Preventive services support the long, healthy life of your tail-wagging bestie

At Bluestar Pet Hospital, our veterinarians and staff appreciate that references to preventive services as “treatments” are a bit of a misnomer. Preventive procedures and guidance at our facilities in St. Johns and Jacksonville, Florida are proactive; we are focused on preventing all the conditions that we can control and manage. Such a philosophy supports maintaining exceptional health. “Treatment,” however, is focused on restoring your pet’s health after conditions that threaten their overall well-being have been diagnosed. Obviously, we can’t control everything. But we work in partnership with our clients and their furry family members to avoid or delay the onset of disease or other life-altering problems. 

The all-important “well visit”

In their preventive health care guidelines, the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) recommends scheduling wellness visits at least once a year. They also note that, for many dogs, more frequent appointments may be appropriate. In fact, we at Bluestar include bi-annual comprehensive physical exams as part of all wellness plans for enrolled dogs (and cats). We describe these visits as a “tip-of-the-nose to tip-of-the-tail” examination. What we find during these ongoing visits serves as an important baseline about your pup’s or kitty’s health as they age to potentially discover new physical or cognitive challenges. 

Depending on what we find during these visits, the specific tests or recommended services and treatments can diverge greatly from pet to pet, as your buddy on four legs is as unique and one of a kind as your human family members! However, some services largely fall into the prevention category for all pets. They include: 

• Guidance on nutrition – Your furry pal’s diet is fundamental to their health and wellness. The right formulations sustain a healthy weight, promote weight loss, and positively influence blood sugar levels. Additionally, our vets have a special interest in diets and can advise on brands and products that break the cycle of food intolerance and allergies. 
• Dentistry – Our staff has considerable experience and interest in regular dental scaling and polishing to prevent periodontal disease (gum disease). Oral bacteria and inflammation not only threaten the health of your pet’s teeth, but germs can also travel through the bloodstream to other organs, where they can cause microscopic changes to the heart, liver, and kidneys. 
• Grooming – These services are vital to not only your pet’s appearance but to their health as well. Well-groomed pets have fewer ear infections and experience less itching and rashes. Nail clipping even promotes a healthy gait and mobility, and routine bathing and trims allow us to detect abnormalities such as masses that might otherwise grow unnoticed. 
• Spaying and neutering – Not only are our clients responsible pet owners and community stewards by controlling the pet population in this manner, but these procedures support the long and healthy life of their besties. For instance, consider how unaltered female dogs and cats are at increased risk of developing mammary gland cancers. 

Your pet’s health is also shaped by their environment and potential exposures to the likes of fleas, ticks, heartworms, and canine parvovirus. So, getting on a healthy schedule of vaccinations, preventives, and parasite and heartworm testing is a cornerstone of proactive veterinary care. Blood work, urinalysis, stool samples, X-rays, ultrasound, and other tests may also be ordered to provide insights into your pet’s overall health and to rule out suspected conditions. 

We’re happy to acquaint you with just a few of the many ways we partner with our clients to keep the joy in their pets’ lives and truly enjoy life to the fullest for as long as possible. Now, we look forward to getting to know you and your source of joy – your pup or cat! Call (904) 720-4275 to schedule an appointment at our St. Johns location or, if our Jacksonville location is more convenient, please call (904) 720-4272.

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