Medicine and Wellness

Wellness Exams

Regular wellness exams are the key to keeping your pet healthy. We recommend all pets undergo an annual "nose to tail" wellness exam, though more frequent exams are encouraged. As the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and frequent exams can help spot health problems in your pet before they become expensive to treat and potentially life-threatening. During an exam, we examine your pet's nose, eyes and ears, check your pet's teeth and oral cavity, listen to your pet's heart and lungs, carefully examine the skin and coat for any unusual lumps or swelling, palpate the abdomen and muscles and perform an orthopedic evaluation of the bones, joints and back.

Your pet is unique and we work closely with you to develop a wellness program that is specific to your pet's lifestyle and needs. In addition to physical exams, your pet's wellness program also includes parasite testing, heartworm and flea control and specialized blood tests for all life stages.

Immunizations

Preventing illness is one of the building blocks of your pet's overall health. Recent advances in veterinary immunology have made it easy to protect your pet from most major infectious diseases. Many immunizations and preventive treatments are available today that did not exist a decade ago. While vaccines are important, we realize that not every pet requires the same vaccinations. That's why we tailor vaccine schedules based on the individual needs and unique lifestyles of each pet.

Our immunization programs are based around the most current research and guidelines recommended by the American Hospital Association and the American Veterinary Medical Association. In general, we recommend our canine patients receive immunizations against distemper, hepatitis and parvovirus. After the first series of immunizations are administered, we recommend vaccinations every three years, beginning at one-and-a-half years of age. Rabies vaccine is administered every three years, and leptospirosis and bordetella vaccines are given yearly. For cats, we recommend immunizations against distemper, rhinotracheitis and feline calici virus. After the first series are completed, we recommend vaccinations every three years, beginning at one-and-a-half years of age. Feline leukemia vaccine is administered every three years and rabies vaccine is given yearly. We encourage you to discuss immunization options for your pet with our veterinarians and our medical staff.

Geriatric Care

It may seem like only yesterday that your pet was a playful puppy or frisky kitten, but pets are considered "senior citizens" around seven or eight years of age. Like you, your pet's medical needs change as he or she grows older. At Park Animal Hospital, we have developed a comprehensive senior wellness program for pets entering their golden years. The key to keeping your older pet healthy is preventive care. Regular wellness exams, blood, urine and parasite testing plus other preventive measures can help spot potential health risks before they become chronic and difficult to treat. Our veterinarians and staff work with you to develop a wellness plan that takes into account your pet's unique needs and lifestyle.

Emergency Care

If your pet requires emergency care outside of regular hospital hours, we refer clients to All Animals Emergency Hospital, located one block away from Park Animal Hospital. Please call them at 415-566-0531 for more information and directions.

All Animals Emergency Hospital
1333 9th Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94122
415-566-0531