet is a regular and thorough wellness exam. A nose-to-tail medical exam will allow your veterinarian to assess the health of your pet, notice potential signs of trouble at an early and easily treatable stage, and offer important information on the care of your specific type and breed of pet.
A wellness exam also provides you with an opportunity to ask any questions you may have about the health and care of your pet.
In all, routine wellness exams are an important piece of your pet’s preventative health care plan.
When you bring your pet to Hearthstone Animal Clinic, your veterinarian will:
Examine your pet’s lungs – There are a number of health issues that can be detected by listening to your pet’s lungs. These include respiratory infections, obstructive diseases and other pulmonary issues.
Check your pet’s heart – Your veterinarian can tell a lot about the health of your pet’s heart by listening for murmurs and other irregular heart beat patterns through a stethoscope. Identifying an irregular beat or indications of obstruction can lead to early diagnosis and treatment.
Take a look at the teeth and oral cavity – Proper oral health is important for maintaining the overall systemic health of your pet because these infections can enter the blood stream and infect other areas of the body. Dental disease is also one of the most common health issues in pets as well as one of the most preventable.
Look at your pet’s eyes – Ocular conditions such as glaucoma are relatively common in older pets and, as with other vision-related issues, can be well treated when discovered early.
Examine the ears – Infections, ear mites, low-grade allergies and other related health issues are relatively common in companion animals. It is relatively easy for your veterinarian to take a look inside the ears to see if there are any indications of ear disease.
Examine the lymph nodes, abdomen and skin – Your veterinarian will look for any unusual bumps or swellings as well as skin discolorations, lesions, and hair loss, which can indicate the presence of dermatological conditions or even systemic illness such as metabolic diseases.
Palpate joints and muscles – Arthritis and other orthopedic issues are relatively common in companion animals, especially those older than about six years of age. However, early detection and treatment can help relieve pain and offer your pet many more active years.
Lab testing – While your veterinarian’s four senses are good at helping detect a number of health issues, laboratory testing allows us to evaluate the function of internal organs, blood, and other systems. These tests are critical for uncovering underlying disease processes that otherwise would remain unnoticed until they cause serious symptoms in your pet.