Pet Wellness Care

Preventive Health Care

When it comes to keeping your pet healthy, prevention is key. Diseases and chronic conditions in their early stages are easier to treat and the result is greater quality of life for your pet. We recommend at least two wellness exams each year for your pet, which is the equivalent of one exam every 3-and-a-half years in human time.

During each wellness visit, we thoroughly examine your pet. Your pet's heart and lungs are evaluated, his or her eyes and ears are examined, we examine your pet's mouth and teeth, check for signs of tumors, skin conditions and problems with the joints and muscles, and palpate your pet's abdomen for signs of swelling and abnormalities. As part of your pet's complete physical examination, we also perform various laboratory tests. These include fecal examination for detecting internal parasites, blood tests for detecting heartworm, and general blood screenings for identifying potential medical problems and conditions. It is our goal that your pet remain in such good health that we see him or her only for wellness visits.

When you bring your pet in for an exam, please inform us of any changes in behavior or if he or she is exhibiting unusual symptoms. You are your pet's greatest ally when it comes to healthcare and keeping track of any lifestyle or behavior changes can help us detect diseases and chronic conditions before they start.

Vaccinations

Vaccinations are an integral part of your pet's preventive health care plan. Many diseases that were once fatal to pets can now be prevented easily through the use of vaccinations. We understand that all pets are different and require different vaccinations. We administer all the canine and feline vaccinations that are needed for a safe life in our community. We recommend annual or semi-annual vaccinations based on your pet's lifestyle, risk level and other factors.

Microchipping

Identification tags and sturdy collars are a good first step toward making sure your pet returns home, but sometimes, they're not enough. A microchip is a safe, easy method of helping ensure you and your pet are reunited if he or she is lost. About the size and shape of a grain of rice, a microchip is implanted beneath your pet's skin, usually between the shoulder blades. Each microchip is encoded with a unique number that corresponds to information about your pet in a national pet database. Veterinary hospitals and animal shelters across the country are equipped with special scanners capable of detecting and reading microchips. If your pet is lost, his or her microchip is scanned and the information it contains is used to reunite you and your best friend.

Cherokee Animal Clinic uses the HomeAgain microchip system. Please ask a staff member for details about microchipping your pet.

Cancer Treatment

A diagnosis of cancer can be frightening. However, most pets respond extremely well to cancer treatments. Cherokee Animal Clinic offers chemotherapy for both cats and dogs. Pets do not experience the same side effects from chemotherapy that humans do, and most pets go on to lead long and healthy lives long after their cancer is gone.

Therapy Laser Treatments

Drug-free, surgery-free and pain-free relief for your pet–that is the goal of Therapy Laser treatments. This specialized laser unit is used to treat chronic aches and pains, such as arthritis, as well as everyday disorders, such as lick granulomas and chronic ear infections. Be sure to ask how your pet can benefit from this new technology at your next visit.