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Shores Animal Hospital
Shores Animal Hospital
Schedule Your Appointment
352-289-8540
Shores Animal Hospital Logo
Schedule Your Appointment
352-289-8540
    Shores Animal Hospital Logo
  • Our Hospital
    • About Shores
      Animal Hospital
    • Meet the Team
    • Hospital Tour
    • Payment Solutions
    • Client Forms
    • Career
      Opportunities
    • Our Videos
  • Vet Care
    • Preventive
      Care
    • Wellness Exams
    • Vaccinations
    • Puppy/Kitten And Senior Pet Care
    • Early Detection Testing
    • Parasite Prevention And Control
    • Nutritional Counseling
    • Pharmacy
    • Microchipping
    • Alachua County
      Pet License Tags
    • Pet Wellness Plans
    • General
      Medicine
    • Pet Allergies And Dermatology
    • Dental Care
    • Blood And Lab Test
    • Digital Radiography / X-Rays
    • Ultrasound
    • Pain Management
    • Surgery
    • Pet Emergency Services
    • Specialty
      Vet Services
    • Laser Therapy
    • Blood and Plasma Transfusions
    • International
      Health Certificates
    • Equine Health
    • Boarding
    • Grooming
  • Resources
    • Blogs
    • News &
      Promotions
    • Pet Resources
    • FAQs
  • Home Delivery
  • Pet Resort & Spa
  • Reviews
  • Contact

"Improving lives through personalized care. We treat you like family and each patient like our own pet."

"Improving lives through personalized care. We treat you like family and each patient like our own pet."

"Improving lives through personalized care. We treat you like family and each patient like our own pet."

Why Does My Pet Need Annual Exams?

As a pet parent, you know your dog or cat's most coveted snacks, favorite window perches, or places to go on walks. You even know which side of your bed they like to sleep on! However, you can't see when your pet's kidneys start to slow down or recognize if their joints are beginning to ache because of hip dysplasia or knee pain. Your pet's veterinarian can help you by detecting a problem in its early stages - when it's more likely to be treatable or resolved with less expense, less difficulty, and better success.

Wellness exams (every six months to once per year) are essential to help detect any changes that come with aging, such as arthritis and dental disease. During those pet wellness exams, your vet can go over important life stage changes like appropriate dietary recommendations and how to maintain an appropriate active lifestyle for your pet. Parts to the wellness exam include listening to the heart, feeling the abdominal organs, checking hips and knees, and also checking their dental health: teeth and gums. Blood work often plays a vital role in evaluating organ function and aids in detecting infection, anemia, diabetes, kidney failure, thyroid disease and other medical conditions.

Cats and dogs age at a much more rapid rate than we do, and it is vital to play a proactive role in your pet's health. Cats, in particular, tend to live through extended senior stages starting as early as about eight years old and going on into their geriatric stages at around 13-15 years old. Cats are very good at hiding when they don't feel well, so often they don't come to the veterinarian's office until they are very sick.

Dogs, depending on their breeds or mixes, can have specific genetic predispositions, and age at very different rates. A Chihuahua becomes a senior around 8-9 years old, whereas a Great Dane becomes a senior around 4-5 years old. Your veterinarian can help tailor your specific dog's wellness screening based on what type of dog you have and your dog's age. For example, owners of Bulldogs, Mastiffs, Dobermans, and Cocker Spaniels should consider doing regular EKG's and chest X-Rays in their senior years to help detect early changes in their hearts. These breeds can be predisposed to cardiac conditions such as Mitral Valve Disease or Dilated Cardiomyopathy. Owners of senior Golden Retrievers may want to consider abdominal X-Rays to detect that breed's predisposition for developing splenic tumors. Ask your vet next time you go in, based on what type of dog you have, if he or she has any specific suggestions of wellness screening tests or preventative measures that you can take to help keep your dog healthy and safe.

Just like with our own health, it is always best to be proactive and take preventative measures to help your pet live a comfortable and happy life. Routine pet wellness exams with your veterinarian can help you play an active role in your pet's longevity. After all, we want to be together to experience life's adventures for as long as we possibly can.

Call Shores Animal Hospital for pet wellness exam appointments with our veterinarians in Gainesville, FL today.

Latest Blogs

August 1, 2019

Why Does My Pet Need Annual Exams?

June 28, 2019

Keep Your Pets Safe And Healthy This Summer | Vet in Gainesville FL

May 30, 2019

When Your Pet’s Itching Is Driving You Crazy | Gainesville, FL

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Shores Animal Hospital
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Animal Hospital Hours

  • Monday:
    7:30am - 6:00pm
  • Tuesday:
    7:30am - 6:00pm
  • Wednesday:
    7:30am - 6:00pm
  • Thursday:
    7:30am - 6:00pm
  • Friday:
    7:30am - 6:00pm
  • Saturday:
    8:00am - 4:00pm
  • Sunday:
    Closed
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Shores Animal Hospital
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