Pet Health
Preventive Care and Wellness
Taking great care of your pet begins with the basics, which means establishing a solid groundwork of routine and preventive care. Providing a good life for your pet is about so much more than what you do on those days when they’re not feeling their best—it’s about what you do to make sure those days are few and far between.
Vaccines offer protection from debilitating illnesses. Tick prevention shields your pet from incurable tick-born diseases.
Feline Vaccination Schedule
The recommended schedule for cats, is as follows:
Starting at the age of 6 weeks – HCPC (Herpes, Calici, Panleukopenia, Chlamydia)
At the age of 10 weeks – booster of HCPC (and FeLV – Feline Leukemia virus, if high risk – e.g. outdoor cat)
(at 14 weeks for outdoor cats – Rabies + booster FeLV)
1 year – HCPC (FeLV, Rabies)
After that, the FeLV vaccine is administered every 2 years, the HCPC and Rabies vaccines – every 3 years.
Canine Vaccination Schedule
The recommended vaccination schedule for dogs is as follows:
Starting at the age of 6 weeks – DAPP vaccine, also called the Base vaccine (Distemper, Adeno virus, Parvo virus, Parainfluenza)
At the age of 10 weeks – booster of DAPP + Leptospirosis, Bordetella (and Lyme - if dog at high risk)
14 weeks – booster for DAPP + Rabies (+ booster for Lyme)
All those vaccines are repeated at 1 year old.
After that the Leptospirosis and Bordetella (and Lyme) vaccines are administered annually, the DAPP and Rabies – every 3 years.
Diagnostics
Accurate detection is important when it comes to assessing and treating an illness. We offer complete diagnostics including digital radiology (x-rays) and ultrasound imaging.
Ultrasound is an advanced, pain free, non-invasive diagnostic tool that uses high frequency sound waves to create a real time image of a pet’s internal structure.
Quality x-rays aid veterinarians in quickly diagnosing many disorders. From bones to organs and tumors to neurological diseases, advanced digital imaging services can provide potentially life-saving early detection of internal issues.
In addition, we have an in-house lab that allows us to carry out many diagnostic tests while you wait. We can perform blood screens, pre-anesthetic bloodwork, urinalysis, stool analysis and other types of testing on site.
For those instances when your pet requires specialized analyses, we send blood work or other tissue samples to an outside laboratory that sends results back to us.
Surgery
Surgery is at times the most effective way to treat certain injuries and disorders. Harwood Veterinary Clinic is proud to perform surgeries in a state-of-the-art facility with cutting-edge equipment. We offer a full range of surgical services ranging from standard spaying and neutering to advanced, specialized procedures.
Our team will explain the entire process, giving you all the necessary information so you can make an educated decision regarding your pet’s treatment options. We understand that surgery is a stressful time for any pet owner, and we’re available every step of the way to answer questions and put your mind at ease.
If you are considering surgery for your pet, please contact us to schedule a pre-operative exam.
Dentistry
Regular dental care will do so much more for your pet than just make those kisses less smelly. The health of your pet’s mouth has a significant impact on their overall health, their wellbeing and their longevity.
When tartar and plaque are allowed to accumulate in your pet’s mouth, it leads to pain, infection, tooth decay, and tooth loss. If periodontal disease is left untreated and becomes severe, it allows harmful bacteria to spread throughout your pet’s system. Kidney, liver, and heart disease in pets can all stem from an underlying dental infection.
Regular dental care is as important for pets as it is for humans, and we are here to help.
Harwood Veterinary Clinic offers complete pet oral health services, including:
- Teeth cleanings (and advice on preventive dental care)
- Digital dental x-ray
- Oral surgery with tooth extractions
Laser
The veterinary field continues to grow and develop every day. We are dedicated to keeping up with those changes and are happy to offer our patients and clients the latest in veterinary advancements. This includes laser therapy proven to be beneficial in a variety of applications in animal care. From wound care, surgical incision healing, arthritis, muscle pain, to the treatment of chronic conditions, all that and more can be helped with laser therapy. This virtually side-effect free process is quick and painless—in fact, many patients find the process soothing and fall asleep during their sessions.
Puppy and kitten care
Getting a new puppy or kitten is an exciting time. There's so much to remember—and to take adorable pictures of. We’re here to help you with all the health care needs your new fur baby requires, from vaccinations and deworming to nutrition and exercise advice. A strong start means a healthy life.
Our team will provide a care plan that is tailored to your puppy or kitten, and we will create a vaccination schedule that is key to protecting their fragile and growing immune systems. Parasite screenings and prevention are particularly important for young pets, as is proper nutrition for healthy growth. Frequent exams for puppies and kittens allow us to monitor their growth, answer any questions you have, and also get lots of cold-nosed kisses and cuddles. We are excited to meet your new fur baby!
Senior pets
Old age is not a disease, but that doesn’t mean that senior pets don’t need (and deserve) a little extra TLC! And while we can’t prevent aging, we can make sure that your pet’s frosty-faced years are among some of their best and happiest. Senior pets require more frequent vet visits to keep them healthy and happy, as their bodies tend to change at a faster rate. We recommend that all senior pets get a physical exam every six months, and bloodwork once a year. The more often we see your senior pet, the better we can monitor their health, detect any changes, and address any issues before they become serious. Diet and exercise needs change in our senior pets too, and we can help develop a plan to help your pet age with grace and happiness.
End of Life
It’s never easy to say goodbye. We’re pet owners too, and we know how difficult it is when it’s time to say farewell to a beloved pet. We’re here to answer your questions and help you every step of the way with the compassion, honesty, and dignity that you and your pet deserve.
We want our pets around for as long as we can, and we want them to have a beautiful life from beginning to end. When it comes time to say goodbye, we are here to make the transition as painless as possible for your pet and as bearable as we can for you. We are committed to making your pet’s last moments quiet, calm, and comfortable, and want to make sure that they feel the love that surrounds them.
We are also here for you if you need to have a compassionate and honest quality-of-life discussion for elderly or ill pets. No pet should ever have to suffer needless pain, and we will work with you to create a plan for hospice or palliative care for your pet. No one should have to feel alone during this process, and we promise to support you every step of the way.