Full Service Preventative Veterinary Care
At SJB Animal Care Center, we believe that prevention is the key to your pet's long-term health and happiness. Our Preventative Care page is dedicated to services and strategies designed to prevent illness before it starts, ensuring a healthier, happier life for your beloved companion. By focusing on preventative measures, we can detect potential health issues early, reduce the risk of serious illness, and maintain your pet's well-being through all stages of their life.
Our comprehensive approach includes a range of services from regular health check-ups and vaccinations to parasite control and nutritional counseling. Our experienced team is committed to working with you to create a personalized care plan tailored to your pet's individual needs, lifestyle, and risk factors.
Flea Prevention & Control
Fleas are more than just a nuisance for our beloved pets—they pose a range of issues, from mild irritation to potentially life-threatening situations. These tiny parasites not only cause relentless itching and discomfort but can also trigger allergic reactions in some animals. However, their impact doesn't stop there. Fleas are carriers of various diseases and can even transmit tapeworms, posing a significant threat to your pet's health.
It's not just dogs and cats that fall victim to these pesky pests. Fleas are opportunistic and can infest a variety of animals including ferrets, mice, and rats. Moreover, they aren’t limited to our furry friends; they can bite humans too, causing itchy welts and irritation.
We understand the distress these blood-sucking parasites can cause. That's why we're dedicated to assisting pet owners in preventing and eradicating flea infestations. Our expert team is equipped with the knowledge and resources to keep these pests at bay or effectively eliminate them if they've already infiltrated your home.
To safeguard your pet and home from the perils of fleas, reach out to us today. We offer tailored solutions to eliminate and control flea infestations, as well as comprehensive guidance on starting your pet on preventive measures. Don’t let these parasites compromise your pet’s well-being or disrupt your home's harmony. Take action now and let us help you create a flea-free environment for you and your beloved companion.
Heartworm Prevention
When they bite, mosquitoes can transmit heartworm infection. And those heartworms can wreak havoc on your dog or cat. These parasites can severely and sometimes fatally damage the heart, lungs, and blood vessels. Some pets may not show any signs of infection; in those that do, symptoms can vary widely.
In dogs, signs of heartworm disease can range from coughing, fatigue, and weight loss to difficulty breathing and a swollen abdomen (caused by fluid accumulation from heart failure). Canine heartworm infection can also lead to a life-threatening complication called “caval syndrome” (a form of liver failure); without prompt surgical intervention, this condition usually causes death.
Although often thought to not be susceptible to heartworm infection, cats can indeed get heartworms. Cats can suffer from a syndrome referred to as heartworm-associated respiratory disease (HARD); the symptoms can be subtle and may mimic those of asthma or allergic bronchitis. Signs of respiratory distress, such as rapid or difficult breathing, wheezing, and panting, are common. Other symptoms include coughing, vomiting (typically unrelated to eating), and loss of appetite or weight. Heartworm infection is more difficult to diagnose in cats than it is in dogs.
Treatment for heartworm infection is far more expensive than prevention—and it can actually kill your dog. There is no approved treatment for cats. Some cats spontaneously rid themselves of the infection; others might not survive it. And even one or two adult heartworms in a cat can cause serious problems.
Fortunately, there’s an easy way to keep your dog or cat safe: by administering monthly heartworm preventives. Most heartworm medications also protect your pet against other parasites, such as roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, ear mites, fleas, and ticks. We can recommend the best regimen of prevention for your pet.
Tick Prevention
Ticks are becoming more and more prevalent in North America, and they’re now being found in areas where people and pets didn’t previously encounter ticks. These parasites aren’t just a nuisance; they can cause serious—and sometimes deadly—diseases, including Lyme disease, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, babesiosis, ehrlichiosis, and tick paralysis. Contact us immediately if your pet starts coughing or has joint pain, trouble breathing, fever, weakness, or loss of appetite, weight, energy, or coordination.
The best method for keeping ticks off your pet is by keeping your dog or cat on a tick preventive. Even indoor-only pets are at risk because ticks can hitch a ride inside on your clothing or shoes. Tick preventives are safe and highly effective at controlling ticks and the diseases they carry. Call us to get your pet protected today!
Don’t panic if you find a tick on your dog or cat, even if your pet is on a preventive. Some preventives kill ticks after they’ve come in contact with your pet. Ticks can hide easily under your pet’s fur, so as an added measure of protection, we recommend checking your pet for ticks every time your pet comes in from outside. And don’t hesitate to ask us any questions you might have.
