Pet Wellness Services
As pet owners and people who have dedicated our lives to the care of companion animals, Arnold Veterinary Hospital staff know how important your pet is to you and your family. We also understand that you will not hand over the care of your pet to just anybody. It is important that your pet’s veterinarian represents not only the very best of modern veterinary care, but the very best customer service as well.
This is why our hospital offers comprehensive, state-of-the-art care for your dog or cat by medical professionals who respect and value your concerns, questions and opinions.
Our model of care is based on the fact that the best means to protect your pet’s wellbeing while keeping the lifetime cost of care low is through preventative care. This includes appropriate vaccines, thorough wellness exams, dental care, dietary counseling, microchip lost pet ID, flea and tick control, and more.
Should your pet become ill, we are able to provide high-quality diagnostic, internal medicine, and surgical services as needed. If your veterinarian determines your pet would benefit from the care of a specialist, we maintain close working relationships with the best specialists in our area that cover a wide range of medical modalities.
Providing superior service to our clients requires being good at communicating and sharing our medical knowledge with you in a way that is respectful and friendly. Our medical knowledge, deep and wide as it may be, is of little service to our clients if we do not share it. In fact, this is an area of our practice that we strive each day to perfect. We want our clients to feel that we are a warm and welcoming home for the care of their pets.
Please take a look at the services we have to offer, why we believe they are important to the health of your pet and feel free to give us a call at (410) 757-7645 to set up an appointment or ask a question.
Your Pet’s Wellness Exam
Because our pets can’t tell us how they feel, a regular physical examination is a very important piece of your pet’s health care. We recommend a complete nose-to-tail physical examination at least once a year, though more frequent exams are encouraged.
A routine examination provides you and your veterinarian with the opportunity to develop a picture of your pet’s overall health as well as to spot potential medical issues before they become serious health concerns. It's also an opportunity for you to ask any important questions you may have about your pet’s health, habits and daily care. We also use this time to inform you about home healthcare for your pet and offer important advice and new information on the care of your particular type and breed of animal.
During your pet’s wellness checkup, your veterinarian at Arnold Veterinary Hospital will:
Listen to your pet’s heart – Early signs of cardiac disease such as heart murmurs and abnormal heart beat patterns known as arrhythmias can be heard through a stethoscope. Discovering these initial indicators of trouble ahead can lead to identifying and treating the underlying condition before it becomes a more serious health threat.
Listen to your pet’s lungs – Health issues such as infections, obstructive diseases and other problems can be detected by listening to your pet's lungs through a stethoscope. The doctor can also assess the overall pulmonary health of your pet.
Check your pet’s teeth and oral cavity – Examining your pet's teeth and mouth is an important part of preventing dental disease, which is one of the most common health concerns in pets. Very young animals, such as kittens and puppies, also need to be checked to ensure they are developing an appropriate bite and that they are losing their baby teeth at the right time. We also take the time to discuss proper home dental care with you.
Evaluate your pet’s vision – All diseases follow relatively predictable processes and if found early can be more easily treated. Ocular conditions, which can also be prevented through regular care and screenings, are no exception.
Look into your pet’s ears – As with dental disease, ear disease is relatively common in many types of pets. Issues such as low-grade allergies, swimming or bathing, reactions to certain foods, mites and other parasites can all cause and contribute to otitis or ear disease. Though you may feel this is an area that can be well-handled at home, the fact is that many ear diseases are difficult to detect and require medical treatment.
Palpate the lymph nodes, abdomen and skin – By feeling the skin, we are looking for unusual lumps or swellings as well as evaluating for skin discolorations, lesions or patterns of hair loss or thinning. These can indicate the presence of more systemic problems, especially metabolic diseases, which most commonly occur in middle-aged animals.
Palpate joints and muscles – By examining the joints, legs and other areas of the body, we are able to evaluate for swollen joints, decreased muscle tone and variations in muscle size between the limbs. We also observe your pet's gait for developmental issues. In puppies, we look for early indications of hip or elbow problems. For older pets, we look for signs of arthritis, which can be well-treated if found early.
Lab work – A complete physical includes a heartworm test, parasite screening, and should include a full blood workup. Not only can a full chemistry panel and complete blood count identify the presence of underlying disease processes, but these tests help create a baseline should your pet become ill between routine examinations. Additionally, blood work is necessary if your veterinarian recommends a dental cleaning, removal of skin masses, or any other procedure that requires anesthesia.