Dog & Cat Exams

At Lakeside Veterinary Center in Laurel, we recommend annual cat and dog exams and with good reason. A standard routine checkup allows us to determine if your pet is exhibiting any unusual health changes. Early detection improves the chances of preventing or delaying the onset and progression of disease in your pet. That’s why our main focus is preemptive care—the prevention of health issues from ever developing into major illnesses. We also place a strong emphasis on proper nutrition, vaccinations, teeth cleaning, and parasite prevention.

About the Wellness Exam

The annual wellness visit is one of the most important visits your pet will make to our hospital. During their exam, your veterinarian will thoroughly examine them for any signs of disease, illness, or injury. Many diseases that develop with age can be hard to detect; you may not even notice signs of disease for months, or even years! Our veterinary staff at Lakeside is trained to look for and identify these signs. With early detection and treatment, your pet can return to living their life in comfort.

During the comprehensive physical exam, we assess the following:​

• ​Skin and coat
• Body condition and weight
• Eyes and ears
• Muscles, bones, joints

• Mouth, teeth, and gums
• Urinary and reproductive systems
• Cardiovascular system

If we detect any potential signs of disease or an infection caused by allergies, we will discuss treatment options with you and offer recommendations.

Senior Pet Exams

Cats and dogs become seniors at around 7 years of age. Like us our pets become more susceptible to illness and injury as they get older, and need more frequent care from their veterinarian to stay healthy. We recommend bringing in your senior pet every 6 months for a wellness exam and every 6-12 months for routine diagnostics, which may include blood work, urinalysis, and X-rays.​

​Be sure to ask your veterinarian any questions you have about keeping your pet healthy and comfortable in their advanced years, and how to accommodate changes in activity and mobility. If your pet is experiencing aches and pains due to inflamed joints, we can offer medication, supplements, or laser therapy to increase their comfort. Our goal is to keep your pet in the best possible health so they can age gracefully and enjoy their golden years.

Vaccinations

Vaccines are a critical component in your pet’s health care program. They are the most effective method for the prevention of disease in cats and dogs. Furthermore, they continually improve to provide your companion with the highest level of protection. Here in Laurel, MD our veterinarians place great emphasis on cat and dog vaccinations and the role they play in keeping our animals healthy and happy from year to year.

Recommended Cat and Dog Vaccinations

Even strictly-indoor pets can be at risk of coming into contact with harmful pathogens. Below are the vaccines we recommend for cats and dogs to ensure optimal protection:

Dogs

• Rabies
• Distemper, canine hepatitis, and parvovirus
• Lyme
• Leptospirosis
• Kennel cough/Bordetella – for dogs that board, go to dog parks, or encounter dogs they don’t live with
• Canine influenza (bivalent vaccine, covers H3N8 and H3N2 strains, required for boarding dogs)

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Cats

• Rabies
• Distemper and upper respiratory viruses
• Feline leukemia (for outdoor cats)

Bivalent Canine Influenza Vaccine

We offer a bivalent CIV vaccine to protect pets from both the H3N2 and H3N8 strains of the canine influenza virus. This vaccine is just as effective and requires only one sequential booster 3 weeks after the initial injection.
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Canine influenza is a highly contagious virus with symptoms that include discharge from the eyes and nose, coughing, and an elevated temperature. Canine flu can survive on surfaces for up to 48 hours. To schedule your pet for the bivalent CIV vaccine or have them treated, contact our office as soon as possible.

Setting A Vaccination Schedule

Ideally, your pet should start their vaccinations between 6 and 8 weeks of age. They will first receive their distemper booster series, which means being re-vaccinated every 3-4 weeks until they are 12-16 weeks old. Rabies is given between 12-16 weeks of age. If your pet is at risk of encountering ticks in their environment, they will receive their initial Lyme vaccination. Lyme and Lepto require a follow-up booster for your pet to be properly immunized.
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Since incomplete protection can result in illness, it’s important to maintain a consistent cat or dog vaccination routine. Your veterinarian will always be happy to offer advice and help you keep up with your pet’s vaccines.
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If your pet is overdue or needs to get started on their vaccines, make an appointment with us by calling (301) 498-8387.