At Lifetime Pet Wellness Center, we understand that pets are family. We aim to empower you with the support, knowledge, and tools to give you as many healthy years with your pets as possible. We recommend that healthy adult pets visit the vet annually for thorough pet wellness exams.
The consultation includes 16-point pet wellness exams, during which our doctors check your pet’s health from nose to tail. We offer a holistic approach to veterinary care that integrates traditional, state-of-the-art medicine, proven alternative therapies, and rehabilitation services.
Our pet wellness exams includes the following:
- Medical history evaluation
- Eye, ear, nose, tongue, and throat examinations
- Temperature, pulse patterns, and respiration evaluation
- Cardiopulmonary (heart and lungs) evaluation
- Abdominal palpation
- Lymph node palpation
- Dental examination
- Dermatological (skin) examination
- Testing for external and internal parasites
- Nutritional counseling
Preventive and wellness care also includes thorough and honest communication with you about any findings and proposed treatments. After the initial comprehensive examination, we analyze your pet’s medical record and determine any treatments, level of vaccination or titer testing, spaying or neutering, heartworm prevention, parasite control, and dietary changes that we may recommend. In some circumstances, our doctors may refer you to a specialist with advanced expertise in internal medicine or surgery.
Vaccination Protocol
Titers, Vaccine Reactions, & Concurrent Treatments
At Lifetime Pet Wellness Center, we reserve the right to decline or defer a pet’s vaccination. All vaccines are labeled for healthy individuals only. If a Lifetime doctor deems that our patient is not healthy enough to receive vaccines, they will decide to defer vaccinations to a later date. Additionally, some medications and procedures may adversely alter the vaccine response, and we may choose to decline or suspend treatment at the doctor’s discretion. Our policy is to never administer more than three vaccines at once and to defer additional vaccines to a future visit.
Likewise, we may defer vaccines, acupuncture, or chiropractic care if they were initially planned for the same day. Acupuncture and chiropractic care affect the neurologic-endocrine-immune-emotional balance. If a patient is not healthy enough or has a generally compromised immune state, it is advisable to forgo performing all treatments at once.
Vaccine reactions may be mild or rare, but monitoring your pet for adverse responses is crucial. Common symptoms may include mild fever, decreased appetite or activity, sneezing, discomfort, or mild swelling at the injection site. An allergic reaction may occur within minutes or hours of vaccination. Rare symptoms may include facial or leg swelling, vomiting or diarrhea, itchiness, difficulty breathing, or collapse. If your pet experiences any of these symptoms, contact us immediately. Dr. Schultz, an immunologist at the University of Wisconsin and recognized vaccine expert, recommends that patients who experience a vaccine reaction should not receive that vaccine again. Reactions can occur at any time in a pet’s life, whether or not they have received vaccines previously.
Vaccine Titers
One option that significantly benefits patients (but may cost a little more) is to perform a vaccine titer instead of administering a vaccine. A titer is a blood test that measures the immune antibody level to specific disease-causing agents. Titer testing is recommended for immune-compromised or geriatric patients or those with a history of adverse reactions to vaccination. In Ohio, titers are not legally accepted in place of a rabies vaccine, though rabies titers are available.
At LPWC, our goal is never to over-vaccinate your pet and to do no harm. Vaccines must be treated with respect and given to your pet with care and are an essential part of pet care and prevention. Still, Lifetime strives to evaluate every pet individually and only recommends the necessary vaccines for your pet’s needs.
We’re here for you and the pet you love—make an appointment online or call us at (614) 888-2100.