Veterinary Wellness Exams for Your Pet

At Greater Annapolis Veterinary Hospital, keeping your pet in great shape is our highest priority and the routine yearly wellness examination is very important. This exam gives us a chance to get to know your pet both medically and socially.

Annual Testing

The incidence of tick-borne diseases and heartworms is significant in Maryland. Each year during your pet’s wellness exam, we recommend a comprehensive blood screening for tick-borne diseases and parasites. We use the SNAP® 4Dx® test, which checks for:

• Heartworm disease
• Ehrlichiosis
• Lyme disease
• Anaplasmosis

Dogs and cats occasionally carry intestinal parasites that can be transferred to people and children in particular. So that we may test for intestinal parasites, we ask you to bring a stool sample. It will be sent to an outside laboratory that specializes in testing for Giardia, roundworms, whipworms, and hookworms.

Preventing Pet Parasites

The veterinarians at Greater Annapolis Veterinary Hospital will make sure that your pet is well enough to be given any vaccinations that are due at the time of the exam. We recommend a monthly heartworm preventive medication, as well as flea and tick treatments. For cats and kittens, we recommend and prescribe Revolution®, a topically applied medication that prevents and controls heartworm disease, fleas, hookworms, roundworms, and ear mites. For dogs, there are a few more options. After we review your dog’s lifestyle, we will recommend the best preventive medication and treatment.

Pet Nutrition & Exercise

During the exam, we will advise you on nutrition choices for your pet and whether a change in diet is needed. We will also assess your pet’s body conditioning score. Many pets can become obese and need to have a restricted diet. We’ll discuss exercise with you and give you tips for working with your pet.

With these regular examinations, Greater Annapolis Veterinary Hospital’s veterinarians are able to monitor your pet’s health. We will show you what health problems to look for and listen carefully to your questions and observations. Our goal is for your pet to have the best health and the best life possible.