Regular wellness exams are key in providing your pet with the preventative care he or she needs. At South Putnam Animal Hospital, we recommend annual or semi-annual wellness exams depending on your pet's age and overall health status.
A comprehensive physical exam can tell many things, like if your pet is healthy enough to receive necessary vaccines, as well as diagnose any potential health concerns. Many health problems, if caught early, can be prevented or treated with the least discomfort to your pet. Just think, each year of a dog or cat's life is equal to four human years. If your pet misses just one annual physical exam it would be as if you waited eight years to see your physician!
Vaccines are an important preventative measure you can take for the health of your pet. Health threats vary by geography, and lifestyles vary for each pet. That's why the veterinarians at South Putnam Animal Hospital will tailor an immunization program for your pet based on our local conditions and his or her lifestyle. We recommend that your pet visit us every year for a comprehensive exam. At that time, any necessary vaccines will be administered.
Generally, your pet can be vaccinated for the following diseases:
Dogs
Cats
*In the state of New York, pets are required by law to be vaccinated for Rabies. If you are unsure if your pet is current on their rabies vaccine, please give us a call at 845-628-1834.
Heartworm Preventative
We recommend giving your pet year-round preventative medication to protect against heartworm disease. Heartworm disease is a serious, and oftentimes fatal, disease transmitted by mosquitos. When a mosquito feeds on a dog who has this disease, the immature worms called microfilariae are taken in with the blood. After living in the mosquito for 10-14 days, the microfilariae can then be injected into another dog when the mosquito feeds again. Once injected into the dog's blood, the microfilariae travel to the heart and become adult worms.
All of this can be prevented! At South Putnam Animal Hospital, we carry chewable treats that should be given on a monthly basis. How can you start your dog on this preventative product? First, your pet must have had an exam within the past year. In addition, a heartworm test needs to be performed to ensure your pet is negative for heartworms prior to starting medication. Monthly preventives cannot treat pre-existing heartworm disease.
Flea & Tick Control
There are various products available to help prevent fleas and ticks from invading your pet and your home. We will work with you to develop a plan specific to your pet's needs and your particular environmental situation.
Intestinal Parasites
Early detection and continuous prevention are critical in protecting your pet against intestinal parasites. Present in virtually all areas of the United States, dogs and cats are commonly infected, and puppies and kittens face the highest infection rates. Symptoms are often minimal or non-existent. Common signs of intestinal parasite infestation include diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss, change in appetite, and skin irritation, itching, or scooting.
At South Putnam Animal Hospital, we recommend yearly fecal testing and monthly preventative products for all pets. Intestinal parasites are found in dirt, grass, and sand. Pets become infected by ingesting larvae from a contaminated environment, consuming infected prey or fleas, and larval penetration of the skin. Eggs can survive in your pet's feces for months! Infection is as simple as the debris we track into our homes on our shoes. This means even indoor pets need annual testing and monthly preventives!
Cats that are hunters will have a much higher risk for intestinal parasite infection. For this reason, we also recommend regular deworming throughout the year.
We recommend all pets wear proper identification tags. Still, collars can easily fall off and tags can become unreadable. Help your pet find their way back home with a lifetime of protection! Microchipping is permanent, and easily performed at South Putnam Animal Hospital.
Microchips are a pet identification system which involves injecting a tiny microchip (about the size of a grain of rice) under the skin beneath the shoulder blades, much in the same way a vaccine is administered. Each chip has a unique 10-digit code that is registered with a recovery program.
When a lost pet arrives at a shelter or animal hospital, a special, harmless, hand-held scanner is passed over the pet's shoulder blades and reads the identification code of the microchip below the skin. The shelter can then contact the recovery program who in turn contacts you!
From pediatric to geriatric, each pet has specific nutritional needs, and we can help you determine what is best for your pet! Nutritional needs are based on your pet's health history and the findings of his or her latest physical examination. Some pets require a special prescription diet to help with illness and/or disease. These diets are prescribed and specially ordered by the veterinarian. Food orders are placed weekly and are delivered within 2-3 days for your convenience.
We understand how frustrating behavioral issues can be, and we want you and your pet to be happy together! From deciding on which breed of dog is right for your family, to all aspects of puppy training, we can help. At South Putnam Animal Hospital, we have a collection of videos on training techniques available to clients for loan. Our team is knowledgeable on puppy socialization, obedience training, and proper canine manners to help you and your puppy have a positive puppyhood experience.
At South Putnam Animal Hospital, we have a collection of videos on training techniques available to clients for loan. Our team is knowledgeable on puppy socialization, obedience training, and proper canine manners to help you and your puppy have a positive puppyhood experience.
We can advise you on your older dog as well. We believe that the old adage is false! You can teach an old dog new tricks, and we can advise you on how to do so. We also have a selection of dog behavior topics that may be the perfect solution for your dog's behavioral issue, and we can supply you with a list of local obedience trainers who offer group classes and in-home training.
Located off of Route 6 and Route 6N, just minutes from Lake Mahopac and Mahopac High School.
Phone: 845-628-1834