Wellness Care

Regular annual exams are essential for maintaining your pet’s health and well-being. At Hanover Animal Hospital, we recommend yearly check-ups for both cats and dogs, regardless of age or health status. These exams help catch potential issues early, ensuring a longer, healthier life for your furry friend.

What’s Included in a Yearly Exam?

  • Comprehensive Physical Exam: We’ll check your pet from head to tail, including skin, coat, eyes, ears, teeth, and more.

  • Vaccination Updates: We’ll make sure your pet’s vaccines are current to protect them from preventable diseases.

  • Parasite Control: We’ll assess your pet’s risk for parasites like fleas, ticks, and worms and adjust preventive treatments as needed.

  • Blood Work & Lab Tests: Routine blood tests help us screen for early signs of diseases like kidney or liver issues, diabetes, and thyroid problems.

  • Nutritional & Weight Guidance: We’ll discuss your pet’s diet and weight management to keep them in tip-top shape.

  • Dental Health Check: Oral health is vital to overall wellness, and we’ll check for signs of dental disease.

  • Behavior & Lifestyle Discussion: We’ll discuss any behavioral changes or concerns, helping you manage and address them early.

RABIES: required by law and good for one year the first time it’s given, and if updated within the next year, the next shot will be good for three years

DISTEMPER: a yearly vaccine to protect your pet from Distemper, Parvo, and Lepto; the Lepto portion may be removed if your dog is allergic

BORDETELLA: a vaccine that protects against kennel cough and is given yearly — or every six months if your dog visits a groomer or is boarded frequently

LYME DISEASE: An important vaccine to consider since Lyme disease has become a common occurrence in our area. Ask our staff or Doctors for more information on getting your dog protected.

FECAL ANALYSIS: Yearly fecal exams are important to identify intestinal parasite eggs which can cause diarrhea, weight loss, and anemia.

HEARTWORM TEST: Regular heartworm tests are important to identify those patients who may develop heartworms because of poor owner compliance or in the unlikely event that manufacturing defects may occur.

For Dogs:

For Cats:

RABIES: required by law and good for one year the first time it’s given, and if updated within the next year, the next shot will be good for three years

DISTEMPER: a yearly vaccine that protects against Feline Distemper

FELINE LEUKEMIA: yearly vaccine for the FeLV virus that can be spread between cats through bites; a Feline Leukemia test is recommended for all cats with questionable backgrounds. Cats who roam outdoors or indoor cats who live with other cats who may wander outside should be vaccinated against feline leukemia.

FECAL ANALYSIS: Outdoor cats who may hunt are at risk for picking up a variety of intestinal parasites and should have annual fecal evaluations performed.