The old saying "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" is as true in veterinary medicine as it is in human medicine. Dr. Gensler and the staff of the Tyranena Veterinary Clinic believe that preventative medicine is the cornerstone to maintaining your pet's optimal health and well being. Preventative medicine must be an active team effort between you, your beloved pet, and your veterinarian. The Tyranena Veterinary Clinic strives to offer you the best options in preventative medicine and early disease detection.
Wellness Exam: The single most important aspect to preventative medicine!!!
- Seeing, looking, and listening to your pet provides the most valuable information.
- Dogs and cats try to mask subtle signs of weakness or illness as a natural defense, veterinarians know what signs to look for.
- Early detection provides for better care, more treatment options, and better quality of life.
Vaccinations: We will tailor a vaccine program to fit your pet's needs.
- The key to strengthening your pet's immune system.
- Protect against specific viral and bacterial diseases your pet is exposed to daily.
- Some protect against zoonotic (transmissible to people) diseases such as Rabies and Leptospirosis.
- Each pet has different degrees of risk to specific diseases.
Parasite Prevention:
External Parasites: Safely and easily prevented with veterinary guidance and today's topical medications.
- Fleas feed on your pet's blood. Large flea infestations can cause anemia and even death in some cases.
- Fleas also carry tapeworms that will infect your pet when they ingest fleas while grooming.
- Fleas spread disease, including Yersinia pestis also known as the Plague.
- Ticks feed on your pet's blood and may transmit multiple diseases while feeding.
- Ticks can carry many diseases including Lyme disease, Anaplasmosis, and Ehrlichiosis.
- Ticks can also infect us with the same diseases.
- Lice and mites often affect the younger population or those pets with a weaker immune system
- Lice and mites can cause severe dermatological disease along with hair loss, itching, and ear infections.
- We recommend the products Frontline Plus or Revolution depending on your pet's habits and risks.
- We recommend using these products at least from March through November and in some cases year round.
Internal Parasites: Yearly fecal exams and heartworm tests are imperative for your pet's good health and your family's safety.
Intestinal Parasites
- Roundworms, Hookworms, Whipworms, and Tapeworms are the most common intestinal parasites.
- Roundworms, Hookworms, and Whipworms are spread directly from dog to dog, cat to cat or between dog and cat in some cases.
- Tapeworms are spread by the ingestion of fleas during grooming and by the ingestion of mice and other small mammals while hunting.
- Roundworms, Hookworms, and Tapeworms can be all zoonotic. (Infectious to people)
- Roundworms, Hookworms, and Whipworms can all be identified on a fecal exam by finding the eggs they produce.
- Tapeworms are usually diagnosed at exam time. The segments can be seen near the pet's anus.
- Roundworms and Hookworms are easily prevented with Heartgard monthly tablets and yearly fecal exams.
- Whipworms and Tapeworms can be prevented by maintaining a clean environment, keeping pets flea free and yearly fecal exams.
Heartworms
- Heartworms live in the large vital blood vessels coming off of the heart in dogs.
- Heartworms are spread from dog to dog by mosquitoes.
- This is a fatal disease that is very common but easily preventable.
- We recommend yearly screening through a simple blood test done during your pet's wellness exam.
- We also recommend using Heartgard, a monthly chewable preventative given all year round
Senior Wellness Screening: We offer cost effective Senior Wellness programs for early disease detection and prevention.
- Early detection of chronic disease and age related changes are critical for maintaining your senior companions health.
- Many chronic diseases and age related deteriorations are irreversible but very manageable.
- Early detection provides you the most options for management and allows for the best outcome in most situations.
- Many diseases and deteriorations when caught early can be managed for years with a little dedication.
- Most programs involve minimally invasive tests and start with a blood sample and a urine sample.
Dental Health: It might not be just bad breath. Dental health can change quickly, come in today for an evaluation.
- Poor dental health is one of the biggest threats to your pet's health.
- Dental disease is a leading contributor to heart and kidney disease in senior pets.
- Dental disease can start early in your pet's life.
- It is important to evaluate a patient's teeth as puppies and kittens for hereditary problems and deformities.
- It is important for your veterinarian to examine your pet's teeth at least once a year during their wellness exam.
- Dental disease is easily prevented; daily brushing, hard/dry food, and safe chew toys can all help maintain your pet's dental health.
- If tartar and plaque develope, a dental cleaning under general anesthesia with us can be a safe, cost effective way to maintain your pet's dental health.
Body Condition: We provide valuable consultation services to improve your pet's weight and condition.
- Obesity is the number one health risk to most pets that Dr. Gensler sees on a daily basis.
- Obesity is the easiest disease to prevent.
- Obesity is most easily combated by starting good habits early on in your pet's life, but it is never to late.
- Understanding your pet's energy needs and activity level is critical.
- Understanding how other disease processes may affect your pet's health and activity is important.
- Understanding how and when to feed, along with what to feed is necessary in maintaining your pet's optimal weight.
- We can help by counseling you on proper nutrition, feeding routines, exercises, and body condition scoring.
- A little hard work and discipline at home could save your pet's life!