Pet Wellness Services

As people who have dedicated our lives to the care of animals–and pet owners ourselves–we truly understand how important our animal companions are to each and every one of our clients. Your pet is a special, unique and important member of your family. This is why Bridletowne Warden Animal Hospital endeavors to be at the forefront of providing comprehensive care specifically designed to meet the particular needs of your pet. The basis of our promise to you and the foundation of your pet's health are found in the thorough practice of preventative care that includes wellness checkups, proper dental care–here and at home–and the application of appropriate vaccinations. We have extended appointments, accept walk-ins, routinely arrange follow-up calls to clients to report on test results and check on a patient's progress after an illness or surgery. We also can communicate with our clients in a number of languages, which include English, Cantonese, Mandarin, and Spanish.

In every sense, we are committed to making each client visit the best it can be.

Pet Wellness Exams

A regular physical examination is just as important for your pet as it is for you. Because your pet can't tell you how they feel from time to time, we recommend a complete physical examination at least once a year, though more frequent exams are encouraged. A routine examination provides your veterinarian with the opportunity to develop a picture of your pet's overall health as well as to spot potential issues before they become serious health concerns. It's an opportunity for you to ask your veterinarian important questions about your pet's health, habits and daily care. We will 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 each wellness exam our veterinarian will perform a "nose-to-tail" evaluation of your pet. We will examine his or her vision, hearing, heart and lung functions, test the joints and muscles, check for unusual lumps or growths on your pet's body, and more.

We will also create and provide you with a Pet Report Card, which lists health-related information about your pet such as ratings for general appearance as well as musculoskeletal, circulatory, respiratory, digestive, and neural system health. The Pet Report Card will list any concerns you might have about your pet during your visit, findings and plans for care, a recommended diet, list of preventative procedures performed or needed, and other advice to help you better care for your pet.

Wellness through the Life Stages

Maintaining the health of your pet is more than a once-a-year visit for a checkup. It includes understanding the needs of your pet as it transitions through its three major life stages– birth to one year, one to nine years, and then its senior years. At Bridletowne Warden Animal Hospital we follow a Health Maintenance Program designed to help you manage the health needs of your pet through these stages in order to promote optimal health. Our program consists of the following:

• Birth to One Year – The first year of a dog or cat's life requires special care in order to ensure that he or she grows and develops normally. This includes an initial wellness exam with appropriate vaccinations (even for pets that don't go outside), regular testing of stool samples, and a vitamin supplement for good nutritional health. For puppies we advise the start of medicines to prevent Heartworm, and arranging their first grooming session. Additionally, at six months of age we recommend spaying or neutering your pet.

• One Year to Nine Years – These years represent your pet's youth and midlife. As such, it is important to keep up with yearly wellness exams with boosters for vaccines (you may also decide to provide Kennel Cough, Leptospirosis, and Lyme disease vaccinations), regular stool tests, Heartworm tests in the spring with medication throughout the summer months, flea prevention, full dental exams, and regular grooming.

• Nine Plus Years – Dogs and cats in their senior years may be a bit less active, but they are very satisfying companions. They require additional veterinary care in order to keep them healthy and to detect early signs of treatable disease. This is all the more true since their metabolism slows and they are more susceptible to a variety of cancers. We still recommend yearly wellness exams, vaccination boosters, regular stool tests, grooming, Heartworm checks and medications, and dental exams. We also recommend a Geriatric exam tailored to your pet's age and condition, an individualized geriatric diet and vitamins, as well as routine screenings for growths and lumps on or just under the skin and unusual changes in your pet's habits.

Microchipping: Reliable Identification for Your Pet

Does your pet have a microchip? Each year, millions of pets go missing and many don't make it back home. Microchipping your pet is a safe, simple and effective way to prevent this tragedy. About the size of a grain of rice, identification microchips are encoded with your pet's vital information and implanted beneath your pet's skin, usually between the shoulder blades. Veterinary hospitals and animal shelters across North America are equipped with special scanners capable of reading these microchips. The information in the chip is used to reunite you with your pet.

Bridletowne Warden Animal Hospital uses the 24PetWatch microchip system, which includes an extensive Lost Pet Recovery Service. For our clients who travel internationally with their pets, we offer the AVID (American Veterinary Identification Devices) system, which is recognized throughout the Americas, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea.

The Laboratory

Performing preventative medicine as well as diagnosing emergent internal health issues requires the ability to perform a wide range of laboratory tests on blood, urine, feces, and biopsied tissue. Without timely access to precise laboratory test results–blood testing, biopsies, microscopic examinations, bacterial culture sensitivity, and more–it is difficult to make an accurate diagnosis or assessment of your pet's health.

At Bridletowne Warden Animal Hospital we have a complete in-house laboratory. In most cases, our sophisticated instruments and diagnostic capabilities allow us to receive results that day.

The Pharmacy

In numerous acute or chronic conditions, medication is required to cure or alleviate symptoms. At Bridletowne Warden Animal Hospital we believe that timely and convenient access to these medications is an important aspect of caring for your pet. For this reason, we maintain a comprehensive pharmacy.

Not only does our pharmacy mean you don't have to wait for important medicines for your pet, but there is a direct line of communication between the examination room and the pharmacy window. Each medication becomes part of your pet's medical record, which reduces the chance for errors and enhances our ability to monitor its use and results.