Preventative Care
Preventative Care
Preventative Care
At Alliston Veterinary Services, we believe that it is much easier to prevent diseases than treat them. We also believe that every patient is an individual and has a unique set of circumstances that may inform us of their specific preventative care needs. We may consider factors including breed, age, lifestyle, health status, diet, reproductive status, and even the accompanying human preference. We believe that medicine is not a “one size fits all” practice. As such, each patient will receive a tailored approach to best meet his or her preventative care needs.
We take a team-oriented approach, aiming to educate and empower you, our clients, to make the most educated decisions regarding your pets’ care based on a variety of factors.
Vaccination
Vaccines offer protection against major viral and bacterial diseases that cats and dogs may be exposed to. Your veterinarian will set up a vaccination program for your pet to provide protection for the diseases of concern in your area. Kittens and puppies often require an initial vaccination with follow-up booster vaccines to ensure they are well protected against diseases.
Following a proper vaccination schedule will help to ensure that you are doing your part to keep your new friend healthy. Additionally, we recommend that all dogs and cats be placed on a monthly parasite preventative and be tested bi-annually for parasites.
Deworming
Internal parasites cause a number of issues if not treated for. Poor growth in puppies/kittens can be a result of a large parasite burden.
Internal GI parasites utilize the nutrients in the puppy’s/kitten’s food for their own growth. The puppy’s/kitten’s tend to grow poorly, have poor coat and skin (dry, brittle fur and dry, flaky skin), and certain types of internal parasites can also cause damage to the intestinal tract as they latch on.
Nutritional Consultations
Alliston Veterinary Services offers prescription diets and nutritional counseling for your pets. Why is this important? Pets are living longer, healthier lives than ever before, largely due to our expanded knowledge regarding the importance of proper nutrition to overall health. Nutrition is the biggest health variable controlled by a pet’s caregiver.
During your pet’s comprehensive physical examination, we can evaluate his or her body condition and give recommendations based on what we see. We can offer nutritional counseling appropriate for the life stage of your pet, illness-related diets, weight loss, and allergy-related food concerns.
Some pets have more serious nutritional challenges or chronic conditions that can benefit from a special diet. Pets with liver disease, intestinal problems, bladder and kidney stones, renal failure, food allergies, and diabetes can lead healthier lives on these foods.
For most pets, our recommendations include information on proper serving size and other feeding strategies to maintain optimal body weight and nutritional health. We also help you understand the claims made by pet food producers so you can make the most informed choice.
We carry the full line of Veterinary recommended Dog and Cat foods.