HEALTH AND WELLNESS

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Pet Preventative Care

As with our own health, prevention is always better than treatment. Our goal is to keep your pet from getting sick, or discover disease processes early when they are manageable. We recommend and provide annual or biannual examinations, vaccinations, heartworm/flea/tick prevention, and routine laboratory testing including fecal parasite exams, heartworm testing, tick-born disease testing, viral testing in cats and other diagnostics depending on the animal’s age and health status.

Your Pet’s Annual Wellness Exam

Wellness examinations in pets are our opportunity to evaluate your pet’s medical history and discuss health risks associated with their activities and lifestyle. We are also able to record what is normal for your pet when they are healthy so we’ll be able to recognize differences when they are ill. Similarly, having baseline blood sample results allows us to evaluate changes over time. After discussing each pet’s situation, we can work together to formulate the appropriate vaccination schedule, diet, exercise routine, and parasite preventative. As pets’ activities, health, and needs change with time and age, it is important to review and adjust our plan to help ensure long-term wellness.

Vaccinations

Dogs

  • DAPP: This is the core dog vaccine, protecting against distemper, adenovirus, parvovirus, and parainfluenza. Puppies need a series of vaccines 3-4 weeks apart until they are at least 16 weeks of age. After the initial series, the vaccine booster is administered in one year, then every 3 years.
  • Bordetella: Commonly referred to as ‘kennel cough’, this vaccine should be administered to any puppies or dogs that will come into contact with other dogs. A booster is given every 6-12 months.
  • Leptospirosis: This vaccine is given to any dogs who will be potentially exposed to fresh water streams or areas where mongoose, pigs, or rats are present. It is a bacteria transmitted through the urine of infected animals which can cause liver and/or kidney failure. A series of two vaccines is needed to start protection, and a booster is given annually.
  • Rabies: Since Hawaii is rabies-free, this vaccine is only needed for pets traveling outside Hawaii or living on a military base.

Cats

  • FVRCP:  This is the core cat vaccine, protecting against feline viral rhinopneumonitis, calicivirus, and panleukopenia. Kittens need a series of vaccines 3-4 weeks apart until they are at least 16 weeks of age. After the initial series, the vaccine booster is administered in one year, then every 3 years.
  • Feline Leukemia (FeLV):   Feline leukemia is a retrovirus is transmissible through direct contact with other cats, including sharing of food and water bowls. It should be given to any cat who goes outside or has housemates who go outside. The initial series consists of 2 vaccines, 3-4 weeks apart. Starting one year later, a booster should be given annually.
  • Rabies: Since Hawaii is rabies-free, this vaccine is only needed for pets traveling outside Hawaii or living on a military base.

Heartworm Preventative

Heartworm disease is caused by a parasitic worm and is transmitted to your dog through the bite of a mosquito. It is easily prevented with a monthly treatment, either oral or topical, and often combined with flea preventative. Testing to be sure your pet is not infected is required annually. This same blood test also checks for infection with tick-borne diseases.

Internal Parasites

Your pet may pick up eggs of internal parasites from eating grass or licking their paws after walking on infected areas. We recommend regular fecal parasite tests to be sure your pet is not infected. Some of the preventatives for heartworm disease also deworm for common intestinal parasites.

Benefits of Flea & Tick Preventatives for Pets

  • Reduce Skin Allergies, Infections & Hot Spots

    We commonly see hair loss, bacterial skin infections, and yeast infections in dogs secondary to flea allergies. Cats are more likely to have hair loss or tiny scabs around their tail or neck. By eliminating the possibility of reaction to fleas we can often reduce the incidence or level of skin allergies.

  • Prevent Tick-borne Diseases

    If your pet goes on hikes or in areas where ticks are present, a tick preventative is recommended as well. There are several parasites transmitted by ticks that cause severe disease in pets.

  • Prevent Flea Infestations in Your Home

    If a pet is sensitive or allergic to anything, they are usually also allergic to flea bites. Clients often don’t see the fleas because the pet is grooming or chewing and removing them. When a pet brings fleas into the house, they will hop off and lay eggs in the area leading to an explosion in numbers.

  • Prevent Tapeworms

    Ingestion of fleas while chewing or grooming leads to tapeworm infections. These are usually seen by the client as objects resembling grains of rice or sesame seeds under the tail. Medications are available to eliminate the tapeworms, but adequate flea prevention will also prevent tapeworm infestations.

Please call (808) 263-8863 for preventative medicine

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About Us

Kailua Animal Clinic is a full-service animal hospital serving pets and their families in Hawaii on the Windward side of Oahu since 1987.

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