Wellness Exams

As the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and regular wellness exams are the cornerstone of preventive healthcare for your pet. We recommend annual wellness exams for your pet, though more frequent exams are encouraged. During an exam, our veterinarians check your pet's eyes and ears, examine your pet's teeth and oral cavity, listen to the heart and lungs, look for swelling or unusual lumps and check the joints and muscles for signs of arthritis. Exams give us a complete, overall picture of your pet's health and are useful in detecting potential health problems before they become more serious. During an exam, we may also perform routine blood and urine tests as well as tests for internal or external parasites.

Exams are also a good time to discuss any behavior problems, health concerns or other issues with our veterinarians. We believe in working closely and communicating frequently with you to develop a comprehensive health plan for your beloved pet.

Vaccinations

Up-to-date vaccinations play a key role in your pet's health care. Thanks to advances in veterinary medicine, many diseases that once posed serious risks to dogs and cats can now be prevented through regular vaccinations.

At Ardmore Animal Hospital, we advocate annual vaccinations. We follow the vaccination protocols established by the American Veterinary Medical Association, the American Animal Hospital Association and the American Association of Feline Practitioners. We realize that not every pet requires the same vaccinations. Using these establised guidelines, we tailor a unique vaccination schedule for your pet based on his / her individual needs and unique lifestyle. In addition, we offer antibody titer testing for canine parvovirus and distemper. Dogs with satisfactory titer levels are believed to have good 'immunologic memory,' and not in need of further vaccination against the disease at that time.

Nutritional Counseling

Obesity has become a growing problem for pets as well as people. Infrequent exercise, coupled with a poor diet and too many treats, can lead to obesity. Much like humans, there are many problems associated with obesity in pets, from heart and liver disease to respiratory and orthopedic problems. Changing your pet's diet can help him or her lose weight. Whether your pet needs to lose weight or requires a special prescription diet program, our veterinarians and staff work with you to develop a nutrition and wellness plan for your pet.

Microchipping

Every year, millions of pets go missing and many never make it back home. Microchipping your pet is a simple, easy way to help prevent this tragedy. A microchip is a tiny device about the size and shape of a grain of rice. It is implanted beneath the pet's skin between the shoulder blades and stays there for the pet's entire life. This procedure is as easy and painless as a vaccination.

Each microchip has a unique number. This number, along with information about the owner and pet, are added to a national pet registry. Most veterinarians and animal shelters have devices for detecting and reading these implanted microchips. If a lost pet is found and the microchip is scanned, the registry is called and the owner of the pet is contacted.

Breed Identification Testing

Do you want to know know more about your mixed-breed dog's background? Ardmore Animal Hospital now offers DNA testing for mixed-breed dogs. Our hospital uses the Wisdom Panel MX test. Based on years of extensive research, this genetic test can identify your dog's breed mix from more than 130 AKC recognized breeds. Using a small amount of blood drawn from your pet, Wisdom Panel MX can produce a detailed report identifying the breeds detected in your dog's background. Knowing the breed make-up of your dog can provide insight into your pet's behavior and appearance, as well as help identify potential health problems associated with your dog's background.