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What is Examined at a Pet Check-Up?

November 2, 2023

Pet Check-Ups at Our Animal Hospital

Jennifer S. Gill, DVM - Transit Animal Hospital West Seneca, NY

Every dog and cat need to go to a veterinary clinic or animal hospital for a pet check-up at least once a year. If you have concerns about your pet’s health at any other time throughout the year, you can also schedule an additional appointment for them. Here are some of the things that will be checked at your pet’s annual visit to the veterinary clinic for a pet check-up. 

 

Pet vaccinations - Pet vaccinations are an essential part of your pet’s annual pet check-up. Animal vaccinations are needed to keep your pet from catching the flu or colds from other animals, but also to have them ready to be dropped off at a pet boarding facility if you need to go away for work or vacation. Pet boarding facilities require any pets that stay with them to be up to date on all their vaccinations. 

 

Head to tail check - At their annual pet check-up your cat or dog will be checked from head to tail for any abnormalities. The head-to-tail check is crucial because veterinarians can catch serious illnesses like cancer from small lumps or bumps on your pet’s body. 

 

Blood tests - Typically your pet will only get blood work done if you or the veterinarian have a concern about your pet’s health. Otherwise, bloodwork will only be done occasionally to check for certain sicknesses or diseases. 

 

Parasite check - It is particularly important to give your pet medication to keep fleas and ticks away. In addition to that, there are pet vaccinations to keep some parasites away. Ask the veterinarian you take your dog or cat to about what vaccinations are available to protect your dog from parasites. 

 

Dental health - The staff at our veterinary clinic will check your pet’s gums and teeth to make sure there are no issues with them. It is necessary to get your pet’s teeth cleaned when they go to get groomed, or you can do it at home if you buy a toothbrush and toothpaste for your pet. 

 

Contact Transit Animal Hospital to schedule a pet check-up for your dog or cat. Our animal hospital is accessible to residents of West Seneca, Lancaster, Williamsville, Clarence, Cheektowaga, Depew, and Orchard Park, NY. 

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Veterinarian holding a sharp for a vaccine

Core Vs Non-Core Pet Vaccinations

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The Benefits of Spaying and Neutering Your Pets

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Our animal hospital, Transit Animal Hospital offers spaying and neutering services for pet owners in and around the Depew, NY area. Contact us to make an appointment today!
Black and gray kitten being checked with a stethoscope

The Importance of Pet Vaccinations

March 14, 2023
The biggest reason why you should vaccinate your pet is for their health and safety. Like humans, vaccines protect them from getting sick and possibly passing from serious illnesses. But there are a few other benefits of pet vaccinations as well, which include: Protecting other pets - When humans are sick and they go hangout with other humans, illnesses are spread from person to person. The same is true for animals, which is why vaccines are important to stay up to date with. Pet vaccinations will protect your dog and other dogs, so it’s a no brainer. Get annual pet vaccinations for your animals! Saving money - Paying for your sick pet to stay at an animal hospital and get the necessary medication to treat their illness is much more expensive than pet vaccinations. Save yourself time and money by getting your pet vaccinated annually to prevent them from getting sick during the year. Needed for pet boarding - Pet vaccinations are needed for a pet to be boarded. Any unvaccinated pets will not be allowed to stay at a pet boarding facility. To avoid running into this issue when you want to travel and need to board your pet, get your pet vaccinated every year at their vet appointment. Contact our animal hospital for more information about pet vaccinations. We want to help you keep your pet and the other animals they meet safe. Our services are accessible to West Seneca, Lancaster, Williamsville, Clarence, Cheektowaga, Depew, and Orchard Park, NY.
Black and gray cat lying on a couch

Reasons to Adopt a Cat from a Shelter

June 5, 2019
When you start to consider bringing a cat into your home, an animal shelter is a great option to adopt from. There are many reasons to adopt from a shelter. Unfortunately, there are far more homeless cats than there are adoptive families and the ASPCA estimates that 3.2 million cats enter animal shelters every year, but most of them never get adopted. There are so many positives that a shelter cat can bring into your life. Saving a life – Any shelter cat needs a stable home. When you adopt a cat from a shelter, it also opens a space for the shelter and rescue groups to take in another cat, potentially leading to more saved lives. Save money – Most shelters will include spay/neuter surgery, vaccinations, and viral tests in your adoption fee. This saves a lot of money when getting a new cat, as doing these procedures and providing vaccinations at the vet can be very costly. It is also common that shelters will even include food, litter, accessories, and toys. Personality of the cat is known – Since the cats in many shelters will interact with their caretakers and volunteers every day, the cat’s true personality starts to come through. Particularly with adult cats, you can find a companion with the type of temperament that you may be looking for. Good for your mental health – When you own a cat or any other pet, it has been shown to have positive effects on humans ability to cope with stress, anxiety, depression, and loneliness. Adopting a cat from a shelter can improve your sense of happiness and general well-being. If you have any questions about adopting a shelter cat, please contact Transit Animal Hospital!

Why Dental Health is Important for Dogs

May 2, 2019
Taking care of your dog’s oral hygiene can make all the difference when it comes to their comfort and health. While there are several dental care options available to choose from, keep in mind that anything you can do to help prevent plaque and tartar accumulation will make the difference. It is best to consider the following when determining how important it is to take care of your dog’s teeth: Periodontal Disease – Just like humans, dogs experience plaque buildup. This leads to the accumulation of bacteria and tartar along the dog’s gumline. Eventually, this will cause gum irritation and inflammation. Your dog might start to experience tooth loss, bad breath, and oral pain. Overall Health – When bacteria caused by plaque doesn’t just stay in your dog’s mouth, it will start to travel to other parts of the body. A few of the organs that are affected by the bacteria caused by the dental disease are primarily the heart and kidneys. Baby Teeth – Dogs lose their baby teeth just like humans. If you are not taking care of your dog’s dental needs, this might make the process of losing baby teeth quite painful. When you take care of your dog’s teeth while they are still a puppy, you’re helping ensure that they will have better dental health throughout every stage of their life. Professional Dental Care is Expensive – It is common that most people let nature take its course and don’t do anything about their dog’s oral health. Over time, if a dental health concern arises, you’re going to have to pay for it. This could entail professional cleaning, x-rays, tooth extraction, or medications. This could also include anesthesia and antibiotics. If you take care of their teeth now, you’re setting your dog up for better health in the future. Better Breath – It is no surprise that we prefer our dogs with fresh breath. When you take care of your dog’s teeth, it means less plaque, leading to safer kisses from them, too! You don’t want to end up getting sick just because your dog wants to show you how much they love you. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your dog’s dental health, please give Transit Animal Hospital a call today!
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