At VCVC we subscribe to the truism that “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. Vaccination, parasite control, and screening laboratory testing can prevent a great many problems before they become extreme.
We offer wellness services for companion pets of all ages and stages of life. We understand that each pet has a unique set of needs based on lifestyle, home environment and age and are here to help you decide what is best for your pet to keep them safe and healthy.
These wellness services include:
- Puppy and Kitten Exam and Vaccination Series
- Adult Wellness Exams, Vaccinations, and Wellness Diagnostics
- Bi Annual Senior Wellness Exams, Diagnostic Panels, and Vaccinations
What vaccinations do you offer for both dogs and cats?
Dogs: We offer core vaccines included in the price of our wellness exam which include Rabies and Distemper - Parvo.
Additional vaccines we offer dependent on need and lifestyle of your dog are Leptospirosis, Canine Influenza, Lyme Disease, and Bordetella (required by most grooming and boarding facilities).
Cats: We offer core vaccines included in the price of our wellness exam which include Rabies and FVRCP (Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calcivirus, and Panleukopenia).
Additional vaccines offered dependent on need and lifestyle of your cat are FELV (Feline Leukemia Virus).
How many rounds of puppy or kitten vaccines does my pet need?
Most puppies and kittens need a series of three to four vaccine visits, spaced about 3 to 4 weeks apart, starting around 8 weeks of age and finishing by roughly 16 to 18 weeks. This spacing lets us catch your pet once the immunity they got from their mother wears off, so the vaccines can actually take hold.
After that, a booster follows around one year, then most core vaccines shift to every one to three years depending on your pet's needs.
How often does my dog need a heartworm test?
Most dogs need a heartworm test once a year, even if they're on year-round prevention. Annual testing catches the rare case where a dose gets missed, vomited up, or simply doesn't work as expected - heartworm disease can cause serious, sometimes irreversible damage before symptoms ever show up, so catching it early makes a big difference.
If your dog has ever missed doses of prevention or started prevention later than recommended, we may suggest testing sooner or more frequently to be safe.
What do you check during a wellness exam?
A wellness exam is a nose-to-tail check designed to catch small issues before they become bigger problems. During your pet's visit, we typically evaluate:
- Weight and body condition, to track changes that could signal diet, metabolic, or health issues
- Eyes, ears, and nose, checking for infection, discharge, redness, or growths
- Teeth and gums, screening for dental disease, tartar buildup, and oral pain
- Heart and lungs, listening for murmurs, arrhythmias, or abnormal breathing sounds
- Abdomen, gently feeling for organ size, masses, or signs of discomfort
- Skin and coat, looking for lumps, parasites, allergies, or infections
- Joints and mobility, checking for pain, stiffness, or signs of arthritis
- Lymph nodes, feeling for swelling that could indicate infection or illness
- Neurological function, assessing reflexes, coordination, and alertness
We'll also talk through nutrition, behavior, parasite prevention, and any vaccines or bloodwork due at that visit, so the exam covers more than just the physical check - it's a chance to catch up on your pet's overall health picture.