Canine Wellness Visits and Vaccinations
We recommend bringing your dog in once a year for a wellness exam. These regular visits are key to maintaining your dog’s overall health and catching potential issues early.
What to Expect During a Dog Wellness Exam
A dog wellness exam is a routine checkup—usually every 12 months—focused on keeping your pet healthy and detecting potential issues early. During the exam, your veterinarian will:
- Vital signs are taken (temperature, pulse, and respiration)
- Listen to your pet’s heart and lungs with a stethoscope
- Check the eyes, ears, and teeth
- Examine the skin, coat, and paws
- Feel the lymph nodes and check under the tail
- Perform a thorough musculoskeletal and joint assessment
We’ll also review your dog’s lifestyle, behavior, and diet, and talk through any questions or concerns you may have. It’s a great opportunity to ensure your dog is thriving and up to date on all preventative care.
Beyond the Exam: What Else is Recommended at my dogs wellness visit?
In addition to the physical exam, we often recommend heartworm testing, annual bloodwork, and an intestinal parasite screening to monitor your dog’s overall health. For senior dogs, we include a urinalysis and eye pressure testing. Learn more about Senior Wellness visits: HERE.
Baseline bloodwork is especially valuable—it gives us a reference point for your dog’s normal health and helps us detect subtle changes over time. If we find anything concerning during the exam, such as a lump, irritated skin or ears, or a heart murmur, we may recommend additional diagnostics like x-rays or lab tests to better understand what’s going on and ensure timely treatment if needed.
We will always communicate clearly with you and only proceed with any additional testing once we have your approval. If needed, we can provide a detailed treatment plan so you know exactly what to expect.
During your dog’s wellness visit, we may also discuss:
- Heartworm prevention
- Flea, tick, and intestinal parasite prevention
- Importance of spaying and neutering if needed
- Weight management tips and guidance if needed
- At-home dental care and possible in-office dental cleaning
- Nutrition recommendations tailored to your dog’s needs
- Tips on monitoring behavior and health changes at home
What Core Vaccines Are Given at My Dog’s Wellness Visit?
Core vaccines are essential for all dogs, regardless of age or lifestyle. They protect against serious, potentially fatal diseases:
- Rabies – Required by law; protects against a deadly virus that affects the brain.
- Why Is the Rabies Vaccine Required in Louisiana? To Learn more: Click here
- Distemper – A contagious and often fatal virus affecting the respiratory, GI, and nervous systems.
- Parvovirus – A highly contagious virus that causes severe vomiting and diarrhea, especially in puppies.
- Adenovirus (Canine Hepatitis) – Affects the liver and can lead to serious illness.
- Parainfluenza – A virus that contributes to kennel cough and other respiratory issues.
These vaccines are usually given in a combination vaccine (often called the DHPP vaccine) and are key to keeping your dog healthy.
What Non-Core Vaccines Might My Dog Receive at Their Wellness Visit?
Non-core vaccines are recommended based on your dog’s lifestyle, environment, and risk of exposure. Your veterinarian will help determine which are appropriate for your pet. Common non-core vaccines include:
- Bordetella (Kennel Cough): Recommended for dogs who are boarded, groomed, or attend daycare or dog parks.
- Leptospirosis: Protects against a bacteria found in water or soil, common in areas with wildlife or standing water.
- Canine Influenza (Dog Flu): May be suggested for social dogs or during outbreaks.
These vaccines aren’t required for every dog but can offer important protection based on how and where your dog’s lifestyle.
Learn more about the vaccines that keep your dog healthy—click here.
Many of these recommendations are tailored to your dog’s age, breed, and lifestyle, allowing us to provide the most personalized and effective care possible.
At Whittington Veterinary Clinic, your pet’s health and well- being are our highest priority. If you have any questions or need guidance, don’t hesitate to call us at (337) 893-8522 —our caring team is always here to help!