Wellness and Preventive Care

2021 update:

Over the next year, Foothills Animal Hospital will transition to a 24-hr emergency and specialty center. The need for these services in the Yuma area is growing so we have taken on the challenge of providing the care the pets in our community need. With the aid of our sister clinic, Palo Verde Pet Clinic which opened September 2020, we have begun transitioning away from wellness services at FAH to make room for 24 hour emergency, intensive and critical care at our Foothills location. Although some wellness and vaccination services are still available, we’ve limited these appointments to Saturdays and Sundays only. We know wellness care is very important. If you are unable to book an appointment for wellness care at our facility, please contact Palo Verde Pet Clinic at 928-224-3131. They are offering additional days and times that may work for you. All other appointment days and times at FAH are now reserved for sick, injured, urgent care or emergency patients.  Thank you for your patience as we make this needed transition.

Wellness Exams

Wellness exams are performed to prevent disease or illness and help ensure your pet stays healthy.  Our health care team will assess your pet’s health with a complete physical exam and medical history to help create a plan for disease prevention. Remember, a yearly physical exam allows us to catch any potential issues as early as possible, and plan the best treatment course for your pet.

A Wellness Exam will not only help flag potential problems with your pet’s health, it will also create an overall medical history for your pet. By meeting regularly with your pet, our veterinarians are able to become better acquainted with your pet’s personal history, allowing us to offer more personalized care. For pets who are 7 years and younger, Wellness Exams are recommended annually. Keep in mind that pets age much quicker than humans, so for pets over 7 years of age, Wellness Exams are recommended at least twice a year, to screen for any sign of illness or diseases.

Wellness Exams include the following:

• A consultation with one of our veterinarians where you will discuss your pet’s day-to-day routine, activity level, personality, nutrition and any health concerns or questions you may have.
• A hands-on examination which will assess your pet’s overall health from nose to tail. Areas examined will include the abdomen, head and neck, eyes, ears, mouth and skin. In addition, the doctor will also evaluate your pet’s musculoskeletal system, as well as listen to their heart and lungs.

Preventive Care Services

Preventive Care Services include vaccinations, parasite control, wellness exams, and even weight management support.

Preventive Care typically performed at the time of a Wellness Exam include:

• Vaccines  – Vaccinations protect your pet from common infectious diseases, and help reduce the incidence of serious transmissible disease in the pet population as a whole. Our health care team will help you understand which vaccines your pet needs and how often vaccines should be updated to protect against potential risks.
• Intestinal Parasite Exam – It is very common for a dog or cat to become infected with internal or external parasites at some point in its life. Parasites can affect your pet in a variety of ways, ranging from simple irritation to causing life-threatening conditions if left untreated. Some parasites can even infect and transmit diseases to you and your family. During a wellness exam, we recommend taking a stool sample to check for worms or other intestinal parasites.
• Additional Diagnostic Testing – During a wellness exam, additional diagnostic testing pertinent to your pet’s life stage may be recommended. These could include blood tests, urinalysis, or radiographs as needed.

Wellness and Preventive Care Services

• Wellness Exams
• Wellness Testing
• Flea and Tick Control
• Heartworm Testing and Prevention
• Puppy and Kitten Recommendations
• Vaccinations
• Senior Wellness
• Weight Management
• Microchipping
• Preventive Medicine